Welcome to the Mid Sussex Liberal Democrats
We exist to bring liberal democratic values to our area and support the ideal of a powerful community politics based on the idea of local power for local people.
The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.
Latest News
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Article: Sep 20, 2020West Sussex County Councillors Unite to acknowledge support for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children
Councillors gave their unanimous support for a Liberal Democrat motion that acknowledges the vital role that West Sussex County Council plays in supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
At a meeting of the full council of West Sussex County Council on Friday 18th September, Cllr Kirsty Lord (Lib Dem, Hassocks and Burgess Hill South) gained unanimous cross party support for a motion recognising the work of West Sussex County Council in caring for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC). Cllr Lord was prompted to table the motion following a summer in which increasing numbers of people have arrived by boat to seek asylum in the UK.
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Document: Sep 14, 202034.62 KiB drawing or desktop publishing document
Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet decision to permanently close Clair Hall will remove half the community meeting space in Haywards Heath. Alternatives to closure not seriously considered by Cabinet.
Mid Sussex District Council's Cabinet met today and unanimously voted1 to permanently close Clair Hall, the principal community centre in Haywards Heath.
The decision was made as an executive decision by the Conservative Cabinet alone. The Cabinet have decided not to put the matter to the full council.
This means that the final decision on the future of the Hall was be made with absolutely no public consultation by the Council and without even allowing the views of the rest of the council to be heard.
Cabinet members conceded during their meeting that there are no plans for the replacement of Clair Hall nor is there any certainty about how, when and where such a replacement could be provided.
Councillor Robert Eggleston, Liberal Democrat Deputy Group Leader on MSDC said "The Cabinet at MSDC have shown a total disregard for the people of Haywards Heath. At the District Council elections only last year, permanently closing Clair Hall was never mentioned by the Conservatives, yet Conservative councillors feel that they have the right to steamroller the closure of Haywards Heath's largest community facility through without public consultation."
Local organisations which regularly use the Hall are up in arms about this serious blow to cultural life in the community. Social media has reflected the widespread dismay felt in the town and two petitions have been launched - including the Liberal Democrats' here - so that residents could make their views felt.
Liberal Democrat and Lindfield resident Anne-Marie Cooke said, "We believe that there are ways to keep Clair Hall in operation, at little or no cost to the Council, until an alternative community centre can be put in place. However, the Conservative leadership of the Council would not listen."
Liberal Democrats will continue to use all means at their disposal to fight for Clair Hall to be kept open until there is a full legal commitment to a modern, state of the art replacement.
Liberal Democrats are still urging residents to make their feelings about the closure of Clair Hall clear by either signing the petition at https://midsussexlibdems.org.uk/en/petition/petition-to-save-clair-hall or lobbying their councillor directly.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Councillor Robert Eggleston, Mid Sussex District Councillor for Burgess Hill Meeds Ward:
Telephone - 07947 792033, Email - theeggs57@talktalk.net
Anne-Marie Cooke, Liberal Democrats Save Clair Hall Campaign:
Telephone - 07487 783968, Email - Annemarie_cooke@yahoo.com
NOTES TO EDITOR:
1. The Cabinet at MSDC comprises seven Conservative Councillors, two of whom represent wards in Haywards Heath Cllr Ruth de Mierre Haywards Heath Lucastes Cllr Stephen Hillier, Haywards Heath Bentswood
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Article: Sep 13, 2020
Petition Launched to Save Clair Hall
Liberal Democrats urge residents to help save Haywards Heath's Key Community Venue by signing online petition: midsussexlibdems.org.uk/en/petition/petition-to-save-clair-hall
On Monday, 14th September, Mid Sussex District Council's Cabinet will consider a proposal to permanently close Clair Hall, the prime community centre in Haywards Heath. If the Cabinet proceeds with the proposal it will be put to the full council at the end of September. That will almost certainly be the final curtain for an arts, entertainment and meeting venue which has served the town so well for decades.
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Petition: Sep 7, 2020The future of Clair Hall, Haywards Heath is in peril since Mid Sussex District decided it should remain closed when the Council's leisure centres were re-opened and is now considering whether to close the Hall permanently.
We, the signatories to this petition, believe that Clair Hall is an important community asset as a venue for events, activities and entertainments for the people of Haywards Heath and the surrounding towns and villages.
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Article: Aug 28, 2020Throughout September Liberal Democrats in Mid Sussex will be running a local campaign in support of refugees.
YouGov Polling from August 2020 suggests that almost half of Britons don't have sympathy for the people travelling across the Channel to seek asylum in the UK.
This does not reflect the kind, compassionate Britain we know and love. We know that refugees contribute so much to our country. More importantly, they have just as much right to safety, family, and opportunity as we do.
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Article: Jun 26, 2020We are current distributing a residents survey to some households in Mid Sussex via mail. You can fill in the survey here.
Even if you didn't recieve a paper survey, you are most welcome to fill in the survey online.
Survey results are collected via Typeform, our approved survey provider, and responses are subject to the following data protection statement:
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Article: Jun 22, 2020
You can find all the most up to date, offical Government and NHS advice at www.gov.ukl/coronavirus
If you need support locally, get in touch with Haywards Heath Town Council.
The Town Council is working with voluntary groups in the Town to administer help available to residents.
If you do need help, contact the Town Council:
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Article: Jun 22, 2020The community response across Haywards Heath, Cuckfield, Lindfield and surrounding villages to the Coronavirus outbreak has been absolutely amazing. The local Lib Dem team would like to thank all those involved with action groups that have been created to help the most vulnerable in our communities.
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Article: Apr 29, 2020
Liberal Democrats call on Conservative administrations to reopen waste and recycling sites and restart garden waste collection
Liberal Democrat Councillors across West Sussex are calling on the Conservative administration of West Sussex County Council to reopen Household Waste Recycling Sites (HWRSs) and are asking Conservative-controlled Mid Sussex District Council to restart garden waste collections. This follows an increase in flytipping being reported by district councils across the county and the anecdotal reporting of increased numbers of bonfires by residents.
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Article: Apr 20, 2020Many businesses in Mid Sussex are yet to apply for grants made available via Mid Sussex District Council. If you have a business in the retail, hospitality or leisure sector you may be entitled to a grant from government to assist during the Corona Virus Crisis.
You can find out more information on the Mid Sussex District Council Website, including how to apply.