September 2024 newsletter to constituents
I hope this update finds you well. It’s been a busy period across our communities, and I want to take a moment to share some important news and developments from across Lewes, Seaford, Newhaven, Polegate, and the surrounding areas. From healthcare to housing, public transport to the cost of living, there are many issues that we’re tackling together, and I want to keep you informed on the progress we’re making.
Here’s what’s covered in this update:
- Meeting with NHS Sussex and continuing work on health facilities: Discussing much-needed investment in local healthcare facilities.
- Winter Fuel Payment: Fighting against the government’s harmful cut to this vital support for pensioners.
- Newhaven 18-storey Tower Delayed Again: Local opposition to the controversial tower proposal and our efforts to block it.
- Lewes Bus Station Planning ‘On Hold’: Continuing the fight to save Lewes’ bus station from redevelopment.
- Lib Dem Conference and Being a Constructive Opposition: Looking to the future after an inspiring party conference with new policies and my spokesperson role.
- Getting in Contact: How you can reach me to discuss any issues or concerns you have.
Meeting with NHS Sussex and continuing work on health facilities [back to top]
I recently met with the Chief Executive of NHS Sussex and senior staff to discuss the urgent need for better healthcare facilities in Seaford, Polegate, and Willingdon. One of the key issues I hear most from residents is about access to improved healthcare services. During the meeting, I stressed the need for a new health centre in Seaford to replace the outdated facility on Dane Road. It’s frustrating that our doctors, nurses, and patients are stuck with facilities that aren’t up to scratch, and I’m fighting to change that.
We also discussed the health hubs planned for Polegate and Willingdon, where planning permission has been granted for new sites, but no funding is yet available to make these plans a reality. The NHS is under huge pressure, and it’s clear that investment is needed to tackle the crisis in social care and hospital referrals. The Liberal Democrats have a plan to rescue the NHS, focusing on preventative care, increasing access to GPs and dentists, and providing greater support for mental health services and social care.
I’m committed to ensuring that our community receives the healthcare investment it deserves. I have reached out to the Health Secretary to demand urgent funding for our healthcare infrastructure. Our NHS staff are working tirelessly, and they need the resources to provide the quality care our communities deserve.
Winter Fuel Payment [back to top]
I recently voted against the government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment, but unfortunately, the changes were pushed through. This is a serious issue, especially during a cost-of-living crisis, and it means that thousands of pensioners in our constituency—around 23,816 in Lewes, Seaford, Newhaven, Polegate, and local villages—are at risk of losing £300 that helps with their heating bills.
This move is deeply unfair, especially with energy prices rising, and it could force vulnerable elderly people to choose between heating and essentials this winter. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to reverse these harmful cuts and protect pensioners from the worst impacts of the cost-of-living crisis. I’ll continue to stand with my fellow Liberal Democrat MPs to encourage the government to stop these plans and ensure that our local pensioners receive the support they need.
Newhaven 18-storey Tower Delayed Again [back to top]
The 18-storey Beach Road Tower proposal for Newhaven was set to go before Lewes District Council’s planning committee, but it has been delayed once again. This is now the second time the application has been deferred, further demonstrating that this is not the right proposal for our town.
Local Liberal Democrats and I have made it clear that this tower is the wrong approach for Newhaven. At more than twice the height of any other residential buildings in the area, it doesn’t fit the character of our town. The proposal also fails to provide adequate plans for essential infrastructure like roads and services, which are already under pressure.
Local town councillors have been vocal in their opposition to the plans. Krissy Taylor, who always stands up for Eastside, said, “This is completely the wrong site for Newhaven. Eastside has taken a huge chunk of not just Newhaven's housing but all of Lewes District's. We aren’t opposing development on this site, but a tower more than twice as tall as any other housing in Newhaven is not the right approach. Our community, which faces the river and ferry, shouldn’t be in the shadow of a tower.”
Councillor Lesley Boniface added, “Whilst this brownfield site may be suitable for further development, an 18-storey tower is not. There are no affordable housing units planned, and this development seems to be purely a profit-making exercise with no thought for the local community.”
You can sign and share our petition against the proposal here: https://leweslibdems.org.uk/beachroadtower
Lewes Bus Station Planning ‘On Hold’ [back to top]
The planning permission granted for the redevelopment of Lewes bus station has now been put on hold, after concerns were raised about the decision. This is following my letter to the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, which is included at the bottom of this newsletter.
Local Liberal Democrat councillors and I have been pushing back against the proposed demolition of the bus station in favour of a new five-storey development of 32 flats. We believe Lewes, as the county town, deserves a fully operational bus station, not a set of bus stops scattered across Phoenix Causeway.
East Sussex County Council’s decision to accept a payment in exchange for replacing the bus station with two new bus stops south of Phoenix Causeway is disappointing and inadequate. We need to be investing in public transport infrastructure, not cutting back on it. The fight to save Lewes bus station continues, and we will continue to work with residents and other groups to protect this vital service.
Lib Dem Conference and Being a Constructive Opposition [back to top]
The recent Liberal Democrat conference was held in Brighton and was an inspiring opportunity to reflect on our progress and plan for the future. With 72 MPs, the most we’ve had in over a century, we’re focused on being a constructive opposition in Parliament.
There was a strong emphasis on delivering for local people, with a focus on the NHS, social care, tackling sewage pollution in our waterways, and addressing the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. As part of the conference I met with a number of campaign groups of interest to local constituents including Surfers Against Sewage, animal rights group, Sussex based campaign groups and many more.
I spoke up on child poverty, addressing the lack of access and opportunity which affects too many children in our country. Lack of access to literacy, childcare and children in poverty should not be acceptable in 2024. It's on Youtube here.
We passed a number of policies on issues from the NHS, prisons, to voting reform, national parks, international issues and more.
After conference, I was appointed as the Liberal Democrats spokesperson on Europe. My first priority will be to take the concerns of local people to the heart of Westminster, where they deserve to be heard. The broken relationship with Europe needs urgent attention—there are businesses here in Sussex ready to grow their trade with the continent, and Newhaven Port has felt the strain of these issues directly.
Delivering for our community is my absolute priority, and I will always keep that at the forefront of everything I do in this role
Getting in Contact [back to top]
How you can reach me to discuss any issues or concerns you have.
Sign up for my newsletter
This is the second edition of my regular email newsletter. If you know anyone who’d like to receive this email, please forward this email on to them and ask them to sign up here:
https://www.jamesmaccleary.uk/email-1
How to book a surgery slot
I’m already hosting regular surgeries across the constituency. I’ve had surgeries already in Seaford, Newhaven and Polegate and plan to have surgeries in Lewes and Willingdon soon. If you'd like to attend a surgery, please email James.maccleary.mp@parliament.uk using the subject line ‘Surgery request’, please include in your email a brief description of your issue, concern or what you’d like to raise along with your full address, so I can verify you are a constituent. Online surgery appointments are also available.
For any casework, please email James.maccleary.mp@parliament.uk including your address so that I know you are a constituent. I'm still setting up my office and staff team and we will respond as soon as we are able to.
As always, I’m here to represent you and make sure your voice is heard on the issues that matter most to our communities. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need any support or have questions about what’s happening locally.
