Latest news with #CrawleyBoroughCouncil
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- 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
a day ago
- 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."
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Crawley Tilgate Park visitors asked for views on dog lead rules
Visitors to a Crawley park are being asked for their views on rules about dogs being on leads.A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has been in place in areas of Tilgate Park since 2022, and Crawley Borough Council intends to renew it for a further three PSPO means all dogs must be kept on a lead around Tilgate lake, the park's main lawn, peace garden and the golf course (excluding the perimeter path) at all member for public protection, Yasmin Khan, said the council wanted to ensure the park was a safe place for residents and visitors to enjoy. Since the introduction of the PSPO, she added there had been an "immediate reduction in dog-on-dog attacks in the park and there have been no reported incidents of wildlife deaths, including cygnets, swans or deer".The council wants to renew the order before it expires later in the year, and Councillor Khan encouraged local residents and visitors to share their thoughts in the dogs are exempt from the order and dogs can remain off the lead throughout the rest of the dogs are permitted in the children's not obeying the order can be asked to stop, and council officers can issue fixed penalty notices with the option to prosecute in court if tickets are not consultation runs until 19 June.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Tandridge District Council rejects plans to merge with Crawley
A Surrey council has rejected plans to merge with an authority in West of Tandridge District Council (TDC) have voted to remain in Surrey and distance themselves from a merger with Crawley Borough Council (CBC).Catherine Sayer, leader of TDC, said the authority had "little in common with Crawley" and that there would be "considerable drawbacks for our district joining any unitary with them [and] potentially isolating TDC geographically".Neighbouring Reigate and Banstead Borough Council (RBBC) have been in talks with Crawley about potentially forming one council under devolution plans. RBBC leader Richard Briggs had written to the government, stating that joining the Surrey borough and West Sussex town could maximise the economic growth potential of the Gatwick Diamond economic said the merger could improve connectivity, housing delivery and public CBC's submission to the government, Tandridge is included in five of its seven geographic options, despite officers making it clear that Tandridge did not wish to be joined in this way, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service .TDC councillor Helena Windsor said she could see where the Reigate and Banstead and the Crawley argument was coming from, but agreed it was a "non-starter" as it would leave Tandridge "very isolated". 'Considerable risks' Jonathan Essex, leader of the Green groups on RBBC and Surrey County Council, labelled the idea as a "grotesque betrayal of the many residents who say that the Green Belt is what they value most about where they live".TDC councillors had voted in favour of Surrey being split into three unitary authorities - where Tandridge would be partnered up with Mole Valley, Epsom and Ewell, Reigate and Banstead as well as Surrey documents stated: "The Reigate and Banstead and Crawley submission adds considerable risks to the successful implementation of any Surrey unitary structure."Campaigners in Crawly also started a petition to keep the town's argued Crawley was an integral part to West Sussex and was being exploited as a strategic economic asset because of Gatwick Airport.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Crawley and Reigate & Banstead: Should two councils become one?
Should two become one? Councils consider combining 6 minutes ago Share Save Jack Fiehn BBC Surrey, political reporter Share Save Getty Images Crawley Borough Council and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council say there are economic benefits to forming a unitary authority. Two councils in south-east England are considering asking the government to allow them to combine. Crawley Borough Council (CBC) and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council (RBBC) have put together a proposal about forming a new unitary authority. The councils say their aim is to get the economic benefits of being part of an economic area close to Gatwick airport. Government ministers have said they want a major redesign of local government, with the two-tier council system being scrapped and areas having elected mayors. RBBC approved the plan on Tuesday. CBC is meeting on Wednesday. But why are the two boroughs considering this idea? Reigate & Banstead is also supporting a proposal to have three unitary authorities across Surrey. You could say that officials at Reigate and Banstead are trying to ride two horses at the same time. On one hand, they are backing the plan – now supported by nine of the borough and district councils – to split Surrey into three unitary authorities. On the other, they are looking at working with Crawley. Arguments in favour include growing the economy of the two boroughs, the potential to develop road and rail transport links, such as the M25 and the North Downs line, and having a stronger voice on the future of Gatwick. A report also says the proposal would help with building new homes in places like Redhill Aerodrome and land near Salfords, although some councillors have raised concerns about losing green spaces. The government has asked for more details about the plan, including some of the financial aspects, such as dealing with the debts of councils in Surrey, and also the provision of services Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
