Elections 2016: Why parties think they deserve your vote

Conservative, Liberal Democrat and UKIP seats will be defended as voters go to the polls in the Worthing Borough Council elections on May 5.
General Election 2015.General Election 2015.
General Election 2015.

A total of nine of the seats up for grabs will be defended by the Tories and the Liberal Democrats have three of four of their seats up for election.

UKIP’s Charles James, meanwhile, will hope to hold on to the seat he won in a 2014 by-election.

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But regardless of whether the Corbyn effect earns Labour its first borough victory since the 70s, or the Greens build on their first seat win, the council chamber is set for some new faces.

Six councillors have opted not to stand for re-election.

Former mayor Vic Walker joins fellow Conservative councillors Michael Cloake, Mary Lermitte and Vino Vinojan in standing down.

Current mayor Michael Donin will not defend Durrington for the Lib Dems and Norah Fisher will not stand in Tarring.

The Lib Dems’ have placed their faith in former councillor and parliamentary candidate Hazel Thorpe in winning Tarring, after her loss to veteran Tom Wye in 2015.

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See our guide below for a full list of candidates and party statements:

Conservative

On May 5 we have a strong team of candidates for the local elections in Worthing and, if elected, they will support and continue the good work done by our elected councillors to develop Worthing further and ensure all the residents are represented fairly.

Your Conservative-led council will ensure your weekly bin collection will be protected, we will keep your streets clean and free of graffiti and our parks, gardens, promenade and beach will be maintained to their current high standards. We won’t cut back on environmental health services or the work that is done to ensure food hygiene is top notch in Worthing’s food outlets and we will continue to promote Worthing to the full and work hard to renovate and reinvigorate the town to encourage new businesses to look at Worthing as their preferred home.

All nine candidates have been working hard in their wards either as councillors or campaigners, listening to residents’ concerns and helping to make their wards desirable places to live, work and raise their families.

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If elected they all promise to continue doing their best for the residents they serve, addressing any issues or concerns raised in an appropriate and timely fashion.

Green

Worthing Green Party is committed to supporting our local communities. We are campaigning for better housing standards and more affordable housing, so young people can afford to stay in their home town.

We are campaigning for better public transport in the evenings, to support our night-time economy and give residents access to the town centre.

We opposed the recent Tory plan penalising the poorest by imposing extra council tax payments and we opposed the decision to hand over support of volunteer groups to a Brighton-based organisation. We want to see more open and transparent government in Worthing.

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We need to see action on developing Teville Gate, Union Place and other key sites – but we want development that benefits the whole community, that is part of a sensible and sustainable plan for Worthing.

We should be using the wind farm development as a starting point for making Worthing a leader in sustainable energy and environmental consciousness.

We want to see a real living wage – a wage that lets people live, not just scrape by.

Labour

Worthing is changing. New people are moving here with new aspirations and expectations.

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The Tory-­dominated council has failed to recognise or respond to the change.

They’ve found themselves out of tune with residents over the redevelopment of major sites like the Aquarena, the MGM office, and Grand Avenue.

They have no vision for what the town could and should be.

In last year’s elections, Labour overtook the Lib Dems as the main challengers to the Tories and the resurgence is backed by membership locally trebling over the last year.

Labour is firmly on your side when it comes to policies on housing, the environment, transport and local services.

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At the heart of our politics is the view that a decent home to buy or rent is a fundamental right for all.

We will defend local services because we really understand how important they are to families.

We want the best public transport because, like you, we use it.

When it comes to major redevelopments we’ll be guided by the needs of residents – not the greed of developers.

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Labour offers a real option for change. New ideas, fresh thinking – an agenda that fits the new mood in Worthing.

Liberal Democrat

Why Vote Liberal Democrat?

We are a strong voice for you.

We care about Worthing and will vote for measures that we believe will benefit the town.

However we will oppose any plans that pick on the poor and vulnerable.

Our local priorities are:

Support for low cost rental housing for all

Increased flexibility in free child care

More help with living costs for vulnerable people

The promotion of cheaper energy schemes, and support remaining in Europe in order to improve it for the residents of Worthing and beyond.

A fair education policy, not mass produced academies.

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It seems that some parties do not see that there are some who simply cannot earn enough because they’re poorly paid. These people need supporting, not kicking not victimising.

We will also oppose any schemes that do not make financial sense and which seem to be a result of party political dogma or personal agendas.

Worthing is a great town and is improving but that does not mean that we can abuse any of its citizens and we cannot afford to waste money. After all it is your future and ours too!

UKIP

This election is about forming an effective opposition, to hold the Conservative group to account for their decisions.

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Decisions to award the voluntary services contract to a Brighton Company, bypassing Vountary Action Worthing, and refusing a ‘call in’ to allow the decision to be fully scrutinised and debated by elected councillors.

The removal of catering facilities at the Denton Lounge, and the possible sale of Beach Huts, coupled with the lack of support for the Worthing Birdman competition, which gave the town national, if not international recognition, could affect our tourism.

Commissioning a town centre prospectus at a cost of £100,000 whilst failing to maintain Worthing’s infrastructure, such as replacing damaged benches and broken street bollards.

Failure to put in place effective cleaning regimes for public spaces and lavatories. Failure to renew toilets in the cinema and theatres which are long past their sell by date.

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Failure to enhance the town centre and seafront, including the public gardens with colourful flower displays for the benefit of residents and the town’s tourist industry.

The electors of Worthing deserve to have an effective opposition to ask these questions, that is what UKIP aims to be.

CANDIDATES

BROADWATER

Tony Anderson (UKIP)

John Apsey (Lib)

Paul Baker (Con)

Richard Battson (Green)

Lorna Beaumont (Lab)

CASTLE

Charles James (UKIP)

Trudi Starling (Lib)

Ian Walker (Lab)

Julian Warrick (Green)

Steve Wills (Con)

CENTRAL

Christine Allen (Lib)

Malcolm Milne (UKIP)

Richard Mulholland (Lab)

Gari Owen (Green)

Paul Westover (Con)

DURRINGTON

Guy Chadwick (Lab)

Jacqueline Cranefield (Lib)

Thom French (Green)

Mike Jelliss (UKIP)

Jane Sim (Con)

GAISFORD

Antony Brown (Lib)

Chris Gould (UKIP)

Joe Thornton (Lab)

Rosie Turner (Green)

Val Turner (Con)

GORING

David Aherne (Green)

Sybil Betts (UKIP)

Peggy Harris (Lab)

Dimitri Seirlis (Lib)

Steve Waight (Con)

HEENE

Geoffrey Brown (UKIP)

Jim Deen (Lab)

Peter Fullilove (Lib)

Paul High (Con)

Joseph Pearce (Green)

MARINE

Joan Bradley (Con)

Kirk Dickenson (UKIP)

Michael Finch (Lib)

Antony Grace (Green)

Jill Guest (Lab)

NORTHBROOK

Karen Harman (Con)

Graham McKnight (Green)

Darren Pearce (Lab)

Keith Sunderland (Lib)

Mark Withers (UKIP)

OFFINGTON

Patricia Izod (Lib)

Jed Smith (Lab)

Elizabeth Sparkes (Con)

John Strange (UKIP)

Anne Weinhold (Green)

SALVINGTON

Antony Baker (Con)

Michael Cranefield (Lib)

David Lace (Lab)

Lauren Salvage (Green)

David Smith (UKIP)

SELDEN

Graham Adams (UKIP)

Mike Barrett (Lab)

Keith Bickers (Con)

Valerie Ellis (Green)

Yvonne Leonard (Lib)

TARRING

Gina Deen (Lab)

Caroline Ponto (Green)

Adrian Price (UKIP)

Lin Salter (Con)

Hazel Thorpe (Lib)