Our local policies (Bexhill and Battle Liberal Democrats)

Climate Emergency

What Rother is doing

Rother's declared target is to be carbon, and other noxious gasses, neutral by 2030.
This is an enormous task and is very much work in progress and will continue to be as
technology changes and the date draws closer.
Progress so far:
 The Council's carbon footprint is being calculated to allow benchmarking and
detailed targets to be set
 The Council only uses green electricity
 The Council is part of Solar Together's initiative to install solar panels on domestic
properties
 The Council is developing its Local Plan which will include stringent environmental
targets including EV points
 The Council has its own housing company building homes to higher environmental
standards than government minimum requirements
 The Council welcomes the government's biodiversity net gain initiative
 The Council works with its contractors and suppliers to ensure high environmental
standards
 The Council is working with Biffa to develop zero emission refuse collection
vehicles
 The Council is planning to redevelop the Town Hall to make it fit for purpose for
staff and more environmentally sustainable
 The Council has a flexible approach to staff who want to work from home
 The Council has a paperless pledge for staff and members
 The Council is part of a tree planting project in Bexhill
There are many more ideas in the pipeline
Kathryn Field
26 October 2021

Our local policies for Rother District

Since May 2019 we have shared power on Rother District Council as part of the Rother Alliance. Our priorities are:

A Town Council for Bexhill

Following the overwhelming support shown by Bexhill residents we are initiating the introduction of a Town Council for Bexhill.

Encourage and support Neighbourhood Plans for all rural areas.

We want to encourage and support all rural Towns and Parishes to complete their own Neighbourhood Plans in order to have a say in their planning future, and provide more support from Rother's Planning Department.

Explore options for a Bexhill Neighbourhood Plan or Plans.

Following the formation of a Bexhill Town Council, we would encourage and support a Neighbourhood Plan for the Town, or plans for the different areas of Bexhill.

Support tourism.

Support tourism across 1066 Country and encourage more employment in the sector, which is already the largest source of jobs in the District.

More affordable homes.

We need to build more affordable homes for local people and their children to live in. Our aspiration is for Rother to build and manage its own housing again.

Emptying the bins.

With a new waste contract, and a new company now collecting the bins, we now insist on a better service, better monitoring and fewer mistakes this time around. We want to simplify the collections and introduce a food waste collection service.

Eco by design.

Houses should be built to designs to include simple environmental efficiencies, such as solar panels, grey water harvesting and efficient insulation and windows. All houses in Rother should be built to these standards.

Electric car charging points.

There are no electric car charging points in Rother. We want to develop plans for charging points in our towns, and incorporate them in new developments.

Improve our surroundings.

We want to improve the appearance our Towns and Villages throughout the District, and influence others to do the same.

Our other Priorities for Rother District:

Recordings of Council meetings at Rother to be available on the web.
More services to be devolved to Towns and Parishes.
Work to achieve a 5 year housing supply, to protect against unwelcome development.
Improve recycling performance to exceed national targets.
Do more to encourage and promote walking and cycling, in particular off-street cycling.
Retain and improve the Community Grants scheme, and publicise its existence.
Priorities for Bexhill:
Introduce a Town Council and encourage Neighbourhood Plan/s.
Improve the Public Realm (making public spaces more welcoming and attractive).
Lobby for a Railway Station at Glyne Gap.
Liaise with the new Town Council on a programme of Town Centre improvements.
Introduce a coherent parking strategy once on-street parking enforcement has started.
Stop wasting taxpayers money on vanity seafront tearooms!
Sort out traffic chaos in Wrestwood Road, as a by-product of the Link Road.
Priorities for Battle:
A High Street ATM.
Pedestrian crossings at Battle Hill and Mount Street.
Completion of the Neighbourhood Plan.
Promote residents' consultations on the Blackfriars road and housing scheme.
Level access to the southbound platform at Battle Railway Station.

Priorities for Rye:

Completion of the Neighbourhood Plan.
Parking Strategy once on-street parking enforcement has started.
Support electrification of Ashford - Ore rail line coupled with service improvements.
Campaign for better interchanges at Rye Station with buses and trains.
Priorities for the Rural Areas:
Exception housing sites providing affordable homes for local people.
Better broadband services for all.
Support for rural and community shops, pubs, nurseries, and businesses.
Strengthen the protection for the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Review traffic management and parking issues following the introduction of on-street parking enforcement.