I was shocked and saddened to hear the news that a man from Crawley is suspected of being responsible for driving a lorry into a jail in Aleppo and detonating a bomb last week. Crawley is a diverse town with a record of welcoming communities from different ethnic backgrounds. It has a long established cohesive community due to partnership work between the Council and other local groups helped by our Community development team. I am pleased to say that the community, the Council and the police in Crawley have a long history of working well together in partnership, and that this will continue in the future.
We are united in collectively condemning all acts of terrorism wherever they may occur. I am aware that there have been two humanitarian aid convoys to Syria in the past which have been supported by parts of the community in Crawley, which I understand have all returned. I have been informed that there will be no further such convoys organised by the local mosques, and the Foreign and Commonwealth advice is being followed, so that the support that will continue to be given will go through registered charities.
I am sure that we would want to offer our sympathies to all those affected by the tragic crisis in Syria and can assure our residents that the Council, Police and Local community groups will continue working together in a cohesive manner. We are a town with mixed communities that have always worked together for the benefits of all residents.
The County Council at its meeting last Friday agreed to a commitment working with the Borough Council on a 3 million pound project to upgrade Queens Square. The square needs improvement and this agreement over the works to be completed should create a much more friendly and modern environment for the people of Crawley.
The Council has through our civil engineering partner carried out survey work including issues such as buried utility and drainage surveys as part of the feasibility study for making environmental improvements to the Square.
We are pleased to be able to invest in Queens Square and with the County Council, have budgeted this money to pay for improvements. No decisions have yet been taken on how the money will be spent because we want those who use Queens Square to tell us what they feel would improve the area.
If you have suggestions please email lynn.hainge@crawley.gov.uk with your feedback, pr tell us on Twitter @crawleybc or Facebook at www.facebook.co./crawleycouncil
Councillor Dr Howard Bloom, Leader of Crawley Borough Council
23rd February 2014