Nick, Sorry to hear about your mother. Good charity to support . Also the cross party support for publicising the benefits of healthy exercise is a good idea.

I’m sure Michael Foster will either join you ( providing no better photo opportunities present themselves) , of dip into his extensive MP’s package to support your cause.

Yes it would have been a good idea to use some of the regeneration money to upgrade facilities at the centre. As regards what appears to be maintenance couldn’t the Lib Dem cllrs have proposed better finance for maintenance/or control at a council meeting …it would have been far better spent than the expenditure on the Climate Change Project , which the Lib/Dems supported Labour on.

I agree we need to get people to exercise more. However we also need to get people to take more RESPONSIBILITY for their own wellbeing ..not to be mothered by the Nanny State. Is this not where we are with Labour at the moment ? You mention making facilities more affordable ..but not how this would be paid for. Remember the council taxes are already sky high ! Walking/running is also an excellent activity ..free for the asking in some of the fantastic areas around Hastings. Sponsored walk ? Not everything has to be paid for. Good paid for private facilities are also available around Hastings. I do agree that health education is important …but satellites around the Health Service worry me !
Congratulations on having the most comments on the Observer Electronic Bulletin Board , and the related debates which are healthy for a progressive society.

I must knock some points off this week Nick. Describing the Tories as too “posh” reminds me somewhat of the Class war we are trying to get away from in this country ; more of a New Labour type dig ! Policies , integrity and capability are the real issues …lets not muddy them. Or maybe you were thinking of Victoria Beckham when you wrote it !

I’ve yet to meet anyone who thought that raising the standard of municipal leisure facilities was a bad idea. But arguing for better public swimming, available on the basis of need, doesn’t feel like a persuasive argument for diverting regeneration money. A suspicious mind could be forgiven for thinking that you are simply using regeneration coffers as a convenient pot to avoid anyone pointing out council tax implications of your proposals. A few weeks ago you seemed to be arguing against higher council tax bills, but now you are calling for better and cheaper services. This is one of the reasons why so many people just see the lib dems as political opportunists.

Sorry to hear about your mum. Hope all goes well with the swimming challenge. I think that accessibility to such a vital service such as being able to use the swimming pool, should be available as a universal entitlement. The health benefits would be enormous and save the N'H.S lots. Shame Michael did not rise to the challenge, but guess he's too busy with all of his photo opportunities for the election.

Martin Salcombe is badly deluded if he things that regeneration is being taken seriously by the NewLabour/Tory contro;;ed council. Has he seen noticed that tens of millions of pounds have been wasted by blunders at the Station Yard, the "hotel on the beach", Marina Pavilion and the arms factory that is being built for General Dynamics at Queensway. Not one single NEW job has been created by the wasteful spending, except for cushy jobs "for the Boys" in SeaSpace.

Sorry , previous draft was mistake.

Martin Salcombe is badly deluded if he things that regeneration is being taken seriously by the NewLabour/Tory controlled council. Has he noticed that tens of millions of pounds have been wasted by blunders at the Station Yard, the "hotel on the beach", Marina Pavilion and the arms factory that is being built for General Dynamics at Queensway. Not one single NEW job has been created by the wasteful spending, except for cushy jobs "for the Boys" in SeaSpace.

MP’S EXPENSES :

The Euro MP’s committee has stated that EuroMP’s are to face a family jobs ban. Apparently many are using as a tax wheeze and other abuses.

I would like to ask each of the parliamentary candidates whether they support such measures being implemented in the UK ?

Michael Foster employs his wife as a secretary. Are you Michael prepared to match your pro- European credentials and push for the measure to be introduced in the UK ?

POST OFFICE :

In todays Financial Times , they report that :
“ They ( Postcomm ..regulator) blame Royal Mail’s inefficiency for its parlous financial state and accuse it of blocking innovation that would restore the postal market to health”

No wonder they can’t keep the post office’s open! The post office is government owned. The attempt to blame everyone else but his own government by Michael Foster is disingenuous.

The suggestion that this should be financed locally is ridiculous. No doubt this would end up raising council tax. Why should we pay more for the failure of Mr Foster and his government to run this business efficiently. ? In private enterprise they would be sacked.

I hope that Amber and Nick can see this logic and do not consider supporting our local MP’s deadbeat initiative. The problem lies squarely with the government.

Seems Michael is too busy to join you Nick for the Swimming Challenge. This is a shame. Apparently Michael and Jeremy Birch are runnung against one another in celebration of the 1908 Marathon. (See Article) They will be getting dressed up for the occassion.