Reading these columns it must sometimes seem that no matter what the policy Labour and the Tories with end up voting against each other. The truth is that where a policy is obviously the best course of action there is often little need for public discussion, unfortunately this gives the impression we simply can’t co-operate.
Earlier this week I was happy to vote with members of the Licensing Committee of both parties for proposals to re-energise the Broadway and the Broadwalk. Now, I’m not going to run the town down by saying it looks tired or dreary, but the number of empty shops in the town centre is all too clear. This is a big deal; retail is a one of the largest sources of employment and investment in Crawley, a decline in this sector has a significant impact on the town.
Everyone wants to reduce government debt, but without economic growth it’s just not going to happen. During periods of economic growth tax revenues go up and spending drops, it’s not rocket science: a healthy economy means a healthy balance sheet for the government
Work with us; help us to the advance policies that will build a better and lasting town centre for the benefit of the whole of Crawley.
Slow retail sales and the recent wave of high street failures have been exacerbated by the Government’s VAT hike and its failure to back Labour’s plan to give local people a real say over the future of their high street.
This isn’t something to be sniffed at, research by the British Retail Consortium found indicated that increasing VAT would cost 163,000 jobs over 4 years.
Everyone wants to reduce government debt, but without economic growth it’s just not going to happen. During periods of economic growth tax revenues go up and spending drops, it’s not rocket science: a healthy economy means a healthy balance sheet for the government.
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Peter Lamb for Crawley 