Leaflet blunder that could have cost Lib-Dem his seat

An election leaflet supporting Dr James Walsh (Littlehampton East), released just before Thursday's poll, said that Titnore Lane, West Worthing, could be a good site for travellers and gypsies.

Fellow Lib Dem Mr Rodgers, the party's then leader on the county council, was fighting the newly-formed Goring and Northbrook division against the strong Tory team of Keith Mercer and Steven Waight.

Two candidates were to be selected, and Mr Rodgers finished third (by 487 votes) behind second-placed Mr Waight.

And Dr Walsh's comments were described as "scandalous" by Mr Mercer, who is the leader of Worthing Borough Council.

Dr Walsh's pamphlet said: "An alliance of Tory-controlled West Sussex County Council, Arun and Worthing councils proposed a site alongside the A259 Rustington bypass late last year.

"Massive opposition from residents in Rustington, led by Coun James Walsh and the parish council, caused the council leaders to back down.

However, they are still looking at the same and other nearby sites, and the government is proposing to make it easier for travellers to flout normal planning laws.

"Liberal Democrats will oppose any plans for the Rustington/Littlehampton site, believing it would be more appropriate in West Worthing area, say at Titnore Lane, which safer, away from existing housing, and better screened."

Worthing Conservatives soon picked up on this and leafleted the Lib Dem pamphlet's contents to around 4,000 homes in Durrington and Goring.

Worthing Lib Dem leader Bob Smytherman told the Gazette that the Tory leaflet was "a pack of lies". He continued: "There is nothing in our manifesto that says we would put a gypsy site in Titnore Lane if we got control of the county council.

"My guess is that James Walsh was saying he didn't want it in Rustington when he mentioned Titnore Lane. It's a last-minute panic. Leaflets don't win elections. Hard work over four years do."

But responding to the Tory leaflet, former councillor Nick Rodgers said: "It had some effect without a doubt. In a way, I took it as a compliment that the Conservatives felt that they needed to put it out.

"My colleague in Rustington should not have said it and he has since apologised. It was a cock-up that shouldn't have happened, but, fair play to the Conservatives to recognise it.

"James Walsh didn't realise the consequences of what he had written, but we have all done that before. I can't say, hand on heart, that we would have won without it."

Dr Walsh told the Herald on Tuesday that Titnore Lane was put forward last August on a short list of sites, including the A259 at Angmering, by a "secret" meeting of the three Tory-controlled local councils.

"I am aware that Titnore Lane and Angmering are once again being considered by this same secret group. It is clearly up to the local people to be fully involved in open consultation before decisions are made by private and secretative working groups. I want full public discussions of all the options."

Mr Mercer said: "There is a lot of sensitivity about Titnore Lane in Worthing and this suggestion was not acceptable to me or my council colleagues.

"We have spent a lot of time and effort with Arun District Council to find sites for the travellers and we agreed that the Rustington site was suitable for our needs. At the end of the day, however, Arun Council withdrew their support."

Mr Mercer said Dr Walsh's suggestion was "scandalous", and he knew nothing about any secret meetings.

"I would certainly not lead my cabinet and officers in to any 'secret' meetings concerning such a controversial issue. And I want to emphasise we don't want to have a travellers' site anywhere near Titnore Lane."