i have still never been to croydon apart from on ACC related business.
(if purley way doesn't count).
it's not impossible to completely reinvigorate a town though by rerouting roads - check Boston's Big Dig (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Dig_%2 ... husetts%29), where they created a massive park by burying the freeway which formerly ran right through the centre.
It did cost $15 billion and counting though.