Nearly 75,000 adults in Surrey have ditched the car or public transport and taken up walking regularly in their daily lives in the last three years, according to official figures.

Department for Transport statistics reveal that the number of residents making journeys of 10 minutes or more on foot three times a week has climbed almost 8% in just three years to 37%.

There was also a near 5% hike in the number of people walking five times a week that’s the equivalent of more than an additional 47,000 people.

The news comes as the county council presses ahead with its Pavement Horizon project to overhaul more than 200 miles of footpaths.

Last week the authority unveiled the latest pavements being resurfaced as part of the scheme to improve access to schools, doctors’ surgeries and town centres.

Crawley Borough Council’s attempt to stop properties in the Manor Royal Business District being converted to housing without planning permission has been successful.

The removal of permitted development rights, follows concerns that residential development in Manor Royal is having a negative impact on its operation as a main employment area.

The council also had concerns about the quality of life for anyone living in the 24-hour business district, which can be a noisy, busy place.

Business property in Crawley is scarce with figures from the council’s Local Plan showing a deficit of 35 hectares.

Surrey Police are still looking for a man in connection with a drugs and firearms incident in Smallfield last Thursday (28 July).

57-year-old man Paul Hodge is wanted as it’s believed he was seen in possession of a suspected firearm.

Police have no information to suggest Paul is of a threat to the wider community but urge anybody who has seen Paul or knows of his whereabouts to please call 999, quoting, 45160065395.

Crawley MP Henry Smith has welcomed the new Rail Minister, Paul Maynard, to Three Bridges Station in Crawley, on one of his first visits in his new role.

As well as touring the traincare facility at the station, where new Thameslink trains are tested and drivers are trained, Mr Smith took the opportunity to tell the new Rail Minister in person about the frustrations experienced by Crawley passengers, at the hands of the Southern rail operator, and the trade unions.

He revealed that a month ago he wrote to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, to give them a selection of correspondence from Crawley commuters to be passed to the Committee’s MPs.

The emails submitted represent ongoing frustrations with the service provided.

Mr Smith promised to continue to work alongside MPs from all parties in calling for GTR and the unions to act constructively with the Department for Transport to ensure a resolution.

http://www.henrysmith.info/news/crawley-mp-presses-rail-minister-southern-and-thameslink-disruption

A police helicopter joined the search for two men who made off in a dark blue Mercedes after a burglary in Crawley last Tuesday afternoon (July 26).

Officers were called to Dower Walk just after 2pm after a man was seen climbing in through a window of a house and then let his accomplice in through a door.

It’s thought that they may have been disturbed as they left in a hurry in the car without taking anything.

The car was later found abandoned in Lodge Close, Crawley.

Police are looking for two men in connection with the incident. One is described as of middle eastern appearance, around 40 and wearing dark clothes. The second man is of similar ethnic appearance, aged about 30, 5′ 10″, slim, and wearing a red top.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information about it is asked to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 956 of 26/07.