Email the SUSY News Desk at news@susyradio.com
A fire broke out at a derelict building on a school property in Lingfield.
Surrey Fire & Rescue Service had been sent to St Piers School after the blaze broke out at about 13:45 on Tuesday afternoon.
An investigation into how the fire started will be carried out.
Plans for major improvements to Crawley bus station and its adjoining streets have been approved.
The application for phase one the regeneration was given the nod during a council planning meeting on Monday.
The changes will include 11 redesigned bus stops and new shelters down the centre of the site, as well as the relocation of bus parking.
The roundabout at the junction of The Broadway will be adapted to allow for longer buses.
Council leaders across Surrey have ruled out making the county a single “mega-authority”.
An agreement was reached during a meeting on Friday attended by leaders from all 11 district and borough councils.
Elections have been postponed until at least 2026 after the government confirmed Surrey is part of devolution plans.
The council leaders could now look at how to split the county into two or three smaller council areas with the potential for an elected Surrey mayor.
Crawley Borough Council has published its plans to set a balanced budget for 2025/26.
A meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday evening approved the income and spending plan. The draft budget will now be considered by Full Council on 26 February.
The council will raise its share of council tax by 2.99 per cent meaning that for a band D property, its annual council tax will rise by £6.94 from £232.10 to £239.04.
The council has faced challenging circumstances with soaring costs for temporary accommodation. It now spends £2 out of every £3 it collects in council tax providing accommodation to support Crawley residents.
For well over a decade, Crawley has been disproportionally affected by reductions in government funding for local authorities. That, combined with the vast increase in costs for temporary accommodation, has meant that the council has had to find savings of around £2.4million in this year’s budget.
A public consultation was held over a four-week period for residents to share their views with the council on their priorities for the year ahead.
We have had to make some very difficult decisions in order to set a balanced budget this year and we know that some of them will have an impact on the services that we offer. We have prioritised ways to generate income through our commercial buildings and assets and increased the deterrent for those who choose to litter or fly-tip. Wherever possible we have protected services for vulnerable people and delivered on what we heard in the consultation. We have protected the services that our residents valued, such as public protection and keeping Crawley looking the way we expect. The costs of temporary accommodation have put significant pressures on our budgets, but wherever possible we have worked hard to keep people in their own homes. These are Crawley people and we have a legal duty to provide assistance should they become homeless. We will continue to lobby the Government to get what we consider is a fair deal for Crawley.
Councillor Michael Jones, Leader Crawley Borough Council
Officers are investigating incidents where repeated damage was caused to a property in Irving Walk, Crawley.
On September 14, 2024, it was reported that a brick was thrown at a window, damaging the frame.
A further report to police was made on October 26, 2024, when a machete was used to smash the porch glass just after 4am.
During police enquiries, CCTV was identified of two suspects, however their faces were covered during the offence.
On Wednesday, February 5, a third incident occurred at 2.30am when a man was seen picking up a stone from outside a nearby address, and throwing it at a downstairs window, causing it to smash.
CCTV captured the incident and showed a single suspect was seen wearing a distinctive long black puffer jacket with navy joggers, white socks and black sliders.
We are working to identify those responsible, and if you recognise the outfits worn or have any information, we ask you make a report to police.
Superintendent Imran Asghar said,
“These incidents are distressing and entirely unacceptable acts of criminal damage.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own home, and we are committed to identifying the perpetrators and seeking justice for the victim, whose property has been repeatedly targeted.
“We urge anyone who recognises the clothing seen in the footage or who has any information to come forward, as your details could be vital in helping us identify those responsible.”
Reports can be made online, or by calling 101 quoting reference 605 of 26/10.