Category: <span>HOT Topics</span>

53 County Council candidates sign pledge for fossil fuel divestment

53 candidates for the 6 May elections to East Sussex County Council (ESCC) have signed a climate action pledge, committing themselves to supporting the divestment of the East Sussex Pension Fund from fossil fuels – the Conservatives are only main political party with no signatories in East Sussex. The East Sussex Pension Fund, which is administered by East Sussex County Council, currently has over £70m of local people’s pension monies invested in the giant oil and gas companies like Shell and BP. Erica Smith looks at which candidates in the Hastings area have signed the pledge.

Posted 21:28 Wednesday, May 5, 2021 In: Local Government Tags: #ABCDpledge

Police numbers divide PCC candidates

Police numbers – are they up or down? – are a leading source of disagreement among candidates for Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner. Nick Terdre offers a brief guide.

Posted 20:11 In: Politics

Rollercoaster induces nausea over the Stade Amusement Park

The rollercoaster that has arisen by the Boating Lake on the Old Town seafront does not have planning permission, or an application, and wasn’t even notified to Hastings Borough Council (HBC) or the Foreshore Trust (FT). Do Permitted Development Rights (PDR) apply? What about the issues of the perimeter fence and the footpath, so controversial a few years ago? Will the Council or the FT take action? Bernard McGinley looks at another fine mess, and also took the photos.

Posted 10:36 In: Home Ground Tags: 01009 Bernard McGinley boating lake Flamingo Foreshore Trust FT HBC planning

Patmore puts Tory case against Labour’s handling of HBC

Andy Patmore, new leader of the Tory HBC group, explains where he thinks Labour’s leadership of HBC has gone wrong, as the party looks to improve its minority representation on Hastings Borough Council and maintain its majority on East Sussex County Council. Meanwhile it has moved to dissociate itself from what has been called a “racist” tweet by one of its candidates. Nick Terdre reports.

Posted 20:22 Tuesday, May 4, 2021 In: Politics Tags: Andy Patmore ESCC HBC John Sydes Martin Clarke Nick Terdre

Party positions polarised in West St Leonards

As the local election campaign enters its final phase, Chris Connelley takes the political temperature in West St Leonards, where two major planning issues are polarising party positions.

Posted 20:49 Monday, May 3, 2021 In: Politics Tags: bathing pool Bulverhythe Chris Connelley Jane Packman John Cannan Karl Beaney Stewart Rayment West St Leonards

Greens aim to break electoral duck in Hastings and East Sussex

Encouraged as their politics pull in increasing numbers of new members and supporters, local Greens are contesting all Hastings wards and most East Sussex divisions in the hope of finally winning seats. Nick Terdre asked where they stand on major issues of local interest. All photos courtesy of the Green Party.

Posted 17:35 In: Politics Tags: Andrea Needham Gabriel Carlyle Greens Julia Hilton Nick Terdre

East Sussex Alliance the way to victory for the Lib Dems

The thrust of the Liberal Democrats’ local election campaign is aimed at County Hall, where they see cooperation between the opposition parties as the key to overturning the Conservative majority. The Rother Alliance provides a successful example of the strategy in action, they say. Nick Terdre reports. Photos supplied by the Lib Dems.

Posted 15:47 Friday, Apr 30, 2021 In: Politics Tags: Bob Lloyd elections Kathryn Field Lib Dems Nick Terdre Stewart Rayment

Labour sets out its stall

In the upcoming local elections the Labour Party will be looking to maintain its dominance of Hastings Borough Council, as well as safeguarding its four seats on East Sussex County Council. Nick Terdre takes a look at the party’s manifesto and its line-up of candidates, which includes several new faces. All photos provided by Labour.

Posted 20:36 Wednesday, Apr 28, 2021 In: Politics Tags: Anime Abdallah elections John Cannan labour Liam Crowter Nick Terdre