Leader of West Sussex County Council Henry Smith

Henry Smith, leader of West Sussex County Council, was kind enough to talk to the Crawley Happy Times on Monday.

Please see the video below for his interview (which took place in the Henshall Suite, mentioned below).

A first impression

Henry met us outside the brand new registry office (which opened in December 2008) and talked to us about the different facilities that the council provide in this prestigious building.

Wonderful Stairs to the Registry Offices

As we walked up the opulent red carpet, I could imagine the excitement of a bride-to-be going to meet her groom.

Henry then introduced us to Dorothy, the registrar, and Dorothy showed us around the waiting area and the two function rooms.

The facilities

The first room, with a capacity of 30, is for registry office weddings and ceremonies.

The second room, capacity 80, is used for Registry Office Weddings, Civil Partnerships and Citizenship Ceremonies. With the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ balcony, surrounded by various plants and bushes, the Henshall Suite is perfect for your special occasion.

The Henshall Suite

The Romeo and Juliet Balcony

Citizenship Ceremonies, originally performed in Chichester, are a regular occurrence in Crawley and light refreshments are available from Squires, the local catering company.

Being kind to the planet

The building, less than a year old, is one of the most environmentally friendly in the county. Built with a reduced carbon footprint in mind, the roof is made from Sedem Moss, providing nourishment for the local avian community and adequate insulation for the building. The building’s water supply is heated by the sun and locally sourced, renewable wood-chip powers the boiler.

The smaller of the two Marital rooms

Crawley Happy Times says:

Shelley and I were impressed by the glorious colour schemes (which included green and purple sofas in the waiting room and regal-gold in the Henshall Suite) and the responsible building construction.

If you’re looking for a lovely Reception Office Wedding, Civil Partnership Ceremony or Citizenship Celebration, just pop down to Southgate Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6HG, or call 01243 642122 for more information.

Crawley Library

The Teen Area

On entering the library, you’re hit with the silent buzz of the Crawley community gently strolling around the ground floor, searching for a book of their choice.  Henry Smith walked me through the different sections with a quiet pride at the success and vibrant decoration of this splendid building.

How it all works

At the front entrance you’ll find an easy-to-use self-service scanning machine.  This is used by the public to borrow and return books (which works a little like the tills at your local supermarket).  I spoke to a library user: Mr. Davis of Crawley, who said “the system is quick and easy to use.  If you have any problems or queries the staff are always friendly and willing to help”.

The whole building is sign-posted for easy navigation and there is access for disabled users.

Décor and atmosphere

The bright, wonderful décor of the building makes it a relaxing place to be.  I noticed a lot of people sitting in dedicated areas reading, revising, without a care in the world. The relaxed ambiance is almost tangible. There are various wooden pillars throughout the building with quotations by famous

Great wooden poles with famous poetic quotes

Authors etched in scripted calligraphy, giving each room a literary feel.  The exuberant colours of the chairs and sofas give the building a modern look, juxtaposing the new with the old of the writing and the history of the literature and poetry within.

Sections and rooms

Spacious computer work areas

There are so many areas and sections to the library.  It’s hard to know where to start.  For any avid reader, it is like being a child in a sweet shop.  The ground floor houses the Children’s Library, Teen Area, Foreign Library, Large Print & Audio for people with hearing or sight difficulties and a Sound & Vision section for the music lovers.

On the first floor you are welcomed by many computers with internet access.  They are all up-to-date systems, with plenty of room between stations, so you can work comfortably.  This is an essential form of communication for some community members who do not have access to the internet at home.  Speaking to family or friends abroad is a lifeline for some and is welcomed with open arms.

Statue of Mr Longley

This floor also offers spacious meeting rooms for any occasion.  Henry Smith informed me the Council often use them for their committee meetings and they are also used by many charities and local companies.  The names of each room are in honour of some of Crawley’s greatest contributors;

The Bill Buck Room

The Longley Room

The Bastable Room

Working with the community

There are so many positive things about this magnificent building: I would encourage anyone to visit to see for

Fantastic children's play and learning area

themselves.  Not only have they established a section called ‘Keep West Sussex Working’, consisting of helpful books on trades and professions, but (children and pensioners) can use the library completely FREE!

Our thanks go to the staff and, of course, Henry Smith for showing us around.

~ Shelley

Correction: – Everyone can use the library for FREE!

Beautiful surroundings