Security is to be installed at the front entrance to the town hall
Croydon Council is set to install a card entry turnstile system at the entrance to the town hall after it claims that security is an issue at the Katharine Street building.
It has put in an application for permission to install a card entry double paddle gate for controlled staff access and a remotely operated gate entry system for supervised entry to visitors.
It has been recommended for approval at a planning meeting tonight.
The building, in Katharine Street, is a Grade II listed building and will require listed building consent for the changes to go ahead.
Croydon Council said that although the need for installation is "regrettable", it is necessary.
In the report it states: "The applicants have stated that the purpose of the prposed turnstile is to enhance security to the entrance of the town hall.
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"At present if the security staff who attend to the entrance are distracted or temporarily absent from their posts unauthorised persons may easily access the building.
"The proposed system would go a significant way to providing a more secure entrance."
English Heritage, the council;s Urban Design team and the Mid Croydon Advisory Area Panel have been consulted on the proposal and have expressed no objection to it.
Eight objection letters and one petition containing 26 signatures have been received.
The main issue are the cost of installation to taxpayers, the justification for the need for such extensive security and the alterations to a listed building.
However Councillor Alison Butler said: "This is the people's town hall and it is such a beautiful building it would be a real shame for the public not to be able to go in at their free will.
"Surely the point of a town hall is for it to be open to the public, it is also a listed building - why does it need such extensive security? "
Posted by: Realist, Croydon on 10:47pm Thu 8 May 08
Come on, Croydon Council, what message is this giving to the people of Croydon?? You already have security guards so the only conclusion is that you are about to embark on a course of unpopular decisions and you need to feel safe behind baracades! Please spend my tax pounds more wisely than this for goodness sake!!
Come on, Croydon Council, what message is this giving to the people of Croydon?? You already have security guards so the only conclusion is that you are about to embark on a course of unpopular decisions and you need to feel safe behind baracades! Please spend my tax pounds more wisely than this for goodness sake!!
Posted by: realtime, chavtown on 12:13am Fri 9 May 08
It was only a matter of time that this would happen as Croydon council has created and overseen a town of rising crime by overbuilding a chav friendly environment! natural progression!
It was only a matter of time that this would happen as Croydon council has created and overseen a town of rising crime by overbuilding a chav friendly environment! natural progression!
Posted by: selhurst, selhurst on 8:27am Fri 9 May 08
The Borough Commander at Croydon Police Station Says Crime is coming down The Council are making the point that the town is unsafe what next Mr Fisher Arches to scan for metal objects then there will be long ques for major planning meetings etc what a waste of Council taxpayers money.
The Borough Commander at Croydon Police Station Says Crime is coming down The Council are making the point that the town is unsafe what next Mr Fisher Arches to scan for metal objects then there will be long ques for major planning meetings etc what a waste of Council taxpayers money.
Posted by: selhurst, selhurst on 8:28am Fri 9 May 08
The Borough Commander at Croydon Police Station Says Crime is coming down The Council are making the point that the town is unsafe what next Mr Fisher Arches to scan for metal objects then there will be long ques for major planning meetings etc what a waste of Council taxpayers money.
The Borough Commander at Croydon Police Station Says Crime is coming down The Council are making the point that the town is unsafe what next Mr Fisher Arches to scan for metal objects then there will be long ques for major planning meetings etc what a waste of Council taxpayers money.
Posted by: nothing but the truth, croydon on 1:42pm Fri 9 May 08
Architects of their own downfall, it all reads like a comedy - with the police and council trying to pull the wool over the taxpayers eyes - Ha and now the truth, as we have always known it has been admitted!
For too long it's been a case of i'm alright jack - stuff the taxpayer, lets make life easy for crimnals, let's attract some of the worst to our borough and lick their bums!
mmm, i wish i was being paranoid....
Architects of their own downfall, it all reads like a comedy - with the police and council trying to pull the wool over the taxpayers eyes - Ha and now the truth, as we have always known it has been admitted!
For too long it's been a case of i'm alright jack - stuff the taxpayer, lets make life easy for crimnals, let's attract some of the worst to our borough and lick their bums!
mmm, i wish i was being paranoid....
[quote][bold]ANNE GILES[/bold] wrote:
Extra security in a place like the Town Hall can only be a good thing.[/quote] No, Anne, extra security for [bold]us[/bold] would be a good thing. The town-hall tax thieves are already well looked after.
ANNE GILES wrote:
Extra security in a place like the Town Hall can only be a good thing.
No, Anne, extra security for us would be a good thing. The town-hall tax thieves are already well looked after.
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 5:05pm Sat 10 May 08
We have a wonderful Council now and they are NOT tax thieves. I go to meetings at the Town Hall and I would like extra security when I am there. If you want extra security Croyboy, put yourself in prison. You'll feel safe behind bars.
We have a wonderful Council now and they are NOT tax thieves. I go to meetings at the Town Hall and I would like extra security when I am there. If you want extra security Croyboy, put yourself in prison. You'll feel safe behind bars.
Why do our elected councillors need to barricade themselves away from the public?
Are they about to make themselves so unpopular that they fear riots on the streets?
Clearly the Tory councillors are more frightened of the public than Labour.
Why do our elected councillors need to barricade themselves away from the public?
Are they about to make themselves so unpopular that they fear riots on the streets?
Clearly the Tory councillors are more frightened of the public than Labour.
ANNE GILES wrote:[quote]We have a wonderful Council now...[/quote]
A matter of opinion, of course.
[quote]I go to meetings at the Town Hall and I would like extra security when I am there.[/quote]
[italic]Why[/italic] do you feel you need "extra security"?
[quote]If you want extra security Croyboy, put yourself in prison. You'll feel safe behind bars.
.[/quote]
Then why, Anne, don't you "put yourself in prison" if you want extra security? After all, you choose to attend town-hall meetings, whereas [italic]I'm[/italic] talking about walking the streets and using public transport in safety as part of everyday life.
ANNE GILES wrote:
We have a wonderful Council now...
A matter of opinion, of course.
I go to meetings at the Town Hall and I would like extra security when I am there.
Why do you feel you need "extra security"?
If you want extra security Croyboy, put yourself in prison. You'll feel safe behind bars.
.
Then why, Anne, don't you "put yourself in prison" if you want extra security? After all, you choose to attend town-hall meetings, whereas I'm talking about walking the streets and using public transport in safety as part of everyday life.
Posted by: Mark Samuel, Croydon South on 7:11pm Sun 11 May 08
[bold]I organised the petition against this item and spoke of my objection and other residents' disgust of this item.
Voted out by 7 to 2
The People's Choice
In action![/bold]
I organised the petition against this item and spoke of my objection and other residents' disgust of this item.
Posted by: underattack, chavtown on 10:58pm Sun 11 May 08
Ok we are all at risk, we all need protection, people like Anne Giles are a huge threat to us. Until the liberal brigade gain coMmon sense we need to be on our guard!
Ok we are all at risk, we all need protection, people like Anne Giles are a huge threat to us. Until the liberal brigade gain coMmon sense we need to be on our guard!
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