Crystal Palace

Virtua l Question Time

Five Questions chosen by the members of Crystal Palace Chamber Of Commerce, Crystal Palace Transition Town and the Upper Norwood Library Campaign were sent to the Croydon North Byelection candidates:

Shasha Khan, Green Stranack, Con

Marisha Ray, Lib Dem

Steve Reed, Labour

Andy

These are the answers of the candidates who got back to us. A full list of all candidates for the by-election, which takes place on T hu rs da y 29 th N o ve mb er, follows the answers.

1. With ris in g fo od pr ices , an d con ce rns a bo ut clim ate cha nge, w hat w o uld yo u do t o s upp o rt lo ca l foo d grow ing projects su ch as com m un it y ga rde ns a n d urba n farms ?
Andrew Stranack (Conservative): For a number of years I've been supporting Good Food Matters, a charity in New Addington that grows its own food and guides residents on providing healthy food to their families on a budget. I would like this project to expand similar projects across Croydon. Shasha Khan (Green Party): Greens want to see greater localisation of the food chain, including locally owned co-ops and community gardens. I personally would press Croydon council to designate more land for such projects. Steve Reed (Labour): I think it's really important to support local projects that encourage sustainability. As Council Leader I set up a scheme called Community Green Champions, a network of community organisations including food growing projects and carbon reduction schemes across the borough. If elected I would work to set up similar projects in Croydon North. Marisha Ray (Liberal Democrat): The Liberal Democrats care about cutting bills for normal people and want to encourage green policies that help combat climate change. We believe with

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the right support, local food growing projects can keep food prices low and also provide multiple other benefits to North Croydon. Local food growing projects have many benefits to the community. Urban farms can be set up in schools to encourage pupils to learn about healthy eating as well as letting them experience a wide variety of different fruit and vegetables. They have also been proved to be a wonderful way of helping in the rehabilitation of prisoners and people with community sentences. Inmates working in the farm program learn employment and trade skills such as agriculture, food processing, equipment operation and repair, metal fabrication, computer skills, inventory tracking, shipping and receiving. They also learn teamwork and punctuality. We have a large number of independent shops in the area that could purchase any surplus food grown from community gardens that will surely enrich the local area.

2. Give n the t riple dip re ces sion /t he e con om ic de pre ssion a nd ris ing co sts su ch as rent s a nd e ne rgy, w hat wo uld can didates d o t o h elp C r yst a l Palace's dive rse lo cal, ind epe nde nt bus ine sses ? H ow wo uld yo u add ress t h e proble m o f e m pt y s ho ps ?
Andrew Stranack (Conservative): The country is currently out of recession and whilst we must not be complacent the Coalition government has still created 1 million private sector jobs, slashed the deficit by 25% and ensured that those working full-time on the minimum wage have had their income tax halved. In terms of empty shops, by bringing the tramlink to Crystal Palace we will generate business interest in the Crystal Palace area and kick-start the regeneration of the local economy. Shasha Khan (Green Party): We would introduce local community banks, which provide among other things, a new source of finance at a time when High Street banks aren't lending. Help small businesses with regulation and energy efficiency. I would like to scope the opportunity for a local currency similar to Lewes. Greens feel taxation system needs to be simplified in the long run, for example merging NI and Income Tax. Empty Shops can be used to showcase young talent - exhibiting creative arts. Steve Reed (Labour): The economy has flatlined over the last year, making life hard for local businesses. People in Croydon North are being let down by a Tory-led Government that is

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making the wrong decisions on the economy and failing to hold vested interests like the energy companies to account, leaving businesses with the added pressure of high energy bills while rising unemployment means their customers have less money to spend. Local, independent businesses are vital to a strong local economy and a vibrant community and the growing problem of empty shops needs to be tackled urgently. As Leader of Lambeth Council I promoted a scheme to overcome the problem of empty retail units in and around Brixton Market by offering a short-term rent-free period to help new businesses get on their feet, then pay rent when they were successful. This led to the regeneration of the area and encouraged more people to spend money locally, including an innovative new local currency, that helped the local economy to grow. As your MP I would lead a campaign for Croydon Council set up similar schemes here. I would also meet with local businesses in Crystal Palace regularly to make sure they are getting the support they need, as well as actively encouraging people to support their local independent businesses. Marisha Ray (Liberal Democrat): The issue of empty shops is something that deeply matters to me as it makes the area less attractive to visit. With the rise of online shopping, many high street shops are struggling and they are unlikely to return. I think it is vital that we encourage more independent stores to open and to encourage people back into the town centre through more restaurants, businesses and other services that can rejuvenate a high street. By putting new things that people want at the centre of the community we can make sure North Croydon is somewhere with a distinct character that reflects its diverse population. This will encourage visitors and engage the community to spend time and money in their area.

3. What w ill yo u do to p ro m ote sa fe , sus tain able tr ans po rt in the ar ea ?" (I f I ca n get t o w or k w ith ou t the t rains bein g late o r ge ttin g kn o cke d o ff m y bike d ue t o d od gy cycle pro vis ion , I 'll be a ve ry ha pp y cons tit ue nt) Do yo u sup po rt t he t ra m exte ns io n t o C ryst al Palace?
Andrew Stranack (Conservative): I am excited that Boris has commissioned a feasibility study into extending the tramlink to Crystal Palace. This will be published at the end of 2012. As your local MP I would be campaigning to ensure that trams come to Crystal Palace as soon as possible. I'm also looking forward to the results of the analysis concerning whether 'Boris' bikes would work in the Croydon area. Croydon Council has invested a significant sum of money

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improving walking and cycle routes around the borough, and I hope to work with the Croydon Town Hall, City Hall and Whitehall were I to be elected. Shasha Khan (Green Party): 20mph speed limit in residential areas will be the trigger for cultural shift to cycling and walking. Green councillors in Islington were the drivers behind the blanket 20mph throughout that borough. Yes Greens support tram extension to Crystal Palace. Steve Reed (Labour): I am a keen cyclist and believe strongly in sustainable transport. In Lambeth I helped extend the Barclay's bike hire scheme and increased the number of cycle paths to make it easier to travel by bike and encourage more cyclists. I would work with the Council to look at similar ways to help cyclists in Croydon North. I also worked with major local employers to encourage low-cost bike purchase schemes, shared cycle pools, and showers for cyclists in the workplace. I believe the tram should be extended to Crystal Palace and, eventually, across the Thames and would call on the Mayor of London to make this happen. I would also hold him to account on travel costs which he has pushed up faster than inflation for the past five years, putting extra pressure on people in Croydon North and discouraging people from using public transport - which is one of the most sustainable forms of transport. Finally, I strongly support shared car schemes such as Zipcar which reduces car emissions as it encourages fewer cars on the roads. Marisha Ray (Liberal Democrat): The Liberal Democrats support the tram extension to Crystal Palace. For too long both Labour and the Conservatives have said much and delivered nothing on this issue. The residents of north Croydon deserve better. Cycling is at the heart of Liberal Democrat plans for London and Croydon is no exception. We are a party known for our green policies after all. I would like to see an extension of the bicycle hire scheme so it benefits everyone, not just those that work in central London. That being said, the most important issue facing cyclists today in London is the lack of safe cycle routes. Currently it is impossible to cycle safely through London due to a lack of routes that dont require you to be on the road alongside speeding vehicles. The Mayor talks about a cycling revolution but fails to support the development of safe cycle paths. I wish to see developments such as in the Netherlands with off the road cycle paths that will encourage cycling as a method of transport for all.

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4. Ther e is increas ing a ne cd ota l evide n ce that C r ysta l Palace is expe r ien cin g ris in g crime . Wh y wo uld th is be ? What ca n be d one a bo ut it ?
Andrew Stranack (Conservative): Crime, even of the anecdotal variety, is important to address. That's why one of the key planks of my campaign has been my five-point plan to tackle crime in the constituency. You can read more online but essentially 1) More police resource for North Croydon 2) Tougher sentencing for real criminals 3) Improved education in prison to reduce reoffending 4) New street-lighting across the borough to create a safer environment 5) Better relationships between the youth and the police by running community events. Shasha Khan (Green Party): We need to establish why crime is rising in Crystal Palace. If the crime is drug related, maybe, a heroin addict mugging someone to pay for a fix, then the authorities must recognise the existing drug policy is not working. Heroin treatment centres have been successful in Switzerland. If its as result bored youths looking for a rush, then we need to provide adequate youth services/facilities. But above all, we must accept that unequal societies such as the UK and USA experience higher levels of violence and levels of imprisonment. Steve Reed (Labour): The Tories have cut 91 police officers from the streets of Croydon since the General Election. These cuts are wrong so soon after last year's riots, and the Tories are wrong to close South Norwood Police Station at a time when crime like robbery is on the increase. People in Croydon North are being let down by an out of touch Tory-led Government and an out of touch Tory Mayor and council who are allowing this to happen. I would also work to encourage local businesses to work in partnership against crime. In Streatham I helped set up a scheme which notified businesses when the alarms of neighbouring businesses went off, encouraging businesses to look out for each other to deter criminals. I would work with local businesses to look at setting up a similar scheme in Croydon. We also need more and better youth services and positive activities for young people, and we must demand that the Government invests in the school places we need to guarantee every child a decent education. Marisha Ray (Liberal Democrat): When I talk to people when I am out and about around Crystal Palace the issue of crime is something that comes up time and time again. While crime rates

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may have been falling nationally for years, the impression in some areas is very different. This is why I have always been supportive of more community style policing with an emphasis on the links between police officers and the residents they are there to protect. This is why I strongly oppose the shutting of police stations and their replacement with part time stalls in shopping centres as proposed by the Conservatives. We need to make the police more accessible and better serve the local community. I have a record of action when it comes to tackling crime. I was responsible for implementing a ground breaking gang prevention scheme in inner London that brought police and the community together. This helped reduce crime and get young people at risk onto the right track.

5. Uppe r N o rw oo d J o int L ibra ry ch erish e d by all o f Cryst al Pa la ce and w hich serves 19 ,000 Cro yd on res ide nts ha s had its fu nd ing d rast ica lly cut by Cr o yd on co un cil w hat wo u ld you to d o t o e nsu re it n ot on ly cont in ues t o exist but t hrives go in g forward ?
Andrew Stranack (Conservative): Libraries are really important community institutions. I believe the people of Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood deserve access to a decent library just as much as everyone else in Croydon. Our Conservative Council has said they will top up the money Lambeth have offered for a community group to run the library. They are the only council in the country that provides funding for a library outside its borders. But I will lobby all the councils in the area to ensure that the library has a sufficient budget were I to be elected, as I discussed with the UNJL team when I visited them last week. Shasha Khan (Green Party): My recent visits to Upper Norwood during the election campaign have shown me just how the local people cherish and value their library. I would apply pressure on Croydon Council to rethink their short-sighted decision to slash funding. If as a result, there is no option but to form a trust, I would use my best efforts to source alternative funding. Steve Reed (Labour): As Leader of Lambeth I opposed Tory attempts to close the Upper Norwood Library and cut its funding to an unsustainable level every step of the way. The Tories in Croydon tried to close the library down a year ago and only stopped when I sent them legal letters explaining they would be in breach of their own contract if they did. I then made sure

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Lambeth guaranteed funding that would keep the library safe even after Croydon's Tories slashed their share of the funding by 60%. Upper Norwood Library has been jointly and equally funded by Lambeth and Croydon for 100 years. Croydon's Tories have now brought that agreement to an end by cutting 120,000. As your MP I will ensure that the Tories are held to account for the damage they are causing, and I will work with Croydon's Labour councillors to ensure that funding is reinstated if Labour wins the council election in May 2014. I have also proposed setting up a community trust to help protect the library from any future threats from the Tories. Marisha Ray (Liberal Democrat): Its clear that the Conservative run council is out of step with residents wishes. Upper Norwood Librarys unique method of being run by the community is a wonderful example of the local community doing a better job running a public service than the council. You would have thought that this innovative model would be the sort of thing a Conservative council should be supporting. I will push for the council to reconsider their decision. In addition, I would spend my time campaigning for its management style to be copied by other libraries across the country and use this message to bring national focus on the scandalous cuts the Conservative Croydon council are making.

A by-election will be held for the Croydon North constituency on 29 November 2012 following the death of Labour MP Malcolm Wicks:

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