Hastings Council Elections 2008

Hastings Council Elections 2008

Half of the borough councillors were up for election. In Tressell Ward, Peter Chowney was the Labour candidate.

Here is Peter's statement from his election address:

" I have been a councillor for Tressell Ward for the last two years, but have been a Hastings Borough councillor during the last eight years, also representing Ore Ward and the old Broomgrove Ward. I am a member of Unify. During the last two years, I have worked with local people to sort out a wide range of local issues, such as dealing with 'grotspots' like Halton graveyard and the old Fortune of War site on Priory Road; working with the police to improve community safety; and representing local views to Seaspace on the Millennium Communities development for the old power station site. With so much new development proposed for Tressell Ward, I am particularly keen to make sure that as much open space as possible is preserved. In particular, shall do all I can to protect the Upper Ore Valley (the undeveloped land between Frederick Road and Victoria Avenue) and preserve it as a green space for local people to enjoy."

Peter's pledges for Tressell Ward are:

If re-elected on May 1st, I will:

	Protect open space in the Upper Ore valley
	Keep local streets free from litter and dog fouling
	Work with Seaspace to create high quality, well-designed homes on the Millennium Communities (old power station) site
	Work with the police and others to improve community safety through regular foot patrols by the police and warden services.
	Work with 1066 HA to continue to improve and enhance Farley Bank and Halton Estates
	Work with local people to support and represent their concerns about planning, development, transport and other issues in the ward.
	Support the commitments to a greener, cleaner, safer more prosperous Hastings as laid out in the Labour Party manifesto for Hastings.

And an additional personal statement about Peter's politics:

" I am a socialist, and have for many years been involved in socialist politics. I believe in social justice, equality and fairness. I am, and have always been, opposed to the Iraq War and any other foreign policy initiative that is aimed more at the interests of multi-national companies rather than the people of Iraq, or anywhere else. I would like to see a more equitable society where wealth is distributed more fairly, and where people are encouraged to contribute their skills and abilities to the benefit of everyone, rather than their own personal gain. Everyone has a right to a reasonable, comfortable standard of living, with access to all the befits of a modern, advanced society.

But no-one has the right to expect more than their fair share: a society motivated by greed will never be a happy one.

For this election, I am particularly angry about the BNP standing in Tressell Ward. The BNP promotes hatred and despair, would be disastrous for Hastings, a town that depends so much on foreign visitors for its economic survival. The BNP are the direct descendants of the British Union of Fascists - do not be fooled into thinking they are anything different!"

Peter speaking at the anti-BNP

rally in Hastings Town centre.

To download a copy of the Labour Party manifesto for the 2008 Hastings Council elections, click on the cover below: