Beverley Coupar Independent Candidate for Brede Valley and Marsham

“PUTTING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BEFORE LOCAL POLITICS”

BEVERLEY COUPAR THE NEW

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE

BREDE VALLEY and MARSHAM EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

‘I can personally endorse Beverley Coupar as an excellent candidate to become our next County Councillor.

As the District Councillor for Sedlescombe, Westfield and Three Oaks and as the only Independent in Rural Rother since my own election in May 2019 I have been able to use my Independent position within the new Alliance to work positively across all parties to achieve some excellent results in a very short time.

This includes widening the permission for residents to speak at Planning Committee Meetings (previously this was only allowed at a limited level) and also initiating a review of our planning department that will help improve efficiencies and make our planning department more customer-focused and resident-friendly.

In addition, I have made savings of over £500,000 without any impact on the services delivered by the Council and have implemented changes to ensure money secured from developers for infrastructure in our villages will be used in our villages and not redirected to other areas.

As an Independent, residents’ needs always come first above party politics and this is equally critical at our County Council which should be kept focused on delivering cost-effective services in the most efficient way and to rural villages, not just the major towns. Something Beverley feels very strongly about.

As Chairman of Sedlescombe Parish Council, I know Beverley Coupar well as she is also a Parish Councillor and I can confirm that she has demonstrated a proactive approach to the community in her work with our traffic group to stop speeding through the village and also her work redeveloping the children’s playground, in addition to her work with the local school. She is hard working and dedicated to improving life for all of us who live in this lovely part of East Sussex.

Beverley is the breath of fresh air needed to best represent all of our residents. I’m confident that she will help resolve the long-term problems that so many local people believe are important but where little or no action has been taken in the past.’

Jonathan Vine-Hall Independent District Councillor for Sedlescombe, Westfield and Three Oaks Chairman of Sedlescombe Parish Council

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WHY IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE AT EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL 4 I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN MAKING OUR ROADS SAFE

Despite surveys from local residents continuously listing road safety as their biggest concern, and East Sussex County Council listing it as a priority, little has been done to address excessive speed limits on our rural roads.

4 I STRONGLY BELIEVE OUR ROADS HAVE BEEN BADLY NEGLECTED

We have endured badly-neglected roads for over a decade. Our country lanes and villages have been overwhelmed by potholes and cracks.

4 I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN PROTECTING AND ENHANCING OUR ENVIRONMENT Simple measures like having wild flower verges could attract bees and wildlife and in turn reduce council grass-cutting costs.

4 I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE FULFILLING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL

It is vital that we support children and young people, particularly given the huge pressures they have been under during the ongoing pandemic. East Sussex County Council has closed numerous childcare facilities, youth clubs and reduced youth support provision drastically in the last 10 years.

4 I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN A FAIRER SOCIETY

The most vulnerable people in our community are missing out because of continuous cuts. These cuts are sometimes unnecessary and are often the casualty of poor financial management.

4 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE MENTAL HEALTH A PRIORITY

Continued cuts to mental health services has led to exhaustive waiting lists for the most vulnerable. I will campaign for these services to be made a priority.

4 I STRONGLY BELIEVE YOUR COUNCILLOR NEEDS TO BE PART OF

YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT MATTERS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY Decisions should be made based on what the community needs and what matters to them most. All too often, these decisions are made in isolation by those who are out of touch with residents. I will be actively involved at community level.

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WHY CHANGE FROM THE WAY YOU MAY HAVE VOTED IN THE PAST? KEY FACTS: THIS IS HOW THE CURRENT CONSERVATIVE COUNTY COUNCILLOR AND ALSO EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL HAVE FAILED OUR COMMUNITY

Our roads have been in a terrible condition for over a decade. Our villages and 8 country lanes are particularly neglected and riddled with potholes, resulting in dangerous conditions for drivers, cyclists, walkers and horse riders alike. Some requests have taken nine years to complete! The Conservatives rejected the Local Development budget which had allocated money for potholes.

Failing to work in partnership with other political parties. In stark contrast, the 8 recent Rother Alliance at the District Council has shown a dynamic and innovative approach to cross-party working, resulting in better outcomes for residents and communities.

Your County Councillor is also the Adult Social Care Lead and it has come to light 8 that tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money has been wasted by the Council on unused care hours paid out but not utilised.

This same Councillor was Transport Lead when the Bexhill Link Road was built. It 8 went a disastrous £20m over budget. The 600-metre Queensway Link Road was due to have been completed in 2016. It STILL hasn’t completed and the original £6m budget has now doubled to £12m! £2m of this has been “reallocated” from the walking and cycling budget. This infamous road link has been dubbed one of the most expensive strips of road in the country!

Your County Councillor has failed to fix our roads effectively, failed in social care 8 and failed in transport.

YOUR NEW LABOUR CANDIDATE DOES NOT EVEN LIVE IN OUR ELECTION 8 AREA. OTHER CANDIDATES -

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WHY VOTE FOR ME AS A NEW INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL? I live in Sedlescombe with my husband and two young children. I grew up locally and have lived in Sussex my whole life. Living on the outskirts of Sedlescombe we love exploring the beautiful countryside surrounding us with our two dogs.

I have 15 years’ experience of working in the Education Sector. I supported children and young people into education and employment and was the Education Manager for Children's Services before giving up work to be a full-time mum.

I love to be involved with community life and joined the village school PTA almost immediately. We are busy all year planning a variety of events, from film nights to Easter egg hunts. We have had to be very creative this last year due to the pandemic but that hasn’t deterred us and we have still managed to raise thousands of pounds for our village school.

Living on a 60mph single country lane prompted me to get involved with our Traffic Advisory Group (STAG) and the Speedwatch group. I had never appreciated how much our country lanes had been turned into “rat runs” until moving here. We have been campaigning for our village to have a 20mph speed limit and we are in advanced discussions with Highways about achieving this.

I joined the Parish Council in 2019. As a Parish Council, we actively make a point of listening to our residents. I was recently appointed as Chairman for the Riverside Playground. We have a small group of wonderful volunteers comprised of residents and Parish Councillors. We have raised £2,000 in the last few months despite the pandemic and we are applying for various community grants to help give our children the fantastic play space they deserve. I want our community to be the best place for both your family and mine.

As an Independent candidate, this means I will always support you, your family and our community first. I am not bound by local party politics. Unlike the current Labour candidate, I am a local resident and am very actively involved in my community. Therefore, I can represent it better than a non-resident who is physically disconnected from our area and has no vested interest in what really matters to our villages.

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Meeting with a Fairlight resident to discuss summer visitor problems at Pett Level

“IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE AT EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL AND AS AN INDEPENDENT COUNCILLOR I WILL ALWAYS PUT YOU AND OUR COMMUNITY FIRST.” 6

WHAT I PROMISE TO DO SHOULD YOU ELECT ME FIRSTLY, I WILL WORK TO HELP OUR RURAL COMMUNITY TAKE BACK CONTROL BY:

4 Always supporting the community first, regardless of political preference.

Our County Council should be focused on delivering cost-effective, quality services that the local community requires and wants. I commit to working collaboratively with other parties.

4 Work to make our roads safe by addressing speeding issues through our villages and lanes. I will continue working with traffic community groups, the Police and the District and County Councils.

4 Campaign for our roads to be in a decent condition by giving our residents a voice to ensure we aren’t left at the “back of the queue”.

4 Always supporting low-cost housing by working to policies to insist developers provide homes for young families at affordable prices.

4 Supporting children and young people by working with organisations such as

colleges and universities to help raise aspirations and improve outcomes. I bring 15 years’ experience of working in the education sector.

4 Fight to protect public services by campaigning for better funding from central government to protect our much-needed provision.

4 Helping to address the lack of mental health services by working with

communities to understand the true impact of the pandemic and the subsequent services needed.

4 Helping to address the low-level crime that blights our villages, by working with the local police, Neighbourhood Watch and liaising with our local PCSOs to try and ensure greater presence and support to our community.

4 Helping rural communities to access grants that will deliver fast, reliable broadband.

4 Holding regular surgeries to make sure that you are aware of everything that is happening at the County Council that might affect you. I will help and support you and our whole community by listening to feedback and taking action.

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WITH YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR VOTE, I CAN WORK TO ENSURE POSITIVE CHANGE HAPPENS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

CONTACT I have decided not to cold-canvass or make unsolicited calls to visit residents as I think this is intrusive and increases the risk of Covid-19. However, if you want to contact me at any time, please email me on: beverleycoupar9@gmail.com or tel: 07538 519007

Published and promoted by James Coupar on behalf of Beverley Coupar at Voles, Moat Lane, Sedlescombe. TN33 0RZ. Printed by Solopress, 9 Stock Road, Southend-On-Sea, Essex SS2 5QF. Tel: 01702 460047.