West Croydon & Thornton Heath Conservatives

01/09/2026

London Gatwick’s expansion is one of the most important economic opportunities our region has seen in decades, and Croydon is central to making it work.

I had a very positive meeting with London Gatwick’s Chief Executive, Pierre-Hugues Schmit. Croydon and Gatwick are united in our ambition and will work in lockstep to ensure the Northern Runway delivers jobs, investment and prosperity across the region.

At the heart of this is the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone, the UK’s first aviation-powered economic zone. It brings Croydon together with Gatwick and partners across the wider region to attract investment, grow tourism and international trade, and create new employment opportunities.

Croydon has a distinctive role within that partnership. From East Croydon, Gatwick is around 15 minutes in one direction and central London around 15 minutes in the other. That makes our borough the natural staging post between the airport and the capital.

For tourists, Croydon can offer better-value accommodation with fast access to London and Gatwick. For investors, it offers exceptional connectivity alongside major regeneration opportunities. This strengthens the case for new hotels, an expanded conference offer and further investment in our retail, hospitality and town centre economy.

We also want Croydon residents to benefit directly through careers in engineering, airport operations, hospitality and retail, as well as programmes such as the London Gatwick Aviation Academy.

That growth must be supported by modern infrastructure. The Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme is essential to unlocking the rail bottlenecks around East Croydon and Selhurst. If Gatwick is to grow, the public transport network serving it must have the capacity to grow too: https://www.jasonperry.uk/UnblockCroydon

This is bigger than either Croydon or Gatwick. Together, we can create a globally connected growth corridor that delivers for the region and makes a serious contribution to the national economy.

26/08/2026

25/08/2026

Really pleased to meet residents at my latest Meet the Mayor session at Costa Del Croydon.

For me, this is all about getting out into the community - away from the desk and in a more informal setting where people can simply drop in, have a conversation and talk about the issues that matter to them.

We talked housing, employment, community safety, fly-tipping and more. Every issue raised was noted and will be followed up with a written response.

Real engagement - listening, following up and taking action.

20/08/2026

Well done to Croydon’s young people receiving their GCSE and vocational results today. As London’s youngest borough, our future is in incredibly talented hands.

Whatever is written on your results slip, there are many exciting opportunities and plenty of support available for whatever comes next:https://www.croydon.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-07/exam-results-guide-2026.pdf

19/08/2026

At last night’s first new-format Residents’ Association Forum, I announced a new initiative to make it easier for people to dispose of bulky household waste.

Our new community collection days will be organised with residents’ associations, bringing collections closer to those who may struggle to reach one of our recycling centres.

I also announced that our pioneering blitz clean programme will return, with Thornton Heath, Norbury, Selhurst, Shirley and New Addington benefiting during the next financial year.

Alongside this, I have directed council staff to begin the process of expanding the opening hours of our recycling centres and to explore allowing them to accept trade waste. Pop-up mobile recycling centres will also return across Croydon.

We will maintain zero tolerance for those who deliberately dump waste and blight our neighbourhoods. But we must also make it easier for residents and businesses to dispose of their waste properly, removing many of the reasons too often cited when fly-tipping occurs.

The Residents’ Association Forum is part of my pledge to create more opportunities to hear directly from local groups, alongside our new Motorists’ Forum, a Friends of Parks meeting and a Faith Leaders’ meeting.

Find out more here:

https://www.jasonperry.uk/cleanupCroydon

19/08/2026

I want to make it easier for residents and local businesses to come and talk to me.

I have held Mayor’s Question Times and casework surgeries across Croydon, but I know daytime sessions do not work for everyone.

So on Tuesday evening, I am trying something a little different – an informal Meet the Mayor at Costa Del Croydon.

It is later in the day, in the heart of our town centre and somewhere you might already be passing on your way home.

No formality. No need to come to the Town Hall. Just stop by and have a conversation.

And if you have not visited Costa Del Croydon yet, come and take a look! Level 3A rooftop car park 👉 https://tinyurl.com/tc8bj59x 🏖️

18/08/2026