Mid Sussex Liberal Democrats

L ib Dem County Councillor Kirsty Lord and local Lib Dem campaigner Alison Bennett joined the Save Our Schools march in Worthing protesting against the pitifully low funding for schools in our area. West Sussex is the lowest funded county council in the country, receiving around £11.8 million less than similar authorities, and £15.1 million less than the average (WSCC). Our schools and our pupils are suffering as a result. Lib Dems would invest an additional £7 billion in education to end the inequalities in funding and give all our young people the chance to suceed in life they deserve.

Our prospective parliamentary candidate Robert Eggleston was joined by local campaigner Colin Wilsdon at the People's Vote stall in Burgess Hill. The People's Vote is a cross-party campaign that was launched to give everyone a say in the final Brexit deal. The event was a success with several hundred people signing the petition for a People's Vote.

Last night saw the approval of the District Plan by the Conservative councillors at Mid Sussex District Council, which includes the site for 500 houses North of Clayton Mills that was strongly opposed by local residents. Sue Hatton, the Lib Dem Councillor for Hassocks is the only non Tory on Mid Sussex District Council. In last night's meeting she was put under pressure by Conservative Councillors to vote in favour of adopting the District Plan. She was the only councillor to vote against it. Below is a script of her speech where she explains her reasons for voting in the best interests of those that she has been elected to represent.

Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint Liberal De mocrats spoke in opposition to plans for 500 houses north of Clayton Mills in Hassocks at a Public Hearing on 5th February. The Lib Dems were represented by Colin Wilsdon and Benedict Dempsey. Lib Dem Councillor Kirsty Lord attended in her capacity as West Sussex County Councillor for Hassocks & Burgess Hill South. The special hearing had been called by the Planning Inspector after more than 1000 local residents registered their opposition to the proposed modification to the Mid Sussex District Plan. When combined with other new houses that are planned for Hassocks, the village could see approximately 900 new homes over the Plan period to 2031. If these developments go ahead, the village would be set to grow by more than 25%. When Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) initially voted on the plans in September 2017, Liberal Democrat Sue Hatton (Hassocks Ward) was the only councillor to vote against the them. Hassocks' other two District Councillors, Conservatives Michelle Binks and Gordon Marples - despite acknowledging significant problems with the proposal - voted in favour. Speaking after the hearing Cllr Kirsty Lord said, "This development puts the village's identity at risk by reducing the gap between Hassocks and Burgess Hill. It is testament to the strength of community opposition to these proposals that the Planning Inspector felt compelled to call this hearing." Dr Colin Wilsdon (Chair, Hassocks & Hurstpierpoint Liberal Democrats) added, "In the meeting, the Lib Dems argued that the Council had failed in its duty to properly consider the huge implications that this development would have on Hassocks' overstretched schools, roads and infrastructure. The hearing today is the result of MSDC doing a rushed job on just one site in Hassocks last summer."