Interesting news this week that Margaret Williams - who led the Hands off the Conquest campaign - has joined the LibDems. This is the first time she has stated her political allegiance and perhaps now she will stand at the local elections in May. If she did, I am sure she would win - she has many supporters - but of course politics is about more than just the fight to save maternity services at the Conquest. Full credit to the LibDems - I sense they were quick off the mark to approach her - come on Michael and Amber, where were you? There is no way Margaret would support Labour locally - quietly I suspect she has been frustrated by Michael's stance on maternity. As for Amber and the Tories, this would have been my favourite bet - after all her husband John is an ex-Tory councillor - but LibDem she is, and no doubt Nick Perry, Richard Stevens and co are jubilant.

So the borough council is ploughing ahead with £1million cuts, and it would appear job losses. What a sad position for our town. We could spend all day arguing about whether the Tories or Labour are correct - my concern is for the future regeneration of this borough, and making large cuts will do us no good at all. What is the point of encourgaing mass new investment - such as a £92million new college - when we are are cutting back at the very core of our town? I do not think the electorate will accept it when it comes to the May local elections, and I think the Tories will be dumped. Whether the Tories are to blame, however, is open to interpretation. But let's all realise that the future of Hastings and St Leonards is at stake - again.

Our voteline last week - do people think Hastings is better than it was ten years ago - generated more than 800 votes. That shows we DO care about our town...

Tomorrow, if you vare interested in the future of central St Leonards, then pop along to the exhibition where you will find out all about their future pay to park (or indeed NO pay to park) plans. I may well pop down there myself because there is undoubtedly a lot of concern about this. I have met regularly with traders in the Kings Road/London Road area, most of whom are dead against this scheme. They say that charging customers to park will simply make a depressed area even worse. The council, in its widsom, splashed out thousands of pounds on a group of wise consultants who, it appears, have now come to a recommendation. Final decision will lay with Hastings Borough Council - it's quite simple, don't do it. I am pretty sure the council will do the reverse and some sort of charges will be introduced. All will be revealed shortly, but let's hope that the council will listen to what local people say and want.

Next week the Observer and Hastings Stage Studio will be handing over the proceeds of its Gala Concert held at the White Rock to three local charities - Macmillan Cancer Support, Samaritans, and SASBAH, which supports families in Sussex affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus. Total raised was £4350 - thanks to The Park Lane Group who sponsored the event and to all those from the stage studio who did such a tremendous job. It was a great night and we are delighted to be able to donate this amount to local charities.