Lack of interest in parish elections

The County Town is assured of a lively contest for the 18 seats available on Lewes Town Council on May 1.

But in many village elections there are fewer candidates than seats.

This means that those who are standing will be automatically elected, and rest of the seats will have to be filled by co-option.

At Hamsey on the outskirts of Lewes there are only three candidates for six seats.

Three co-optees have already been found to make up the difference, but residents have been denied the opportunity to vote.

In fact there has not been a proper parish election in Hamsey for at least 12 years.

'There is increasing apathy about standing,' said retiring councillor Sue Rowland. 'There are far more reports to read than in years gone by '¦ more red tape and more responsibility.

'I've done 10 years and I'm not standing again.'

The new Code of Practice for councillors, which requires them to list what local business interests they have and to inform authorities of any suspected wrong-doing, has not helped.

'Parish councillors are unpaid volunteers and are not generally political,' added Cllr Rowland.

'I feel the Code is simply not necessary.

'A number of councillors in East Sussex stood down rather than sign it, and others signed reluctantly but have decided not to stand again '“ including myself, partly for that reason.'