Samir Dwesar

It was wonderful to give my maiden speech in the Council Chamber this week - a special moment that I will always remember. 

We have been advised by SES Water that they will be digging holes for three nights on Friday 27, Saturday 28, and Sunday 29 January 2023 as part of investment to lay new or improve existing pipelines between some of their key treatment works and pumping stations.

Purley & Woodcote has received more planning applications than any other ward in Croydon besides Fairfield, which is the town centre. As such, I’m used to notifications of new planning applications coming in and lodging objections/referrals where necessary.

On Monday evening, I joined Mayor Perry for the Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards at Fairfield Halls.

On Sunday, I joined residents of Woodside Road which held a play street event between 2pm and 4pm.

A play street means neighbours agreeing together to open their street for play and community and close it to through traffic temporarily but on a regular basis.

This weekend, I paid a visit to the Purley Food Hub at the Purley United Reform Church which today celebrates its 10-year anniversary. In the 10 years that it has been around, it has served Purley and the surrounding areas in providing 290,000 meals to local residents in crisis.

I have been pushing Council officers to put pressure on Polaska who own the old Sainsbury’s site to carry out remediation repairs, including the fixing of the lifts and published a blog about this.

As Deputy Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, I am pleased to see Croydon launch a health and wellbeing survey for children in year groups, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12.

As we think about Christmas plans, I know we are all acutely aware that many are struggling with the cold and concerned about their energy bills and cost of living. As councillors we have a responsibility to support the vulnerable where we can.

This week, I joined the Purley Business Improvement District (BID) for their board meeting.