Crawley Observer Column 4th June 2014

Much has changed since last month. Labour won control of Crawley Borough Council with a majority of 3 and I have become the Leader of the Conservative group on the Council. While naturally disappointed to have lost control of the Council, I am enjoying getting stuck in to my new role. Anyone who thinks the Conservatives are a spent force on Crawley Borough Council had better think again - we can and we will stand up for Crawley. Below is my first Leader's column in this week's Crawley Observer.

Picture used by Crawley News online this week

"A new era is starting at Crawley Town Hall and I congratulate Labour on their local election success. Across Crawley, Labour’s 37% of the vote to the Conservative’s 35% showed how politically close our town is between the two main parties.

Our eight years of Crawley Conservatives running the Town Hall brought Crawley Borough Council into the 21st Century. I am proud to have served on the Council’s Cabinet for this entire period, in which we transformed a wasteful, archaic and inward-looking former Labour Council, into a modern and customer-focused Conservative Council where providing quality services and value for money became embedded in the Council’s culture.

Achievements originating from our time in office will continue to appear in future years. Last week, we selected in partnership with West Sussex County Council, the company to deliver our joint £3 million Queens Square regeneration. This summer, we’ll see the rolling-out of household wheeled bins for non-recyclable waste across Crawley and we’ll also see the opening of a free-to-use outdoor gym in Tilgate Park.

I look forward to see the completion of the restoration of Worth Park, the community improvements in Ifield West, the de-silting of Ifield Mill Pond, the on-going modernisation of our Children’s Play Areas and a new town centre Crawley Museum. These are all examples where Crawley’s Conservative Council of 2006 - 2014 will continue to deliver for Crawley long after it has left office.

Our several million Pounds worth of efficiency savings leaves a golden legacy for the incoming Labour Administration. Perversely, had Labour been successful in stopping our savings that they spent the last eight years opposing, they would not have such a financially sound and fit-for-purpose Council to run now.

We will assist the new Labour Council wherever they carry on our good work in seeking to work for the entire town. However, if Labour reverts back to the bad old days of a wasteful left-wing Council not representing the entire town, then the people of Crawley can rest assured that our new Conservative opposition will not let them get away with it."