Across Wealden, there has been a sharp increase this year - both in terms of speed and volume - in the granting of permissions for major new housing developments, including many that local communities have lodged objections to, and even some that had been previously rejected.
The fact that this is also happening alongside proposed cuts to the Fire Service and budget shortfalls for other essential public services, together with inadequate infrastructure (already under-capacity for the existing population) seems odd, to say the least.
In his latest message to the residents of Hailsham, Town Mayor and Chairman of Hailsham Town Council, Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Holbrook, praised people for 'shopping local' in recent weeks and encouraged everyone to continue to support local traders.
"While we still have a very long way to go in our ongoing battle with and recovery from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, it is clear that we are seeing some return to normality," said Mayor Holbrook. "Perhaps the most visible indicators of this are the increased easing of social distancing and lockdown restrictions, and the reopening of many local businesses in Hailsham. As more and more businesses gradually reopen in Hailsham, I encourage people to shop local and ask residents to continue to buy local products and services to help our local economy get back on its feet.
Shortly before Christmas, residents of the new Cuckoo Meadow housing development in Hailsham (due to be completed next year) began complaining about foul-smelling water in the continuation pond, which is overlooked by many of the new houses. The pond was also overflowing, so they suspected that sewage was somehow leaking into it. Their plight was immediately taken up by two local Wealden District Councillors, Neil Cleaver (Liberal Democract, Hailsham North West) and David White (Independent, Hellingly), who realised at once that this was an urgent matter. "Not only did the pond water smell terrible," says Councillor Cleaver, recalling his first visit to the site over six months ago, "but it was also constantly overflowing, even during a dry spell."
While the recent national media focus has focussed on the Black Lives Matter rallies in London and other major cities, there have been plenty of smaller protests happening in towns and villages across the country, including here in Wealden.
Mia Lederman, LibDem Town Councillor for Crowborough North attended the BLM rally in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday June 6th with her daughter (pictured left and below), and described the rally as being entirely peaceful and really inspiring - not least because everyone who attended wore masks and practiced social distancing in family groups.
Welcome to the Weekly Whip. Your one-stop shop for Lib Dem Parliamentary updates, covering the week that was and the week to come.
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HAPPY PRIDE MONTH - JUNE 2020
Weekly Whip w/c 1st June
This week in the House of Commons the Corporate Insolvency Bill, the Parliamentary Constituencies Bill and a motion relating to our future relationship with the European Union were debated and discussed. However, these were not the main stories this week. As much as I would like to get my constitutional nerd on and tell you all about the reasoning behind the structure of Parliamentary constituencies. Some things are more important.
Around 800 EU nationals living in Wealden are still waiting to learn whether they can stay here or not, according to figures unearthed by the Liberal Democrats.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for all EU citizens already residing here to be given the automatic right to stay in the UK, as new official figures show that 790 EU nationals living in the Wealden District Council area have not been granted permanent 'Settled Status' to remain here.
Wealden's Liberal Democrat PC and Parliamentary Spokesperson Chris Bowers greeted the news that Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner have been elected as the Labour Party's new Leader and Deputy Leader respectively with positivitity and cautious optimism, saying he hopes that this marks the beginning of a new era of progressive cross-party cooperation and bridge building. Speaking shortly after the announcement was made on Saturday April 4th, Chris commented, "I think all people who believe in working towards a compassionate and just society should welcome the fact that Labour is now led by someone who understands the broad range of progressive views somewhat better than his predecessor did. What we will be looking for now are signs that Keir Starmer understands the need to work across party boundaries, and doesn't continue Labour's habit of thinking it can offer an alternative to the Conservatives all on its own. He will have to tread carefully, but we should be willing to embrace hints that he is willing to build bridges.
"In Angela Rayner, he has a deputy leader who understands at first hand what it's like to have to struggle to survive. She has emerged from a challenging childhood to become one of the most admired MPs in Westminster today. Let's hope they can both use their respective experiences to work with others to create a truly modern Britain."
The Covid-19 Coronavirus situation continues to change all the time - we therefore urge everyone to please check the latest (frequently updated) guidelines from the NHS and the UK Government.
Click HERE for the latest updates re: Covid-19 from Wealden District Council.
For the latest Covid-19 information from the national Liberal Democrats please click HERE.
LibDem's challenge Tory council tax rise for Wealden
Liberal Democrat councillors on Wealden District Council put forward an amendment to the Conservative controlled council's budget asking for a freeze in Council Tax rises for this year. The Liberal Democrat group and many Uckfield residents are frustrated with the mismanagement of the Wealden Plan by the Conservative dominated council which has recently been rejected by the government planning inspector. The development of the Wealden Plan had taken place over many years at a cost of hundreds of thousands of pounds, and has been rejected due to a catalog of failures. Wealden currently faces a planning "free for all" whilst a new plan is developed. Not surprisingly the amendment was defeated. Follow the link to the full article in the Sussex Express
All Members & Supporters of Wealden Liberal Democrats are invited to attend a meeting to be updated regarding the recently withdrawn Wealden Local Plan:
WHEN: Saturday 15th February from 7pm until 9pm
WHERE: Council Chamber, Uckfield Civic Centre, Uckfield TN22 1AE
