Boris welcomes Waddon's new leisure centre

Boris testing out the shoulder press

Yesterday morning the Waddon team were very proud to welcome the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson to test out what was on offer at the new leisure centre on the Purley Way in Waddon.

In January, the leisure centre was officially opened by Paralympian David Weir CBE, where local residents and school children came together to celebrate this wonderful occasion. 

Boris was delighted with the facilities on offer and tested out the shoulder press machine in the gym and also managed to play table tennis or as he calls it 'whiff-whaff'!

He said that he was very proud that the Conservative-run Council delivered on its promise to residents. 

Boris with the Waddon team outside the leisure centre

Waddon's Hidden Gem

Yesterday a long-standing friend from Waddon told me that he had never visited Waddon Ponds and had no idea where it was, when I described it as one of Waddon's hidden gems. I was very surprised by this as he lives close by in Old Town and takes his dog for daily walks at Duppas Hill. However, in case he isn't alone I have decided to write a post on Waddon Ponds as it is one of my favourite places to visit in Waddon.

The ponds are located between The Ridgeway, Waddon Court Road and Court Drive and are home to a variety of ducks that enjoy being fed with lots of bread! 

When Tony, Simon and myself re-stood for election in May 2010 we pledged to continue investing into Waddon's local parks, especially Waddon Ponds. I am delighted that we have achieved this and have improved Waddon Ponds under the Parks to be Proud of Project. 

Wandle Ponds has benefited from a number of improvements over the past few years, including:

• Major repairs to the pond bank
• Refurbished toilets
• New mature shrubs
• New benches, spring bulb and tree planting

A local resident described it as a "Home of extensive ponds centrally positioned in this hidden gem of a park- inhabited by a wide range of aquatic birds and surrounded by an ornamental garden."

Access to the park is from The Ridgeway, Waddon Court Road or Mill Lane. 

To view the variety of ducks, click here 

Say No to TFL's proposed removal of Purley Way crossing

Last week I was contacted by a local resident in Court Drive telling me that they had received a letter off TFL stating that they were proposing to remove the pelican crossing at the end of Waddon Park Avenue across the Purley Way.

After a few phone calls this turned out to be true- despite neither the Council nor my ward colleagues or myself being notified.

We disagree with TFL that this crossing should be removed as a lot of residents who live in neighbouring roads namely The Ridgeway, Court Drive, Waddon Court Road, Alton Road and Waddon Park Avenue use it a lot to cross the busy and sometimes dangerous Purley Way.

TFl’s justification for removing the crossing is “The pedestrian demand at this site reaches a maximum of 44% during the weekday AM peak which is low compared to the London average.” It would be useful to see the locations of the other pelican crossings that TFL have got data on as if they are in Central London ie. outside Victoria/London Bridge train station the  you would assume that they would have a larger pedestrain footfall than that of this crossing.

On Saturday we are knocking on doors in The Ridgeway, Court Drive, Waddon Court Road, Alton Road and Waddon Park Avenue to see what other residents views are and collecting signatures for our petition against this crossing.

Photo of proposed crossing that TFL are planning to remove

Please contact me at clare.george-hilley@croydon.gov.uk for more information and help us to save this crossing!