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.”

Labour put another nail in the coffin of our Post Offices this week when it blocked a Conservative motion in Parliament that would have suspended government plans to shut 2,500 Post Offices, including many in our local area.

But yet again Labour MPs closed ranks to stop action being taken to save our Post Offices.

Time and time again Labour has rejected Conservative moves to try and keep our Post Offices open. Our Post Offices need to be freed from the regulations restricting their freedom that are forcing them out of business.

As far back as 1999 we were trying to get the government to free our Post Offices from this red tape straightjacket. Labour rejected action to save Post Offices then, with support from local Lib Dem MP Norman Baker by the way, and today they continue to ignore the damage the loss of Post Offices is doing to communities across the UK.

Will Labour see sense before our Post Offices become no more than a memory?

Jason has joined local people from Seaford in the fight to prevent the Environment Agency destroying the beautiful and iconic Cuckmere Valley.

The Environment Agency plans to flood the Cuckmere Valley by breaching the embankments allowing the incoming tides to swamp the valley with seawater and by non-clearance of the river mouth, which will cause flooding upstream and will endanger the A259. When visiting the site Jason Sugarman said “This deliberate flooding will mean the loss of four footpaths in the beautiful valley which will decimate the local tourist trade. These age old meanders are a recreational and educational resource for generations of students and local families, that will be lost under mudflats.”

Charles Peck the East Dean District Councillor on Wealden District Council persuaded his colleagues on the Environment Scrutiny Committee to oppose the Environment Agency’s Plans. He said, “One of the most photographed views in the Country will be lost forever, and for what? The EA must recognise that they have a duty to protect the Environment – not destroy it”

Sad news from Newhaven. Parker Pens plans to lay off 200 people from its Newhaven factory. It’s another blow to Newhaven and is very bad news for the families affected.

That many of these jobs are moving out of Newhaven to Birmingham is also disappointing. Action is urgently needed to ensure Newhaven continues to keep jobs and attract new employers and that’s why I want to see a Newhaven Development Corporation created. This corporation would help revive the town economically.

I just hope some way can be found to keep the jobs in Newhaven during Parker’s 90-day consultation on its plans.

Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth paid a visit to the constituency last weekend and it was great to get his backing.

In a speech to party members he noted how my “strong campaign on the Newhaven Incinerator proves Jason’s commitment to protecting the local environment”. It’s a great boost to get such support from the shadow cabinet.

Had a meeting about the Lewes parking scheme with Matthew Lock, the county councillor in charge of transport policy, and Kevin Scott of Lewes Chambers of Commerce. I’ve had several discussions with both of them on the subject before so it’s good to keep the dialogue open.

The parking system in Lewes needs improvement and I think until we’ve got the Lewes scheme right it is best to put the plans for parking restrictions in Seaford on hold. The meeting also gave me another chance to press the county council to think again on the Newhaven Incinerator. Find out more about my campaign on parking.