Alfriston By-election Thursday 25 September
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Polling stations open 7 am till 10 pm Need a postal vote? Download a form here |
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Norman backs Andy Watkins for Alfriston Ward
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The Conservative councillor for Alfriston Ward, Keith Whitehead, has resigned triggering a District Council by-election. The Liberal Democrats have selected local campaigner Andy Watkins for what is set to be a close race between the Lib Dems and Conservatives. Andy is an experienced local councillor and served on the South Downs Joint Committee. He was previously Deputy Chair of Development Control on Wealden District. Andy says: “Keith Whitehead was a long-serving and hard working local councillor. It is a pity that his independent style is out of favour with modern Conservatives. If elected I would make fighting Conservative waste on the District Council, and stopping their plans to dump thousands of houses in local villages my top priorities.” Local MP Norman Baker is backing Andy, and says: “Local people have a choice between a hard-working local councillor, or the Conservatives who are wasting taxpayers money and planning to build 7,000 houses in local villages" |
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A record of action
- Fighting Conservative waste on Wealden District
- Campaigning against 7,000 new houses being dumped in local villages
- Working to improve safety on the A27 and our rural roads
- Fighting to protect local post offices from cuts
A promise of more
Concern grows over new housing
Local Lib Dems have pledged to fight plans by Conservative-run Wealden District to dump 7,000 new houses in local villages.
The Conservatives have not ruled out a new town at Berwick despite objections from many local residents and MP Norman Baker, and many local Conservatives have opposed including Wilmington Green in the South Downs National Park to ensure houses could be built in the area.
Lib Dem campaigner Andy Watkins says:
“Wealden District council have decided to
put most of the houses they need to build
in this area. As a result, villages such as
Berwick are under threat. There must be
improvements to our roads and
infrastructure before any houses are built,
and new housing must be affordable for
local people.
Campaign for road safety on A27
Local Lib Dem campaigner Andy Watkins is working with MP Norman Baker to improve safety on the A27. Andy says: “The A27 has a poor accident record and it is imperative that improvements are made sooner rather than later. For example to take the dangerous bend out of the road at Selmeston and to cut out the staggered junction onto the A2270 towards Polegate.”
Local MP Norman Baker has spoken in Parliament about improving safety on the A27, and recently met with Transport Minister Tom Harris to press for action. Norman says: “The minister has agreed to make improvements at the Selmeston bend which I support as long as the local environment is protected.
He will also look at improving the junction onto the A2270. I will be pushing for this work to be carried out as soon as possible.”
Campaigners welcome new post office
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Local Lib Dem campaigner Andy Watkins has welcomed the opening of a new post office at Deanland Wood Park, planned for October. Andy says: “Post offices are a important resource for rural communities. This is good news for residents of Deanland.” Local MP Norman Baker adds: “It is a pleasure to see a new post office opening, even if it was to replace the closure at Golden Cross!” The Lib Dems have opposed consecutive Labour and Conservative governments’ post office closure programmes. |
