County Council Candidates - Election Survey
The Keep Rookwood Green Alliance (KRGA) recently invited County Council candidates to participate in an election survey.
We were pleasantly struck by how many election materials trumpeted concern for the loss of Rookwood and claimed a strong green agenda. KRGA is apolitical and interested to understand more about how our locally elected politicians think about the issues that matter to so many Town residents.
Although some questions asked about issues under the control of Horsham District Council (HDC) rather than West Sussex County Council (WSCC), they still reveal candidate’s priorities and thinking.
You can see the full survey and individual candidate responses here.
Many candidates have written interesting comments.
Below is a summary of their responses as at 30 April 2021.
Of the 25 candidates invited to take part, 16 candidates responded.
Conservative: Andrew Baldwin, Tony Hogben, Christian Mitchell, Katie Nagle, David Thompson
Greens: Ferial MacTavish, Catherine Ross, Morag Warrack
Labour: Ray Chapman, Carol Hayton, David Hide, Sara Loewenthal
Liberal Democrats: Nigel Dennis, Nick Grant, Jay Mercer, John Milne
Top 3 priorities: We asked for their top three priorities - a difficult question but one that is likely to guide their efforts and attention. Climate Change came out as the lead priority followed by Wellbeing and Education.
Infrastructure: We asked how well they thought Horsham Town’s infrastructure was coping following the building of so many homes. All reflected the concerns of local residents that it is not coping well. The five Conservative candidates thought it was coping “Somewhat well” with candidates from other parties stating it was coping “Not at all well” (40%) and “Not so well” (33%).
Rookwood: Rookwood is valued as a Community Asset so we asked how concerned they were about its loss. All but two were ‘Extremely concerned’.
Wildlife corridors: Although biodiversity was not at the top of the priority list, all but three candidates were extremely concerned about the impact of more homes on wildlife corridors and biodiversity.
Protecting green spaces: We asked what they would do to protect the Town’s green spaces.
7 candidates said they wanted our green spaces to be given legal protection
2 said this was a matter for HDC
Other comments included standing up to HDC, returning strategic planning to locally elected bodies and prioritising brownfield sites and multi-level dwellings to reduce the amount of land needed.
To give a voice to Horsham Town residents: We asked for their views on giving a voice to Horsham Town residents. The majority recognised there is a structural problem with the current system.
Suggestions included:
The need for a Town Council (6 candidates)
Ensuring HDC is lead by/the Cabinet includes a Horsham Town representative
Community Assemblies
Supporting local campaign groups
Being a contact point, surgeries, canvassing opinion