Council rejects plans to merge with Crawley

Tandridge District Council leader Catherine Sayer said the authority had little in common with Crawley

A Surrey council has rejected plans to merge with an authority in West Sussex.

Members 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 area.

He said the merger could improve connectivity, housing delivery and public services.

In 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 Heath.

Council 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 identity.

They argued Crawley was an integral part to West Sussex and was being exploited as a strategic economic asset because of Gatwick Airport.