Across the constituency, political groups are nominating candidates and preparing leaflets for local elections. They present alternatives in each ward. In the past there have been examples of informal understandings; some parties do not nominate in the expectation that another favoured person or party will benefit.
My view is that the real opponents are apathy and ignorance rather than public spirited people who have chosen a different political group. Do encourage friends and neighbours to become involved, in any positive way: vote, help choose candidates, and when an elected person does something right though possibly unpopular, consider sending a message of encouragement?
During my parliamentary service, I have cooperated with Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour council leaders. Together and separately, we have been supporting the community around us. There is more to do; there always is but we should be aware how much has been achieved.
One example is the development of northwest Durrington. Over decades, no Worthing opposition council group tried to oppose the long-term plan to concentrate most new provision in a new community. That shared sense of responsibility has been of benefit in other circumstances.
I speak with pride of how West Sussex County Council and the Borough Council overcame obstacles when Worthing College found its own way to move to the better bigger site north of the A27 Grove Lodge roundabout. There had been a series of disappointments. This was the last real opportunity to leave 1960s Bolsover road buildings, far too cramped as numbers doubled from 600 students.
Rules required the college to pay for the education of the children expected to live in new houses on the old site. The college was supposed to pay a large sum for so-called planning gain. The third blow was the demand from the highways agency to provide for cyclists on the A27, something that had always been the responsibility of the national road authority.
There were conversations, including my short, effective meeting with a prime minister. Tim Loughton and I helped everyone see matters in a way which circulated resources, meeting each requirement. Good luck to the historian who tries to understand the links, the mutual support and the essential cooperation that delivered to the college the opportunity to succeed.
That inclusive approach saved the local hospitals when each had an uncertain future. With the involvement of each political party, with the trade unions and management, with the Leagues of Friends and led by the effective energetic chair Major Tom Wye, we achieved something greater than preservation. The result: increased capital spending at St Richard’s and at Worthing with development of services at Southlands. Joint leadership of the hospitals encouraged clinicians to transform emergency care and other departments. Now I want to encourage recognition of the importance of community pharmacy.
We need the same approach to cutting sewage overflows without letting bills grow too far. The rate of inflation needs to come down, not rise relentlessly. West Sussex MPs this week are meeting Southern Water and regulators – environmental and financial. It is not enough to say what has been done or to list difficulties. It is necessary to overcome the problems and now to do what needs to be done. Everyone in a community suffers when unacceptable waste is found along the beach and when sensitive river environments are poisoned by untreated discharges from main drains.
Parliamentary initiatives can be popular and right. Henry Smith MP gained approval in the Commons on Friday for his Hunting Trophies Bill. I stayed on in case my vote was needed.
This week I contributed to the debate on access to cash, how to get money and how to have sellers accept it whenever possible. Younger people may be happy to wave a card or to pay for everything by mobile telephone. Not everyone is young. Community should include everyone. We can blossom together.
