Elections to East Sussex County Council and for the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner are being held on Thursday 6th May.
Two people will be elected to represent Crowborough – one to serve “Crowborough North & Jarvis Brook” and another for “Crowborough South & St Johns”. Crowborough Life has invited each of the candidates to send a short statement about themselves explaining why they would like you consider voting for them.
This is the election address from Johanna Howell.
I have lived in this area my whole life and have been proud to bring up and educate my children here too. I have always loved the community and the peace of the beautiful countryside we live in. Our market towns have always been an important hub and add to the sense of belonging that all communities need to thrive.
I have served my community in one fashion or another for the past 27 years, I chaired the first working party into the Seriously Killed and Injured in Wealden, I have sat on the Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee for East Sussex, which has a place close to my heart since my husband had a serious stroke and subsequently became very disabled. Having been his Carer for the past seven years I have a huge appreciation for the role of Crowborough Hospital in our community and all that they do, from maternity services to rehabilitation.
I would be proud to serve in a County Council that has had its Children Services judged as outstanding and that spends 70% of its budget on Adult Social Care and Children Services. A conservative council will not mismanage your money, but spend it wisely.
Having lived here I am aware that good infrastructure is of huge importance for our day to day living, not just in the towns but also in our rural communities, by that I don’t just mean roads, which are under a huge strain, but also surgeries and schools.
Crowborough has a major influence and it is important that it continues to provide the focus for the north of Wealden with a thriving economy and getting the High Street back on its feet following the challenges of Covid.
We are fortunate to live in a beautiful place and I am aware that there needs to a balance between the environment and the need to house especially our younger generations.
Main priorities:
- Look after our environment
- Keep Parking Free in Crowborough to help local business
- Protect our hospital
Protect our hospital
Contact details:
- Website: https://www.wealdenconservatives.com/people/johanna-howell
- Telephone number: 01892 750141
- Email address: johanna4wealden@gmail.com
As we receive Election Statements from each of the candidate they will be published on Crowborough Life (click on the candidates name below to find-out about them).
Crowborough North & Jarvis Brook
If you live in this Division you can vote for one of the following five candidates:
- Peter Bucklitsch (Independent)
- Johanna Howell (The Conservative Party Candidate)
- James Partridge (Liberal Democrats)
- Colin Stocks (The Green Party)
- Norman Warren (Labour party)
Crowborough South & St Johns
If you live in this Division you can vote for one of the following four candidates:
- Brendan Clegg (Labour Party)
- Philip Lunn (The Conservative Party Candidate)
- Gareth Owen-Williams (Liberal Democrats)
- Pam Tysh (The Green Party)
If you are unsure of which Division you live in, click the following button and enter your postcode on The Electoral Commission’s website:
What Johanna Howell doesn’t say is more illuminating. She lives in Frant and is the District Councillor for Frant and Wadhurst and will remain so. She is Chairman of the District Council’s Planning North Committee, and a member of the Joint Planning Committee North and South and a member of the Local Plan Sub-Committee. Therefore she has been a key player in the failed local plan which has given rise to developer led planning in Crowborough which has been out of control. She strongly supported the development of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for 119 Dwelling adjoining the Goldsmith Recreation Ground based on a very dubious process. As Chairman she emphasised how long she had known the site and that “this has always been a fairground, travellers and all sorts parked there for many years” as the reason why she supported the application. Which locals know is misleading and the use of the land was agriculture. Fairs have limited time use rights in most parts of the country. The video of the planning meeting can be checked for detail.
Given that this area is basically a Conservative area why can’t they find someone who lives in Crowborough to loyally represent them. Given that two Crowborough Conservative District Councillors resigned from the party recently what is the problem?
So how is Councillor Howell going to serve two masters living in Frant particularly related to highway matters? Are there too many Councillors wearing two hats and receiving high additional allowances, restricting wider Councillor involvement and opinion?