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With local elections here in Croydon in May, we speak with Alicia Bunn, Reform UK candidate for Shirley North.

Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?

My family roots in Croydon go back to my grandmother’s generation, and although I only moved here eight years ago, the borough quickly became an important part of my social and working life. I both live and run my design practice here, and having lived across the UK and abroad, I’ve seen how much difference safe, green, welcoming neighbourhoods make to families and communities.

What do you see as the big issues for Croydon and if elected what would you hope to champion?

Shirley North should be a place where people feel safe, take pride in where they live, and see their area properly supported — with council tax spent where it makes a real difference.

From speaking to residents, it’s clear that people want safer streets, well-maintained public spaces and a stronger sense of community — both locally and across Croydon, including a town centre that feels safer, more welcoming and better managed, without Shirley North being overlooked.

I run a Croydon-based design practice and bring experience delivering large-scale projects in the UK and internationally. My work has involved managing budgets, coordinating teams and delivering complex projects – giving me a practical understanding of how to turn ideas into real improvements.

My focus is on improving wellbeing and day-to-day life: safer, better-managed streets; real investment in green spaces and the high street; and housing that raises standards while protecting what people value – creating a place where everyone, including women, children and older residents, feels secure and supported.

I’m standing to listen, represent and deliver real improvements for local residents.

Drawing on my experience delivering complex projects, my priorities are:

1. Safer Communities, Tackling Crime – Cracking down on crime and anti-social behaviour while improving everyday safety across streets, public spaces and the town centre — so residents feel secure and confident where they live.
2. Pride in Place, Putting Residents First – Investing in green spaces, public areas and the high street to create well-designed, usable places – with better facilities and spaces that naturally bring people together.
3. Better Housing, Higher Standards – Improving housing quality, tackling poor conditions, and supporting well-designed homes that make best use of space, deliver real value, and respect the character of the area.

How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?

You can follow me on my Facebook page: Alicia Bunn – Shirley North and on TikTok.  You can also find out more in our booklet ‘CROYDON NEEDS REFORM – OUR CONTRACT WITH YOU’ and follow us on Facebook or contact us at chair.croydon@reformuk.com.

With local elections here in Croydon in May, we speak with Brian Putman, Reform UK candidate for Selhurst.

Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?

Hello, my name is Brian. I am an English Christian who has lived in Selhurst since 2011 and married a Nigerian woman in South Norwood in 2015. I am a law graduate and a qualified counsellor.

I am standing for Reform to represent and serve residents of Selhurst in the 2026 local elections.

What do you see as the big issues for Croydon and if elected what would you hope to champion?

Reforming Croydon Council cannot wait. Croydon Council too often doesn’t get the basics right, for instance the website croydon.gov.uk remains much it was when originally registered.  It is close to unusable for many residents. 

I will work with Council Cabinet members and staff to redesign a functional and modern website that is accessible and effective for Croydon residents and visitors. I have personal experience in using Croydon Council’s housing services and dispute resolution procedures.  My professional life has included automation of financial services contracts, reducing costs by 30% and ensuring absolute data integrity.

Croydon Council needs to be reformed to work for residents.

Elect me, Brian Putman for Reform UK to represent the residents of Selhurst Ward in May 2026.

How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?

You can follow me on my Facebook page: Reform Selhurst – Brian Putman.  You can also find out more in our booklet ‘CROYDON NEEDS REFORM – OUR CONTRACT WITH YOU’ and follow us on Facebook or contact us at chair.croydon@reformuk.com.

With local elections here in Croydon in May, we speak with Antony Vundi, Reform UK candidate for Shirley South.

Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?

I grew up in Croydon, attending both primary and secondary school in the borough after moving to the United Kingdom at the age of six, without speaking a word of English. My parents were strong advocates of integrating into British culture, and within approximately three months, I had learned the language—so much so that today, many people are surprised to learn that English is not my first language!

While my parents gave me a great deal of freedom growing up, they also instilled in me the belief that there is no substitute for hard work and self-discipline. That mindset led me to begin working at 16 in a major retail store on Purley Way, even before sitting my GCSEs! I continued working throughout sixth form and later chose a degree apprenticeship, as I wanted to keep earning and gaining practical experience rather than pursue the traditional university route.

That background has shaped who I am today-one of the youngest Solicitors of the Senior Courts of England and Wales.

I decided to stand because I am tired of the repeated letdowns and broken promises from the same crop of Conservative and Labour local politicians. I am frustrated with hearing from scripted career politicians and want to see real, straight-talking, and competent leadership in the Council—people who are focused on running it efficiently and being accountable to the public.

After years of complaining about the lack of such leadership, I asked myself: why not me? Why can’t I deliver the change I want to see? At only 25, I have already beaten the odds in my academic and professional life but I want to take on a new challenge—in the service of ALL the people of Shirley South.

You’re the prospective candidate for Shirley South ward, what are the major concerns in the area?

Shirley South is defined by the suburban character that so strongly shapes our borough. That is precisely why many residents question why such a sprawling, car-dependent area – poorly served by public transport – appears increasingly hostile to motorists. The nearest Underground station is some seven miles away in Brixton. Policies designed for Inner London simply do not translate well here, particularly when neighbouring Bromley demonstrates that a more balanced approach can maintain equal or better road safety outcomes.

Motorists in Shirley, in particular, have borne the brunt of these policies. Many have been penalised by LTNs across Croydon that were later ruled unlawful, having been implemented for revenue generation rather than genuine safety concerns. A blanket 20mph speed limit has been imposed across the area, often without regard for local context – for example, along stretches such as Shirley Church Road and Oaks Road, where such restrictions appear disproportionate. These policies were introduced under a Labour administration and remained largely unchanged during four years of Conservative control of the Council.

Residents face further frustration when navigating the borough. Attempting something as routine as picking up a family member from East Croydon station can result in fines from a yellow box junction that has generated substantial income for the council, despite growing questions over its legality. Meanwhile, basic road maintenance has been neglected: potholes – most notably in Shirley Hills car park—remain unrepaired, and roads have gone unsalted during winter conditions.

Public transport offers little relief. The ward suffers from limited rail access and inconsistent bus services. Residents have even endured winters without bus stop shelters due to disputes between the council and Transport for London. And, time and again, the long-discussed “bridge to nowhere” at East Croydon station is raised on the doorstep as a symbol of missed opportunities and poor delivery.

More widely what do you see as the big issues for Croydon and if elected what would you hope to champion?

To summarise: Westfield and West Croydon. Both in many ways, symbolise this borough’s failure to grasp the opportunities before it – despite being one of the largest boroughs in London, itself one of Europe’s leading cities.

Residents in Shirley South tell me they do not feel safe in the town centre. They acknowledge the efforts of the police but say that crime and anti-social behaviour often appear to go unchecked, while issues like littering have become normalised. As a result, some are sadly choosing to shop in nearby Bromley, or even travel as far as Bluewater Shopping Centre, rather than support our own high street.

As a Council, we need to refocus on the basics. No more ill-conceived schemes. No more over-engineered, underused cycle lanes or poorly thought-out road closures. No more speculative developments that fail to deliver for residents. And no more wasting money chasing trends or relying on expensive consultants.

We must get the fundamentals right – and, above all, be honest with residents about our financial position. In my role as Shirley South’s councillor, I will champion a practical, common-sense approach to transport and planning policy, and tackling anti-social behaviour, to help get our borough back on track, for ALL the residents of this ward.

How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?

You can find out more in our booklet ‘CROYDON NEEDS REFORM – OUR CONTRACT WITH YOU’.  You can also follow us on Facebook or contact us at chair.croydon@reformuk.com.