Category Archives: East Sussex County Council

Seaford MP comes out against disposal of local recycling centre

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Seaford’s Lib Dem MP Norman Baker is encouraging residents to object to plans that will see the closure of Seaford Recycling Centre.

East Sussex County Council have released their updated Waste Strategy Review which makes new targets for waste and recycling up to 2020. The previous document’s (written in 2006) targets are now outdated with current figures often surpassing previous goals. This includes almost doubling the amount that is reused, recycled and composted across the county and reducing the amount sent to landfill by 90%.

As part of the latest document East Sussex is now proposing shutting down Seaford Recycling Centre and says it is seeking the views of local residents. The proposal is based on the assumption that much of the recycled waste will be handled by kerb side services, similar to the new service introduced in Wealden District. Lewes District Council is not currently offering the same level of kerb side recycling as Wealden and may also be discouraged from taking up similar scheme in the near future by the disastrous changeover period that Wealden residents have endured.

Seaford Recycling Centre remains one of the most well used facilities in East Sussex. The county council argues that due to its close proximity to the Newhaven site it is expendable. This case ignores the popularity of the site (Seaford has the fourth highest throughput in East Sussex) and the fact that it is one of the top performing sites for recycling in the region.

Seaford Lib Dem County Councillor Carolyn Lambert is working actively with residents to oppose the closure of the waste site. Carolyn commented: “Many local residents are on fixed incomes and cannot afford the additional costs of travelling to Newhaven. Furthermore, the Newhaven facility already struggles to cope with the refuse it currently gets.”

Norman says:

“I am concerned that East Sussex is proposing to cut residents off from a facility that is convenient, popular, and which works well. Seaford is the biggest town in the district and further cuts to town services by the Tory county council are not acceptable. The Tory proposals are based on hypothetical numbers that may not be reached in the near future and rely on Lewes District Council making major changes to the way it deals with rubbish collection.

 “I want to see Seaford services protected and the recycling centre should remain running in its current form at least until suitable replacement kerb-side services are operating locally. I urge local people who value this site to make their views known to the council.”

Constituency will be wired up by 2015

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Local MP Norman Baker has welcomed news that the rural areas of the constituency will soon have access to superfast broadband. The recent report from East Sussex County Council shows that the proposed timetable will see existing exchanges in the area upgraded with work beginning by 2015 at the latest.

Local villages and rural areas remain behind the towns when it comes to superfast broadband rollout. Exchanges in higher populated areas were the first to be improved with many people living further out still having to wait for infrastructure expansion.

The schedule that East Sussex County Council have released sees many local villages including Ringmer, Newick & Plumpton having their local exchanges upgraded in the next two years as part of the e-Sussex program. The council’s aim is to get superfast broadband to at least 96% of households across East Sussex.

Residents can check the status of superfast broadband in their area by visiting www.superfast-openreach.co.uk/where-and-when and entering their postcode.

Norman says:

“I am glad to see that East Sussex County Council are finally getting round to rolling out high speed broadband across the area. The lack of high speed internet access in rural locations is an issue that many constituents have raised with me. It has got to a point where it is restricting businesses and leaving residents out of the loop. I am very pleased to see that the County Council is making commitments to address this issue.”

MP asks council for firm commitment on Southover Grange

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East Sussex County Council must gave a cast-iron commitment to keep Southover Grange in Lewes available for weddings and other ceremonies before it takes over the building from Lewes District Council. That’s the call from Lewes Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, who has raised the matter with ESCC Chief Executive Becky Shaw.

Under the plan agreed between the two councils, ESCC will transfer The Maltings (the old Public Records Office) to LDC, in a direct swap for Southover Grange. While ESCC has given an indication that it intends to keep existing uses on site, the MP is calling on LDC to insert that requirement in its transfer deal and for ESCC to give an unequivocal public commitment prior to the deal being signed.

Norman Baker says:

“These are important buildings in Lewes which are held for the public good. While in estate terms I think the swap makes sense, it is vital that people can continue to enjoy the facilities, including access to the wonderful gardens, that Southover Grange offers for those getting married. That is why I think it is important that we have that public commitment from ESCC ahead of the deal being signed.”

15,829 local children will eat for free

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Norman Baker MP has welcomed news that from September 2014 all infant school pupils including over fifteen thousand across East Sussex will benefit from a free hot and healthy meal at lunchtime.

Earlier this month Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced that every child in infant school in England will receive a free school lunch.

The Coalition will fund schools in England to provide free meals for all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in a measure that will save families £400 a year per child while helping to raise school standards and cut the attainment gap.

Universal free school meals for primary school pupils were a key recommendation in a recent review of school food produced independently for the Department for Education. The review found that, in pilots where all children had been given a free school dinner, students were academically months ahead of their peers elsewhere and more likely to eat vegetables at lunchtime.

At the same time, the Coalition will extend free school meals to disadvantaged students in further education and sixth form colleges. Free school meals are currently available only for eligible students at school sixth forms.

Norman Baker says:

“These new Lib Dem proposals make it easier for parents whilst also helping children get the best out of their time at school. Both of these policies will ease financial pressures on parents of school children, both locally and nationally.” 

“There have been concerns that lunch boxes are often filled with sweets and unhealthy snacks, by providing free school meals we can ensure children are not only well fed but also have nutritious diets.” 

“I am very pleased to see that such a high number of local children will benefit from this policy.”