Sorry, I can't talk about this project

Legal advisors told councillors who turned up for Tuesday's launch of the Worthing Together strategy, The Town We Want, that they could not speak because it was too close to the local elections. So they sat there in silence.

The Herald was also asked not to send a photographer because the council feared they might fall foul of electoral law.

LibDem Geraldine Lissenburg, co-chair of the Worthing Together partnership, wasn't even allowed to take to the stage and talk about the strategy - which provides a vision for the town over the next 10 years and is a non-political initiative.

And as for talking to the Herald '” that seemed to be a problem too.

When Herald features editor Kirsty Chamberland, unaware of the storm in the town hall teacup, sat next to Tory Reg Green, he was immediately told not to talk to her and she was glared at by the LibDem team.

Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Lissenburg said: "This strategy was never political. It is ridiculous because I can't even get on the stage and thank my co-chair, John Robinson. It is all to do with election law. I was told the situation on Friday.

"After the election, we will be able to tell people more about the strategy."

Sheila Player, leader of the council, said afterwards: "Geraldine has worked so hard and there is nothing political about introducing the strategy."

The Town We Want strategy is a first for Worthing and coordinated by Worthing Together, which is a partnership made up of representatives from public, private and voluntary organisations.

The strategy provides a vision for the town over the next 10 years and, in time, will become the master plan for the town's policies and strategies.

The strategy has seven goals to drive progress towards the town we want '” a town with an active involved community, a safe town, a prosperous town, a town with fewer inequalities, a town with something for everyone, a learning town and a town you can get around.

It also sets out what Worthing Together will now do to make sure these goals are achieved, including raise awareness of opportunities for local people, tackle violent crime and anti-social behaviour, find a solution for Teville Gate, develop services for older people and more.

Worthing Council's website has full details of the strategy.