It was a sad day last Thursday when we learnt of the death of Nelson Mandela. He was one of the great Leaders of the 20th Century. A book of condolence has been started by the Mayor in the Town Hall and our flags were flown at half mast in tribute on Friday.
I have two good news items coming from the Cabinet last week. Over the last 5 years, the Council has invested in new and improved play facilities across the town with a focus on larger facilities, that are accessible and of a high standard. These play areas offer good play equipment, and allow young and older brothers and sisters to play at the same location. Investment has taken place in Tilgate, Maidenbower, Bewbush, Broadfield, Ifield and Northgate. The feedback has been good and these facilities continue to be popular and well used.
Alongside this investment the Council has increased the use of the Adventure Playgrounds with ‘Playcare’ a holiday play scheme offering supervised childcare as well as a number external hire arrangements delivering children and youth activities.
The Cabinet approved the new capital programme of £785,000 for children’s play facilities from 2014 to 2017. This includes major investments and improvements in every neighbourhood as well as in the Adventure Playgrounds. The aim is to encourage children to get out of doors, be more physically active in a safe environment, using modern equipment to increase their levels of fitness and health
Additionally the Cabinet has recommended to the Council meeting on 18th December that more than 530 council homes should be built in Crawley’s forthcoming new neighbourhood in the North East Sector of Crawley. The new neighbourhood is recommended to be called Forge Wood. The homes will be built over four phases, and should begin next year being built by the neighbourhood’s developer partners, Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon Homes.
This provision will make a real difference to those in need of homes on the town’s housing register. It will take several years to achieve the 532 homes but this represents around a 6% increase to Crawley Homes’ current 8,100 housing stock.
The development will also provide 228 shared ownership units, giving first time buyers the opportunity to purchase their homes at 20 % less than market value. Overall, 40% of the development will be affordable housing, providing real opportunities for Crawley people to move to their own home and reducing our housing waiting list.
Cllr Dr Howard Bloom
Leader of Crawley Borough Council