Make sure you have a vote

Thursday May 6 is election day in Crawley.

Eleven seats on Crawley Borough Council are up for grabs in the borough elections. It is possible that the parliamentary poll will also be held on the same day. This vote will elect the town’s MP.

This year there are elections in every council ward except Gossops Green, Three Bridges and Tilgate. This is because the council is elected in thirds, which means that the council holds elections in three years out of four, with a few different wards not having an election each year.

Elections are your chance to influence the way your town is run. It’s your democratic right to vote for the candidates of your choice. But only those who are on the electoral register by April 20 will be able to vote.

A letter was sent to all households at the end of February asking if any changes need to be made to the list of people registered to vote. Forms are also available at www.crawley.gov.uk/elections and these must be returned by April 20 to be valid for election(s) on May 6.

You can vote in person at your local polling station or opt for postal or proxy votes. There is still time to apply for postal or proxy votes, but you’ll need to contact us as soon as possible because the deadline is April 20 for postal votes and proxy votes.

Everyone who is entitled to vote in the elections will receive a polling card three or four weeks before. This gives details of where your polling station is and your poll number but you don’t have to take it to the polling station with you.

For more information contact Andrew Oakley, Electoral Services Manager, on

01293 438346 or andrew.oakley@crawley.gov.uk

Crawley needs more magistrates.

Magistrates are ordinary people who perform a vital role for the community.

They come from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds and occupations:

postmen, teachers, shop assistants and train drivers – anyone can be a magistrate. But what they have in common is high personal integrity and a commitment to serve their community.

Kevin Harrison JP, Chairman Sussex (Northern) Advisory Sub-Committee, said:

“What is not widely realised is that magistrates play a key role in the judicial process and hear more than 95 per cent of all criminal cases, including many that affect the public, such as anti-social behavior.

“It is really important that magistrates reflect the local community. We’ve gone a long way to achieve that in north Sussex but we are always on the lookout for more people. Selection is based purely on merit regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.”

An open mind, maturity and the ability to work well with others are more important than any formal qualifications. You need to be aged 18-64 who can commit to a minimum of 26 half-day sittings per year. In return you’ll get full training, and a responsible and satisfying role.

If you are interested in becoming a magistrate, please contact Mid-Sussex Magistrates’ Court (Administration Office) on 01444 472603 who will be happy to give you more information. Alternatively, go to www.direct.gov.uk and search ‘magistrates’ for an application form.

Crawley wins top environmental award

Tidy town Crawley has won a national award from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

Crawley Borough Council gained the ‘Engaging Communities’ accolade at the Keep Britain Tidy award ceremony in Manchester on Monday night.

The award represents the hard work and commitment shown by the council, particularly the Amenity Services team, and is largely thanks to the hugely successful Let’s FACE it! campaign, which has seen thousands of people from across the town spruce up their neighbourhoods through hundreds of projects.

Let’s FACE it! is a resident-led volunteering initiative, co-ordinated by Crawley Borough Council officer Ruth Growney, and involving local councillors, aimed at improving the local environment.

Cabinet member for Community Engagement, Councillor Nigel Boxall, said:

“This is brilliant! And it’s not just credit to Crawley Council, it’s Crawley people who really made this happen by embracing the campaign and showing the desire to make a difference to their environment.”

Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services, Councillor Lenny Walker,

said: “I’m delighted that our Let’s FACE it! campaign is central to yet another award, especially because it’s a great boost to the start of our Britain in Bloom campaign.

“We’ve won this award because our community is central to Let’s FACE it!

This is also paramount in Britain in Bloom so let’s hope this is start of an amazing year!”

Cabinet member for Environmental Services, Councillor Keith Blake, said:

“The council works extremely hard to make Crawley cleaner, greener and safer. This award is yet more recognition for all of this as well as our innovative Let’s FACE it! campaign.”

The awards-cum-conference celebrated local authorities who are examples of environmental excellence while looking at the future of local environmental quality.

Sonia Scowcroft, Keep Britain Tidy’s Cleaner Safer Greener Network Manager,

said: “These prestigious awards provided a great opportunity for Keep Britain Tidy to recognise and reward the excellent work taking place across the country.”

Keep Britain Tidy is an environmental charity and the anti-litter campaign for England. It also runs programmes like the Green Flag for parks and the Quality Coast Awards for beaches.

For more information about the Let’s FACE it! campaign, including how to get involved, log on to www.crawley.gov.uk/face

For more information about Keep Britain Tidy log on to www.keepbritaintidy.org

Don’t be had by ad scams, small businesses warned

SMALL businesses in West Sussex are being warned to beware of advertising scams involving directory entries or calendar space.

The call comes from West Sussex County Council Trading Standards Service, which has received a growing number of complaints from small businesses.

The businesses say they are being pursued for payment for advertising in directories or calendars they did not agree to or in the end was not provided.

“It is very hard to take formal action against these companies because our Trading Standards Service has to prove they either never had any intention of producing the publication or that they deliberately took money for the ‘wrong’ – that is, more expensive – category of advertising,” said Peter Evans, County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection.

“We are urging businesses not to agree to advertising space on the phone as a result of an unsolicited call. Tell them you will think about it and ask to see a copy of the current version of the directory/calendar. A reputable firm should have no objection to this.

“Even if they do send you a copy of what they produce, check with one of the firms that advertise on it that they were happy with the service.”

Another recent development is the scammers are starting to threaten legal action against the business to recover the debt allegedly owed, warning of consequences to their credit rating unless they pay.

“In the current climate many firms pay rather than challenge the action,” said Peter.

West Sussex greengrocers pass fruit and veg test

GREENGROCERS in West Sussex have been given the green light following a fruit and veg investigation by the County Council’s Trading Standards Service.

Trading Standards Officers inspected around 75 per cent of greengrocers in West Sussex to check that food was safe and correctly described.

Peter Aston, Trading Standards Team Leader, said: “We found that all of the claims indicating products were local or organic were correct.

“We took samples of a variety of different fruits and vegetables to test them for pesticide residue and found no detectable levels of pesticide on any of the samples.

“Pesticides are approved by the Government and rigorous safety assessments are undertaken to make sure any residues remaining on crops are not harmful. However, it is always a good idea to wash fruit and vegetables before you eat them.”

Peter Evans, County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “These are very pleasing and reassuring results. They will give our residents confidence that food bought from their valued local greengrocer is correctly described and safe to eat.”

Records topple again in West Sussex Youth Cabinet elections

RECORDS were smashed for the ninth year running in the West Sussex County Council Youth Cabinet and UK Youth Parliament elections.

Between March 1 and 15, 35,789 votes were cast compared with last year’s record shattering 24,582 votes.

That means one in four young people aged between 11 and 19 in West Sussex took part, voting online for 205 candidates standing for 48 seats throughout the county.

Elections Manager Claire Bridges, a former Youth Cabinet Member, said: “As this fantastic result shows, all of the candidates worked exceptionally hard when it came to campaigning.

“I’m sure politicians from all parties would like to see such enthusiasm for the democratic process reflected in the General Election.”

Brad Watson OBE, County Council Cabinet Member responsible for the Youth Cabinet, said: “The Elections Team, who are themselves a committed group of young people, are to be congratulated for this excellent turn out. It shows our young people are firmly on the democracy map!”

“The 48 successful candidates will now work alongside County Hall decision makers to activate change in issues affecting the lives of young people in West Sussex.

“The Youth Cabinet is elected from a diverse range of backgrounds. Not only secondary and middle schools in West Sussex, but also drawn from youth centres, private schools, special schools, voluntary organisations, colleges and Pupil Referral Units.”

A record was also set with the County Democracy Awards, which the Youth Cabinet launched last year and are based on the percentage of a school or college voting.

Twelve scooped a Gold Award (90 per cent voter turn out), three won a Silver Award (70 per cent) and two gained a Bronze Award (50 per cent). They were:

Gold:

• Newick House Special School, Burgess Hill.

• Chichester High School for Girls.

• Bourne Community College, Emsworth.

• Manhood Community College.

• Davison High C of E High School for Girls, Worthing.

• St Andrew’s C of E High School for Boys, Worthing

• Sackville School, East Grinstead.

• Downlands Community School, Hassocks.

• Durrington Middle School.

• Thomas A Beckett Middle School, Worthing.

• Court Meadow Special School, Haywards Heath.

• Farlington School.

Silver:

• Shoreham Academy.

• Thomas Bennett Community College, Crawley, Crawley.

• Millais School, Horsham.

Bronze:

• Worthing College

• Sir Robert Woodard Academy, Lancing.

CRAWLEY HAILS PUBLIC FOR VIEWS ON TAXIS

Crawley Borough Council is asking local residents what type of vehicles they want to see used for more than 70 hackney carriages in the town.

Hackney carriages are the taxis you can hail from the roadside rather than minicabs which need to be pre-ordered.

The majority of hackney carriages in the town are saloon cars but in recent years new vehicles have been introduced that are wheelchair accessible, in line with the council’s policy.

The council is talking to the Town Access Group and other voluntary and community groups to gauge their views on what vehicles to use but also wants to know what members of the public think.

The survey is available online at www.crawley.gov.uk/taxi or paper copies are available from the Town Hall reception or by calling 438279.

Sign of the times

Visitors to Crawley will soon be getting a bright new welcome when updated signs are installed at the entry points into the town.

The new signs will be erected alongside eight main roads leading into Crawley and feature Crawley Borough Council’s updated logo, which was launched in 2007.

Councillor Nigel Boxall, Cabinet member for Community Engagement, said: “The old signs look very tired and a lot of them are damaged; they don’t do the town any justice at all.

“We wanted to give visitors a warm welcome and let everyone know what a green town we are by featuring our South and South East in Bloom award.”

As well as giving visitors a good first impression, the signs also gave business to Manor Royal-based company Signs Express (Crawley) after it won the contract.

Signs Express (Crawley) owner Nigel Wood said: “We were delighted that the council chose us to update the old signage which welcomes visitors into the town.”

CRAWLEY BC WELCOMES AFFORDABLE HOUSING RECOGNITION

Crawley Borough Council has welcomed the Shelter report which places it top of the South East regional league table of local authorities providing affordable housing.

Responding to the Shelter report, Cllr Jennifer Millar-Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing Services, said: “We’re obviously very pleased that our hard work and commitment to provide much needed affordable housing has been recognised.

“The town has a high demand for affordable housing which is hard to meet especially when the town is built up to its boundaries. However, we have been very creative in some of our solutions and made good use of brown field sites, such as former garage blocks, to help develop new property.

“We understand that development can be very emotive and are aware of the challenges that some developments can present. Our commitment is to help meet the local demand for affordable housing but to consult widely in areas where development is proposed.”

Note for editors

The Shelter Affordable Housing Report ranks Crawley Borough Council first in the Government Office for the South East area and 12th across the whole of England.

Showing their true colours in Crawley

A ‘True Colours’ art exhibition starts in Crawley this month, showcasing the artistic talents of customers from Maidenbower day centre and local community groups.

The spring exhibition runs from Monday March 29 to Thursday April 8 at the Hawth Theatre in Crawley and is an opportunity for artists, who can otherwise be marginalised, to express their creativity.

The exhibition has been organised by West Sussex County Council Community Craft Instructor Cecilia Bissessur, Maidenbower day centre and Lesley Talmey from the Crawley Neighbourhood Network.

Maidenbower is a West Sussex County Council day centre that caters for customers with a range of needs including physical and sensory disabilities, dementia and some mental health needs.

It also provides respite for many carers, and aims to enable individuals to maintain and develop their independence and to link into their local community.

West Sussex Leader and Maidenbower County Councillor Henry Smith said: “Some fantastic work has been produced by Maidenbower day centre and the community. I’ve always been impressed and inspired by the artwork produced; I’m sure everyone who goes to the exhibition will be too.”

The exhibition will feature a range of art from watercolours and oil paintings to cross-stitch and mosaics.

Cecilia said: “Promoting arts in the services we provide at Maidenbower is an important part of developing wellbeing and makes a positive contribution to our community.”

Art classes at Maidenbower day centre are very well-received. Comments include:

• Joan Nash, an artist who attends the day centre: “I have seen people flourish because of art. They’ve come out of their shells and it gives them a reason for being. When I paint I feel that I am being taken seriously.”

• Barbara Stubbs said: “Maidenbower day centre changed my life. I discovered a talent I didn’t know I had.”

The art exhibition runs on Monday from 1pm to 8pm, Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 8pm, Sunday, open for one hour either side of any shows at the Hawth (times may vary over the Easter bank holiday). For further information contact Cecilia Bissessur on 01293 885156.

ENDS – See all the latest news at www.twitter.com/wsccnews

County Council joins the world in the dark

What do Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and singer Tom Jones have in common?

They are both joining West Sussex County Council in supporting Earth Hour on Saturday March 27.

Earth Hour, which started in Sydney, Australia in 2007, is organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and aims to be the largest ever mass global action on climate change.

It asks individuals, communities and cities around the World to switch off their lights for one hour starting at 8.30pm (local time) on the Saturday.

The County Council will turn off outside lights at County Hall, where possible on Saturday night. All internal ones should already be off. As most of the offices will be closed, the council is extending Earth Hour to the whole weekend by ensuring computers, printers, photocopiers and any other non-vital equipment in their buildings will be switched off too.

More than 100 countries have signed up and 1,000 schools will be taking part, including some from West Sussex. Coca-Cola will be switching off their legendary neon sign lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus, for only the fourth time since the Second World War.

Mike Hall, West Sussex County Council Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “This is a great campaign to bring people and nations together as well as highlighting the need to save energy.

“We will be monitoring the energy that we use over the weekend in question and seeing how successful we have been.

“We have sent out letters to all the county’s schools to take part and encourage West Sussex residents to get involved too.”

To sign up to Earth Hour visit www.earthhour.wwf.org.uk