Greatstone and Lydd-on-Sea
 

  Coastal Community Group                              

Newsletter No. 1 January 2008

Local Council Elections Thursday 3 May 2007 People resident in Greatstone and Lydd-on-Sea went to the polls on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect a new Lydd Parish Council. The Coastal Community Group had eleven candidates and all were elected. Election Results For full information leading up to the elections, please click on the links below: Press Release CCG Election Manifesto - general CCG Election Manifesto - specifics CCG Election Candidates Poster [to print the poster please key Ctrl+P]

REFERENDUM RESULT The Coastal Community Group welcome the people’s overwhelming support, throughout the Parish, in what was an extremely high turnout at the Referendum held on Wednesday 4th April, 2007. The Referendum asked: Do you consider that Lydd Town Council should spend a proportionate share of its total income throughout the Parish based upon the number of electors registered in each polling district? 1,208 voted yes       393 voted no  The outcome far exceeded our most optimistic expectations and should be of particular concern to those Councillors who have consistently failed to listen to their electorate. The people are clearly no longer prepared to accept excuses for non-performance by Lydd Town Council and the voters of Lydd Parish will have a further opportunity to vote for change on Thursday 3rd May, 2007.

The Issues

The minimal amount of expenditure by Lydd Town Council on the coast in the past 30 years is nothing short of a scandal. As a community we are paying in excess of £30,000 per annum to Lydd Town Council, whilst receiving almost nothing in return.

The representation and attitude towards the coast by many of our Councillors is a disgrace and they deserve to be given their marching orders through the democratic process of the ballot box.

Current Position

The Secretary of State has now advised that she is not empowered to consider petitions seeking the creation of a new Parish Council in an area which is already parished.

This does not, as some Lydd Town Councillors have indicated, make the petition invalid. The Secretary of State has recognised that there is clearly a demand from local electors to split the parish of Lydd and create a new parish and has suggested that Shepway District Council undertake a review of the existing arrangements.

A report into the issues was prepared and considered by Shepway District Council’s Planning and General Purposes Committee on Monday the 30th October 2006, who gave their full support to the democratic process by unanimously agreeing to conduct a review.

Councillors

Contact Us

If you would like any further information or would like to help us, please contact us by email ccg@greatstonelydd-on-sea.org.