All posts by ianr

Manor Royal improvements

Manor Royal is set for more improvements, including two new micro parks and initiatives aimed at transitioning to net carbon zero. It will add to previous upgrades and is backed by Crawley MP Henry Smith.

Writing on his website Henry Smith says:
‘As Crawley continues to bounce back from the effects of the global pandemic it is more important than ever that our businesses succeed and flourish.

Key to this prosperity is the Manor Royal Business Improvement District (BID). Established in 2013, it provides more than 30,000 jobs: some 40 per cent of total employment in Crawley.

Its members voted to renew the BID for a five-year term in 2018, and I urge them to do so again as we approach the last day of voting on Wednesday 1st March.

Over the last decade, this close working between Crawley-based firms has not only resulted in an enhanced working environment for members, but we have seen considerable improvements to Manor Royal as well.

Indeed, the Manor Royal BID is an important part of the Crawley Growth Programme. This sees the BID working alongside Crawley Borough Council and West Sussex County Council to secure aggregation and alignment of public and private funds to deliver infrastructure projects in Crawley.
Both local authorities are supporting renewal of the BID.

Such collaborative efforts have seen Manor Royal highways improvements with some £3.5 million secured to improve junctions, surfaces and other bus, pedestrian, cycling and road improvements.

Work has seen upgrading of Manor Royal’s busiest access point and installation of digital signs in Manor Royal.

It is striking to see the enthusiasm with which Manor Royal leadership seek to further the BID over the next five years. Integral to this is for companies continuing to see Manor Royal as an attractive location to not only stay in but to relocate to.

Four new ‘micro’ park areas are completed and maintained with a further two currently in development.

The BID is also working to deliver energy initiatives and forums to facilitate the transition to net zero carbon emissions throughout Manor Royal.

Some 25 security cameras have been installed and are maintained at entry points and strategic locations across Manor Royal, with plans to expand the camera network. A dedicated Business Ranger Team helps keep the area safe.

The BID has secured upgrades to more than 20 broadband cabinets to provide faster fibre-based broadband, with work underway to enhance provision to gigabit broadband speeds for all.

Last year it was confirmed that gigabit broadband is now available for 70% of homes and businesses across the UK thanks to the Government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit, as we move towards the target of 85 per cent coverage by 2025.

Manor Royal has a crucial role to play. Crawley is already the seventh most innovative place in the country, with some 55.8 patents published per 100,000 people.

As a Member of Parliament for Crawley I am delighted to back the BID!’

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Zaid Al-Hussaini leaves Crawley Town FC

Crawley Town Football Club has confirmed midfielder Zaid Al-Hussaini has left the club by mutual consent.

Photo credit: Crawley Town Football Club

Al-Hussaini joined the club on a three year deal in July 2020.

Zaid made three competitive appearances for Crawley, most recently against Portsmouth in the Papa Johns Trophy.

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Croydon Road, Caterham Open Day event

Tandridge District Council will be having an open day to the public to share their plans on Croydon Road’s new look and feel.

The event will be taking place on Thursday 2nd March at the former Motorworld Shop between 4pm – 7pm.

Work is planned to start later this year to make Croydon Road a safer, more attractive and appealing place to visit.

This will include extended pavements, a flood alleviation scheme and more greenery in the town centre.

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Adults in West Sussex offered free numeracy skills courses

Adults in West Sussex are being urged to sign up for free courses if they want to improve their numeracy skills.

The county council say that over three and a half million pounds of funding has been made available to help people to enhance their skills and secure well-paid jobs.

The courses and activities take place both online and in person.

The funding was awarded from the government’s £2.6bn UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

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Unauthorised caravan site at Tanhouse Road, Oxted

An occupant of an unauthorised caravan site in Oxted has made an appeal to the council, against a decision to have the site cleared.

Back in December the site was set up on a field off Tanhouse Road, where work began to lay hard surfacing and install drainage to connect to utility supplies.

Since then, the Council has served several enforcement notices to prevent further development and require the occupants to leave the site.

Because the appeal has been lodged, this means the occupant can remain on the site until that appeal has been determined by an independent planning inspector.

The Council are now seeking to take further action using a planning enforcement Stop Notice procedure. This would require all occupants to leave the site, while the appeal is being considered.

The council says that planning enforcement officers will continue to monitor the site for any further unauthorised development.

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