A Call for Mid Sussex District Councillors

front_MSDC_LogoMake a difference – be a Councillor

Mid Sussex District Council is encouraging local people who want make a difference in the community to consider standing for election as a County Councillor.

West Sussex County Council elections are being held on Thursday 2 May. Mid Sussex District Council runs all elections in the Mid Sussex area and is holding a briefing on Thursday 7 March at 6pm to provide information to anyone who is considering standing for election as a County Councillor.

The evening briefing will be held in the Mid Sussex District Council Chamber in Haywards Heath and is open to all prospective candidates and electoral agents. The Mid Sussex Returning Officer and elections staff will be on hand during the evening to talk through the election arrangements, distribute nomination packs and answer any questions.

“Local councillors represent the views of local people and make sure that the interests of the community are taken into account,” said Tom Clark, Returning Officer for Mid Sussex. “If you are concerned about your local area and want to ensure that the community get the right services then being a Councillor could be the perfect role for you.

“You don’t have to be affiliated to a political party; politically neutral candidates can simply stand as an independent. All that is needed is a desire to make a difference and help to shape the future of the local community. If you are interested in becoming a Councillor, come along to our evening briefing to find out more.”

Those looking for more information should read ‘Be a Councillor’, an online brochure produced by the Local Government Association. The electronic guide explains what councillors do, how councils work and what is expected of a councillor. There are answers to a range of frequently asked questions and other local Councillors explain why they chose to represent their local community. Prospective candidates can download the brochure at www.midsussex.gov.uk/elections.

Anybody living in West Sussex is eligible to stand for election in the 12 County Council divisions within the Mid Sussex area and candidates are not required to pay a deposit. However, anyone who intends to stand on behalf of a political party would need to be authorised by that party.

For more information about the County Council election briefing call the Mid Sussex District Council elections team on 01444 477003 or email elections@midsussex.gov.uk.

For more information please contact Martin Faulconbridge on 01444 477478 or Martin.Faulconbridge@midsussex.gov.uk

“Visitors choose to travel by car through convenience”

Sustainable transport
The Department for Transport has provided the South Downs and New Forest National Park Authorities with £3.8m of taxpayer money. They, in turn, are passing some, or all, of this money on to a PR firm for a two-month project intended to see the development of “a strategic comms and stakeholder engagement plan” in relation to “travel-related behaviour change”.

GJMG

South Downs Way Walk 7-15 June

South Downs Way Walk 7-15 June 2013
An organised nine day walk along the full 100 miles. The Footprints Red Shirts walk with you. Luxury coach transport provided. By far the simplest way of completing the walk. Each day averages around 11 miles. The sectors are as follows: Eastbourne — Alfriston — Newmarket Inn — Devils Dyke — Washington — Whiteways — Cocking — Queen Elizabeth Park — Exton — Winchester. More here.

Characteristics of National Parks


The ONS has just released a report [PDF] on the national parks in England and Wales based on the 2011 census. Residents of the South Downs National Park (SDNP) should find some of the content to be of interest:

  • The population of the national parks taken as a whole has increased by 7,400 since 2001. Of this, the SDNP is responsible for 7,200.
  • The population density of the SDNP is the highest of any national park and 36 times greater than that of the Northumberland park.
  • The SDNP had the lowest median age at 46 (compare the Broads and Exmoor, both at 53).
  • National park residents are older than the general population but consider themselves healthier: 82% describe their health as good or very good. The SDNP has the highest proportion who describe their health as very good.
  • Among the parks, the SDNP has the lowest proportion of UK born residents at 91% (the figure is 87% for the population as a whole and 97% in Snowdonia).
  • 40% of SDNP households occupy detached houses or bungalows (the figure is 23% for the population as a whole and 66% for the New Forest).
  • The SDNP has the lowest proportion of homes with “no usual residents” at 6% which is a bit higher than the national average but much lower than the national park average (14%) and the Pembrokeshire Coast (28%).

GJMG