Alan Manton

Conservative District Councillor

West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington

My Priorities

To make a difference in West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington

Various political parties espouse their top 10 one line promises on what they would like to do if elected.

The only Party that has actually walked this talk in the last 14 years, and who can point to specific examples of where they have delivered on promises for local residents, is the Conservative Party.

  • The Conservatives have delivered the lowest Council Tax in Sussex.
  • The Conservatives have achieved the highest recycling rate in Sussex.
  • The Conservatives have kept Council Tax the lowest in Sussex, and are keeping increases below inflation.
  • At 2.99% this years increase is well below inflation and the minimum increase needed to maintain all services at their present level.
  • To help protect our most vulnerable residents, we have set aside over £1M in extra funding.
  • In Districts controlled by other parties Tax rates have risen above inflation although Services have suffered.
  • Our Conservatives are protecting and enhancing our green spaces across the District and are building a sustainable future for generations yet to come.
  • Conservatives care about the well-being of children and we promote the use of our 900 acres of parks and countryside.
  • Our Conservatives launched the Wilder Horsham District initiative, creating a wildlife green corridor across Horsham District to protect endangered species for the future.
  • Horsham Conservatives have slashed our carbon emissions by almost 60% since 2019. Stopping 1,300 tonnes of carbon affecting our climate.
  • The Conservatives recognise that there is a legitimate need for sustainable and affordable housing, not just social housing, across the District. Such housing should embrace state-of-the-art best practise
  • Reducing and eventually eliminating CO2 emissions is a global goal. Housing must play its part in ensuring that this is possible.
  • On one hand, we must significantly invest in and improve renewable energy generation. On the other, we must also ensure that our lifestyle maintains and preserves energy – that’s where eco houses come in. Passivhaus houses and zero-carbon homes can give us a framework for the future on which to build.
  • But – We will oppose unsustainable and unsuitable housing developments. We have battled long and hard opposing the unsuitable housing developments of 3,500 houses around Adversane, most of which falls in the West Chiltington Parish and would impact the entire area. We will continue to fight off Major Developments of this kind in or near our Ward, as housing should reflect the needs and values of the Community.
  • Years of lobbying Westminster Government by local Horsham Conservatives has borne fruit in the recent announcements that Mandatory Housing Targets have been ended and local communities should be given a pivotal role against overdevelopment. Meanwhile, the other parties are committed to National figures for Development which are higher than those of the Conservative Party.
  • As Conservatives we have been lobbied by local residents to secure protection for the character of our villages – West Chiltington, Thakeham, Ashington, Wiston and others.
  • Under our leadership Council Officers have devised a new conservation area proposal for West Chiltington, which is being progressed and should be approved later in 2023.
  • We will maintain pressure on national highways for major improvements on the A 27, thus reducing traffic and pollution in our Ward.
  • Under the Conservatives, Horsham District has achieved a 53.5% recycling rate, the highest in Sussex and well above the National Average of 45.5%.
  • Over half your waste is recycled compared only 29.2%, less than a third, in Brighton and Hove under Green Party control.
  • We believe maintaining a thriving local economy and creating further job opportunities is crucial for the sustainable growth of any community.
  • We will achieve this by supporting local businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship.
  • This can be done by providing training, funding, and mentorship programs to aspiring entrepreneurs. Conservatives also offer tax incentives and infrastructure support to businesses that are starting up or expanding.
  • We will maintain a thriving local economy by attracting new businesses to the area. We will achieve this by supporting infrastructure, and improving transportation networks, supporting business parks, and by promoting the area’s strengths and unique selling points.
    It is also important to ensure that the workforce has the necessary skills to meet the demands of the local economy. We can achieve this by supporting investment in education and training programs that provide workers with the skills and knowledge required for the jobs of the future.
  • In summary, creating and maintaining a thriving local economy requires a combination of support for local businesses and entrepreneurs, attracting new businesses to the area, and supporting investment in education and training programs for the workforce.
  • Under the Conservatives, Horsham has been recognised as one of the top three business towns and consistently voted best place to live.
  • Our Council, again for the third time, won the coveted Green Flag for Horsham Park and we are committed to preserving our green spaces.
  • Since 2019, we have continued to increase our range of leisure and recreational facilities.
  • This has helped make Horsham District one of the best places to live and work in the UK.