Councillor is old folks' champion

Cllr Roy Martin was asked by Lib Dems on Wealden District Council to focus on policies affecting senior citizens.

Cllr Martin serves on East Sussex County Council, the district council and Polegate Town Council.

He said: 'I look forward to making a real difference.

'I have seen already that there is inconsistency between in-house and private sector service delivery to older people.

'I am investigating to see if standards can be brought into line.'

Wealden Lib Dem group leader Cllr Jane Clark said the council needed 'more joined up thinking' between policies and implications for older residents.

She said: 'Roy will make every effort to ensure strategies are joined up and there are real improvements and not just, as at the

moment, often change for change sake.'

The announcement comes after the newly appointed Mayor of Polegate said he wanted to address the needs of older residents.

Cllr Stephen Barber, from Polegate Residents Association, has set up a working group to review issues facing senior citizens in the town.