The Tory-led government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires local authorities, such as Crawley Borough Council, to pass a Local Plan. The Tory-led ruling group on CBC have diligently produced their Local Plan 2030.
But at the December Council meeting they failed to get their own councillors to vote for their own plan!
So what, you may say, this is only of interest to the politicians and bureaucrats at the Town Hall. Well not so - this does, in fact, concern every one of us. Crawley is the well designed and built town that it is, precisely because of good planning and sensible controls used over many years. Plans that have delivered the best business park in the south of England – Manor Royal – for example, and delivered green spaces and parks in strategic locations, and neighbourhood centres and so much more.
Everything that makes Crawley what it is today (OK there have been some mistakes, but broadly we have a nice Town due to sensible planning rules).
But without an approved plan this is all in danger, as Crawley would not be able to control planning applications. Any developer could submit a plan for building or change of use and, even if Crawley rejected it on planning grounds, a planning inspector would have to approve it on appeal due to the lack of an approved Local Plan.
This will leave Crawley open to all kinds of undesirable and unwanted development, without any ability to prevent it, and would be a disaster for our Town.
Labour’s leadership have offered a way to get the plan passed, in the interests of the Town, but this has been turned down by the Tories, leaving Crawley exposed to unwanted developments. The Tory councillors have put their own self-interest and internal politics in front of the need to serve our Town, by failing to support their own plan or accept Labour’s offer of help. Our Town is now at the mercy of the wolves, as the Tories continue to be in power but out of control, drifting, with no direction, no strategy and no plan. Only Labour puts Crawley first, only Labour puts Crawley’s interests first and only Labour puts Crawley people first. Don’t let the wolves devour Crawley.