Cllr. Dr. James Walsh

Nick Wiltshire has been your councillor since 2003 and can be contacted on 724209. Dr. James Walsh has been your councillor since 1976 and can be contacted on 773771.

Beach ward is represented by two Liberal Democrats.

If you have any issues you want to raise, please don't hesitate to contact either of them. If you want to help them represent you and your neighbours in Beach ward please register with this site and James and Nick will be in touch.

Cllr. Nick Wiltshire

There are some issues that should be resolved directly by telephoning or emailing the relevant council. Matters regarding dogs should be reported to Dog Warden Services at Arun District Council by calling 01903 737755 or going online to Environmental Health at www.arun.gov.uk.

Following the spreading of a recent leaflet campaign for Wick into Beach Ward, I should like to reassure Beach Ward residents that if they have do indeed have concerns in their Street, their Neighbourhood or their Town they can rely on myself & Dr James Walsh, their Arun District Councillors to listen & act on their behalf. Beach Ward residents should be aware that Councillor Dr James Walsh is the County Councillor for the Littlehampton East Division (which includes Beach Ward) & has worked tirelessly over many years to make a positive contribution to the Ward & the Town in general by working consistently hard for you to help make a real difference in your area. Our contact details are available through Arun District Council, including its' website & matters discussed are dealt with in confidence.

Should you have an issue with streetlights or a pothole in the road, please report it by contacting West Sussex County Council on 01243 642105 or by going online to Roads and Transport at www.westsussex.gov.uk.

Nick Wiltshire

Councillor Nick Wiltshire monitoring the speed of traffic in Norfolk Road with ward resident Stephanie Bolt of the Beach Town Action Group and helpers!

Councillor Nick Wiltshire talks about housing issues.

The Audit Commission's recent assessment of Arun District Council's housing service is that homeless people in Littlehampton are having to stay in temporary accommodation for among the longest time in the country. This group of homeless people will unfortunately probably grow as the economy falls further into recession. Such unfortunate people are having to stay too long in temporary accommodation. Inspectors found this to be symptomatic of the underdevelopment of Arun's approach to preventing homelessness.

It is heartening that the criticism voiced by the Audit Commission has been taken on board as Arun has pledged to achieve a reduction in the time it takes to process homelessness applications & the time applicants spend in Bed & Breakfast accommodation. Certainly, this type of accommodation is a less than acceptable environment in which children find themselves being brought up.

It's also a pity that Arun District Council have not supported a initiative to encourage more people to participate in swimming. Had Arun taken up the offer of a Government grant anyone over 60 would have been able to enjoy free swimming. It also turned down the opportunity of funding free swimming for under-16s. By not taking up these offers, Arun would have been able to bid for some of a further £60 million available for pool improvements. I'm afraid it's seems to be another case of missed opportunities!

Nick Wiltshire.

Cllr. Nick Wiltshire with members of the Beach Town Community Garden Project at the corner of Western Road and St Augustine Road.

Councillor Nick Wiltshire talks about housing issues.

Housing is a big issue and nowhere more so than in Littlehampton, as it encompasses issues of homelessness, affordable housing and sustainable development. My fellow Ward Councillor, Dr James Walsh and I are very much aware of the acute housing problems that currently afflict the Littlehampton East West Sussex County Council Division, such as a lack of decent housing and problems with residents being housed in substandard accommodation.

Landlords in the private rental sector have a responsibility to help our community by providing decent accommodation. When letting out property we expect it to be clean and warm not so dirty and damp that it causes health problems. Equally, there is a responsibility placed upon those renting such properties to pay their bills on time and where they have problems to promptly seek guidance and assistance, such as from Arun District Council Housing Department and community groups or charities, such as HOMElink.

Your LibDems Councillors are determined to ensure that in Littlehampton new housing is of a high quality build, all housing has the highest insulation standards & that there is sufficient housing available to residents & their children alike. It is interesting to note that Gordon Brown, in his 1997 Budget speech, his first as Chancellor (or is that "chancer") said;-

There are some issues that should be resolved directly by telephoning or emailing the relevant council. Matters regarding dogs should be reported to Dog Warden Services at Arun District Council by calling 01903 737755 or going online to Environmental Health at www.arun.gov.uk.

Should you have an issue with streetlights or a pothole in the road, please report it by contacting West Sussex County Council on 01243 642105 or by going online to Roads and Transport at www.westsussex.gov.uk.

Nick Wiltshire,

"I am determined that as a country we never return to the instability, speculation and negative equity that characterised the housing market in the 1980s & 1990s."

Even more interesting is the fact that the quote has, mysteriously, disappeared from the Treasury website, having been relegated to the archive. I wonder why that might be?

Nick Wiltshire.

Liberal Democrat councillor in Beach ward.

Letter from resident

Dear Councillors Buckland and Wiltshire,

Where do I start, thank you so much for all your support, it was a close-run thing and at one point I didn't think it would turn out the way it did. Finally we can begin renovating our home to make it a home for a family, we have such plans that have been on hold for so long it felt as though they would never come to fruition. Without your support and that of our neighbours we would not have the outcome we now have.

Words are not enough to express our gratitude for your time and energy that you have put into this for our us, so once again THANK YOU.

Kind Regards,

G & N.

Letter to Littlehampton Gazette

A measure of a civilised society is the way it treats its' frail & vulnerable citizens. I am concerned that with energy bills continuing to rise by percentages at levels last seen in the 1970s all members of our community are being hard-pressed financially, especially those on fixed incomes, meaning the aged & the vulnerable in our society. Under a so-called Socialist Government this is indeed a sad indictment. When water bills could rocket by more than 50% I wonder how much worse things are going to get?

Why should existing householders have to fund the additional burden posed by new housing developments for the provision of water? How can a government allow privately-owned foreign utility companies to get away with these outrageous increases to basic necessities of life in a civilised society?

It is now clear that Mrs Thatcher did indeed did sell off the family silver. It was a huge con-trick perpetuated by the Conservatives and we are certainly paying for it now in so many ways. It is an absolute disgrace that we have homeless people in Littlehampton having to rely on the services provided by charitable organisations, such as Homelink. However, the true picture is even worse. There are the "hidden homeless" such as those who "sofa surf" just to get a roof over their head for the night. Successive Conservative and Labour Governments have a lot to answer for and should be held accountable at the ballot box.

Remember come next year's County Council elections how elderly residents in particular are being put at risk now by Conservative-controlled West Sussex County Council due to its' backlog of repairs to pavements of nearly £19.5 million, of which £2.2 million relates to Arun alone. The safety and welfare of residents in our community, particularly the frail and the vulnerable should be the priority for governments be they national or local, but in truth are not!

Cllr. Nick Wiltshire. 6th September 2008.

Letter to Littlehampton Gazette

I refer to the letter from JI Hughes in last week's Gazette entitled "High standard of hospital treatment." Having had an operation last Thursday in Worthing Hospital, which fortunately only necessitated an over-night stay, I have to say that I could not have been looked after better. I would like to thank the all the staff there for their dedication & professionalism as well as their personal touch & kindness. Many of our Public Service workers are simply taken for granted, often by Government Ministers, & in our topsy-turvy world do not receive the reward for their true worth, unlike some over-paid footballers & City slickers. The likes of Alan Sugar have stated that they are quite prepared for the Government to tax them more so that the frail & vulnerable in our society are properly cared for, provided that the taxation system is transparent. In a civilised society, the guiding principles of the taxation system should be that it is clear & easy to understand, cheap to administer & that taxes are fair as well as being seen to be fair. It cannot be right that a person receiving an annual income of £50,000 is taxed at the highest marginal rate of tax of 40%, the same as someone receiving £0.5million a year, or even someone who is getting £5million. It is an even sadder fact that the gap between the richest & the poorest in our society has actually widened under this so-called socialist government. So despite all their spin-doctors' tales, the truth is that rich have got richer, the poor have got poorer & the hardworking families in-between have been deceived. Do not despair though, for there are those who care, who have consciences & know that what has happened in the last few decades has not been in the best interests of all who inhabit these islands. There are those who want the aims & aspirations of the average Brit to be met, where the elderly are properly cared for, where the vulnerable are protected & where everyone is treated respectfully & fairly in all matters. Change can happen by people voting for it but to be able to vote at all people must first complete & return their Electoral Registration Forms.

Nick Wiltshire. 25th September 2008.

Letter to West Sussex Gazette

Having recently had an operation in Worthing Hospital, I have to say that I could not have been looked after better so I would like to thank all the staff there for their dedication & professionalism as well as their personal touch & kindness. Many of our Public Service workers are simply taken for granted & in our topsy-turvy world do not receive the reward for their true worth, unlike some over-paid footballers & City slickers. The likes of Michael Winner, however, have stated that they are quite prepared for the Government to tax them more so that the frail & vulnerable in our society are properly cared for, provided that the taxation system is transparent. The guiding principles of our taxation system should be that it is clear & easy to understand, cheap to administer & that taxes are fair as well as being seen to be fair. A measure of a civilised society is the way it treats its' frail & vulnerable citizens. I am concerned that with energy bills continuing to rise by percentages at levels last seen in the 1970s all members of our community are being hard-pressed financially, especially those on fixed incomes.

Under a so-called socialist government it is indeed a sad indictment that the richest live on average 10 years longer than the poorest in our society. The truth is that rich have got richer, the poor have got poorer & the hardworking families in-between have been deceived. When water bills could rocket by more than 50% I wonder how much worse things are going to get? Why should existing householders have to fund the additional burden posed by new housing developments for the provision of water? How can a government allow privately-owned foreign utility companies to get away with these outrageous increases to basic necessities of life in a civilised society? With the sale of council houses as well, it is now clear that Mrs Thatcher did indeed did sell off the family silver. It was a huge con-trick perpetuated by the Conservatives & we are certainly paying for it now in so many ways. Why are elderly residents in particular being put at risk by Conservative-controlled West Sussex County Council due to its' backlog of repairs to pavements of nearly £19.5 million. The safety & welfare of residents in our community, particularly the frail & the vulnerable should be the priority for governments, national or local, but in truth are not!

Nick Wiltshire. 24th September 2008.