Archive
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Here Come the Girls
By Community Correspondent Anna Goldfinch. For a naturally sluggish and short-legged person, such as I, the prospect of running to the next lamp-post, let alone 5 Kilometres, has always seemed a little too ambitious and actually rather unnecessary
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Battling Brits bite back in doubles
There was plenty of British cheer at SW19 on day three after a host of doubles teams advanced to the second round of their respective competitions. The partnerships of Jamie Delgado and Jamie Marray, Jocelyn Rae and Mel South, and Alex Bogdanovic
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Retail rents to drop? What about Croydon Retail Shops
By Community Correspondent Kevin Thomas “Rents across the UK’s high streets and shopping centres are set to drop by almost a fifth between now and the end of the year, quashing hopes of a revival of the troubled retail property sector, an influential
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Update: Famous Croydon hotel in administration
Croydon’s most historic hotel has gone into administration while confusion surrounds a second equally famous venue. The Aerodrome Hotel in Purley Way has been taken over by administrators PriceWaterhouseCooper with a view to sell the property
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Winner Roddick asked his thoughts - on hit comedy flick
American number one Andy Roddick may have won his first-round clash in four sets on Tuesday but he looked a little bemused as his post-match interview briefly turned into a film review. The 26-year-old dispatched Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3 7-6 4-
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Top Brits fluff their lines
British number ones Andy Murray and Anne Keothavong fell victim of Wimbledon transcribers ASAP Sports as they took post-match interviews to a new level at SW19. Murray, 22, eventually got past America's Robbie Kendrick with a 7-5 6-7 6-3 6-4 four-set
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Bearing the grunt brunt at Wimbledon
I think I must have missed something. Just what is the problem with tennis players grunting? Actually, grunting is not even the right word, if you consider the dictionary definition: to make a short, low sound instead of speaking, usually because
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Life after police, says outgoing Sutton commander
The man at the helm of the Sutton’s police force said there was life after law enforcement as he prepared to hand over the reins for good last week. Chief Superintendent borough commander Robert Reed, who has held the top job for five years with
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Tom's in his comfort zone
There are two Edinburgh Festival comedy previews for the price of one in Twickenham this Thursday as a trio of comics, Tom Craine, Bobby Carroll and Tyson Boyce, perform at the Back of the Cabbage Patch club, writes Will Gore. Craine will
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Jaws not Jesus: Cinema campaigners continue fight against church
“Jaws not Jesus” was the message coming from scores of protestors hoping a beloved bingo hall will be converted into a cinema, not a church. More than 100 protestors appeared outside the Gala Bingo on Saturday for the second consecutive weekend
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Merton schoolchildren sing to go green
By Community Correspondent, Philippa Hennessy Seven year old pupils from The Rowans School in Wimbledon were the youngest finalists to take part in a competition run by Merton Council. School children across the borough were asked to write rap and
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Man falls on to tracks at Surbiton station
A man falling onto the tracks at Surbiton train station last night caused train delays in the area. Some trains were unable to stop at the station while others were delayed by up to 15 minutes. It is believed the man fell from the platform
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Chill to the choral sounds of Chilcott
By Community correspondent Sarah Lutton. English choral music is alive and flourishing thanks to composers such as former King’s Singer, Bob Chilcott who is producing some of today’s most attractive and entertaining sounds. The Epsom Chamber Choir
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Pole vaulter Jade faces lengthy lay-off
Stoneleigh-based pole vaulter Jade Ive’s season is in tatters, but she insists she will bounce back better than ever. The 17-year-old, who won gold at last year’s Commonwealth Youth Games in India, is set to miss the rest of the season because
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Threadgold secures first major title
Former Glyn School pupil Matthew Threadgold won the U20 400m hurdles at the South of England Championships on Sunday. Threadgold clocked 54 minutes, 53 seconds to take his first major title. The Belgrave Harriers athlete received his medal from Olympic
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Mickey swims for Help for Heroes
Endurance swimmer Mickey Helps plunged into the cold water for Saturday’s Champion of Champions Open Water Championship at Dover Harbour. The Stoneleigh resident finished 16th out of the 83 competitors in an overall time of four hours 35 minutes. The
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Sokolowski heads volleyball standings
The third week of Richmond’s Volleyball Mixed Summer League attracted a record number of players in Old Deer Park. With six weeks to go, 75 players are chasing top spot with Marek Sokolowski (19 points) heading the standings ahead of Henry Szysko and
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Lambeth leaseholders face energy bill increases
Leaseholders in Lambeth could face hefty increases in their energy bills because of a problem with energy meters on housing estates. Electricity used in external communal areas on some estates are unmetered, meaning under the contract between
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Kingston midwives raise serious concerns
The Surrey Comet has been contacted by midwives at Kingston Hospital complaining about understaffing in the maternity ward. They claim that patient safety is at risk if they are forced to carry on with the current staffing levels. Kingston
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Cook relief after hard-fought win
Morden’s Lee Cook was a relieved man after climbing off the canvas to beat Mark McCullough at Bethnal Green last weekend. Lightweight Cook, the Southern Area title holder, took on the clash as a way to keep busy before his scheduled title defence in
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Pet Education : Legislation to protect pets or keep jobs?
Community correspondent Mercia Nitzsche There is much discussion regarding the legislation of dogs. Question is, is the legislation offered to protect the lives of stray dogs and our pets or is it designed to offer jobs to 'officials' becoming
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Game preview: Max Payne 3
Rockstar games have announced further details of the upcoming Max Payne 3. Set 12 years after the events of Max Payne 2 (2003), the game will see Max Payne working in Sao Paulo, providing personal protection for a wealthy family. Max will be
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Former Cheam captain honoured
Ron Willson, past Captain and long-term member of Cheam Bowling Club was awarded the Surrey Leopard Award by county president Aga Hassan following the annual dogfight between the club’s men and women. The award is considered only for those
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AJ Sports Surrey Cricket League results
AJ Sports Surrey Cricket League results from June 20 Premier Division: Old Thorntonians 241-6 (20) Balham & Tooting SSC 161 (7) Abahani 146 (20) Economicals 139 (8) Sheen Park 246-6 (20) Old Thorntonians A 198 (8) Osterley (2000) 126 (3) John
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Necklace competition part of fundraising challenge
The competition is hotting up in Croydon Commitment’s C100 challenge. There are 14 teams competing to raise as much cash as they can from their starting capital of £100. And the latest results show the teams are really going for it this
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Kingston's town centre manager urges SCC support for Bid
Kingston’s town centre manager has said Surrey County Council (SCC) voting against the town’s improvement scheme would lack “intellectual integrity”. Voting for Kingston First’s Bid2 opened on Friday, for business rate payers, and close
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Wimbledon students plan fundraising blitz
School pupils are set to boost the bank balance of a great cause. Students at Wimbledon’s King’s College School will be raising money for Chase Children’s Hospice, which supports terminally ill children and their families. A fundraising
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Tuffers to Urn charity cash with Ashes single
Ashes fever hit Twickenham as former England star Phil Tufnell took over the cricket club to make a new charity single to mark the biennial contest. In the video, released this week on video-sharing website YouTube, the I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out
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Tons League results
Cheam Field 22 Cheam Village 15, Cheam Village 10 Cheam Field 21, Banstead Nevill 22 Carshalton Beeches 15, Carshalton Beeches 7 Banstead Nevill 18, Mellows Park 16, Sutton 15, Sutton 24 Mellows Park 13, Sutton Common 17 Carshalton 16, Carshalton 11 Sutton
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Tara Stout is back with Prison Chic knickers
Former BBC reporter and stalker, Tara Stout, is out of hiding, has served her time in jail and is launching a her own clothing line, Prison Chic. The Clapham-born comedienne, who went on the run after breaching a community punishment order
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Croydon face uphill struggle for final
A good second on Sunday against fifth placed City of Norwich AC in the Southern Premier is unlikely to be good enough to earn Croydon Harriers Young athletes a Cup Final slot. With just one match remaining the hopes for a home win disappeared
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Two-hit wonder Otway at the Halfmoon
John Otway may only have had two hits in a career spanning more than three decades, but the Southfields-based singer songwriter certainly isn't short of fans. The 56-year-old will most likely sell out the Halfmoon on Saturday for the umpteenth time
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Widower walks Isle of Wight in aid of Sam Beare Hospice
A man who lost his wife to cancer last year has raised more than £2,500 for the Weybridge hospice which cared for her. Widower Paul Smith, 48, from Staines, walked 16 miles a day round the Isle of Wight earlier this month, with his son and
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Croydon storm in London Youth Games tennis finals
Croydon's mixed gender tennis team will compete in the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games tennis Super 6s after making it through the qualifying rounds at the weekend. The qualifiers were held on Sunday at Redbridge Sports Centre and Team Croydon won
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Sutton show good form
Sutton Bowling Club have had some good results recently including a 52-30 win in the double rink Past Times trophy against Epsom. In the New Surrey League top ten, Sutton beat Croydon 79-71 due in large part to their triples rink of Terry Buckland
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Purdham: I almost lost my fingers
Rob Purdham has revealed he was perilously close to losing the fingers on his right hand after the Harlequins RL skipper underwent emergency surgery last week. Purdham was forced to miss the clash with Leeds last weekend, with a club statement insisting
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Invasion from another hemisphere
The northern hemisphere’s largest celebration of New Zealand, Australian and South African culture takes place on Clapham Common this weekend. The three-day Toast festival includes events from Gumboot dancing to polo, fashion competitions to aboriginal
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Cop takes bosses to tribunal over cowardice claims
A former Epsom policewoman has taken Surrey Police to an employment tribunal after being drummed out of the force over claims of dishonesty and cowardice. Alison Wheeler, 39, was accused of not acting quickly enough to help off-duty PC Rory
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Southfields Theatre Group looks for take off
Mid-life crisises are the butt of many a funny farce and it's no different with Southfields Theatre Group's new production, Forty. The amateur dramatics club are still very young and have just one pantomime from 2009 under their belts so far, but
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Chan's pupils in double delight
Wimbledon's Emma Markwell was one of two Darren Chan students who took gold at the BKK British Regional Championships held in Milton Keynes at the weekend. Bethnal Green-based Ollie Potter won the men's heavyweight novice category while Markwell took
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Reilly beats the pain barrier
Wimbledon’s Kelvin Reilly maintained his lead in the KTM RC8 SuperCup Championship thanks to more valuable points at Snetterton this weekend. Reilly, who suffered two broken metatarsals in his right foot after a crash in testing at the Norfolk circuit
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Doherty postpones New Slang gig
Infamous rocker Pete Doherty has pulled the plug on a much anticipated gig at New Slang only a day before he was scheduled to appear at the popular club night. Doherty was due to perform a solo set at New Slang at McClusky's on June 25 but
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Merton claim London Youth Games squash title
Merton have won the boys’ squash title at the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games. They beat Kingston 3-0 in the final at Redbridge Sports Centre on Sunday, having defeated Havering in the previous round. Team member Seigo Masuda said: “We really enjoyed
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Epsom schoolboy believed to be latest swine flu victim
An Epsom schoolboy is thought to have become the latest victim of swine flu, bringing the total number of Surrey victims to 18. Surrey NHS confirmed that a child was one of the three people confirmed with swine flu at the weekend but would
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Cyclists have a heart for charity
A team of keen cyclists took part in a cross-borough bike ride to raise funds for a heart charity. The Live Weak Team from Sutton, led by Lili Boev, 23, raced along 27,000 other cyclists who tackled Europe’s largest charity cycle event, the
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Cigarette smugglers sentenced
Cigarette smugglers who evaded millions in taxes and excise duty have been sentenced. Mitcham man Christopher Edwards was jailed for one year for his involvement with an operation in which an estimated 78 million cigarettes were smuggled into
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Chessington wheelchair athlete races to another gold medal
Chessington wheelchair athlete Jack Binstead raced into first place in the London Youth Games last week - taking his medal count to 32 at the tender age of 12. Jack, who has brittle bone disease, represented Kingston and completed the 100m
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Fergie horse to run at Kempton
Kempton Park Racecourse welcomes horses belonging to The Queen and Sir Alex Ferguson to its extra racing fixture tomorrow (Thursday). The meeting has been transferred from the closed Great Leighs Racecourse in Essex. The Manchester United manager's
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Sutton firefighters get soapy for charity
Officers from Sutton Fire Station will do a car washing event to raise money for charity. The fire fighters will be washing cars all day to raise funds for Tadworth’s Children’s Trust and the Fire Fighters Charity. The event will take
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Will.i.am to hit the decks in Wandsworth
He's had number ones with the Black Eyed Peas, performed a duet with Cheryl Cole and starred in the latest X-Men film, now Will.i.am is coming to Wandsworth. The producer/rapper will be doing a live DJ set at Wandsworth Palais' Club W this
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The next train arriving at Putney Station will be...a boat
A rowing-themed memorial dedicated to a local man by his family has been unveiled at Putney railway station. Michael Valentine, a long-term Putney resident, died in December 2007 and was a student at Corpus Christi, Cambridge University, where
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Kingston estate life expectancy 5.7 years lower than affluent neighbours
Residents on the Cambridge Road estates are suffering an inequality in health compared with more affluent areas in Kingston, according to a social innovation study. As a result, Health Launchpad at the Young Foundation is working with NHS Kingston
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Prayers offered at London Peace Pagoda on 24th anniversary
Saturday marked the 24th anniversary of the London Peace Pagoda, which, situated in Battersea Park, is visited by thousands of people each year. To mark the occasion monks and nuns from many Buddhist traditions, along with representatives from
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Wimbledon street 'under threat', say English Heritage
A historic Wimbledon street is under threat from overdevelopment, according to heritage campaigners. Leopold Road, and the two 70m terraces of buildings running along it, form a designated conservation area. This week conservation group
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Could civil servant's drawings win children's book prize?
A civil servant has reached the final in a nationwide search for an undiscovered children's books illustrator. Alex Paterson, 39, from Epsom, who has received no formal art training, was selected as one of the six finalists out of 1,000 entries
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Buskers tell Jacko to Beat It!
A couple of former buskers from Croydon have taken on King of Pop Michael Jackson. The Dualers, Si and Tyber Cranstoun, booked the IndigO2 arena at the O2 in London for a gig on July 16 months ago. Then Michael Jackson announced his
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Music teacher raises £20k for eye charity
A music teacher from Sutton raised over £20,000 in five years for a charity that helped her mother cope with an eye condition. Liz Wardle, 54, whose elderly mother suffered with macular disease for over a decade, raised the money for the Macular
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Swine flu hits Mitcham primary school
Swine flu has been confirmed at a Mitcham school - although it is set to stay open. An unnamed boy in year 5 at Cranmer Primary School has been diagnosed with the illness, and many of his classmates are reporting symptoms suggesting they have
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Students tackle super cycle ride for dead friend
A group of students are cycling from John O’ Groats to Land’s End next month to raise funds for the Royal Mardsen Hospital in Belmont. Chris Primett, Will Taylor, Chris Price, Billy Bates and James Russell were inspired by the memory Tom Sewell
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School brings Potter magic to the classroom
Royal Russell School held a Harry Potter day to conjure up some funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital and promote child literacy. Pupils and teachers dressed up as Harry Potter characters with actors arriving at the school for a day of
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Fears debt-ridden residents could turn to loan sharks in recession
More Lambeth residents are spiralling into debt and could turn to loan sharks to avoid bailiffs, according to a charity providing free debt advice. Lambeth is one of the worst personal-debt affected boroughs in London, according to charity
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Wandsworth councillors advised to reject 16-storey hotel plan
Wandsworth councillors are expected to reject plans for a 16-storey hotel in Clapham Junction on Thursday night, just 48 hours after heritage group English Heritage (EH) said the area was “at risk of losing its character”. Planning officers
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Play tennis for free in Epsom
With Wimbledon well and truly under way Tennis for Free, in partnership with Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, is hoping to find a new Andy Murray. They are staging a free tennis competition, coaching clinic and tournament on Sunday (June 28
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Have you any ideas to invigorate Sutton?
A competition for ideas to regenerate and invigorate Sutton communities has been launched. Sutton Council wants people to tell it how they would like to spend £2,000 in their area. The Sutton Speaks campaign will involve a debate and
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New Shrewsbury Lodge headteacher named
Shrewsbury Lodge School in Esher - previously known as Milbourne Lodge Junior School - has announced the appointment of its new headteacher for the next school year. Gill Hope will start in her new position at the school in Milbourne Lane from
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Merton residents say yes to housing transfer
Council homes in Merton are set to be transferred to a new housing association, after tenants narrowly voted yes to the move. The results of last week’s housing ballot were announced on Tuesday, with 53.2 per cent backing the transfer and 46.8
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Tolworth gets competitive about slimming
Competitive dieting started in Tolworth this week, as slimmers were offered a cash prize to boost their motivation. The community weight loss challenge will award prizes to the slimmers who drop the biggest body weight percentage, as well as
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Croydon's youngest criminal just five years old
Croydon’s youngest criminal is just five years old. The child was reported for criminal damage in Croydon last year, but no further action was taken. The startling incident came to light as a Freedom of Information request by the Croydon
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Compensation for widower after hospital overdose death of wife
A widower fears he may never find out the truth about how his wife was given a fatal magnesium overdose at St Helier Hospital. Stephen Ryan, 82, has just been awarded a five-figure compensation package after the death of his wife Joyce, 79,
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MP and mayor sign up to Ashford and St Peter's Foundation Trust
MP Philip Hammond and the Mayor of Elmbridge have pledged to be two of the first members of Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals’ new Foundation Trust. The 12-week drive to recruit 3,000 members in support of the plans began earlier this month
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Criminals to clean up Gipsy Hill 'grot spot'
Convicted criminals are to give Gipsy Hill station a makeover, thanks to a public vote. Lambeth residents have chosen the station as the most needy “grot spot” that should be cleaned up by offenders as part of their community service sentences
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Pensioner has card stolen at Epsom ATM by conmen
A 71-year-old pensioner had his debit card stolen as he tried to use an ATM cash machine Epsom. Almost immediately the thieves used the card to take £450 from his account. Following the incident on Tuesday, June 16, east Surrey police
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Kingston Grammar School pupils travel 700 years back in time
Kingston Grammar School pupils will travel back seven centuries next month when they celebrate Lovekyn Day on July 8. There will be a medieval lunch menu with raised pies, “salats” and other typical dishes of the period, all eaten off bread
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MP faces calls to resign over second home expenses claims
Richard Ottaway is fighting for his political life after local party members demanded he resign over the MPs’ expenses scandal. The Croydon South MP has been accused of “fleecing the taxpayer” after claiming tens of thousands of pounds in expenses
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Firestarter aged three given safety lessons
A three-year-old boy has taken part in a fire safety course after accidentally setting his bedroom alight. The boy from New Addington is among 35 children under 17 signed up to Addington fire station’s six-month course. He was enrolled
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TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURE) ORDER 1995 www.croydon.gov.uk Application Number: 09/01471/P Proposed development at: Municipal Buildings and land adjacent Davis
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PARKING PLACES RESTRICTIONS
LIMITED TIME DISABLED PERSONS PARKING PLACES - DARTNELL ROAD www.croydon.gov.uk 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Croydon Council propose to make a Traffic Order under the relevant sections of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended
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LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS
PLANNING (LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS0 ACT 1990 PLANNING (LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS) REGUALTIONS 1990 www.croydon.gov.uk The Council have received an application for listed building consent to carry
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VARIATION OF ON-STREET PARKING CHARGES
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984, SECTION 46A AS AMENDED BY SECTION 42 OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC ACT, 1991 NOTICE OF VARIATION OF ON-STREET PARKING CHARGES AT CHIPSTEAD VALLEY ROAD, COULSDON www.croydon.gov.uk NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that