PRC Brief Number 9 for Mid Sussex District Councillors
Monday,  5 March 2007

The District Council Election – the PRC’s role

How can the PRC have an election role? Councillors will know that the PRC brings together all the main residents’ groups in East Grinstead and the surrounding villages, in order to campaign against unsustainable development. We are not party-political, but we will support the parties and candidates we can trust to defend our town. Our 10,000 supporters know the next District Council is likely to adopt a development plan for the town. They know it will seal East Grinstead’s fate for their children and grandchildren.

East Grinstead’s surrounding villages are also at stake in this District Council Election. The current scheme, in transforming East Grinstead into a commuter satellite of Crawley, would also flatten Crawley Down, Turners’ Hill, Worth, Copthorne under waves of rat-running.

Against this background the PRC and its nine member associations consider that we should play an active role in the forthcoming Election. The role we seek to play is : -

• to keep development issues at the centre of voters' attention throughout the Election campaign; development issues will include both development in East Grinstead itself, and its impact on the surrounding villages;
• to seek clear statements, on the record, from all parties & candidates, as to their positions on the these issues;
• in the case of all candidates, to publicise all relevant statements or actions on their part; and in the case of serving Councillors seeking re-Election, to publicise their voting records;
• to keep the voters of East Grinstead and the surrounding villages informed on all the above matters.

What will be the PRC’s election activities? The PRC and its member associations will be –

• Delivering leaflets to every household in East Grinstead and the surrounding villages;
• Maintaining a regular tally of candidates’ positions on the PRC web-site;
• Updating voters throughout East Grinstead and surrounding villages via our e-mailing list;
• Arrange paid advertising & publishing posters;
• Monitoring press coverage to rebut any disinformation circulated;
• Addressing public meetings organised by PRC member associations.

The PRC will endorse candidates and/or parties who pledge themselves unequivocally to oppose the current East Grinstead Area Action Plan. We will support those who pledge an even-handed review against other development options in the northern part of Mid Sussex District. We will recommend our supporters to vote accordingly, regardless of party.

For more information click on www.eghouses.org/ PRC Sustainable Alternative