PRESS RELEASE

7 May 2002

OTTAWAY CALLS FOR RE-ESTABLSIHMENT OF PURLEY AND COULDON DISTRICT COUNCILIES

Following Labour's re-election in Croydon in the local elections last week, Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South has suggested that the south of the Borough should be administered by a re-formed Purley and Coulsdon District Council.

The local elections have left South Croydon overwhelmingly Conservative, with 20 Conservative Councillors out of a total of 24. This is in stark contrast to the rest of the Borough.

Richard Ottaway says:-

"Last Thursday 47% of the Borough voted Conservative against 39% who voted for the Labour Party. Yet Labour remains in control with their wards entirely in the north of the Borough. Despite this, this minority administration will continue to treat the south of the Borough with a cavalier disregard."

"My constituents have lived through the past eight years of a Labour-controlled council which has not got a good record. They show no interest in Cane Hill or the Coulsdon By-pass and they will continue to allow house-building in the South of the Borough whilst focusing all the key-spending on the north".

"It is obvious that the aims and aspirations of the south of the Borough are very different from the north. South Croydon has more in common with Surrey. I will be writing to the Secretary of State calling for the re-establishment of Purley and Coulsdon District Council.

"Purley Town Hall should not be disposed of until this matter is resolved".

Ends.

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