Another civic year of the council officially begins and with it the appointment of our new Mayor. It gave me huge pleasure to nominate Councillor Marion Ayling at last Friday’s annual meeting of Crawley Borough Council. Marion has been my ward colleague for my whole time on the council, both in Bewbush and more recently the part of North Broadfield that was added.
Marion has wide experience within the council, she has sat on every one of the council’s committees during her time. She is also now one of our longest serving councillors with continuous service, first elected in 2008.
She has seen many important changes and improvements in Bewbush. Marion and I supported new homes, including a fair number of council homes back in the day at the first phase of the Breezehurst Drive development, I remember being there with her for the groundbreaking event. And of course, the wider regeneration of Bewbush, which included the changes to Dorsten Square and the opening of the Bewbush Centre.
She has been a steadfast local campaigner her whole life. A few examples include our work with local residents to Save Bewbush West playing fields, to saving most of the local playgrounds in Bewbush. We have had great pleasure in seeing many new playgrounds installed since then in Bewbush. Another more recent memory would be opening the brand new, renovated Mill Pond playground!
From backbench ward councillor, to chair of scrutiny, then our deputy mayor this past year – Marion was present for the London to Brighton veteran car rally, marked the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, celebrated the 100th birthday for West Sussex libraries, visited the annual St George’s Day fair this year on the High Street and welcomed Crawley Pride this year.
Marion will be a Mayor who will do what is right for everyone. I congratulate her warmly and look forward to a successful year ahead.
And she has a tough act to follow! Sharmila Sivarajah’s second term of office as Mayor has come to an end but she will be remembered as an exceptional Mayor, who exemplified all that is impressive about Crawley. As our Mayor, Sharmila brought people together and reminded us of the very best things that happen within this Borough and our communities.
It is relatively rare for a Mayor to get two terms, particularly consecutive ones. I thank Sharmila for her steadfast commitment to the Borough, she presided over meetings with fairness and grace, all while continuing to make a living and looking after her family. No mean feat in itself. Undoubtedly, in both cases, two examples of local people here in Crawley giving public service at its finest.
Cllr Michael Jones
Leader, Crawley Borough Council