David Cameron should help Croydon following Nestlé departure, says MP
PRIME Minister David Cameron is being urged to offer support to help cement Croydon's economic future following Nestlé's decision to quit the town.
Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell has written to Mr Cameron asking him to look at extending the economic support on offer to eight cities outside London to Croydon.
Mr Barwell told the Advertiser: "Croydon is bigger than two of the cities being supported – Newcastle and Nottingham – and as there is likely to be a second round of support in June it would be good for Croydon to be involved in that programme."
Mr Barwell believes the Government could play a key role in kickstarting the redevelopment of some of the town's outdated office stock.
He said the Government could provide valuable support by setting up a fund which could be administered through the council or the Mayor of London.
The fund would be used to buy up sites which could be offered to investors, possibly with planning permission.
The Government would recoup its input when development deals were completed.
In his letter Mr Barwell lists other medium-term measures which the Government could support to "make a real difference" to Croydon.
He suggests relocating a Government agency, such as the new Public Health England headquarters, to Croydon rather than the more expensive central London.
He also backs helping provide more higher education places for Croydon College University Centre, improvements to the A23 and ensuring Network Rail pushes ahead with plans for an additional platform and a new ticket hall at East Croydon Station to relieve passenger congestion.
Mr Barwell said Croydon had recently had good news in terms of Westfield and Hammerson wanting to revive town centre shopping and support for recovery from the riots.
But he said: "There is no getting away from the fact that Nestlé's decision to move is a blow and I think we have to grow up a little bit and accept that under councils of both persuasions the town has been in relative decline."
Squabbling needed to stop, he said, and efforts concentrated on moving forward. Efforts with the Government could help.
He said: "What we can't do is wait 10 or 15 years for things to happen."
6 Comments
by jackhall1
Sunday, February 05 2012, 9:42PM
“diana france is correct it is lunar house that has caused the downturn and bad publicity for croydon and no doubt the loss of nestle jakhall turkey”
by Misterkipling
Sunday, February 05 2012, 6:20PM
“"David Cameron should help Croydon following Nestlé departure, says MP"
No thanks, I trust Nestle in making my Chocolate, but not this fellar, all the smarties would have a very thin coating of lies ruining the taste”
by bondski
Sunday, February 05 2012, 4:33PM
“Yes I would like to see more investment in Croydon but dont forget all this outer london money that is coming will go to the centre of this Borough. Whilst we need to drive investment into Croydon there are satellite district centres that are and will go down the pan if Croydon Council does not consider them worthy of some investment as well. Reading that Streatham and Norwood, in Lambeth, are being awarded sums of money from the Mayors outer London funds, money given to Boroughs that will not benefit from Crossrail or Olympics, to improve the High Streets and trading areas so that local shoppers and visitors see that these areas are not forgotten, what is there going for our district centres? Nothing it would seem. We will have a Borough that has nothing to offer other than an "enriched" centre a sort of Golden Doughnut - with most of us living in the outer wilderness of High Street voids, and suburban decay.”
by DsDan
Sunday, February 05 2012, 11:32AM
“= Diana France;
Anyone who truly believes that a politician cares in any way about ours or any other town other than for personal gain , lives in a make believe fairy tale land. The only reason Barwell is up in arms is because he'll get column inches over it and he can bleat on about who's fault it is, as all politicians do. Something good happens around here and he'll be jumping up and down saying it was because of him and his bunch of cronies.
The only reason we got a visit recently from the PM's pet dog was because the whole country has seen what happened to Reeve's corner and he knew full well that the tv crews would be out in force watching his every move. Like he gives a damn what happens here, if he did, it wouldn't have been allowed to happen in the first place.”
by Ivor_Shed
Saturday, February 04 2012, 12:48PM
“The Government doesn't have any money. Is it suggested they borrow even more money from the Chinese to support a failing town?”
by DianaFrance
Saturday, February 04 2012, 12:36PM
“For many years Croydon people have been worrying about the town's future and the way the Council had been managing it (whichever party was in power). Suddenly Mr Barwell has heard us. So who was he listening to previously?
Let me guess: Minerva, other developers, bankers, estate agents, MPs, and a long list of people who never lived here, didn't care about the town or its people but saw a way to make money or glory out of us. Why the change? To stop us rioting, to assist politicians in climbing a ladder to further power, or to distract us from something else?
Sorry, but a lifetime in Croydon has left me so cynical I just can't believe any politician at any level really gives a damn about Croydon or Croydonians.
Oh, and before we welcome any more government departments into the town, could Mr Barwell please negotiate the exodus of Lunar House, Electric House et al, plus all their clients to somewhere very, very far away, because they are the main cause of Croydon's downfall.”