Backing Croydon Central 100%

I am Gerry Ryan. I have lived and worked in Croydon most of my life. My wife Jackie and I have two sons, Lee and Dan, both of whom attended school and college in Croydon. Lee
has just finished a degree and Dan has recently started his.

I have been a Croydon councillor now for over nine years and am proud to be the person who introduced the recycling service to every front door across Croydon. And it's because I have been at the forefront of trying to make Croydon a better place to live that made me want to become a local MP.

I work for BT and am active in my union representing our members. As a councillor and at work, I  deal with hundreds of people - helping them with housing, problems at work, getting benefits, sorting out planning permission.

When I am not busy sorting out residents' problems and listening to people's ideas, I can usually be found watching Crystal Palace FC at Selhurst Park. It's great to watch sport, but for me keeping fit is just as important and I enjoy swimming and exercising at my local gym. 

I stood for Parliament in Croydon South in 2001, and work right across Croydon - listening to people, their ideas and their concerns for Croydon.

As a councillor and community campaigner, issues that I have worked on here in Croydon include:

• Making Croydon Safer – I developed a programme of new street lighting across Croydon Central.
  

• Getting Croydon Moving – I initiated a new taxi scheme in the town centre to ensure safer journeys home at weekends, in co-operation with Mayor Ken.
  

• A Healthy Croydon – I am working with local groups to fund new sport and fitness programmes to improve our health, particularly that of young people.
  

• A Greener Croydon – I introduced the green box collection and recycling service across the whole borough.
  

• A Home for Everyone – I started new residents’ associations and worked to bring all public housing up to a proper standard for my constituents.
  

• Communities First – I’ve led fundraising for the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust, helped organise the South Asian Pongol Festival and chair the Irish Councillors Network.