Hi all,

You may have seen that Croydon Council today posted a carefully worded non-statement about Heathfield House.

Croydon Council claim they are 'not selling' Heathfield. However;

• Listings (now removed) repeatedly state ‘For Sale’ and 'significant opportunities for redevelopment'.
• Leasehold sale is still a form of sale. Leasehold ownership is still a form of ownership. Stating the building will remain in ‘public ownership’ is dishonest and disingenuous. 
• The lease terms mean 'not-owning' the building until 2150.
• A transfer into any type of ownership without meaningfully engaging with the community, sale sets a dangerous precedent for all of Croydon's green, historic and public spaces. 
• Today central government has today stated that within Exceptional Financial Support packages, which includes Croydon's bailout;
  'expectations have been set out to protect treasured community assets, culture and identity, with councils using capitalisation instructed not to dispose of community and heritage assets'.  

Many of us will know as locals that statements like today's from Croydon Council are meaningless. We insist upon tangible, visible action. 

We still call on Jason Perry's 'transparent' Council to:

1. HALT SALE, HALT 'LEASING'
2. Initiate fully public community consultation.
3. Disclose all details of decision making related to Heathfield House.

Our next steps will be more direct action.

Some of you have expressed personal connections to Heathfield, as well as further information about the care of the gardens. If you want to help or give more info, please email us at info@turf-projects.com stating 'Heathfield' in the subject line.

Power to the people of Croydon!

~Turf