A historic water trough on Godstone Road between Purley and Kenley lies unloved and neglected, a recent meeting of the Purley and Woodcote Residents' Association was told. The PWRA wants to have it restored – but first it will have to find out who owns it and is responsible for it.

Proper parking for Purley Hospital
Purley Hospital Board member – and chairman of the Purley & Woodcote Residents' Association - Tarsem Flora has drawn up a scheme to provide adequate parking for the Purley Hospital, due for a major revamp next year. Mr Flora says that a modest two-tier car park accessed via the adjacent NHS site in Pampisford Road could provide space for around 100 cars at the site, which would otherwise be very short of onsite parking.
He is hoping to organise meetings with local leaders and officials to establish the level of support for the scheme.
He suggested organising a meeting with local residents' associations, MPs, council leaders and officials to highlight the issue.
As the parking would be charged for, the scheme could be effectively self-funding, he believes.
Local Councillor Graham Bass is also researching a plan to reroute some local buses away from the High Street to Brighton Road so that they better serve the Hospital – and reduce annoyance to local people trying to enjoy the newly revamped area. However, there are many issues to consider, including interchange between buses and the railway station.
He said that he might set up a survey of local bus users to find out their preferences.

Purley Muslims split
The Croydon Advertiser reports in its latest issue that local Muslims are split over plans to open an Islamic centre at the former photographic studio in Russell Hill Place. While a decision on an appeal on the application – which was initially refused by Croydon Council – is expected in the next few weeks, some members of the Purley Islamic Community Centre have contacted the planning inspectorate demanding that the appeal be refused. They say that the site would be big enough for the numbers of people wishing to use it and have also threatenned to launched a petition to topple their leader, Monir Mohammed.

Where's your Mamma Mia gone?
Mamma Mia, one of Purley's oldest-established and best-loved restaurants, appears to have closed. According to a resident, a sign on the door says that the landlord has repossessed it following expiry of the lease.


More local news
Estate agent in the dock. . .Christmas concert. . .The History Boys – a correction (Click here for more details)

Stories from previous issues