Jake Lambert

Our community is what makes Old Town great. I’ve lived in Eastbourne for over 25 years and chose to settle my family in Old Town 7 years ago, knowing that this was a community where people look out for each other.

We have brilliant schools and community groups that are hubs for community action, socially conscious churches and businesses that seek to give something back to the people they serve, and, during the pandemic, families all over Old Town who have stepped up to care for their neighbours.

Old Town is a community that recognises that we can achieve more together than we can alone. That is what shapes my Labour values. I know that strong communities give us all the security and support we need to thrive.

But communities are only as strong as the services they rely on. Over a decade of cuts imposed by Conservative and Liberal Democrat governments and delivered by the Conservative administration at East Sussex County Council have left our community weaker and people more vulnerable. We’ve lost neighbourhood policing, libraries, social care services and children’s centres, our roads are in a state and our schools and NHS face an ongoing funding crisis.

It’s time for change. We need fresh ideas and decisions made at County Hall that work for Eastbourne families.

I’ll be a strong voice for Old Town. As a local teacher and dad to a young son, I’m invested in the future of our community. I want to bring people together to protect what we love about our area and find solutions to the challenges we face.

If elected, I will campaign to:

• Fight for our local services

Oppose the closure of hospital, library and social care services while campaigning for proper funding for our schools and mental health services.

• Protect our unique environment

Work to make Eastbourne carbon neutral by 2030, enhance our parks and seafront and fight any plans to sell off our Downs.

• Keep our community safe

Tackle anti-social behaviour and littering, put police back on the beat and restore neighbourhood policing.

• Tackle low pay and poverty

Challenge our councils to pay a Living Wage, restore local high streets and encourage public bodies to keep profits local.

• Promote sustainable transport

Get to grips with the pothole crisis, support safe cycling and campaign for affordable and accessible buses and trains.

• Restore trust in politics

Listen to residents, stand up for the most vulnerable and be a hard-working local voice for our community.