CAMPAIGN 2019

The 2019 Campaign for the East Suffolk District Council

On April 1st 2019 the new East Suffolk District Council starts its work across the combined areas previously served by the Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils. It remains to be seen whether the new authority lives up to its much heralded title of 'Super' but what is certain - this new Council's elected members must demonstrate that they are willing to listen and consult the people that they serve. With the total number of Councillors almost halved and the size of the Wards enlarged it will become increasingly difficult for residents to hold their elected representative to account

The new East Suffolk District Council, stretching from Lowestoft north down to Felixstowe will provide planning, housing, leisure, waste, environmental and other services to its 202,000 registered electors and their children and ineligible household members. New elections for the 55 seat District Council and many town and parish councils will take place on Thursday 2nd May 2019.

Unfortunately, for many years the numbers exercising their democratic right to vote in local Council elections has been below 50%. Prioritising work and domestic circumstances often mean that getting to a polling station is difficult so registering for a postal vote is a must. Having registered to vote by post means that voting papers will be sent to you at home by the local council and you simply vote and return. You can still take your postal vote to the polling station if you wish.

If you havent already done so, you can still register for a Postal Vote for forthcoming elections by contacting the Election Offices before Monday 15th April as follows:

East Suffolk Council (Suffolk Coastal DC) East Suffolk House, Riduna Park, Melton IP12 1RT

East Suffolk Council (Waveney DC) 2 Canning Road, Lowestoft NR33 0EQ

If you haven't registered to vote you have until Friday 12th April to register by contact one of the Offices above.

English voters regrettably still have to exercise their democratic right in Westminster and local council elections with the patently unfair 'first past the post' electoral system. Under this system there can only be only one winner, often a candidate with much less than 50% of the vote and multi losers whose votes are effectively wasted. Little wonder voters stay away from the polls. Liberal Democrats have fought for decades for a system of proportional voting only to be thwarted by the two main parties whose own interests are best served by the current system.

Over the coming days and weeks our website will be helping you find your way around the new electoral Wards, bringing you news of all the Liberal Democrat candidates, setting out the Liberal Democrats programme and the local stories as they happen.

Liberal Democrat Councillors listen TO YOU, consult and work towards open and transparent governance.

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