Tory councillors fail to stop overdevelopment in Old Coulsdon

Over-development has been raised as a major concern in Old Coulsdon, with existing councillors accused of offering talk but no action.

John Jefkins, Lib Dem council candidate for Old Coulsdon and an ex-architect said ‘developers have got away with poor artist’s impressions that fail to match what then gets built. We need councillors with experience of these tricks. Any development must fit in – to keep our village atmosphere’.

Current Conservative councillors have been ineffective at stopping many of the developments in Old Coulsdon.

John Jefkins and fellow Lib Dem council candidate Gill Hickson recently commented on revisions to the Croydon Plan. Gill said: ‘Post-Covid, demand has changed in favour of homes with gardens instead of single-bed flats (with more home working). We need the right housing in the right places.’

John Jefkins said: ‘homes must match existing property sizes and styles. Developers must also be made to fund extra infrastructure of schools, healthcare and drainage to prevent flooding, like the floods we had in 2016. Rainfall must be drained into soakaways instead of into our already overburdened sewers’.