Over the past four years, we have worked consistently as your Kenley councillors to focus on what matters most to residents, protecting Kenley’s character, improving local infrastructure, and securing investment in the services and spaces our community relies on every day.
A key priority has been standing up for Kenley’s unique character. We have actively challenged inappropriate developments, objected to unsuitable proposals and ensuring residents’ voices are heard in planning decisions. Our approach has always been to support well-designed, sensible developments while resisting proposals that would erode the suburban and green character that makes Kenley special.
We have also made real progress on flood prevention and drainage. Improvements have been delivered in areas including Little Roke Avenue, Park Road, Bourne Park Close, Purcell Close, Station Road and Kenley Lane, where residents have long experienced issues. Working closely with council officers, we have helped secure practical solutions such as new drainage infrastructure, soakaways, regular clearing of trash screens and ongoing monitoring to reduce flood risk and improve resilience during heavy rainfall.
Protecting and enhancing our green spaces has been another important focus. We have supported upgrades to parks and open spaces across Kenley such as Bourne Park, Higher Drive Recreation Ground and Roke Open Space (which is just over the border in Purley), with investment in facilities for children and families. These spaces are at the heart of community life, and we are committed to keeping them safe, welcoming and well maintained.
We have also helped secure improvements to road safety and transport, including reigniting a long-standing campaign that resulted in a new safe crossing over the A22, a major safety improvement for residents, particularly schoolchildren and those accessing local amenities. Alongside this, we have continued to raise issues around roads, parking, and local safety concerns as they arise. We have worked closely with Southern Railway to introduce cheaper parking at Kenley station and continue regular meetings with Govia Thameslink Railway to lobby for additional peak hour services on the Caterham line, we hope to share further news with you on this soon.
Alongside this, we have supported improvements to and a new local bus service, helping to secure better access and more reliable links for residents across Kenley and surrounding areas. These changes are part of a wider effort to ensure Kenley is better connected, particularly for older residents and those without access to a car.
At the heart of all our work is listening to residents and acting on what you tell us, whether it’s addressing flooding, improving local parks, improving transport link, challenging contentious proposed developments or working with the police to keep Kenley safe, these improvements are a result of working with residents, the Council, Transport for London, our Resident Associations, the police Safer Neighbourhood Team, and other key agencies.
A great deal of this work has been supported and enabled through the leadership of Executive Mayor Jason Perry, whose focus on improving local services, strengthening neighbourhood working, and investing in Croydon’s recovery has made it possible to deliver meaningful change on the ground in Kenley.
You can read about our work in the 240 articles that we’ve published over the last four years about our work in Kenley.
But there is still more to do, including, continuing to:
- protect Kenley’s character by challenging inappropriate development and standing up for our area
- work closely with residents, and local groups, including Kenley’s Residents’ Associations, to act on the issues that matter most
- improve transport and connectivity, building on our relationships with Govia Thameslink and Transport for London
- enhance road and community safety, working with the council and local police teams
- support local services and community initiatives, including the Food Stop at Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church
- ensure that residents in Kenley’s council estates are listened to and receive a high standard of service in ground maintenance and housing repairs
- raise standards in council services, from roads repairs, waste collection and street cleaning, grass cutting and the street scene, while remaining accessible through our regular councillor surgeries.
We are proud of what has been achieved over the last four years, and we would be grateful for your continued trust and support so we can keep delivering for Kenley.
Please do vote for us as your local councillors and for Mayor Jason Perry as the elected Mayor - without whose support our work would be so much more difficult.
Thank you for reading.
Gayle and Ola
