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

You can see this on television later today: 5.55pm (BBC2) and at 6.55pm (BBC1 & ITV1).

Of course, it shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise, as the Tories once again show they are the do-nothing party.

Next year’s local elections will give you a real chance to change the future of our pier.

The Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust have asked all candidates for council ward seats to sign up to their Pier Pledge.

I’m very proud to do just that.

 
 
 
Photo Copyright: Glen Diamond and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

I received an email today from Hilary Benn about an issue I feel very strongly about, so much so that I wanted you to see it too.

I’ve signed up, and I hope you will as well.

The ban on fox-hunting is under threat.

Yesterday, at a time when the Government is focused on tackling the recession and securing our economic recovery, the Tory spokesman on Animal Welfare re-affirmed that the Tory Party, if elected, would set aside Government time for a vote to repeal the ban.

And make no mistake – David Cameron and members of his top team have made it very clear that their intention is to see the return of the cruel spectacle of foxes being torn to pieces in Britain’s countryside.

So I need your help. Please sign up now to Back the Ban.

We need to make sure that as many people as possible know that a consequence of voting for the Conservatives at the next election will be an end to the ban on fox-hunting with dogs.

I’m going to be campaigning alongside animal welfare organisations on this in the coming weeks and months and it will help a lot to know if you’ll support our campaign.

Sign up now to pledge your support for my campaign.

Once you’ve signed up I’ll be in touch by email next week to let you know exactly how you can help.

Together we can make sure that as many people as possible know that a Conservative Government would mean an end to the ban so many people worked so hard to introduce.

Thank you

Hilary Benn

I’m really looking forward to attending the march tomorrow.  I’ll be there with my family and Labour Party colleagues.

It all starts at the pier gates at midday, then a march to the Town Hall, where the organisers will hand-in a signed request for the Tory-run council to start a Compulsory Purchase Order on the pier. Let’s hope they listen!

Update: The march went really really well. It was incredibly well attended (around 2000 people), and people including Michael Foster MP spoke about Hastings’ neglected jewel.

YouTube user Maybrick44 has posted a video from the march and it features some speeches from outside the town hall. Look out for a passionate speech from Labour Councillor Jeremy Birch around 7 minutes in.

Photo credit: Mike Bradley

I feel very privileged to have been selected as the candidate for Ore. I live in the ward with my wife, Abigail and our two children, Connie and Ernie.

When our daughter was born in 2006 I took a break from my nursing career to look after her full-time. Last year our son was born, at home, right here in Ore. Until they’re both in school, they will be my day job!

Before they came along I spent most of the past 15 years working in the NHS. When I started in 1994 the under-investment in the service was obvious to all. Crumbling buildings, a dangerous lack of equipment, and the staff morale was at rock-bottom. It was awful to see, so I decided to join the Labour Party. Since 1997 the change in our health service is remarkable.

As a trained nurse, speaking up for others is second nature to me. It doesn’t matter what party you normally support – I will fight for you!

In a recent survey it was found that Hastings Borough Council is the least popular council in the whole county! Hastings deserves better.

If elected in 2010, I will work tirelessly to improve the everyday life of people who live within Ore. I will regularly update you by blog/email/newsletter on the issues that affect you, and I’ll explain what I am doing for you. I believe that people should expect more from their local councillor. In the past 18 months I’ve heard nothing from Ore’s two Tory councillors, not a leaflet, not a newsletter, nothing. Ore deserves better.

I look forward to meeting lots of you over the coming months, and please do get in contact with your concerns, comments and suggestions.