Political opinion: Chris advocates for local accessibility and pays tribute at Horley Remembrance Day
Disabled residents in Horley face daily accessibility challenges that many of us never notice, and Surrey County Council’s lack of progress in addressing these problems is impossible to ignore.
While the Council has policies and systems in place, the people most affected tell me they aren’t working and their appeals are too often dismissed.
I’ve seen for myself how some residents struggle just to get around town. They can’t safely reach the shops or visit friends because accessible kerbs, tactile paving, and other essentials haven’t been delivered. As winter sets in, council inaction over flooding and poorly maintained pavements makes life even harder for disabled people. Horley Town Council has recently raised concerns with Surrey Highways about flooding and access outside Tesco Express on Brighton Road, and I urge the County Council to treat this as a priority.
The County Council has a schedule for pavement repairs, and local County Councillors have funds to target problem areas. If you or someone you know is struggling to get around safely, please report it online at www.surreycc.gov.uk/do-it-online/report-it-online and contact your County Councillor.
An appeal to drivers: please don’t park on the pavement, including in unauthorised parking bays, especially if you have to mount the kerb or cross a double yellow line to get there. Parking that blocks pavements isn’t just inconsiderate, it’s also illegal.
On Sunday the 9th of November, I remembered those who gave their lives for us at the Horley Remembrance Day Parade and Service. I joined others in laying a wreath and walking in the parade from the town centre through to the war memorial.
During the ceremony, I particularly remembered three soldiers; Lance Corporal Brodie Gillon (killed in Iraq, 2020); Captain David Hicks MC (killed in Afghanistan, 2007) and Major Roderick Faure Walker, Coldstream Guards, my grandfather. He is the reason why I’m glad to be serving my constituents also as a reservist British soldier.
Thank you to the Horley Branch of the Royal British Legion and all those who organised the event, ensuring it ran smoothly. It was a beautiful service, and I was glad to see such a large turnout.
If you would like to get involved in any of my campaigns, please email me at [email protected].