Leader: Home front
News this past week:
1. “European Court Ruling On World Cup Matches Is A Victory For UK Football Fans” – Bowles
2. Green Spaces Survey
3. Jemima Bland Reception
4. Jackie’s Famous Strawberry Tea
5. Homefield Park Bid Fails

WORTHING LIBERAL DEMOCRATS NEWSLETTER 21ST TO 27TH JULY 2013
Lib Dems will keep County services local where ever possible
Lib Dems will devolve more money to be spent locally and allow residents to decide how it’s spent
Lib Dems will ensure vulnerable people are safeguarded and support 20 mph in Worthing’s residential roads
Leader: Home front
We unashamedly return this week again to the problem of providing more homes in Worthing. The Tories including members of the Cabinet continue to say nothing can be done despite the fact Worthing Borough’s Council second priority is “enable new homes to be built to help meet the housing needs of our community.” Worthing Liberal Democrats do not accept “nothing can be done” and prefer to follow the maxim “where there’s a will there’s a way”. The Tories show a disappointingly familiar lack of will.
David Chapman, housing spokesman for Worthing Liberal Democrats, regrets the passing of the housing forums which the council hosted some years ago when David was still at the Citizens Advice Bureau. These forums would get all interested parties together to discuss the housing situation and the possibilities for improving the situation. David thinks it is high time these forums were reactivited to confront Worthing’s present housing crisis. This reactivated forum would include councillors, housing officers, registered social landlords (RSLs), voluntary organisations (e.g.Worthing Churches Homeless Projects and Shelter) and estate agents.
We have raised the housing forum this week at a meeting with housing strategy officers and they are pursuing the idea with their colleagues in the housing allocation department. Housing strategy and housing allocation are in separate service areas but, although separate, should in our opinion work hand in glove with each other. Those that access the need should be close to those who deal with the demand and the allocation. It is only common sense. We are inviting the Tory Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member in whose portfolio housing lies to support us in our quest for the new forum. We await with baited breath to see if they will.
An interesting development recently is pension/insurance companies Prudential and Aviva are entering the private rented market after a 30 year absence and building estates for private rent. As the Adam Smith Institute has said recently the only way to get cheaper housing and thus cheaper rents is to build more houses. Worthing Liberal Democrats are investigating whether this something is Worthing Borough Council and West Sussex County Council can do to a greater extent – after all they have large pension funds available. West Sussex has already made a commitment to build homes for private rent – Worthing so far has refused to do so.
We recognise it will take some effort to ease the housing situation for Worthing residents but we are willing to put in the hard work. Let’s hope the Tories will stop shrugging their shoulders and join with us in this important quest on their own corporate priority.
We should all fight together on the home front.
Worthing Liberal Democrats
NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK
EUROPEAN COURT RULING ON WORLD CUP MATCHES IS A VICTORY FOR UK FOOTBALL FANS” – BOWLES
Monday 22nd July – The European Court of Justice has today rejected a legal appeal by Fifa and Uefa, ruling that World Cup and European Championship football matches must remain free-to-air TV events.

Fifa and Uefa wanted matches not featuring England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland to be sold off to pay-per-view channels. Today’s ruling upheld a 2011 decision by the European General Court that the UK could keep World Cup and European Championship football matches on a list of free-to-air sporting events.

Sharon Bowles MEP, who represents South East England in the European Parliament and has a long record of supporting the rights of football fans, said: “I am delighted that British football fans will be able to watch World Cup and European Championship football matches on free-to-air TV channels. Fifa and Uefa already make a lot of money from fans. It would have been very sad if one of the world’s biggest sporting competitions, the World Cup, became a pay-per-view event, available only to those who could afford it. Significant global sporting events, such as the Olympics and the World Cup, should always be free to view and I am delighted that the European Courts agree. Although Fifa and Uefa do need to be able to earn a good income, sport at this level should be more than just a money-making operation which excludes loyal fans. I am glad that Britain’s EU membership has safeguarded our right to enjoy future World Cups without paying a premium.” (Sharon Bowles Press Release)

GREEN SPACES SURVEY
Monday 22nd July – Worthing Borough Council launched a survey today to give Worthing residents the chance to influence the shape and state of Worthing’s green and open spaces. Worthing Liberal Democrats urges all residents to take this opportunity to take part in the public consultation. We will then hold the Tories to account to ensure your wishes are noted and followed.
The survey can be found at: http://www.kkp.co.uk/surveys/adur_worthing/residents.htm
EAST WORTHING & ADUR SUMMER RECEPTION
Friday 26th July – New Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for East Worthing & Shoreham Jemima Bland today invited all Lib Dems and supporters to the East Worthing &v Adur Summer Reception. The reception is next Friday August 2nd at Lancing Catholic Church Hall, North Road from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Guest of Honour Lord Stoneham of Droxford has had a long career in Lib Dem activism and will say some motivational words to the assembled company as will Jemima. Along with a themed raffle, free wine and canapes, and a live accordion duo it promises to be a lively and interesting evening. If you would like to attend let us know by e-mailing Doris Martin at doris@accesstaxis.co.uk or call her on 01903 523817.
JACKIE’S FAMOUS STRAWBERRY TEA
Friday 26th July – Jackie Cranefield’s famous Strawberry Tea is the highlight of Worthing West Lib Dems’ social calendar and it takes place this Sunday August 4th. All are welcome to this best-loved event at 45 Salvington Road from 4.00 pm. Tickets at £10 per head are available from Jackie on 01903 266143 or mobile 07973 961003 or e-mail jcranefield@live.co.uk. Alternatively just turn up – all are most welcome.
HOMEFIELD PARK BID FAILS
Friday 26th July – Worthing Borough Council announced today the bid to improve Homefield Park, affectionately known as the People’s Park, was unsuccessul. The Heritage Lottery Fund feedback to the Council said the bid was strong and made a great effort in maximising the educational opportunities around the intangible heritage in the park. Further more detailed feedback from Heritage Lottery Fund will be passed to Council officers in the next few weeks. Worthing Borough Council is still committed to working with the Friends of Homefield group, local schools and businesses and Worthing Hospital on a Plan B for the restoration of the park and details of the next steps will be drawn up over the summer. The resources put into this project including the consultation will be used in future funding applications for Homefield Park as well as work currently being undertaken on an open spaces assessment and strategy for Adur and Worthing.
DIARY
Wednesday 31st July – WBC Licensing & Control “B” Committee – Gordon Room, Town Hall at 6.00 pm
Wednesday 31st July – Lib Dem Northbrook/Durrington Ward Surgery – The Durrington Community Centre 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm
Friday 2nd August – Lib Dm East Worthing & Adur Summer Reception at Lancing Catholic Church Hall, North Road from 7.30 to 9.30 pm
Saturday 3rd August – Lib Dem Castle Ward Surgery – St Richards Church, Maybridge 10.00 am to 10.30 am
Saturday 3rd August – Lib Dem Castle Ward Surgery – The Strand Parade shops 10.00 am to 11.00 am
Saturday 3rd August – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Sidney Walter Centre, Sussex Road 10.30 am to noon
and every first Saturday in the month
Saturday 3rd August – Lib Dem Gaisford/Tarring Wards Surgery – West Worthing Baptist Church 10.30 am to noon
Saturday 3rd August – Lib Dem Broadwater Surgery – Muldoons Coffee Shop, Cricketers Parade, Broadwater 3.00 to 4.00 pm
and every first Saturday in the month
FURTHER AHEAD
Sunday 4th August – Lib Dem Worthing West Strawberry Tea at 45 Salvington Road at 4.00 pm
tickets £10 from Jackie Cranefield – 01903 266143 or 07973 961003 or jcranefield@live.co.uk
Wednesday 7th August – WBC Planning Committee – Gordon Room, Town Hall at 6.00 pm
Thursday 8th August – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Christ Church Hall. Grafton Road 3.00 to 4.00 pm
and every second Thursday in the month
Saturday 10th August – Lib Dem Selden Ward Surgery – Jason’s Cafe, Ham Road at 10.00 am to 11.00 am
and every second Saturday in the month
Thursday 15th August – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Sidney Walter Centre, Sussex Road 10.30 to 11.30 am
and every third Thursday in the month
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