TIM LOUGHTON: Fantastic eco summit

Nine years after I founded the EYE (Eco, Young and Engaged) Project and held our first Eco Summit at Worthing Town Hall – we now cover most corners of West Sussex and hope to extend the network to Crawley next year.

The Weald and Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton proved to be a fantastic venue.

120 pupils enthusiastically listened to presentations on waste prevention, took part in a creative recycling competition and enjoyed workshops on everything from supporting locally produced food, cutting down on energy and water usage and the Chichester Harbour Habitat Challenge.

I am so pleased to see this project extend to more and more young people who really get it about the need to respect and conserve our environment and provide some excellent ‘pester power’ to their families, communities and schools on sustainability.

In a similar vein I was very happy to sign the ‘Pledge for the Environment’ when I caught up with Tony Whitbread, the head of Sussex Wildlife Trust for an update on local conservation issues.

This urges politicians to safeguard and extend environmental protections post-Brexit and take advantage of new freedoms to support farmers to deliver environmental benefits alongside a thriving farming sector.

It is good to see some people at least looking forward to the new opportunities thrown up by Brexit rather than doom mongering that Britain cannot be trusted to promote its own environmental priorities or employment rights for example.

The week ended with a coming and a going.

There was a very lively and enthusiastic congregation to greet the new vicar of Broadwater, Rev Gaz Daly, at his induction by Bishop Martin.

Gaz and his young family have moved down from London and have already been struck by the warmth of their welcome in Worthing so the very best of luck to them.

Sadly it was time to say goodbye to the longstanding clerk to Lancing Parish Council Colin Hunt, who has served the parish loyally and to great effect over the past eight years.

After changes on the council he is leaving the parish hall, but not Lancing where he continues to live.

Colin has always been a tremendous help to me and as the big turnout at his farewell party showed he will be a hard act to follow.

• If you would like to get in touch with me, please write to me at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, or email me at [email protected]

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