You may recently have encountered our team asking you to fill in a survey about local issues and problems. We had a fantastic response to these and identified a number of local issues which people felt strongly about.

• Potholes and poor road surfaces are a big concern, particularly around Hanlye Lane.
• Many are concerned by the lack of a local plan for development in the wake of recent decisions.
• Antisocial behaviour, littering and dog fouling along the Twittens.

Whilst we can’t promise to solve every problem the entire Cuckfield FOCUS team will promise to work hard and do our best. Although these issues may seem small they can have a big impact on people’s lives.

If you have a problem or concern in Cuckfield please get in touch! You can contact me at steve.blanch@midsussexlibdems.org.uk

If you want to know the facts from an impartial and independent group, see the North Cuckfield Action Group’s response to the Bylanes Decision.

If you are interested in past, present and future developments around Cuckfield you can find more information on the website of the North Cuckfield Action Group.

(This website is an external site and not affiliated with the Liberal Democrats)

Mid Sussex’s huge 17,000 housing target by 2026 is being abolished by the Coalition Government. It should be replaced by a new lower local target which would ease development pressure. But one year on, the Tory run District Council has failed to establish a legally defensible local target! This despite advice from Lib Dem councillors and residents including Cuckfield groups and societies.

Instead of urgency, they dragged their feet, in contrast to other councils. This serious failure is highlighted by the recent go-ahead given, on appeal, to the Rydon Homes development on the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) next to Bylanes Close. Regrettably the Tory run District Council was found wanting because they
hadn’t identified a 5-year housing land supply, as required by government planning policy. The inspector found, in the absence of a local target, that the 17,000 target stands! Reading the Planning Inspector’s Decision we see that the Tories never objected to the numbers!

Consequently, a developers free-for-all is emerging in Mid Sussex. Residents are left wondering how many fields surrounding our villages will be targeted in coming weeks? It’s very disappointing that the Council has let us all down like this, leaving Cuckfield vulnerable to a developers free-for-all. The Tories’ failure to establish a new local target has given a green light for a housing bonanza. My fellow Cuckfield Campaigner Paul Lucraft says “What’s happened at Bylanes is tragic, with protection of the AONB having been lost. It’s especially heart-breaking because this situation was wholly avoidable.”

It is now crucially important that a new District Council is elected to deal with this mess, resolving this Tory housing policy debacle. Cuckfield and the surrounding villages deserve better protection from over-zealous developers. The Lib Dems will provide just that and put in place a realistic local housing target.

If you want to find out more the please see our District Manifesto

This article is from our most recent Cuckfield FOCUS:

Stephen Blanch reports that the Lib Dems fully support the retention of the parking disc scheme in Cuckfield and there are certainly no plans to inflict parking machines on village car park users.

Stephen says, “The per visit charge is FREE. We believe this is vital to support traders and to safeguard the village economy. Installing machines would be bonkers and a waste of money. We won’t repeat the mistakes of the Tory run council who botched the management of town car parking. Don’t believe Tory scaremongering on this issue. That is our village parking policy – it’s as simple and plain as that!”

Again, please don’t believe the scaremongering of the Tories.

For more information see our District Manifesto

The Liberal Democrats have launched their campaign for the Town and District Council elections on May 5th. We have published our Manifesto for the District online at www.midsussexlibdems.org.uk where you can also see our Community Plan for Haywards Heath Town Council.

For too long Mid Sussex has suffered a Tory led Council which has messed up Car Parking and Housing Development (amongst other things) and kept too much of its agenda ‘behind closed doors’.

If you want to see change in Mid Sussex, please vote Liberal Democrat on May 5th!

“Empowering You” – Our Manifesto for Mid Sussex

A Community Plan for Haywards Heath Town Council