LABOUR FOR PULBOROUGH: LOCAL POLICIES FOR LOCAL PEOPLE
I am a retired solicitor and life long socialist who has supported and campaigned for the Labour Party for more than 50 years. I have a firm grasp of the local politics of West Sussex and support the causes of the disadvantaged and often neglected members of our society.
My policies include:-
Action on traffic and air pollution and homelessness;
- Installing traffic calming and safe walking and cycling routes;
- Building the homes our young people need, while defending the countryside.
- Setting up a partnership with the CLT to build this urgently-needed affordable housing.
Also;
- Promoting the Arts and Recreation.
- Supporting services to help refugees find work and to give their time to voluntary groups
- Defending the South Downs National Park.
- Encouraging local businesses and employment initiatives.
- Reversing the cuts in youth and community projects
ACTION ON TRAFFIC AND POLLUTION FROM OVERSIZED VEHICLES.
For manufacturers of SUVs the vehicles are highly profitable due to greater financial margins. They are heavily promoted. But the sales pitch fails to disclose the threat that they pose to pedestrians and cyclists. Research shows that children are 77% more likely to die if struck by an SUV compared with other cars due to their size and raised bonnets. SUVs take up far more physical space than most cars and it is my campaign that drivers should pay much more to use these vehicles and to park. Places such as Helsinki and Oslo have achieved huge reductions in road deaths and serious injuries by restricting SUV use.
I support such restrictions. Reductions in speed limits with significant parts of our villages having 20mph zones and designating new restrictions on faster and more crowded roads will reduce accidents. The introduction in London of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) led to significant improvements in air quality which is something we must copy. The International Energy Agency report that SUVs consume about 20% more oil than medium-sized cars and their popularity has reversed gains from improved energy efficiency in those models.
The heavy traffic on the A29 will remain a problem even after the landslip problem on Church Hill has been resolved. The main road is not suitable for long distance travel and large vehicles in particular travelling north and south must be diverted to the A24. It is still a country road and the highways and other departments must treat it accordingly.
Housing the homeless:
Replacing our council housing which has been sold off since the 1980s is one of my priorities. Building homes for families and young people while protecting the countryside is a significant challenge. Partnerships between the Community Land Trust and our local councils can address this through strategies which can focus on brownfield first development, sustainable design and other community-led projects. There is a strong demand for affordable and council housing in West Sussex which is needed to prevent communities from breaking apart. However there is a parallel need to defend our natural landscapes, food-producing farmland and local wildlife.
The partnership policy will approach balancing these interests to include:
- Development on brownfield sites: Proposed planning reforms involve prioritising the redevelopment of redundant sites and some previously developed parts of the green belt now unused.
- Affordable Rural Housing Projects: Community Land Trusts and their partners are investing in small-scale affordable housing in rural areas which are specifically prioritised for individuals and families with a local connection. This helps to keep young people in their communities.
- Community-led Development: A specific community right to build could empower our local residents to approve developments that are suitable and appropriate for our area. This approach will lead to community support for such new homes.
- Sustainable and Ecological Design: New housing will be built with nature-friendly features such as swift bricks or hedgehog highways, to ensure development mitigates the cost to the environment.
- Appropriate planning: Rather than sprawling modern high density estates I support a more sustainable approach by constructing higher-density, low-rise infill housing or a limited number of high rise apartments within existing towns.
My opposition to green belt development.
- Impact on Agriculture: I have concerns about the loss of agricultural land and its effect on food production.
- Infrastructure: All new developments must include the necessary infrastructure, such as shops, schools and sewage systems in association with existing towns and villages.
TRAINING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
It is my policy to promote the Labour government initiatives which support local business and employment.
Developed in partnership with local employers Skills Bootcamps are inclusive, flexible courses that enable and empower individuals and employers to develop sector specific skills. Each course is designed to boost employability, leading to job interviews or career progression for every learner. Individuals aged 19 and over who live or work in West Sussex are eligible.
Skills Bootcamps are a useful way to help existing employees learn new, industry recognised or accredited skills. By giving staff the opportunity to take part in a Bootcamp, employers can close skills gaps in their business, retain staff and keep their team motivated and preparing for the future.
I shall encourage training providers to create courses tailored to the specific needs and requirements of employers in Pulborough.
Connect to Work is an employment programme funded by our Labour government which I support. West Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council run the Connect to Work programme locally, with financial assistance from the Department for Work and Pensions.
I know that having a job can greatly improve someone’s life and also benefit the wider community.
That’s why I will encourage employers to enter into a partnership with the county council in this inspiring programme. Such partnerships can make a substantial difference to local residents and at people in work. Connect to Work helps our fellow residents with disabilities, long-term health conditions or other challenges to find and keep paid jobs.
