Croydon Christmas lights switch on 2012, in pictures

“Good job this negative John person was only at Matthews Yard in the afternoon. In the evening we had a meeting with all the nice, professional, positive people.”

“Tis the season to be jolly!!!”

“Isn't it great to see the Christmas lights being plugged in whilst the Council pulls the plug on the arts in Croydon. Would it have happened if this wasn't a blatant commercial for the upcoming pantomime at the council's secret love interest a.k.a. the Fairfield Halls? Still, if there's one thing that the Council can do well, it's a pantomime (World English Dictionary: a confused or farcical situation).

"It's a disgrace!" Oh no it isn't! Oh yes, if I stop to think about it, it is... an appalling disgrace.

This afternoon I was in Matthew's Yard Café, which is a truly lovely place just off Surrey Street, and it got me thinking about regeneration in Croydon: that, there, we have a fantastic area which has almost been regenerated; regenerated in every way except for the Council really getting behind it to find ways of encouraging new small businesses and independent shops to move in. But, whilst this could-be-fantastic area slowly reverts to the faded jewel it was before, developers are, with the besotted encouragement of the Council, making their plans for mental towers and bridges to nowhere. I've never before lived in an area that was so despised and abandoned by those who have been elected to look after and nurture it. There's tough love and then there's a kick in the teeth. Who votes for these people? Are they voters who think the current modus operandus is what the area needs, or voters who don't actually make much use of Croydon town centre and would vote for a muppet if it wore a blue rosette? It is true that my political instinct lies slightly left of centre, but I would vote for anyone, regardless of party commitment, if I believed that they would put the best interests of the people of Croydon at the top of their agenda. Well, I can dream...”

“Looks like a good time had by all...Its great that its not always Bad News in Croydon.....”