Thanks to everyone who voted for myself and fellow councillor Mohammad Hossain, glad to be re-elected for Leylands Ward, and thanks to everyone who helped in the campaign.

Liberal Democrats in Mid Sussex made huge advances winning an additional eight seats from the Conservatives, including the Conservative leader’s seat, to now form the largest group on Mid Sussex District Council with 20 councillors, as well being the majority not only on Burgess Hill Town Council but now also Haywards Heath Town Council! We will now be working to form a new administration on Mid Sussex District Council and looking across party boundaries to work for the good of local residents.

Nationally Liberal Democrats took control of twelve councils including Windsor and Maidenhead, Stratford-on-Avon, Horsham, Chichester and West Berkshire, and gained 405 new councillors compared with Labour’s 536 gains. In Mid Sussex we are now snapping at the heels of the Conservatives in the race to be the area’s next MP when the seat is likely to be fought on new boundaries that make it more winnable for the Liberal Democrats.

Pictured below is Liberal Democrat perspective parliamentary candidate Alison Bennett and some of our winning Liberal Democrat Councillors outside the Mid Sussex count. If you want to join the winning team get in touch!

Pleased this dangerous pothole was repaired today after I reported the dangerous state it left the street grid in with sharp metal edges protruding (pictured with fellow campaigner Mohammad Hossain). However too many other potholes are being left unfilled for months. To report a pothole search online for “report pothole West Sussex” for an online form, and particularly if there is an immediate danger enclose a photo if you can.

Local Liberal Democrat County Councillor Stuart Condie has asked for the mini-roundabout at the junction of London Road and Leylands Road, which currently looks like a moonscape, to be resurfaced. Too often potholes are filled and then reappear within weeks in the same area because of the deterioration of the road surface, with many backstreet roads so down the priority list that they will never be resurfaced on current trends.

Liberal Democrats last year urged the County Council to put more money into road resurfacing and nationally the under-funding of road maintenance by the current government means the backlog only gets bigger year after year – £16 billion is now needed to repair the 100,000 mile backlog of resurfacing nationally – per this recent report.

This play area at Forge Way is choked with dead leaves, a dumped Christmas tree and with moss invading it is certainly not an inviting play space. I have highlighted this to the District Council for action and briefed fellow Leylands Ward campaigner Mohammad Hossain (pictured) about the issue. With a little care and attention this play area could be much more attractive for children to play in.

The Town Council is planting a new community orchard at Batchelors Farm to mark the 30th anniversary of the Council’s purchase of the land. Work has begun on fencing the area and volunteers are being sought to help with the planting on Tuesday 28th March – register here for details – with half of the planned eighty fruit trees being planted this year.

Batchelors Farm comprises 33 acres of open space on the south side of Burgess Hill which was bought by the Town Council to protect the countryside and preserve it for future generations. With sweeping views to the South Downs, the nature reserve is well used by local people and the orchard aims to provide free fruit and support a greater connection with food sources and the local environment. Planting trees which yield fruit year after year builds our food security and community resilience, creating habitats for wildlife, and increasing biodiversity.

Pleased this fence on the boundary of Stonefield Way Open Space has quickly been repaired following my report, the more timely repairs are completed, the less likely further damage takes place. If you see a problem with a local park you can contact the District Council directly at parksopenspaces@midsussex.gov.uk.

Reported this overflowing litter bin which I understand had been left unemptied since before Christmas and is being clogged up with dog poo bags, I removed the empty barrel and collected half a bag of rubbish which was strewn on the grass in its vicinity. Overflowing litter bins can be reported directly – search online for Mid Sussex Litter. The Council currently manages 800 litter bins projected to increase in the year ahead to 850, and has 520 dog waste bins. Report a litter bin problem directly with Mid Sussex District Council here.

New grit bins (including in Leylands Road, Forge Way and Noel Green), additional wild flower verges, a major new community orchard at Batchelors Farm with 80 fruit trees, and the refurbishment of the St John’s Church clock were all agreed at tonight’s Town Council Customer Services Meeting, as well as repairing or replacing the play equipment at Folders Meadow, and some additional planters in Church Walk. Its refreshing to have a meeting where positive proposals can be brought forward to improve the town, they may not be massive projects but all bring positive benefits for local residents thanks to the Liberal Democrat controlled council.

Potholes seem always to be a problem but with the recent rain and snow they are worse than ever, often being repaired and reappearing at or near the same spot, with some really vicious holes causing a danger to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. However, filling potholes is not good enough, in many roads the whole surface needs replacing yet the budget to repair them is minuscule compared with the scale of the problem we see today.

The real issue the current rate of carriageway resurfacing means that on average roads will be replaced every 83 years. Yet at the same time as rapid inflation the Government has frozen the highways budget for three years. We need a highways investment program that priorities resurfacing over new road building and to invest in proper surfacing materials with the longest life.

Last year Liberal Democrats put forward proposals for the Conservative controlled County Council to put more money into road resurfacing which was turned down, we need to stop investing in new roads or wrong minded “improvement” schemes like those in Station Road and instead invest in the roads we have.

In the last four years the County Council has paid out £274,824 in compensation to drivers for vehicle damage or personal injury. The Council has a responsibility to fix large potholes if they know about them. And they’re supposed to keep the roads safe, so if you want to claim you’ll need to argue that they’ve failed in this.

The County Council will only repair pot holes over 4cm deep and we can all report them online – search pot holes West Sussex to access an interactive map that shows previous reports.

Reported this overflowing litter bin off Maple Drive which I understand had been left unemptied since before Christmas and is being clogged up with dog poo bags, I removed the empty barrel and collected half a bag of rubbish which was strewn on the grass in its vicinity. Overflowing litter bins can be reported directly – search online for Mid Sussex Litter. The Council currently manages 800 litter bins projected to increase in the year ahead to 850, and has 520 dog waste bins.