Severe county cutbacks are just the beginning
THE announced £8.4million cutbacks to county council services are bound to dismay many.
East Sussex County Council has voted to slice the budgets to transport and children's services - essentials that play a role in the lives of most people.
With the 1.93million cutbacks to transport, this could mean general maintenance of Bexhill's roads - along with those of the rest of the county - could worsen.
This year's hard winter caused great frustration for many motorists with the advent of a rash of potholes which popped up all over the infrastructure.
County acted relatively quickly to solve the problem, but if we have an equally hard winter this year, we could see frustration levels rise further with a very different story.
Poorer families will find the cut to free transport to schools and the lunch grants very painful under the step to claw back 2.4million in children's services.
Unfortunately, given the scale of the national debt and the pressure on local authorities to save money, these steps are very necessary.
County councillor Carl Maynard has spoken to the Observer on the subject in his role as a decision-making member of ESCC's Cabinet, and warns us this is just the start.
On a county level, judging by the figures, there are still 5million in savings that need to be made, presumably affecting other services.
As far as Rother District Council services go, Cllr Maynard as leader has pointed out that Rother has some financial reserves - for the moment.
This means there shouldn't be too much of an impact on Rother services such as waste collection, but that could all change a year or so down the line.
Looking at the difficuties on a national level, it is looking increasingly likely that the 1billion Bexhill to Hastings Link Road scheme could also get the chop.
Although highways are the responsibility of the county council, the funding for the link road comes directly from central government.
Such an easy cutback from the government will spell despair for those who believe the link road will bring regeneration to the area, and jubilation for those who oppose it.
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Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
