The event will be hosted by Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Richard Stevens and myself. I hope you will come along – you will be very welcome.

If you can't get there, then let me give you a flavour of the manifesto itself.

Liberal Democrats have a vision for Hastings and St Leonards.

We will strive to make our area a 'safe and thriving place to live in, offering a high quality of life, a strong economy and a sustainable future, founded upon our unique heritage and seaside location, and supported by social, economic, cultural and environmental regeneration'.

And we have set our priorities for ensuring that this happens in a way that engages rather than alienates local people. You may well have had these through your letterbox already, but our priorities are as follows:

• Lib Dems will be community representatives—all year round; not just at election time

• We'll tell it straight—no spin and no gimmicks

• We will work for a cleaner, greener and safer Hastings & St Leonards

• We will restore Town Hall democracy and value for money

• We will bring decision-making closer to local people

• We will fight poverty and make the arts and culture a top priority.
We want local people to be clear about what they are voting for when it comes to the election on 1 May. We believe that there is now very little difference between what the Labour Party and the Conservatives are offering you.

And we believe that Hastings cannot afford a return to the unjustifiable Council Tax hikes of the Labour Party, and the ongoing administrative incompetence of local Conservatives.

We are saying that it's time for a change.

It's time for a Lib Dem Council.