Leader: It’s all gone quiet

News this past two weeks:

1. Jemima For Westminster Fund Raising Dinner

2. “Keep The Gap Petition” Launched In Lancing
3. Bland Demands Loughton Apologises To Former Minister
4. Keep The Gap On The Map Public Meeting On September 23rd

5. Lib Dem Big Hitters Come To Lancing

6. Shoreham Police Station Closure Costs Shock

8. Keep The Gaps On The Map Campaign Meeting Full To The Brim

9. Worthing West Curry Night

 

WORTHING LIBERAL DEMOCRATS NEWSLETTER

15TH TO 28TH SEPTEMBER 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: It’s all gone quiet

In our last issue we wondered whether Leader of the Council Paul Yallop was the sole member of Worthing’s Tory administration able to make a decision. This week we wonder whether he has also gone into hiding as so many areas seem to be in limbo or suffering the usual Tory dither and delay.

The local press has told us for the last few years the most pressing issue in Worthing is the cost of car parking. We have the angry image of Mr Yallop on the front of the Herald with his arms folded burnt on our souls as he promised to sort out car parking. But as we rapidly approach the end of the NCP contract for off street parking and the end of the agency agreement with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) for on street parking the silence from the Tories is deafening. And we are not surprised as the word on the street is the agency agreement is to be extended another year – so another year when Worthing money is spent in the rest of West Sussex. What happened to Mr Yallop’s promise? Hopefully the street is misinformed – rest assured we’ll be asking.

It wasn’t so long ago when the hot topic was the continual losses of Worthing’s theatres. The Tories flip-flopped as at first they were adamant a theatre would have to close if a third party could not be found to take over and then they rejected all applicants promising a new business plan to staunch the flow. The new business plan has been in place for some time now but our understanding is the theatres are still not achieving their budget. Again the Tories have gone very quiet.

Then there is the financing of the new Splashpoint pool – millions borrowed against the expected return on the sale of council assets. In fact they are the community’s assets and this is a classic case of selling the family’s silver. When can we expect this cash in the attic return – what exactly is happening? It’s all quiet on the Tory front.

And then we hear all is not well with Shoreham Airport where Worthing Borough holds a third share, all is not well with parks and gardens and all is not well with planning. Not that we or the public hear anything from the Tories – their own omerta reins.

We shall try asking questions of the Cabinet at the Joint Strategic Committee meeting on Tuesday but last time the Leader disallowed questions from councillors during public question time. We would like to hear some answers but the Tories don’t want to hear the questions.

At full council they will have to take the questions – it will be very quiet until then.

Worthing Liberal Democrats

NEWS FROM THE PAST TWO WEEKS

JEMIMA FOR WESTMINSTER FUND RAISING DINNER

Monday 16th September – East Worthing and Adur Liberal Democrats are holding a fund-raising dinner at the National Liberal Club in London to raise funds for Jemima Bland’s campaign. The dinner provides a wonderful opportunity to visit the National Liberal Club, experience the splendour of its famous Smoking Room, where you will join a champagne reception, and the gracious elegance of the Lady Violet Room, where you will enjoy a delicious three-course dinner accompanied by wines from the club’s cellars. The date of the dinner is Wednesday October 30th – champagne reception at 7.00 pm with dinner at 7.30 pm. Tickets are priced £100 each and are available from Ms Jemima Bland, 25 Church Street, Shoreham-by-Sea.

“KEEP THE GAP PETITION” LAUNCHED IN LANCING

Monday 16th September – Local residents are signing a petition to save the “green gap” between Lancing and Shoreham, which is being threatened by plans to build as many as 1,200 new houses. The petition, launched by Adur Liberal Democrats with the slogan “Keep the Gap on the Map”, asks Adur District Council to abandon its plan to build on the open countryside The petition is being supported by local residents’ associations. The proposed developments would also add to traffic congestion in and around Lancing, the Liberal Democrats claim. The Adur District Plan acknowledges that many of the houses would be built in an area with the highest category risk of flooding but is pressing ahead anyway. Ms Bland criticised local MP Mr Tim Loughton for his failure to persuade Adur District Council to abandon its proposals.
Jemima Bland, Liberal parliamentary candidate for Worthing East and Shoreham, said: “It is madness to contemplate this amount of new development in a fragile environment which is prone to flooding. Lancing residents will remember the terrible flooding around last Christmas. No-one wants to go through that again, but these proposals make the risk of future flooding more likely. If you add another 1,200 houses to Lancing, you increase the number of car journeys made each day by thousands. Already busy junctions such as the North Lancing roundabout are over-loaded with heavy congestion during rush-hours. These proposals will make the position much worse. These proposals have been on the table since last year, yet Mr Loughton has been completely ineffective in persuading his Conservative colleagues, who run Adur District Council, to change their minds or even improve the proposals. If he has no influence over his colleagues, one has to wonder what he is able to achieve.” (Jemima Bland – Press Release)
Residents can sign the petition online at: https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/neil-parkin-leader-of-adur-district-council-keep-the-gap-on-the-map-stop-flood-risked-development-on-new-monks-farm#

BLAND DEMANDS LOUGHTON APOLOGISES TO FORMER MINISTER

Tuesday 17th September – Tory MP Tim Loughton should be ashamed of making a personal attack on Sarah Teather, the former Children’s Minister, Ms Jemima Bland, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Worthing East and Shoreham said at the party’s conference. At a Conservative training event, Mr Loughton suggested Ms Teather could not be an effective minister for families and “doesn’t really believe in family” because she had not yet had any children. Sarah Teather was the youngest MP when elected in 2003, and youngest minister when promoted to the Department for Education in 2010. She was Mr Loughton’s boss at the Department for Educations before he was sacked from his ministerial post as Minister for Children and Families in November 2012. Mr Loughton issued an apology through the media but Ms Bland said that he should apologise personally to Ms Teather.
Ms Bland said: “Sarah Teather is a dedicated local MP and public servant so it is not surprising that she has not yet found time to start a family. Mr Loughton’s comments are disgraceful. Publicly attacking his ex-boss in this way is beneath contempt. Is he really suggesting that childless people can’t have empathy with children? This is nothing to do with politics. It simply exposes a mean and bitter person who is desperate to get attention through any means available.” (Jemima Bland – Press Release)

KEEP THE GAP MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 23RD

Wednesday 18th September – Campaigners opposed to building as many as 1,200 houses in the “green gap” between Lancing and Shoreham are holding a public meeting at Lancing Parish Hall on Monday September 23rd. The meeting, which starts at 7.30pm, will be chaired by Jemima Bland, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Worthing East and Shoreham. Speakers from local groups opposed to the new developments are expected to spell out the increased danger of flooding in Mash Barn and east Lancing that the new development poses. Ms Bland has already launched an online petition opposing the development at: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/neil-parkin-leader-of-adur-district-council-keep-the-gap-on-the-map-stop-flood-risked-development-on-new-monks-farm (Jemima Bland – Press Release)

LIB DEM BIG HITTERS COME TO LANCING

Thursday 19th September – Liberal Democrat big hitters and members of the Coalition Government are speaking at the South East Lib Dem Regional Conference at Lancing Parish Hall on Saturday October 19th. Headlining are Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Vince Cable MP Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Other Lib Dem MPs attending are Norman Baker who is MP for Lewes and Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Department of Transport, Stephen Lloyd MP for Eastbourne, Mike Thorne new MP for Eastleigh and also MEP for the South East of England Christine Bearder. The event is for Lib Dem party members only and is from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm.

SHOREHAM POLICE CLOSURES SHOCK

Friday 20th September – Sussex Police have said they do not know how much it will cost to rehouse the 116 people who currently work from Shoreham Police Station, following its proposed closure. The shock information comes from a Freedom of Information request by Jemima Bland, the parliamentary Liberal Democrat candidate for Worthing East and Shoreham. Ms Bland is now writing to Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne to ask how the original £40,000 figure was calculated and whether it was ever intended to apply to Shoreham.
Ms Bland said: “This revelation blows a hole in the financial case for closing the station. When Sussex Police originally announced the closure of Shoreham – and 17 others including Lancing – they said the average cost of providing a replacement partnership or joint site for each with another organisation would be £40,000 a year. Now they are saying that, as far as Shoreham Police Station is concerned, they don’t know.”
In their FoI response, Sussex Police said: “Until we identify alternative provision for the staff at Shoreham Police Station it is not possible to specify the size or cost.”
Ms Bland said: “It stands to reason that the 116 people displaced from Shoreham Police Station will have to work somewhere and there will be costs for their offices and other facilities. What seems certain is that it won’t be the figure of £40,000 which Ms Bourne quoted in her original estates strategy for the police.”
In its FoI response, Sussex Police also revealed they do not yet know the cost of providing secure parking at another location for the operational vehicles currently kept at Shoreham Police Station.
Ms Bland said: “It appears that the original document over-looked this cost. What we need is a clear statement of the costs of new accommodation for people and vehicles which we can compare with the current costs of Shoreham Police Station. These are just the figures any well-run business would expect to produce before moving offices. Until Ms Bourne produces these figures the closure of Shoreham and Lancing police stations should be put on hold.” (Jemima Bland – Press Release)

KEEP THE GAPS ON THE MAP CAMPAIGN MEETING FULL TO THE BRIM

Tuesday 24th September – Last night’s meeting for the Keep the Gaps on the Map campaign against building on our flood plains was attended by nearly 200 residents, representing a further 5000 members of residents associations across Lancing and Sompting. Every petition form was filled, and the meeting was standing room only.The meeting was called and chaired by Jemima Bland, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Worthing and Adur. Plans have been published to build 600 houses on the Lancing flood plain. A further 400 houses are proposed for the Sompting Green Gap. As Bill Freeman, representative of the combined residents associations of Lancing said last night: “This plan would be like dropping a brick into a bucket. The water has to go somewhere.” Mr Freeman also mentioned his experience of previous developments on flood plains: “Last Christmas, when the tide was in, you couldn’t use the loo” he said. Ms Bland, Mr Freeman, and others also emphasised the extra pressure that 600 additional families would put on local roads, schools and hospitals. There was lots of participation from the floor, since many residents had personal experiences to add. A lady who had worked for the Environment Agency added her expert agreement that this plan was folly. Several residents offered to help with leaflet delivery and by sharing the online petition via community websites.
Ms Bland said: “We were delighted to see a hall full of people from across the area working together in the interests of the community. The verdict in the room was unanimous: this development cannot continue. The people of Lancing and Sompting will work together to ensure that our flood plains and green spaces are protected. We put a stop to plans to sell Shoreham Airfield for housing development, and we will stop this too. Building houses where they are certain to be badly flooded is simply madness.” (Jemima Bland – Press Release)
The online petition against building on Lancing Flood plain and Sompting Green Gap can be found here: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/neil-parkin-leader-of-adur-district-council-keep-the-gaps-on-the-map-stop-flood-risked-development-on-new-monks-farm-on-the-sompting-and-lancing-flood-plain-protect-our-strategic-green-gaps. Hard copies of the petition can be found in the Fish and Chip Shop on South Street, Lancing, and in the Chinese Takeaway next to Lancing train station. For further details about the meeting or the Keep the Gaps on the Map Campaign, please contact Jemima Bland 07780 470 420 or jemima.eastworthingandshoreham@gmail.com

WORTHING WEST CURRY NIGHT

Saturday 28th September – Worthing West Liberal Democrats are holding a fund raising Curry Night at Shafiques in Goring Road on Monday September 30th at 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm. Tickets are £20 per head and are available from Jackie Cranefield. To book e-mail Jackie at j.cranefield@live.co.uk or call 01903 266143.

DIARY

Monday 30th September – Worthing West Liberal Democrats Curry Night at Shafiques, Goring Road at 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm

Tickets at £20 each from Jackie Cranefield e-mail: j.cranefield@live.co.uk or call 01903 266143

Tuesday 1st October – ADC & WBC Joint Strategic Committee – Gordon Room, Town Hall at 6.30 pm

Wednesday 2nd October – WBC Planning Committee – Gordon Room, Town Hall at 6.00 pm

Thursday 3rd October – WSCC Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee – County Hall Chichester at 10.30 am

Friday 4th October – WSCC Performance and Finance Select Committee – County Hall, Chichester at 10.30 am

Saturday 5th October – Lib Dem Castle Ward Surgery – St Richards Church, Maybridge 10.00 am to 10.30 am

Saturday 5th October – Lib Dem Castle Ward Surgery – The Strand Parade shops 10.00 am to 11.00 am

Saturday 5th October – Lib Dem Gaisford/Tarring Wards Surgery – West Worthing Baptist Church 10.30 am to noon

Saturday 5th October – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Sidney Walter Centre, Sussex Road 10.30 am to noon

and every first Saturday in the month

Saturday 5th October – 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

Tuesday 8th October – WSCC Planning Committee – County Hall, Chichester at 10.30 am

Thursday 10th October – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Christ Church Hall. Grafton Road 3.00 to 4.00 pm

and every second Thursday in the month

Friday 11th October – WSCC Sussex Police and Crime Panel – County Hall, Chichester at 10.30 am

Tuesday 15th October – WBC Full Council – Council Chamber, Town Hall at 6.00 pm

Thursday 17th October – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Sidney Walter Centre, Sussex Road 10.30 to 11.30 am

and every third Thursday in the month

Friday 18th October – WSCC Full Council (meeting to be webcast) – County Hall, Chichester at 10.30 am

Saturday 19th October – South East Lib Dem Autumn Regional Conference – Lancing Parish Hall from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm

Thursday 24th October – WSCC Children and Young People’s Services Select Committee at 10.30 am

Wednesday 30th October – WBC Planning Committee – Gordon Room, Town Hall at 6.00 pm
Wednesday 30th October – Jemima for Westminster Fund Raising Dinner at the National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 8HE at 7.00 pm for 7.30pm

Tickets: £100 each from Ms Jemima Bland, 25 Church Street, Shoreham-by-Sea

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