the great saltdean divide: is it time to unite? Local MP tells ZoneZine he thinks so!

​Lloyd Russell-Moyle, MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven, continues to voice his desire to unify the East and West districts of Saltdean. The Labour MP asked parliament to evaluate reunification this July, and has outlined potential outcomes and challenges the proposal brings with it. 

Despite previous resident campaigns to unite the town, Saltdean has remained divided. The split, running up Longridge avenue, leaves half of the town under the watch of Brighton and Hove City Council, while the other is looked upon by Lewes.  With Lewes District Council continually refusing to revise the boundaries, surrounding councils have been forced to abandon such plans. Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Labour MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven, said: “we need to eventually convince Lewes District Council to put in the request, and that will require convincing the current elective people or changing the current elective people.”

Proposals to unify Saltdean go alongside those to merge Peacehaven and Telscombe districts, with Lloyd Russell-Moyle among other MPs supporting both, and citing benefits including “huge savings” as a reason to do so. He said: “Saltdean could be a two-member ward in the City Council just like Woodingdean, and it would have it’s own voice like Woodingdean on the City Council. It would be a loud voice, and it would mean things like the Lido are not just a peripheral issue from the counselors."

However, with Lewes Town Council seemingly unlikely to change their tone, MPs across parties have discussed alternative plans for the rearranging of councils in the Brighton and Hove area. Russell-Moyle shed some light on potential proposals to expand the Brighton and Hove City Council area. He said: “I honestly think that if Newhaven, Saltdean, Peacehaven,Telscombe, and even Lewes, were all in Brighton and Hove City Council area or a Greater Brighton authority, they would all be better off.” 

With cross-party support from a number of MPs, Russell-Moyle told ZoneZine that developments may be suggested publicly over the next few months.

Article by Acacia Redding.