On Saturday Jason launched the Conservative’s campaign for the Town Council By-Election.

The local Conservative candidate Dave Neave is well known to many people of Newhaven through running his car repair business D & M Motor Company in Quarry Road Newhaven, for the last 25 years. He is also secretary of Newhaven Shore Angling Club.

Dave said “For as long as people can remember Newhaven has been run by the Liberal Democrats at Town and District Councils and what have they achieved? I will be campaigning to re-open the breakwater and sandy beach as I know personally how much these contribute to the local economy by attracting visitors from outside the area. They also were a great source of enjoyment to disabled persons”

“I also feel very strongly about the regeneration plans for Newhaven and I want to be part of the process. I want improvements for local businesses and shops and I also want more jobs for Newhaven residents”

Jason added “I am delighted that Dave is standing in this by-election. He is a great candidate and after only one mornings’ campaigning it is obvious to me how desperate Newhaven is for a change from the present political stranglehold. One Conservative will not change the situation overnight but it will allow residents to see the different, more effective approach that we can introduce to the Town Council and I hope that if Dave is successful on 5th June it will help us create a landslide at the next programmed election”

The by-election will be held on Thursday 5th June in the Meeching Ward and is caused because a liberal democrat former Councillor failed to turn up for any Council meeting for over 6 months and was therefore excluded as a Councillor.

The Post Office in Claremont Road has had all its Post Office equipment removed. This is despite assurances by Government that further consultations will take place.

This withdrawal of services follows a recent exchange in the House of Commons when Conservative MP for Wealden Charles Hendry asked why some Post Offices have been shut down despite the fact that there were ongoing attempts to save them.

Jason said “Any negotiations were a total sham and the intention by the Government was always to close these Post Offices without any local democratic intervention.”

“It is another classic case of ‘Government Knows best.’ It will have an appalling effect on Postal services in Seaford forcing more people to make unnecessary journeys by car and joining longer queues at fewer Post Offices in the area. Despite the attempts of our local MP, the government is not listening to him or the views of our local residents.”

Angie Hindocha the postmistress said “this is a devastating blow not just for me but for all the people around here. I want to emphasise that all the other shop services still continue but to have all the Post Office services removed so suddenly and without any proper discussion was disgraceful and quite frightening. What will some of the older people around here do now? They will have to go to the main Post Office which if you do not have a car is a long way away.”

Jason today expressed concern at new figures which warn that 5 million families across Britain could be at risk of defaulting on mortgage payments and losing their home.

The analysis, conducted by The Spectator magazine using data from credit agencies, shows that over 2200 households in Lewes Parliamentary Constituency have a ‘sub-prime loan exposure’, and may be now struggling with debt.

This comes as the latest official Government figures show that over 17,800 homes across the South East Region were hit with repossession orders last year, with 93 orders being issued by Lewes County Court. The Bank of England has also warned that banks and building societies are planning to cut back their lending further in coming months.

The crisis in the credit market is reducing the availability of cheap loans and mortgages, hitting people on the housing ladder and those not yet on it. This year, 1.4 million mortgages will come to the end of their fixed rate periods. As interest rates are higher now than they were two years ago, this could add £200 to the average monthly mortgage bill, placing yet more pressure on severely stretched family budgets.

Conservatives are calling on mortgage lenders to do more to help these families by:
• Contacting home owners 3-6 months before the end of their fixed rate mortgage period,
• Offering free financial advice, and
• Not imposing sudden hikes in repayments.

First time buyers are suffering from the credit crunch too, as mortgage lenders are demanding larger deposits. In response, Conservatives are calling for stamp duty to be abolished for first time buyers, for homes up to £250,000.

Jason said: “This week has brought more worrying evidence that under Gordon Brown, our economy is built on debt. Labour’s record is one of economic incompetence.”

“Over 2000 families across Lewes area are now exposed to the possibility of losing their home. With many households facing soaring bills as their fixed rates come to an end, mortgage lenders should do more to help home owners with the soaring cost of living and help reduce the hardship under Gordon Brown’s Government.”

New figures this week reveal that the tax take from council tax bills have more than doubled under the present Labour Government. Locally the tax take by Lewes District Council has soared by an estimated £25 million under a Labour Government and a Liberal Democrat District Council. The news comes as new council tax bills are being sent out by Lewes District Council.

Across the South East Region Council Tax has risen by £2.55 billion under this Labour Government. This is the biggest cash rise of any region in the Country. It even exceeds the rise in London where Councils such as Fulham and Hammersmith have managed to cut council tax bills under careful management and efficient use of resources.

Jason says, “In percentage terms our Region’s rise under this Government of 162% is second only to the South West (168%). By Contrast the North East and North West Regions have had rises of only 107% and 101%. This illustrates how this Government have favoured the North of the Country to the detriment of the South.
Under Gordon Brown, council tax has been turned into the ultimate stealth tax – with taxpayers left to foot the bill imposed from Whitehall. People are paying more and getting less.”

“Whitehall must stop imposing unfunded burdens and regulations on town halls. But people power is also needed to control council tax. Conservatives will give local residents the power to veto high council tax rises through local referendums.”

“I remember when I was on the Lewes District Council I always argued for better value for money for Council Tax payers against the controlling Liberal Democrats. Under our proposals we will place local taxpayers back in control of town hall finances.”