I spoke to a resident in Winchelsea Road who witnessed a neighbour fly-tipping in the alleyway but didn’t know what to do about it. She said that it has been an eyesore for ages and that a lot of local people knew who was doing it.

Another resident in Grove Road said that it was unclear who owns the land between the properties but he was very grateful that Hastings Borough Council and the Probation Service had recently stepped in to sort out the mess.

If you see anyone fly-tipping please contact the council’s fly-tipping hotline on 451077 or you can email
refuseandrecycling@hastings.gov.uk giving as much detailed information as possible.

Residents spoke of how they have had problems with loud music coming from neighbours, rubbish that has been dumped behind houses in Winchelsea Road / Grove Road, and continuing efforts to get a local play area up and running. I won’t mention the establishments or organisations involved yet as I’d like to speak with them first.

There was also news about a community notice board that has been put up in the area, the fantastic Ore in Bloom project, questions as to why brambles have been left to grow on land that is meant to be properly maintained! Plus there was discussion about Red Lake Primary School and how it is consulting on a possible new school crest and colours.

It was a well-attended meeting and it was mentioned that they would like to get more people involved. So, if you live in the Red Lake area of Ore please consider attending one of their monthly meetings. If you see things around where you live that need improvement -why not talk to councillors and residents and help get things sorted!

All you need to do is turn up for one of the meetings, you don’t need to tell them you’re coming. The next regular meeting is Monday 11th October at 7.30pm at Downs Farm Community Centre. Hopefully see you there!

This week I’ve knocked on every door in Hawthorn Road and spoken to loads of really friendly people; the major issues there are planning and dog bins. I was accompanied by a new member of The Labour Party – one of 30,000 odd that have joined since the May 7th. If you’d like to join and get involved read more here.

You might not know that being a councillor is supposed to be something you can do even if you have a full-time job as well. It really isn’t easy! Over my first few weeks it has dawned on me how much time councillors must put-in to do the job well. I’m so glad that as a househusband I have the flexibility of being able to make phone calls and send emails throughout the day from home, even if my two kids make phone calls a major challenge! If I was still working as a nurse I wouldn’t have managed to finish half of my casework.

During the week I’ve received letters from Ore residents who would like help and advice. One of which lead me to take some photographs of our ward’s untidy pavements to send to the county council highways department. There are quite a number of pavement improvements needed in Ore, I just hope they have the will and the resources available to do it. I’ll keep the pressure on!

Tomorrow I’ll be attending the Red Lake Residents Association which I’m sure will be very interesting. I’ll feed back on what is said in my next post.

( Hawthorn Road view from: Street Cities – Free Mapping and Street View Tools )

In this visit I was given 4 issues/questions to deal with – A public litter bin full to the brim and in no sign of being emptied, why the council only collects 3 bulky items at a time, a very specific council tax query and a question about planning in the area.

Within 24 hours I was able to get answers/solve 3 out of the 4 queries and I’m hopeful that the last one will be sorted tomorrow. This type of thing is exactly why I wanted to be a councillor!

I’ll be visiting a different street every week. You don’t have to wait until I visit though – if you need my help now please get in touch.

Also this week I went to the Ore in Bloom fundraising quiz night – which was incredibly well attended. Our team Eastern Block didn’t do too badly but Council Leader Jeremy Birch’s Twitterers won!

I will be writing more about Ore in Bloom at some point. The organiser has some wonderful ideas for Ore and I hope to be able to post some of those ideas here on the website soon.

There has been quite a lot of admin tasks – filling in forms for a council telephone, ID pass, IT resources and stationery. All pretty essential things but it all takes a little time to get sorted out. I’ve also been shown around the Town Hall and other council offices so I know who I need to speak to when I’m trying to sort out problems in the ward.

I’ve also set up monthly Saturday surgeries at the Ore Centre. I thought this would be a good place to hold them as there is parking and it seems quite central to the ward. We’ll see how it goes but I’m quite open to changing the location if necessary.

I’m arranging a letter that I’ll be sending to all residents to introduce myself and give details of how to get in touch. Just waiting now for the stationery to arrive.

I’m also intending to choose a couple of streets in Ore this weekend and knock on those doors. I’d like to find out what priorities you think I should have and what issues affect you.

I’ll write again next week and let you know what issues seem to be popular on the doorstep.

The final results were:
Wincott (Lab) 608 (47.7%)
Padget (Con) 475 (37.3%)
Scott (Lib Dem) 158 (12.4%)
Prince (BNP) 33 (2.6%)

Thank you if you voted me; I will work as hard as I can for you. If you didn’t vote for me, then I hope that the work I do over the next 4 years will show you that I want to make Ore a safer, cleaner and better place.

I will be updating this website regularly and will also be sending out newsletters in the very near future. I have arranged monthly surgeries at The Ore Centre – click here for details. Of course if you need help, assistance or advice sooner than that please get in touch.

1) Ore Village improved
Our councillor will fight for regeneration in the area and set up an Action Team of residents, businesses, police and council officers to improve the village centre

2) Crime tackled together
Our councillor will make our local police panel really work. He will meet regularly with the Ore community policing team and residents

3) Green spaces protected
Our councillor will protect the Country Park from encroaching development and fight for improvements in Speckled Wood with the Ore Community Land Trust

4) Safer roads, better buses
Our councillor will highlight local road safety issues and fight for improvements, as well as ensuring an improved bus service and campaigning to keep the pensioners’ bus pass

5) Pavements that are safe and clean
Our councillor will hold regular walkabouts with wardens to deliver cleaner streets and tackle dog mess. He will fight for pavement improvements by Ore Post Office and Christchurch

6) Planning that involves everyone
Our councillor will bring together property developers and residents before planning applications are submitted. Anyone living in sight of a development will be invited to take part.

If you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can make Ore better together, please leave a comment below.

Had we been in control, we would have used that money to extend the sixth month placements our unemployed young people are undertaking to a full year. This would give them a head start in applying for permanent jobs as they become available. Instead, the money has been handed over to wealthier Rother Council. What an insult to our young people!

But, of course, this decision doesn’t surprise me. This Conservative council has a history of wasting opportunities.

They’ve sat on their hands for years over the pier, and only now it’s approaching an election do they decide to hold proper talks with The Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust.

“We can’t go on like this”, says their party leader David Cameron at every opportunity. No David, we cannot.

 
 
 
Photo credit: Incurable Hippy

The cabinet met to discuss next year’s spending and we proposed that £40,000 be set aside by the borough council for storage and purchase of its own salt and grit, but the Tories flatly refused.

It’s worth noting that East Sussex County Council grits a network of main roads but does not grit our pavements. Over the New Year period Hastings council prepared street cleaning teams to grit the pavements, only for the County Council to refuse to provide the grit.

For me, it’s simple common sense for the local council to ensure the safety of local residents. I know neighbours who didn’t venture out to Ore Village because they had heard that pavements were not being gritted. We deserve so much better than this.

 
 
 
Photo credit: Kapungo