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Political row erupts over by-election
A POLITICAL row has again broken out between local Liberal Democrats and Conservatives over forthcoming by-elections for the three vacant seats on Hailsham Town Council.
Voters in the Central and North and the South and West wards will go to the polls on May 6 - unless a general election is held that day, in which case a little-known law says it must be moved to May 27.
Local Tories are believed to have triggered the by-election with enough activists formally requesting a vote.
But Hailsham's Lib Dems have called the by-elections, which could cost up to 10,000 to hold, 'a wasteful and pointless exercise'.
Cllr John Blake said, "The new councillors will only have 11 full months to serve before the whole council is re-elected in early May 2011.
"Even if they win all three by-elections, they will have five of the 24 councillors, yet their action will cost the council taxpayers of Hailsham around 10,000.
"The Conservatives are calling nationally for cuts in public expenditure but in Hailsham they are increasing it totally unnecessarily."
But Conservative councillor Nigel Coltman said the people of Hailsham should vote for the new councillors, rather than seeing them co-opted.
He told the Gazette, "To take away that democratic right is an arrogant thing to do.
"All democracy costs money. We could say that, to save taxpayers' money, we will get rid of all elections."
Cllr Coltman admitted it was unfortunate that election law prevented town and parish council polls taking place on the same day as a general election.
He said, "We were anxious to avoid additional cost and wanted to hold it on the same day (as the general election].
"I don't think anyone was aware of the rules."
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Weather for Eastbourne
Monday 13 February 2012
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Light rain
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