Mid Sussex Council

Unlike councils such as Crawley, which has been Labour since it became a borough in 1974, Mid Sussex has recently experienced changes in its political colours.

Traditionally Conservative, the council fell to the Liberal Democrats in 1995, only to be won back by the Tories in the last election in 1999.

However, the Lib Dems hope anger at recent council tax hikes could win them favour.

Whatever the overall outcome, the fact 20 of the existing 54 councillors are not standing for re-election, including half the Cabinet, spells a major shake-up in the council.

Ward boundary changes, brought in to address an imbalance between larger towns and smaller rural communities, have also brought changes to the political map.

One of the most exciting fights is likely to be in High Weald, where boundary changes have thrown three very experienced candidates together to battle it out for just two seats.

Council leader Christine Field, who represents West Hoathly, council chairman Christopher Hersey, who represents Lindfield Rural, and stalwart Lib Dem Pat Webster, who holds Horsted Keynes, will compete for the two seats.

Another impact of the redefined boundaries has been a loss of Independents.

This year Peter Davis, of Myrtle Cottages, Cuckfield, is the only Independent candidate. He will face opposition from two Conservatives and two Lib Dems in Cuckfield ward.

If he loses, it will be the first time there have been no Independents on the council for 30 years.

The two current Independent councillors, Leslie Fairweather, who represents Balcombe, and Caroline Steer, who holds a seat in Ardingly, have decided not to stand.

Coun Fairweather said: "Balcombe, Ardingly and Pease Pottage used to be separate wards. It's just too great a distance. In Balcombe, I'm well known. I know the community because I walk around but I can't cover three villages."

Mid Sussex District Council covers an area of 128 square miles with a population of about 126,000. It serves as one of the seven district and borough councils in West Sussex.

The district is an interesting mix of industry and agriculture, with major population centres in Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead.

The largest factory base is at the Victoria Industrial Estate, west of Burgess Hill. Although farming has declined over the last 20 years, it still plays a part in the economy, with large rural communities at Lindfield, Cuckfield and Keymer.

Issues include affordable housing, health provision, transport and parking.

High on the agenda for the present council is also recycling and waste management, as it already recycles one of the UK's highest percentages of waste.

Councillor Christine Field, leader of the Conservative group, said: "We want to build on the success of the last four years and make the new Cabinet system work even better.

"Development continues to be a big issue and we hope it does not come to West Burgess Hill.

"We need affordable housing for our young people but we want to make sure developments don't have a detrimental affect on the environment."

A key part of the Lib Dem strategy is a promised review of the controversial Cabinet system.

Group leader Ken Blanshard said: "It's an unfair system. Decisions are effectively made by six people so no one else gets a look-in.

"I'm not standing this year as 12 years is enough and I may be moving out of the district. But even so, I think it will be a very exciting election."

There are only two Labour councillors on the council but in each vote since they were first elected in 1991, councillors Paddy Henry and Richard Goddard have won their seats by greater margins.

Councillor Henry said: "We've never taken our electorate for granted. We promise to represent their concerns in the council and that is what we do.

"For me, the most important thing is that people exercise their rights and come out to vote, no matter who they vote for."

Peter Berry, aka Baron Von Thunderclap, of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, is standing for Bolney ward.

He is promoting policies such as banning Volvo drivers and promoting a dodo sanctuary for the county.

On a more serious note, he wants to bring in cycle lanes throughout the district with fines of £700 for anyone caught on the pavement, which would help fund the lanes.

The Baron, who has also stood twice in general elections, is standing for the third time in the district.

He said: "I'm a Loony because I think every Englishman should have a healthy dose of eccentricity and too few are taking this up.

"I'm also here to show up the pomposity and absurdity of all politicians. I don't think local councils should have political parties."

For those who think they are seeing double when they look at the lists, a father and son who share the same name and political party are both standing.

Philip Coote senior is the current Tory representative for Crawley Down and this year stands for the new Crawley Down and Turners Hill ward.

His son, also Philip Coote, is a first time candidate for the Baldwins ward in East Grinstead.

CANDIDATES FOR MAY 2003
THERE are 114 candidates fighting for 54 seats. (Key: C Conservative; G Green; I Independent; L Labour; LD Liberal Democrat)

Ardingly and Balcombe (2 seats): Andrew MacNaughton (C); Gary Marsh (C); Donald Morrison (LD); Ben Ross (LD).

Ashurst Wood (1): Stephen Barnett (LD); John Saull (C).

Bolney (1): Peter Berry (Official Monster Raving Loony); Anna Hodgetts (LD); Dawn Houghton (L); Susan Seward (C).

Burgess Hill Dunstall (2): Andrew Barrett-Miles (C); Suzanne Cosgrave (C); Betty Davies (LD); David Drew (LD).

Burgess Hill Franklands (2): Heather Ross (LD); Barbara Selby (C); Michael Sullivan (C).

Burgess Hill Leylands (2): Gillian Balsdon (LD); Peter Burgess (C); Anne Jones (LD); Alfred May (C).

Burgess Hill Meeds (2): John Boulter (C); Patrick Cutler (LD); Kathleen Dumbovic (LD); Julian Wadey (C).

Burgess Hill St Andrews (2): Jacqueline Landriani (C); David Shevels (LD); Diane Shevels (LD).

Burgess Hill Victoria (2): Edward Holland (C); Graham Knight (LD); Geraldine May (C); Lyn Williams (LD).

Copthorne and Worth (2): Martin Forde (C); Edward Livesey (C) No contest.

Crawley Down and Turners Hill (3): Felicity Bunting (LD); Julian Calvert (C); Philip Coote (C); Andrew Fynn (LD); Ian Scotland (C); Janette Wilson (LD).

Cuckfield (2): Brenda Binge (C): Peter Davis (I); Marianne Griffin (LD); David King (C); Mira McMichael (LD).

East Grinstead Ashplats (2): Margaret Ball (C); Paul Johnson (LD); Roland Lord (LD); Matthew Madgwick (C).

East Grinstead Baldwins (2): Deborah Adams (LD); Sally Beal (C); Philip Coote (C); Bernard Gillbard (LD).

East Grinstead Herontye (2): Edward Belsey (C); Ian Dixon (LD); David Heasman (LD); Andrew Lea (C).

East Grinstead Imberhorne (2): Allan Beal (C); Jean Glynn (LD); Brian Sparkes (C); Barry Starmer (LD).

East Grinstead Town (2): Margaret Belsey (C); James Joyce-Nelson (LD); Edward Matthews (LD).

Hassocks (3): Nigel Cook (LD); Jennifer Epstein (L); Jonathan Kemp (LD); Stephen Lewis (L); Gordon Marples (C); Peter Martin (C); Stephen Mulligan (LD); Arleene Piercy (L); Patrick Shanahan (C).

Haywards Heath Ashenground (2): Richard Bates (LD); Brian Hall (LD); Gerald Madden (C); Rodney Ransom (C).

Haywards Heath Bentswood (2): Philip Brown (LD); Richard Goddard (L); Patrick Henry (L); James Horsman (C); John Riddington (LD); Clare Steele (C).

Haywards Heath Franklands (2): Pascal Atkins (L); Clive Chapman (C); Ian Ellis (C); Paul Lucraft (LD); Anthony Mercer (LD); Denis Nyman (L).

Haywards Heath Heath (correct) (2): Margaret Baker (C); Julia Brown (LD); Timothy Hartley (C); Irene Wilkins (LD).

Haywards Heath Lucastes (2): Irene Balls (LD); Derek Booker (C); Terence Gillard (C); Elizabeth Rodgers (LD).

High Weald (2): Paul Brown (G); Leslie Camplisson (LD); Christine Field (C); Christopher Hersey (C); Patricia Webster (LD).

Hurstpierpoint and Downs (3): David Hampson (C); Rodney Jackson (LD); Susanna Kemp (C); Ann Morgan (L); Malcolm Uhlhorn (L); James Worsley (C).

Lindfield (3): Margaret Hersey (C); Gillian House (LD); Anne-Marie Lucraft (LD); Cyril Povey (LD); Mark Sharman (C); George Snowling (C).