Latest news with #CrawleyBoroughCouncil
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Plans for CCTV and panic buttons in Crawley taxis
CCTV and panic buttons could be coming to licensed Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles in part of West Borough Council has opened a public consultation on proposed safety upgrades for taxis to improve passenger and driver identification signage is also under review to ensure clearer visibility and consultation runs until 11 August and invites input from residents, drivers and statutory bodies. The proposed changes aim to align Crawley's licensing framework with national best practices and statutory guidance, while addressing local concerns around safety. Under the new measures, all licensed vehicles would be required to install CCTV systems capable of audio and visual recording. Panic buttons for both drivers and passengers would trigger recording in the event of an incident, offering an added layer of Yasmin Khan, cabinet member for public protection, said: "Public safety is at the heart of our licensing regime. "We want everyone – whether they're a passenger, driver, or operator – to feel confident and secure when using or working in our licensed vehicles. "This consultation is an important step in ensuring our policies support public safety and reflect the needs of our community."The council is encouraging everyone to take part in the consultation.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Crawley Borough Council cancels changes to parking charges at K2
Free parking will remain at two Crawley venues after the council's plans to introduce charges were Borough Council said it has decided not to bring in parking charges at K2 leisure centre and The Hawth theatre because the public had shown these were "not wanted".During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, it was agreed to defer any plans for charges at the theatre and to look into parking controls at the leisure centre to improve public Jones, council leader of the council, said: "People have been genuinely listened to and, although not everyone will be happy, I am confident that the input has made a real difference to the final results." Mr Jones said the proposals "reflect a careful balance between financial sustainability, operational feasibility, and community needs", reports the Local Democracy Reporting online consultation launched in May drew over 2,200 responses, with most people opposing parking charges at The Hawth and K2. Many felt theatre tickets were already costly and extra fees would put off K2, concerns were raised that charges could reduce attendance and even lead to cancelled memberships, though some supported better parking controls for charges will be introduced at Goffs Park lower car park, with rates ranging from £1.50 for one hour to £7 for all-day parking. The charges will apply between 08:00 and 18:00 BST to help prevent commuters from occupying limited Street Multi-Storey will be renamed High Street Multi-Storey, and parking will cost £3 fee for 24 hours. Annual permits will cost £912 for residents and £600 for town centre Borough Council said it would work with the leisure centre operator on improving traffic management.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Crawley and Reigate council will not merge, says government
There will be no merger between a council in Sussex and another in Surrey, the government has Borough Council and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council submitted a joint proposal to be brought together, saying the partnership would "maximise economic growth".But they have been told by Jim McMahon, minister of state for local government and English devolution, that they do not meet the specified criteria, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has reported.A spokesperson for Crawley Borough Council said the authority was disappointed and "perplexed" by this decision. "This decision is not based upon the merits of the proposal, instead, the decision would largely seem to be based upon a reading of the legislation, which we do not share," the spokesperson said."Whilst criteria are also mentioned, our ability to meet these were at least in part due to the design of the Local Government Reorganisation process, and this does not seem to have been fully taken into account."This decision denies this town and this council the opportunity to consider this proposal alongside those emerging from West Sussex and to then take a view on what we believe is in the best interests of the town."Richard Biggs, leader of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, also said he was disappointed but thankful to have shown the government the "important contribution that our combined area makes to the national economy, as well as its economic growth potential"."While we accept the government's decision, we will continue to advocate for joined up economic and infrastructure planning and investment across both authorities," he added.
Irish Daily Mirror
07-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Investigation launched after body found in abandoned car near busy airport
Police in the UK have launched an investigation after a body was found in the back of an abandoned vehicle near Gatwick Airport in London. Officers were called to an industrial estate on Whittle Way in Crawley at 10.30am on Friday following reports of a body being discovered in a vehicle. The white BMW is reported to have been parked on the Crawley industrial estate since last October. Residents had reportedly contacted Crawley Borough Council numerous times regarding the parking violation, only for their complaints to be met initially with standard parking offence notices. By Friday, forensic investigators descended upon Whittle Way in Northgate, an area located just over a mile from the Gatwick Airport. While an official council notice dated May 19 marked the BMW as "untaxed" and facing removal within a week, government records indicate that it's taxed until January 1 next year and boasts a valid MOT up until November 25. Only after a tow truck driver preparing to remove the car came across the body was the alarm raised to authorities on Friday. While locals allege the dust-laden car has been a fixture since October, how long the deceased individual was in the car remains a mystery, reports the Mirror. Sussex Police have said that the death is currently not being considered suspicious, although the identity of the deceased is yet to be established,. One member of a local Facebook group vented their frustration, noting: "I reported it about four months ago but the council only put stickers on it - but it has been there for eight months now." Another said "Been there since before Christmas." A local described the scene, revealing he "saw a man on the back seats, with a blanket over the front two seats to build a 'barrier' across as he was lying on the backseat - most likely was sleeping in the back". Sussex Police said in a statement: "Police were called to Whittle Way in Northgate, Crawley, at around 10.30am on Friday, 6 June, to reports of a body found in a vehicle. "The investigation to identify the person and ascertain the complete details of the incident is currently underway."
Daily Mirror
07-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Airport horror as body found inside BMW with car 'left abandoned for MONTHS'
Locals say a recovery driver had arrived to tow away a white BMW from an industrial estate in Crawley, Sussex on Friday when he discovered a dead body hidden under blankets on the backseat A dead body has been found on the back seat of a car a mile away from Gatwick Airport. The white BMW had reportedly been parked on the Crawley industrial estate since October before cops found the corpse on Friday. Ticket inspectors had believed to have been in the vicinity of the vehicle, slapping it with a ticket, but failed to notice the body inside. Locals said they contacted Crawley Borough Council on multiple occasions to report the parking violation. On Friday, forensic officers were seen at the estate on Whittle Way in Northgate, which is around a mile from the major international airport. The local council's warning notice, which was issued on May 19, detailed how the car was "untaxed" and threatened it would be towed unless moved in a week. However, checking the government's vehicle tax site, it is actually taxed until January 1 next year. It also has a valid MOT until November 25. The alarm was raised on Friday when a recovery driver, who turned up to tow the car, contacted the police about a possible body inside. It's still unclear how long the remains had been sitting in the vehicle, but locals claimed the dust-covered vehicle had been there since October. Sussex Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious, adding that the identity has not yet been established. In a local Facebook group, one person said: 'I reported it about four months ago but the council only put stickers on it - but it has been there for eight months now.' Another added: 'Been there since before Christmas.' One local resident explained what the recovery driver saw when he arrived. He allegedly "saw a man on the back seats, with a blanket over the front two seats to build a 'barrier' across as he was lying on the backseat - most likely was sleeping in the back'. A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Police were called to Whittle Way in Northgate, Crawley, at around 10.30am on Friday, 6 June, to reports of a body found in a vehicle. "Enquiries are ongoing to identify the individual and establish the full circumstances of the situation."
