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I congratulate Mr Smith on his re-election as Member of Parliament for Crawley and welcome his promise to rebel against his party in Parliament. Crawley faces many challenges ahead and I hope that Crawley Borough Council and the people of the town can rely upon his support as we work to address them. The UK…
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Crawley’s police do a great job under difficult circumstances. Since 2010, Sussex Police have suffered cuts of £52m and lost over 300 officers. They’ve done remarkably well at keeping things running, yet there are limits to how much can be cut before it noticeably affects the frontline. We now appear to have hit that point.…
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In recent years zero-hour contracts and the fight for a living wage have highlighted the national decline in pay and working conditions. Despite corporate profitability excluding oil and financial services being at a 16-year high, companies are finding new ways to weaken pay and conditions. In Crawley one approach is particularly relevant, umbrella companies. Traditionally…
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Education is at the heart of everything. Without a decent education system economies weaken, public services lack the skills to function and future generations see their life chances decline. Yet, catching up with news after Christmas I noticed a number of worrying articles about recent education reforms. Our schools contain some of the finest teachers…
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Commuters heading back to work after Christmas will have had to deal with more than the cold weather with rail fares going up yet again on 2nd January. Since the General Election, fares have risen significantly with the cost of a season ticket between Three Bridges and London going up by a whopping 24%. At…
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As we enter the New Year it’s worth taking a look at what will be coming up over the next twelve months. If 2014 was a year of new beginnings at the council—with a new administration taking control—2015 may well be a year of conclusions, with a number of looming events, decisions and projects coming…
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As people tuck into the turkey and unwrap another ‘interesting’ jumper from Granny, I’m sure it’s only the most hardened consumers of local news who will make it through to the political columns and well done to you. Over recent weeks I’ve attended a number of carol concerts and while I tried to avoid singing…
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The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement this month involved a good deal of backslapping by the Government while shying away from the key point: that despite the pain of the cuts, by taking decisions which have suppressed economic growth George Osborne has failed to meet even his own deficit targets. In practice that means austerity is going…
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For economic growth to mean anything it has to mean an improvement in the living standards of ordinary men and women not just the few at the top, and that’s where the UK has run into problems. In Crawley the situation is particularly bad. Thankfully unemployment hasn’t hit us as badly as in many places…
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Remembrance Day this year has of course carried a particular poignancy with it being the centenary of the start of the First World War and the millions who perished in that conflict, whatever their nationality. Remembrance is important, not only because such a loss of life should not go unmarked but also, as is often…
Peter Lamb for Crawley 