In a hustings debate ahead of May’s local elections, Council Leader Tony Newman gave a 100 per cent guarantee that ALL the millions of pounds generated from planning obligations attached to CPFC’S fooball stadium redevelopment would be spent locally on improvements – adding: “You have my word.”

He was responding to a question about the money accrued from Community Interest Levy and Section 106, if the £100million new stadium is given planning permission.

He said it would be spent on Selhurst, Thornton Heath and South Norwood. The redevelopment will generate £4million in CIL money and many more millions in Section 106.