It is great to see the major lifting this week of the Coronavirus restrictions that we have been living with this year to date. Of course, we need to exercise caution and personal responsibility, but it is very welcome to be able to live more normal lives and easily see people once again.
As well as the personal benefits, the economic benefits cannot be understated and are especially needed locally. For our pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels and indoor attractions, Monday the 17th could not have come soon enough. It was also a very significant day for Gatwick Airport with international travel for non-essential purposes allowed, plus the likely increase in domestic flights as the UK opens up.
We know aviation plus supply and associated industries have been badly hit, meaning Crawley’s economic damage has been greater during the pandemic. It will be getting Gatwick up and running again that will get all of Crawley back to work. I was however disappointed to see senior Labour MP Yvette Cooper doing a TV interview on Sunday, saying that the opening up of UK air travel should be delayed. This is the last thing that Crawley and people currently not working need to hear.
Crawley and Gatwick are open for business. It’s the key message I hope to be shouting from the rooftops for the next few weeks and months in the capacity as Leader of Crawley Borough Council, if there is a smooth transition of power at next week’s Annual Council meeting. This follows the Conservatives becoming the Council’s largest party and holding exactly half the seats, after winning the local elections a fortnight ago with a town-wide vote share of 49% to Labour’s 39%.
With no one having an absolute majority at the Council, all 36 Councillors will need to work together in putting Crawley first. Should no deal be reached prior to the Annual Council meeting, I’ll still be open to working together after it. We all played our part in helping Crawley get through the pandemic - now we need to work together to help secure Crawley’s economic recovery.
Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group
19th May 2021
