The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) are currently undertaking an electoral review of Crawley Borough Council – this means the current ward boundaries which are used to elect councillors to represent us at the Town Hall are up for change.
Such a process needs to be inclusive and the Commission are accepting the views of local residents through a consultation which is open until Monday, 9th April. The leadership of Labour-controlled Crawley Borough Council however are not behaving in such a manner; ignoring one of Crawley’s founding ideals by recommending new boundaries this week which threaten to tear apart our local neighbourhoods which our town was built on.
The community principle is a long-standing part of Crawley New Town. It means more than words only mentioned on election leaflets; the names are included in postal addresses and are a real part of peoples’ identity, with local community centres, shopping parades and places of worship bearing these titles.
I have written to the Commission in support of Scheme 1 out of those which have been shortlisted – this provides for electoral equality whilst maintaining Crawley’s historic neighbourhood identities.
In contrast to Labour’s closed shop at the Town Hall, a Conservative-controlled Borough Council will instead be inclusive and respect that Crawley is a diverse place with a range of political outlooks.
The LGBCE consultation closes on Monday, 9th April. If you would like to join me in having a say to keep one of Crawley’s historic principles literally on the map, please click here to take part.
Henry Smith MP
Crawley Constituency
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
01293 934554/020 7219 7043
henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk
www.henrysmith.info