This is how the Crawley Observer reported the news: http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/crawley-labour-group-picks-new-leader-1-3827661

Newcomer Colin Moffatt was victorious in Broadfield South while Peter Smith won in Ifield and Ifield West.

Commenting after the count Peter Smith said: “It is an honour to have been elected by the people of Ifield and Ifield West and with a large majority.  The people of Crawley have certainly spoken up against the unfairness of current Government policy and in favour of Councillors who will speak up for Crawley residents and on issues that affect the everyday lives of Crawley residents.  I am looking forward to working on the Council and trying to get improvements in parking, litter picking and helping to put Pride back in to Crawley.”

Labour now have 16 seats on the Council with the ruling Tories having 21.

It is vital both Crawley Borough and West Sussex County Council’s support this work at the grass root level. In the current climate many of our dedicated community volunteers have extreme financial pressures to pay rent for their groups and organisations. From cub scouts to sporting clubs, a complicated system of rent relief from the council means many groups are struggling. Crawley Borough Council has a £650,000 fund to help community groups, but when the council overspends to the tune of quarter of million pounds on a pavilion, you do have to ask would that money be better spent on the whole community rather than one building.

We need to look seriously at how we support small voluntary groups across the town. A few hundred pounds each year could make the difference on whether they thrive or nor survive. The Big Society was a good idea. Just in practice there has been little or no support in expanding the community resource in Crawley. Crawley Borough Council has an excellent community development team who work tirelessly with residents groups, create initiatives and help the town’s community groups. However with a smaller staff and more work, we need the Council to rethink community support in financial support. Should we be charging sporting clubs £1,000 a year? Should we give 100% rent relief to all youth groups? Should we be hiking up charges on community groups across the town? Our community groups in Crawley need help. And they need it now.

Bewbush

Broadfield Youth and Community Centre

Broadfield North and South

Gossops Green Community Centre

Gossops Green

Ifield Community Centre

Ifield

The Mill Primary School

Ifield

Wybourne Community Centre

Ifield

The New Langley Green Centre

Langley Green

Maidenbower Community Centre

Maidenbower

The Brook School

Maidenbower

Milton Mount Primary School

Pound Hill North

Wakehams Green Community Centre

Pound Hill North

Pound Hill Community Centre

Pound Hill South and Worth

St Edwards, Hillcrest Close (church hall)

Pound Hill South and Worth

St Mary’s Church Hall

Southgate

Southgate West Community Centre

Southgate

Montefiore Institute

Three Bridges

Three Bridges Community Centre

Three Bridges

Tilgate Community Centre

Tilgate

Holy Trinity Church Hall

Tilgate

The Charis Centre

West Green

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CUT CRIME NOT THE POLICE

Campaign to reverse the Tory cuts to the numbers of Police on our streets.

TAKE PRIDE IN OUR TOWN

More grass cutting, more street cleaning, crack down on anti-social behaviour.  Aim to build 2,000 new affordable homes and council homes to rent.

GET THE ECONOMY MOVING

Invest in training and apprenticeships for our young people, help for hard-pressed families. New free and low cost parking initiatives for the town centre.

TACKLE PARKING PROBLEMS

Introduce more residential parking and protect green spaces 

STOP THE TORY SELL-OFFS

Labour helped stop the privatisation of Tilgate Park and we pledge to stop the Tories selling off more of Crawley’s facilities and services.

If you support Labour’s pledges and would like to help Labour win on Thursday May 3rd call: 07729 167084

As Bewbush councillor, I have successfully campaigned for residents to have a roller skating floor in the new Bewbush Centre, helped start the Bewbush Forum, led a campaign against the blight of mini-motor bikes as well as campaigning for better youth services in the Bewbush Youth Centre.

If elected, I will continue to help residents with local issues as well as continuing to support community groups which make a big difference in Bewbush. I will campaign for better bus routes, fight for longer opening hours of youth provision and stand up for local residents.

BROADFIELD NORTH - BRIAN QUINN

I have worked tirelessly for improvements to Broadfield Barton and to re-instate the Bartons cash dispensers. As a keen environmentalist I have ensured litter hot spots are cleared quickly.  I listen to residents and carry on working relentlessly to improve Broadfield North.

The redevelopment of Broadfield Barton is a reality.  With residents help, I  will continue to ensure that Broadfield is a community to be proud of.

I will fight hard to maintain the Minor Ailment Service at the Broadfield Pharmacist as this is especially important to Broadfield where many residents will be exempt from prescription charges.

BROADFIELD SOUTH - COLIN MOFFATT

I have lived in Broadfield South for 36 years. Now I have taken early retirement from British Airways I have more time to give to the neighbourhood he loves. I am always willing to help with snow clearing in the winter and keeping Broadfield Park in good shape.

I want everyone to be proud to say they live in Broadfield by keeping the streets and walkways clear of litter and mess. I will fight for Broadfield to gets its fair share from the Conservative Council by stopping the funding cuts that are blighting our town.

GOSSOPS GREEN - CHRIS MULLINS

In Gossops Green as former Councillor I succeeded in;

Removal of the dangerous half roundabout, on the A23, stopped the removal of the A23 Bridge, led the revamp of the community centre and car park, improvements, solved many problems with the Mill Pond, and provided an Earth Bund on Eden Road amongst many other issues.

If elected, I will tackle Parking Problems, stop the Tories selling our facilities, improve the local economy, aim to build, council and low cost Housing, make Crawley look neater, protect the environment in Gossops Green including the Mill Pond and stand up for local residents.

IFIELD - PETER SMITH

I have supported restoration of the dam and lake for Ifield Mill.  I have called for Ifield Brooks to become a Nature Reserve with no building on it. I have worked to get West Sussex to repair pot-holes in our roads and for more sustainable transport, including bus service improvements.

I will work to improve parking for residents, at the same time improving our environment.  I will campaign to improve the cleanliness of our neighbourhood and to reverse Tory cuts in the frequency of grass cutting. I will fight cuts to our youth services.

LANGLEY GREEN - BRENDA SMITH

As almost 20 years as a Langley Green Councillor, I completed the revamp of the neighbourhood shopping centre, car parking, planting, lighting, toilets, GP surgery, Council flats and the Langley Green Centre, introduced Langley Green Hospital, moved the Youth club, introduced residential parking schemes, neighbourhood forum,  reduction in anti-social behaviour, supported many residents in personal matters.

Continue to work to provide more residential parking schemes, bus shelters and seats, Council housing. New primary school,  more Nursery provision.  Greater reduction in anti-social behaviour, fight to keep our PCSO’s , Fill any empty shops with useful services.

Demand better street cleaning, grass cutting, shrub and tree maintenance.

MAIDENBOWER - ANDREW SKUDDER

I have been a passionate supporter of local causes and community groups and have taken an active stance against the severe cuts to the youth service at Oriel in Maidenbower and across Crawley also I have been vocal against the large overspend on Maidenbower Pavillion.

If I am elected, my priorities will be housing and transport, making sure that our children have somewhere to live and to promote improvements in rail, bus and cycling provision to ease congestion and make roads safer. I will provide a loud and clear voice for Maidenbower residents to stand up for their views.

POUND HILL NORTH - KULTAR SINGH YOGI

I recently retired from working for many years at Gatwick and I’m married with children living in Crawley. I have worked extensively with local community groups for many years and I am passionate about our vast range of different communities working together to make Pound Hill and the whole of Crawley better for all.

I am deeply against the devastating cuts to our local services and will listen to and act on behalf of local residents regarding the North East sector to ensure local infrastructure will not be affected to the detriment of Pound Hill North residents.

POUND HILL SOUTH AND WORTH - SINA ADENIYI

I am a radiographer by profession and am married with children. I have also worked in the Surrey and Sussex NHS trust over 3 years, working many times at Crawley Hospital. My first family residence in Crawley was in Pound Hill and I know the issues around lack of parking and the constant pressure commuter parking has on Pound Hill South residents.  I have a great desire to work for the benefit of Pound Hill South and Worth. This whole area has been hit hard by the Tories cuts to youth provision, bus routes, day centres and more.

SOUTHGATE - RAJ SHARMA

I have spoken to hundreds of Southgate residents over the years and heard their concerns and issues regarding Southgate. From lack of youth provision to the axeing of bus routes. From cuts to essential services to the concerns around East Park, over a Drugs Agency seeking Planning Permission.

I am a Youth and Community Worker by  profession. I have always worked at the grass roots level for years in Crawley. Working with and for the community in Southgate will not be a job but my passion ensuring residents voices are heard.

THREE BRIDGES - SAM BATEMAN

I have played an active part of the local community for six years.  I help young people in Three Bridges and their families as a volunteer for the Youth Justice Service.   I have met residents throughout the ward to understand what needs to be done to make Three Bridges stronger.

I will put the interests of Three Bridges residents at the front of every decision.  I will work hard and with passion to ensure Three Bridges becomes a stronger community.  I will use council funds wisely and move Three Bridges out from the bottom of the priority list.

TILGATE - COLIN LLOYD

I was councillor for Tilgate 1990 – 2008. Re-elected at a by-election in October 2010, I have:  helped many residents individually, tracked grass cutting throughout 2011 and achieved immediate improvements where standards were unacceptable and campaigned with residents to save open space and the play ground at Chichester Close from building.

If re-elected I will: keep working to protect land at Ely Close from development as part of a campaign to preserve Tilgate’s green character, support  brownfield site development for housing, secure funding for verge protection and work with police and wardens to reduce anti-social behaviour.

WEST GREEN - BILL WARD

As a West Green resident for 27 years, I know the character of every street and corner. Speaking and more importantly listening to as many people as possible, I hear their hurts and anxieties like over the closure of Leacroft Surgery.

If elected, I will be a strong voice for those in housing need. Champion community

safety and policing. Put the “green” back into West Green. Renew our parks and play areas. Defend the NHS. Enhance the life of our senior people and meet the emerging needs of a younger population. Be active and available to residents.

This is how the Crawley Observer reported the event: http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/labour-chief-whip-visits-crawley-1-3761462

Harriet Harman with Labour Councillors and Candidates

A briefing meeting was held with the Press followed by some door-knocking on voters in Ifield.

Peter Smith and Harriet Harman door knocking in Ifield

Crawley News

http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/apologies-pound-271k-overspend-Crawley-Borough/story-15713849-detail/story.html

Crawley Observer

http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/maidenbower-pavilion-overspent-by-271-000-1-3700065

What would you prefer this money to have been spent on?

The Tory run council overspent by £271,000 on the redevelopment of Maidenbower pavilion, on an original budget of £1 million. This amounts to something like a 27% overspend at a time when we are experiencing tough times and all having our budgets squeezed. And Tory leader Cllr Lanzer refused to apologise for this overspend at the Council meeting on 4th April.

£271,000 is an enormous sum of money for a council of Crawley’s size to have overspent.  The Tories are in positions of control of this Town’s council and must take responsibility for this serious failure, and wasting Crawley taxpayers’ money.

The people of Crawley would have preferred if this money had been spent on improving some of their long-standing parking problems, rather than a massive overspend on a social facility. Or perhaps to have kept free entry to the Tilgate Park nature centre.

What price Tory financial management now!? And what price Tory priority setting?