Arun fails again

Firstly, how disappointing that Arun District Council felt unable to support HOMElink’s application for £300,000 from central government, to extend its extremely worthwhile services to this community (Gazette, August 15).

After all, Arun refers people with problems to HOMElink, therefore its hard-working volunteers must save the local authority money. This seems to be yet another way in which Arun is failing this community.

However the debt arose in the first place, which must have had the auditor’s attention, seems strange. It is actually being paid back, although it would appear not fast enough for Arun.

While understanding the council’s current financial constraints, would the £76,000 spent on ‘consultants’ to reorganise leisure facilities in Littlehampton not have been better spent in writing off the HOMElink debt? After all, anyone can be made homeless at any time.

Secondly, how sad that the deputy police and crime commissioner for Sussex was not appreciated, on his £45,000 a year salary for a 37-hour week.

The whole concept of police and crime commissioners, I believe, was doomed from the start. Ours in Sussex was elected on a 14 per cent voting turnout, yet the post seems to have too much unrestricted power, with too much interference with operational policing.

The whole concept would appear to be failing in many parts of the country.

We do need, it seems, a completely clean sweep of current politicians. Currently, most seem interested only in short-termism, easy targets, toeing the party line and being re-elected.

We need people to fully represent their electorate and not to be afraid to speak out when things may be difficult, but to represent the community’s interests.

Unfortunately, we are approaching the situation in politics at all levels, where there are very few people, of any party, competent enough to be worth voting for.

In the current circumstances, the apathy of the electorate is perfectly understandable.

Margaret Boulton

St Mary’s Close

Littlehampton