CRAWLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
POSITIVE STEPS TOWARDS RECOVERY
A
draft Economic Recovery Plan outlining a vision
• Connected Crawley – to enhance a “green” economic
for Crawley’s future prosperity and recovery
future for Crawley by delivering low carbon transport
from the pandemic has been presented to the
and hyper digital connectivity
town’s Economic Recovery Taskforce. Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the town’s
Also at the meeting, the Taskforce:
• Received a presentation from Coast to Capital Local
economy. The Taskforce will steer development of the
Enterprise Partnership on the Freeport bid. Freeport
plan, in response to the true impact of the crisis and will
status for Gatwick Airport and Manor Royal would
work together to unlock and harness public and private
support the safeguarding and creation of jobs and help
investment to the maximum benefit of Crawley’s
the recovery of the aviation sector. Plans will provide
community.
import and export incentives, unlock major
The devastating impact has included:
• A major collapse in Gatwick Airport passenger
infrastructure upgrades, and enhance the delivery of a potential new multi-million pound Innovation Centre
numbers – nearly four million per month (2019) to
• Heard an update from Julie Kapsalis from Chichester
850,000 per month (2020) – has resulted in more than
College Group on their bid to secure investment in new
7,000 redundancies at the airport – nearly 33 per cent
skills training facilities at Crawley College which, if
of the workforce
successful, would benefit residents and be focused on
• As many as 25,800 Crawley residents have been
local employer needs
furloughed during the past year; this is 41% of the
• Discussed the significant bid to the Towns Fund
eligible local workforce
Cllr Peter Smith, Cabinet member for Planning and
• Unemployment in Crawley has more than trebled
Economic Development, Crawley Borough Council said:
from 2.4 per cent to more than eight per cent
‘The pandemic has had a huge impact on the local
• Youth unemployment is almost 13 per cent, which is
economy and unemployment levels in Crawley. We are
nearly 1,000 young people
committed, along with our public and private sector
• The Economic Recovery Plan is designed to provide a
partners, to take the action necessary to get us on the
clear vision for Crawley’s future socio-economic
road to recovery and are calling on the government to
prosperity, a clear path for recovery from the pandemic
offer Crawley the support that it needs at this time.’
and a marker to Crawley’s formidable reputation for economic productivity. The proposed strategic priorities of the plan are:
Chris Maidment, Chair of the Crawley Economic Recovery Taskforce and Town Deal Board said: ‘I sense a real desire from all parties to support the
• A diverse and resilient economy – renew Crawley as
council’s plans for a recovery of the local economy, and
an attractive, abundant, diverse economic powerhouse,
you should see an impact whether you are a resident,
founded on “green growth” and digital innovation
an employer or employee, a learner or a place of
• Green transformation – establish Crawley at the
learning within the town. It shows Crawley coming
forefront of “green growth” and as a place where
together to benefit all.’
green technology businesses thrive
The Taskforce brings together the council, senior
• Town centre renewal – secure a vibrant
business and voluntary sector representatives, Crawley’s
neighbourhood and sustainable economic future for
MP, a government representative, the Coast to Capital
the town centre via significant qualitative investment
Local Enterprise Partnership and West Sussex County
• Skills for the future – to significantly improve overall
Council. The final plan will be adopted in the summer,
social mobility among Crawley residents, creating
subject to a period of public consultation and
powerful and effective skills pathways
consideration by the council’s Cabinet.
6
APRIL/MAY 2021
CRAWLEY PAGES South To advertise call 01403 588618
