Henry Smith, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Crawley, has answered questions from the Crawley News, ahead of the General Election on 7th May 2015.

Should Gatwick Airport be allowed to build a second runway? 

The key question for me is “What’s in it for Crawley?” If Gatwick were to have an additional runway I would need to see guarantees of how the extra housing, highways, healthcare, school places and doctors surgeries would be provided – so far those answers are not forthcoming. Gatwick is important for our economy but we need it to be diverse not just reliant on the fortunes of aviation. Our environment is important too and we should not let that be adversely affected at any cost. 

What would you do if elected to get maternity services and an A&E department back into Crawley? 

I think it was the worst decision in our new town’s history when Crawley Hospital’s maternity unit was closed in 2001 and accident & emergency department in 2005. The Urgent Treatment Centre is now open 24/7 and can treat the majority of cases an A&E can but ultimately we need a new hospital. Recently I was delighted to open both the new Digital Mammography Unit and MRI scanner at Crawley Hospital and muscular skeletal services for the area are now based there too. Services have returned but there’s more to do.

What should be done to regenerate the town centre, bring more people into the town centre and attract more big name retailers such as John Lewis and IKEA into the town? 

I welcome the £3 million of investment going in to Queen’s Square to improve its look and the new development on the High Street as well as Crawley Museum shortly opening at the historic Tree are welcome. The Council needs a bolder vision though for our town centre, especially The Boulevard. We are a natural retail and entertainment centre which is successful already but we can do better still to attract more retail.  

What should be done to solve Crawley's housing problems such as the high number of people on the housing list, the high prices that make it difficult for many residents to afford their own home and the lack of obvious space in which to build new homes? 

Recently I was pleased to open the thousands of new homes currently being built in Crawley newest neighbourhood of Forge Wood. Additionally half of the social housing in Kilnwood Vale to the west of Bewbush is designated for Crawley people. The Government’s Help to Buy and new first time buyer savings policy has helped many in Crawley get on the housing ladder. We need to continue helping people be able to affordably rent locally and purchase homes. What’s important also is that new services, like roads, school places and doctors surgeries are built at the same time too. 

Quick-fire questions

Who is your political hero? 

Margaret Thatcher as our first female Prime Minister who made Britain great again.

Who is your Crawley hero? 

Alderman Bert Crane who passed away earlier this year. Although we didn’t share the same politics his commitment was to our new town over so many decades of public service. 

Favourite TV programme? 

The Simpsons because Homer is truer to my life than I’m comfortable with!

Favourite song of all time? 

‘Friday I’m in Love’ by The Cure. A great Crawley band that played at The Railway and reminds me of my 1980s youth!

How would you spend your perfect day off? 

I recently had a great day out in a sunny Tilgate Park with my kids at Go Ape – having a laugh with my family is always the best relaxation for me.

Favourite shop? 

March & Son on Pound Hill Parade, my son and I love this local Aladdin’s Cave of hardware!