the 81st Coulsdon & Purley Music Festival took place from 28 February to 22 March with another series of highly memorable events The festival itself is very lively and friendly and I found comfort in performing in a venue that I was familiar with I took part in both the woodwind and piano sections and although I didn’t win much the experience of a solo performance in the relatively casual and forgiving environment was very enjoyable as you are performing with other people your age and it is nice to hear other people perform whether they put their whole heart into it or their playing is just so virtuosic that you are mesmerised by it I would definitely recommend taking part in this next year as performing a solo piece with a live audience is great practice and character-building for public performances like speeches or even playing music the people there are very friendly but are also professional and knowledgeable so the adjudicators will give advice that greatly improves your playing 020 8773 2931 office@wilsonsschool.sutton.sch.uk Parent Portal Work at Wilson's Online Safety NSPCC Open Check Report a Concern Report Abuse CEOP COVID-19 Update cookies preferences © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Wilson’s School / Reg Charity (no School website design by Mercer Design Harwoods Group opened its new BYD dealership in Crawley (Manor Royal) yesterday and its BYD dealership in Coulsdon (Brighton Road) will open on 10 November The BYD showroom in Crawley will also be selling all-makes vehicles through Harwoods Assured The Coulsdon site will no longer offer Land Rover new and approved used car sales and will focus on BYD EVs and offer used all-makes vehicles through Harwoods Assured said: “We are excited to welcome BYD into the Harwoods family “This partnership is a significant milestone as we all continue our journey towards a more sustainable future “We are confident that our customers will be impressed not only by the innovative vehicles on offer but by the exceptional service provided at Harwoods BYD.” Harwoods announced further portfolio updates Chichester will continue as an Aston Martin full franchise but will no longer offer new and approved used Jaguar car sales The site will undergo refurbishment and serve as an authorised repairer for Jaguar and Land Rover as well as selling used vehicles through Harwoods Assured Brighton and Crawley will become full new car sale points for Land Rover including Jaguar and Land Rover approved used and authorised repair operations Land Rover Edenbridge will no longer offer new Land Rover sales but will continue to offer approved Land Rover used car sales and Land Rover authorised repair operations Bentley Sussex new car sales operations will be discontinued at Pulborough on 30 December Approved used car sales and authorised repairs will continue Land Rover Pulborough will fully close on the 10th of November 2024 Harwood said: “Harwoods has always been proud of our long-standing presence in Pulborough and Chichester and our contributions to the local communities “As our manufacturer partners implement changes to streamline its dealer structure these closures reflect the necessity of adapting to the evolving market and retail but they are essential for the future success of the business.” Tagged with: Higher costs and charges see Harwoods turn in -£12.5m losses for 2023 Jon Wakefield steps down as CEO of Harwoods with immediate effect Harwoods appoints ex-Volvo UK boss Jon Wakefield as CEO Strong used car market sees Harwoods profits surge 265% to £9.4m Harwoods Volvo Crawley achieves EVA status Harwoods Volvo Croydon opens new service centre You must be logged in to post a comment a UK based car finance provider authorised and regulated by .. Wishing all our customers and connections a super successful handover day #NewRegDay Use the affordable Keytracker intelligent locker system to securely automate the drop-off and collection lockers .. renowned for their top-quality paint and fabric protection systems We are pleased to share the launch of our new partnership with live-streaming service How will you adapt to higher National Insurance and general employment costs View Results Croydon Council has taken action to address the impact of upcoming roadworks on Coulsdon Road to minimise the disruptions to residents Croydon has developed a comprehensive plan that balances the necessary infrastructure improvements whilst respecting the concerns of local residents Roadworks to replace essential drainage infrastructure that collects rainwater that will help to reduce flooding on Coulsdon Road and surrounding properties The works were originally due to start on Thursday 25 July and had prompted complaints from residents The council re-doubled their efforts to work with neighbouring councils and have now secured a traffic management solution that will ease the impact on local traffic movement The revised measures will now close some residential side roads to prevent drivers ‘rat-running’ as had been experienced during an earlier phase of these works The works will temporarily shut Coulsdon Road between Old Fox Close and The Grove and are expected to finish before the local schools reopen after the summer holidays Stites Hill Road will remain open for 2-way residential traffic but HGVs will be prohibited through the installation of a width restriction at its junction with Coulsdon Road Tandridge District Council has confirmed they will work with Croydon to ensure Surrey County Council’s refuse collections on 20 and 28 August 2024 can take place during the road closures Diversion signs will be placed on the road network to direct through traffic away from the local area to minimise the impact To further reduce disruption the contractor has agreed to extend their working hours Monday to Sunday from 7am – 7pm The Council has contacted TfL as the signed diversion route will take drivers into the ULEZ zone along the A23 Brighton Road Drivers will need to remain on the diversion route if they have a ULEZ non-compliant vehicle or they may be fined TfL Buses has established diversion routes for its buses and will be communicating this information to its bus operators and passengers For information on the alternative routes for buses whilst on diversion passengers should contact TfL Buses by calling 0343 222 1234 it is inevitable that disruptions will occur residents use alternative routes and allow extra time to complete their journey “The roadworks taking place on Coulsdon Road are essential for repairing the drainage system which will help reduce flooding in the area “We have listened to the concerns of our residents and have worked diligently with Surrey County Council and TfL to find a solution that minimises inconvenience I am glad we have been able to reach this resolution that addresses these concerns and we are committed to ensuring the works are completed efficiently “We are pleased that our neighbouring councils have supported us to develop our plans for these works to enable them to be completed during the summer holiday as this is when there is reduced traffic in the area which will hopefully inconvenience less people “We anticipate that this will cause some disruption but we ask motorists to be patient and cooperate with us so that we can complete the work as quickly as possible.” Croydon’s NHS has been given the green light on a £6 million investment in a new primary care medical centre which will be located in the heart of Coulsdon on the site of the former CALAT building will be developed through a partnership with Croydon Council and aims to meet the growing demand for primary care services providing over 35,000 additional GP appointments to residents living in the south of the borough is the next step in the NHS’ plans to improve access to health services for local people helping residents to seek medical help closer to home said: “With the opening of a new medical centre we have the opportunity to actively improve the health of local people providing them with the support they need to stay well manage existing health conditions at home and seek advice when they feel unwell who have previously had to look outside of the area for this help this investment is a significant step forward and I’d like to thank all those who have advocated on their behalf and worked with us to develop these plans The development of the medical centre has only been made possible by the joint working of the local NHS and Croydon Council who have agreed to retain the site for the health service to develop supporting the Executive Mayor’s Business Plan of supporting health and wellbeing in the borough “Having listened to the needs of the community I’m proud to see this project move forward and I know local residents will benefit from this vital service.” who has championed the build on behalf of local residents added: “The agreement of a new medical centre is a huge win for the people of Coulsdon Alongside our health and local authority leaders I’ve worked hard to ensure that this investment becomes a reality and I’m delighted that we are now taking this important step towards better healthcare provision in our community This is part of our ongoing efforts to improve services for residents and ensure that they have the healthcare they deserve.” Construction on the new primary care medical centre will begin later this year with the facility expected to open its doors to patients in 2026 Savills has completed the acquisition of a purpose-built Volkswagen (VW) car showroom at Gateway Business Park in Coulsdon for an undisclosed amount bought by property company Le Masurier is let to Motorline a subsidiary of Marshall Motor Group who operate 17 Volkswagen dealerships in the UK which was purpose-built for the Volkswagen brand in 2013 comprises a modern and highly-specified car dealership extending to 26,986 sq ft across ground and first floor customer parking and vehicle storage to the rear It is located prominently on Gateway Business Park with extensive frontage on to the A23 and approximately 4 miles from junction 7 of the M25 Eddie Higham in the Savills Automotive team says: “We are pleased to have completed the acquisition of this prime located showroom covering the affluent South London market on behalf of Le Masurier Car dealerships exhibit strong distribution yield characteristics UK Property Investment Manager at Le Masurier remarked: “This was a great asset to add to our portfolio and one that met each of our core strategic objectives The prominent location next to the A23 London to Brighton Road sat well with our long-term investment outlook We look forward to doing more work in this sector in the future.” Auto Trader urges retailers to ‘scrutinise’ data to unlock more margin Chinese carmaker Chery to launch iCar in the UK in 2025 Marshall acquires Grange JLR Swindon Getting to grips with Crypto: What you need to know about the third payment option IMI puts automotive skills crisis top of the agenda in 2025 Kia launches dealer network for new commercial vehicle range 39-year-old Daniel Lyons has been jailed for six weeks after being found guilty of a number of thefts from the Godstone Road branch A CBO order also prohibits him from entering the borough of Reigate and Banstead Any breach of the conditions of Lyon’s Criminal Behaviour Order can lead to his arrest A new GP health centre in Croydon will move one step closer to fruition as a planning application is submitted to build it on a former car park Plans to build the centre in Coulsdon have been on the cards for around eight years with the area suffering from the poorest health provision in the borough Croydon council revealed plans to finalise the deal with the local NHS group to build and pay for the new centre in Coulsdon Town The £6.3m agreement would see the NHS provide the project funding The new centre will be built on the site of the car park formerly occupied by an adult education centre on Malcolm Road the council included the site in its second tranche of asset disposals designed to address the council’s £1.4bn debt burden Plans for the new health centre first emerged in 2017 but it took until March 2024 before the council announced the sale of the car park site to the NHS for development Croydon South MP and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp promised residents work would begin on the site within months the council struck a deal with a local car dealership The 12-month contract with the dealership reportedly meant that cars would remain on the site until spring this year It is claimed this agreement has contributed to the delay in the health centre’s delivery the plans continue to receive widespread support from community members South Croydon only has seven medical facilities compared to the 49 in the rest of the borough leaving 5,000 affected patients to find an alternative GP There is a shortage of local GP provision in Coulsdon specifically with large patient lists and access issues 31 per cent of the patients are registered with a GP outside of Coulsdon The area also has the highest proportion of older residents in Croydon with 4.6 per cent of people aged 65 and over-represented by those with dementia It also has a high number of care homes and seen significant residential development over the past decade leading to a sharp rise in the number of people seeking medical services Pictured top: Coulsdon Town’s Conservative councillors (from left to right) Luke Shortland Ian Parker and Mario Creatura with the plans for the new Health Centre (Picture: LDRS) Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The hotel and terrace at Coulsdon Manor in Surrey Approaching the 5th green at Coulsdon Manor One of the four-poster rooms at Coulsdon Manor The golf-themed art on the restaurant wall at Coulsdon Manor that caught Jeremy's eye Cuddington in Banstead was also designed by Harry Colt The excellent par-5 1st on the Yellow nine at Farleigh Jeremy Ellwood stays and plays at a lesser-known Harry Colt course just south of the capital and takes in a couple of other nearby courses As I studied Google maps before writing this feature a month or so after my visit to Coulsdon Manor just south of Croydon I was amazed at just how many courses there are in close proximity as greenery begins to give way fully to concrete bricks and mortar en route into the capital Shirley Park and the various courses in Addington and some 75 in total in the county one to the north of me this one had somehow eluded me so I was pleased to get the chance to both stay and play there in summer 2024 who played much of his formative golf at the course Colt’s layout eases you in with a gentle par 4 before hitting back hard with a much longer and more robust two-shotter After the par-3 3rd at the far end you turn back towards the hotel which play in different directions across the same dip among the best holes both visually and strategically I got a little too familiar with a back-left pin on 6 after over-drawing it but mercifully it stayed on top in the fringe to leave a relatively straightforward up and down position is vital on the shortish par-4 10th Anything too far right will find a copse from where the extent of any forward progress will depend on exactly where your ball ends up But in firmer conditions and with the right lie you may still be able to bumble something down the slope and fairly close to the green strong tests at 15 and 16 are followed by a par 5 and shortish par 4 to a green close to the hotel terrace which makes for a cracking spot to sit and watch the closing action over your tipple of choice Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts inexpensive base for golf around the south of London with the food in the Orangery great at both breakfast and dinner I also particularly liked the colourful golf-themed art on the restaurant walls proving that beauty really does lie in eye of the beholder with a couple of par 5s accommodating the odd early slight miscue before a brute of a par 4 at the start of two separate loops of three from 3 to 5 and then 7 to 9 the latter playing over a relatively slender plot across the Banstead Road The back nine starts with a downhill par 4 that some may choose to attack The finish is strong with a 200-yarder at 16 then an uphill par 4 back to the clubhouse that will invariably play surprisingly longer than its yardage The club will celebrate its centenary in 2029 the 45-hole resort further round the M25 quite close to Wentworth He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100 making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting) Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚ Ball: Any premium ball I can find in a charity shop or similar (or out on the course!) The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Get the latest news from Croydon Central straight to your inbox Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters After over two years without a bank, work has begun on creating a new banking hub in Coulsdon promises to provide in-person services for the community that has been without a bank since 2022 Customers will also be able to meet face-to-face with their bank or building society for more complex queries Community bankers from local banks will rotate on different days of the week which was championed by Coulsdon Town's Conservative councillors and local MP Chris Philp will be located at 152 Brighton Road and open from Monday to Friday Work began on Monday (January 20) to restore the building formerly home to Whichers Financial Advisors It is two minutes' walk from Aldi It will also be accessible from Chipstead Valley Road Ian Parker and Luke Shortland said in a joint statement: "We are delighted that a lease has been signed and work has begun to fit out the new banking hub in Coulsdon Coulsdon's last bank closing just over two years ago made it far more difficult for residents and businesses to access the banking services they need "The banking hub will bring back those vital services to our town as well as increasing footfall in the town centre This is the result of many different local representatives (including Chris Philp MP Residents Associations and councillors working and campaigning over a number of months." Coulsdon is not the only area of Croydon to have suffered from a loss of banking services in recent years lost its final bank branch at the end of last year despite a similar campaign from local councillors and Labour MP Steve Reed While Coulsdon's older-than-average population has suffered particularly from a lack of public services in recent years, there are other signs of improvement on the horizon. This week, Croydon Council will move one step closer to the creation of a brand new GP Health Centre in Coulsdon Mr Philp previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I've been working for several years to bring this health centre to Coulsdon It will provide vital new medical facilities for the town "This centre will help make access to healthcare faster and easier for everybody I'm going to continue working night and day to make this project happen." The new GP centre will be built on the site of the former CALAT Adult Learning Centre car park Don't miss out on the biggest Croydon stories. Sign up to our Croydon Central newsletter HERE for all the latest weekly news and more. Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The facility covered three time phases including ‘acquisition’ ‘let up’ and ‘stabilised occupancy.’ It included a generous letting up period all 72 flats were let out within the first facility quarter and as key lettings milestones were met the facility provided the client with margin reductions The majority of units are low cost 1 and 2 bedroom flats The properties are a short walk to three main line rail stations with a journey time of just over 20 minutes to London Bridge The majority of flats have balconies that overlook communal lawned gardens The high-quality design and finish resulted in the scheme being shortlisted for the International Building Project of the Year at the Irish Building and Design Awards 2024 The flats also benefit from an Energy Performance Certificate rating of B futureproofing them for the Government’s plan to require landlords to acquire an EPC rating of C by 2030 This was Farlane Capital’s first acquisition towards their goal of 500 private rental scheme (‘PRS’) units Farlane intends to collectively brand the portfolio under the ‘Nara Living’ brand and the focus will be on acquiring lower-cost energy-efficient rental homes with strong transport links to urban centres BLME said: “We are delighted to have been able to tailor the £12.5m facility to meet Farlane’s needs for this scheme and utilising BLME’s local market research and residential real estate experience Our assessment of Red Clover Gardens as a strong asset is reflected in all units being occupied so quickly and we’re pleased to be helping to bring much needed supply to the market.” Farlane Capital said: “BLME worked quickly to ensure the deal closed in four weeks The ability to work promptly with an experienced bank partner offering competitive finance which was tailored to the project were really important for us to be able close this transaction within a required completion timescale The assets have been let at record speed and we look forward to adding assets to our portfolio and ensuring good quality management to achieve strong lettings.” About Bank of London and The Middle East plc: BLME is a Sharia’a compliant bank based in London Led by a management team that brings together a combination of experienced international bankers and leading experts in Islamic finance BLME’s key business areas include: Wealth Management solutions BLME is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA Read BLME’s research report on GCC investment in UK commercial property here: BLME: Opening the Door Farlane Capital is a newly formed investment management platform that has successfully sourced equity and continues to seek new equity partners It is focused on ‘build to rent’ and acquiring ‘private rental sector’ properties at the more affordable end of the market with proximity and good transport links to urban centres and thereby focusing on a part of the market where there is chronic undersupply please visit Farlane’s website: www.farlanecapital.com The press release is provided for informational purposes only legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability value or profitability of any particular security Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law its affiliates and the respective shareholders content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages Get insights and exclusive content from the world of business and finance that you can trust For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 02:05 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 Cloud thinning and becoming mainly dry overnight Cloud thinning and breaking during the evening with showers and any remaining rain soon fading Showers remain possible across Kent with brisk winds here Possible rural grass frost in western parts by dawn Cloudier in east with best of the sunshine across western regions mainly fine weather with sunny or clear spells and mostly light winds Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average Croydon is set for a brand new medical centre backed by a £6million investment The new medical centre which will be located on the site of the former CALAT building in Malcolm Road aims to meet the growing demand for primary care services in the borough Building work on the centre is due to start this summer said: “We have the opportunity to actively improve the health of local people this investment is a significant step forward and I’d like to thank all those who have advocated on their behalf and worked with us to develop these plans.” Developed through a partnership with Croydon council the initiative forms part of the NHS’ plans to ensure people have access to health services close to home Last month the council placed the former CALAT site and car park for sale at £1.8million but the NHS came forward as preferred buyers The local authority agreed to retain the site for the health service to develop who championed the build on behalf of residents said: “The agreement of a new medical centre is a huge win for the people of Coulsdon “Alongside our health and local authority leaders Pictured top: Artists impression of the Coulsdon Medical Centre (Picture: Croydon council) Sadiq Khan has said that extending an existing London bus route to reach the village would not be ‘viable’ News | Transport Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A village just outside London’s boundary is in urgent need of a bus service as authorities on either side of the border refuse to pay for one Netherne-on-the-Hill, in Surrey is located just outside the London borough of Croydon but despite its population of around 1,500 people the village had its own community bus service but this was suspended during the Covid lockdowns and never reinstated In order to travel into London, residents now have to walk about a half a mile into the neighbouring village of Hooley and catch a bus from there to Coulsdon “A lot of people use Coulsdon South - it’s a really good station, with fast trains up into London,” said local councillor Shasha Khan, a Green Party member He said the lack of a bus in Netherne was a particular issue for “elderly people who need to get to GP appointments in Coulsdon” adding: “When you’re coming home from work and it’s dark at this time of year it’s an unpleasant walk - and I’ve spoken to women who are really uncomfortable about doing that walk so there are so many reasons there needs to be a bus up there.” Councillor Khan last year worked with Sian Berry - then a London Assembly member and now Green MP for Brighton Pavilion - to submit a petition to mayor Sadiq Khan with some 246 local signatures, calling for Transport for London’s (TfL) 463 bus service to be extended from Coulsdon to Netherne In a letter responding to the petition in June this year said TfL had “carefully assessed” the cost of extending the 463 and had found it “would cost around £1 million per year” assuming “a three bus per hour service extended from Coulsdon Town station” He added that TfL had “also calculated rough fare income and projected that based on the settlement of roughly 1,500 people it would cover only a fraction of this cost” The deputy mayor said: “TfL does not have a long-term funding settlement from the Government relying on one year capital funding deals instead Michelle O’Neill to break new ground by attending Remembrance Sunday in Belfast London bus drivers in protest over lack of toilets rest breaks and 'sweltering' cabs Sara Sharif at the centre of acrimonious custody battles From snacking to scrolling: bad sleep habits keeping you awake “Given this context, TfL does not have the budget to extend the route at this time, but it remains open to discussions with Surrey County Council who are responsible for bus services in the area about how services could be provided to residents of the county and how these could be funded.” Surrey County Council adopted a similar position saying that its officers “remain in communication with Netherne Residents Association and TfL and although Surrey County Council (SCC) unfortunately does not have the budget available to fund a TfL bus service Councillor Khan said the mayor was “playing politics” and said he had recently heard from local transport experts that a shuttle bus service could theoretically be provided on an hourly basis between Netherne and Coulsdon at a cost of roughly £400,000 per year He argued that TfL should take the lead on delivering such a service The expansion of the Ulez to cover all of Greater London last year and the fact that Surrey residents did not have access to the mayor’s scrappage scheme had made things harder for some people forced to rely on their cars the village’s residents have been able to use the Surrey Connect on-demand bus service but this currently only provides for journeys into the Tandridge district of east Surrey rather than crossing the London border into Coulsdon - and it has to be requested in advance The lack of any scheduled service to Coulsdon was recently raised again by Caroline Russell who asked in a written question to the mayor if he will “instruct TfL to work collaboratively with Surrey County Council to provide a TfL bus service to Netherne village similar to the service TfL provides for other locations in Surrey” The mayor reiterated TfL’s estimate of £1m and said a bus link was not currently “viable” though TfL remained “open to discussion” with its Surrey counterparts “about how services could be provided” Ms Russell said: “No one should feel forced to own a car to travel around London. After the cuts to buses seen during the mayor's tenure, I’m saddened but not surprised to see that people living just outside the boundary of London are unable to reach essential services in our city by public transport “If the mayor is serious about his environmental then I would hope he could work with the Government and Surrey County Council to find the modest funding required to provide vital bus services across the border and the many villages immediately around London Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary Home > News > Harwoods and Alan Day become latest dealer groups to partner with BYD in south of England News BYD has added to its rapidly-growing UK dealer network by opening three new showrooms in the south of England The Chinese EV brand has partnered with Harwoods Group to open specialist sites in both Crawley and Coulsdon The two dealerships are the group’s first dedicated electric and hybrid vehicle showrooms and form part of a wider strategic review for the Car Dealer Top 100 outfit opened its doors to customers yesterday (Oct 7) while the Coulsdon premises will begin trading from Friday (Oct 11) fellow dealer group Alan Day has also reached an agreement with BYD to represent the brand at a flagship store in New Southgate A star studded opening event was held in the London Borough last week with England rugby star Chandler Cunningham-South among those in attendance He was joined by ex-England footballer Tom Cleverly former France international Moussa Sissoko and singer Beverley Knight said:  ‘Alan Day is so proud to be representing BYD we have got our second site agreed and we hope to have another two sites by the end of the year ‘BYD are definitely going places and we appreciate the opportunity of going on this journey with them.’ added: ‘We are excited to welcome BYD into the Harwoods family ‘This partnership is a significant milestone as we all continue our journey towards a more sustainable future ‘We are confident that our customers will be impressed not only by the innovative vehicles on offer but by the exceptional service provided at Harwoods BYD.’ Tom Cleverley and Moussa Sissoko at the opening of Alan Day’s new BYD site in New Southgate the new BYD dealerships form part of a companywide review of its existing dealer portfolio the company has announced the closure of its Land Rover site in Pulborough after nearly 60 years with trading coming to an end of November 10 Bosses say that the majority of staff will be kept on at other nearby sites and it is hoped that job losses will be kept to a minimum the group is re-configuring its Chichester site in West Sussex the dealership will no longer sell new and approved used Jaguar cars and instead will sell used cars through the group’s recently launched Harwoods Assured platform as well as operating as an authorised repairer for JLR vehicles CEO Harwood added: ‘Harwoods has always been proud of our long-standing presence in Pulborough and Chichester and our contributions to the local communities ‘As our manufacturer partners implement changes to streamline its dealer structure these closures reflect the necessity of adapting to the evolving market and retail ‘These decisions were not taken lightly but they are essential for the future success of the business.’ A summary of all changes can be seen below: Jack joined the Car Dealer team in 2021 as a staff writer He previously worked as a national newspaper journalist for BNPS Press Agency He has provided news and motoring stories for a number of national publications including The Sun Keahn Williams, 20, of Coulsdon, and Kai Nelson-Palmer, 17, of Croydon, were both found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering Lucas Sutton News | London Two men have been jailed for life after plotting and carrying out the murder of a former friend who they stabbed to death in a street ambush in south London Keahn Williams, 20, of Coulsdon, and Kai Nelson-Palmer, 17, of Croydon, were both found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering Lucas Sutton, 22, who was lured to his death in Croydon on 23 May 2023 At Southwark Crown Court on 14 August, Williams was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years in prison while Nelson-Palmer received a minimum of 16 years Their convictions and sentences can now be reported following the lifting of reporting restrictions The court heard how Lucas Sutton had been tricked into meeting the pair at a flat on Princess Road in Croydon After walking to a local shop with the attackers Lucas was fatally stabbed in Northbrook Road by Williams who suddenly produced a knife and caught him completely unaware Lucas tried to flee but was chased down Mayo Road by Williams The 22-year-old managed to burst into a nearby pub seeking help but collapsed shortly afterwards Despite emergency services attending the scene Lucas died in hospital shortly after the attack Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who led the investigation, said: “The evidence gathered and presented to the jury built up a clear picture of a plot to lure Lucas to an address in Croydon “Lucas and one of the defendants had been friends but in the minds of the group Lucas had crossed them by attempting to get rid of a firearm he had been holding onto This perceived betrayal was the motivation for this deadly attack “It is clear in the weeks leading up to the murder that Lucas realised he was in danger but he did not suspect it was from those he thought of as his friends callous act that has left Lucas’s family and friends utterly devastated While those responsible have been held to account for their actions I know this will do little to ease the unbearable pain Lucas’s loved ones continue to endure.” Lucas’s family said: “The murder of Lucas has left a large hole in our lives which can never be filled They have not only taken away a nephew but a son We sit at home in the evening almost expecting him to come in with a smile on his face “He leaves behind his young son who will have to grow up without his best friend and father It breaks our heart that he will never see his Dad again we sometimes see him watching his friends playing with their dads and we just think he will never have that.” Detectives said analysis of Nelson-Palmer’s phone revealed the plotting between the attackers in the days leading up to the murder with Snapchat messages clearly showing their intentions Man locked up after killing pensioner with walking stick in random attack ‘International man of mystery’ denies aiding Russia sanctions breach Teenage ‘super scooter’ rider jailed for fatal shooting outside nightclub How Guerrilla.Co is tackling road-runoff pollution in the UK Williams and Nelson-Palmer were arrested in the week following the killing after CCTV footage showed Williams chasing Lucas while wearing a distinctive balaclava A similar item was later recovered from an address linked to Williams Friends and family had told investigators Lucas had appeared withdrawn and anxious in the weeks before his death confiding to them that he feared for his safety A 19-year-old man who was also accused of Lucas’s murder was acquitted at the Old Bailey on Wednesday Network Rail has completed construction of a new footbridge and lifts between the station platforms along with the installation of platform edge tactile paving and upgrades to the station power supply This work is part of the Department for Transport funded Access for All programme which aims to provide obstacle free accessible routes to and between platforms More than £300m has been secured to continue with the Access for All Programme over the next five years Key efficiencies were gained through re-designing the footbridge to reduce the amount of steelwork required and avoid needing to re-locate the taxi building Engineers carefully considered the station user when planning works to ensure minimum disruption A temporary scaffold footbridge was also installed to access the far platform which removed the need for construction workers to use the public station footbridge Public drop in sessions were held at the start of the works to inform passengers and progress updates were issued through station posters and project information boards Good relationships were maintained with local community groups - Friends of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley who kept the local community updated on progress Flower beds were also created to enhance the look of the station footbridge and lifts are now open to the benefit of all station users Accessibility Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “Our Access for All programme is proving that government investment is making a real difference and improving people’s lives “The new lifts and bridge will give more people confidence to travel by train especially disabled people and those with pushchairs or heavy baggage.” “We are continuously seeking opportunities to make stations more accessible and the new footbridge at Coulsdon South will help ensure that everyone in the community has the opportunity to easily access train services “These improvements are a vital aspect of our strategy to provide a safe Customer Services Director for Southern and Gatwick Express “We are committed to making our services safe and available to everyone we are delighted to welcome this great move forward for step-free access at Coulsdon South.” a member of Southern’s Accessibility Advisory Panel who travels daily between Coulsdon South and central London “The new lift at Coulsdon South is a much-needed and welcome improvement to the Southern network for me as a wheelchair user Its arrival has given me far more freedom to access London the South of England and beyond and is saving me five hours a week in travelling time.” to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years