LETTER: Stranglehold is not healthy

I would like to express a huge THANK YOU to all the 538 people who voted for me in Pulborough and Coldwaltham last Thursday, and allowing me to gain over eight per cent of the vote share (14 per cent when the results are weighted to take into account this being a multi-seat Ward).
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Although I was not elected, the Green Party managed to come third in the party rankings for the ward, ahead of both the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, and the Conservative vote fell by nearly eight per cent from the 2011 elections.

The elections this year have proven the urgency for electoral reform in our country. The First Past the Post system has well and truly been exposed as unrepresentative and not fit for purpose.

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The Conservatives managed to win 39 seats at Horsham District Council, the Lib Dems four and one Independent.

It is not healthy for any one party to have such a stranglehold upon the decision making in our District, particularly one that has been so dominant for so long.

Under a proportional voting system the result would have been very different - 25 Conservative, 7 Lib Dems, 4 UKIP, 4 Labour, 3 Greens and 1 Independent.

The next four to five years are going to be tough for us all, not least with the prospect of further massive cuts to local services and councils, but whatever happens, be assured that I will continue to keep a very close eye upon the activities of Horsham District Council and continue to stand up for the best interests of all residents and the environment.

MARTIN DALE

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Green Party candidate, Pulborough and Coldwaltham, Stane Street Close, Codmore Hill, Pulborough

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