About me: Councillor Martyn Forster

Hailing originally from the West Midlands, I moved to the East Midlands and then to Hastings and Bexhill-on-Sea. A ‘young at heart’ 60 something, I used to work for a charitable children’s trust which runs an internationally-known special school. The school is for pupils aged 7–19 who have complex learning difficulties. I mainly taught science, as I had done for 38 years.

I was elected county councillor for East Bexhill in May 2005, having moved to East Sussex in 1993. As a full-time councillor, I want to call attention to the very serious concerns of my electors, especially the poverty of their environment. I am lucky to be supported by a political party that believes in addressing local issues in consultation with local people.

But how did I get here?

As a former teacher, you are painfully aware of the effect politics has on your ability to do your job well. In the past, I have experienced the effects of cuts in budget for buildings and materials. Pupils with special needs are often neglected or even ignored in classes too large to teach as individuals. The truth is, that politics percolates through almost every aspect of our lives.

I first became politically active about 30 years ago in the East Midlands and have spent most of the time since then pounding the streets delivering leaflets for others. Since coming to Bexhill, I have stood for either the St Michael’s ward on Rother District Council or for the County Council, East Bexhill division.

My community

East Sussex is a delightful and historic county with an enormous variety of attractions. It has a unique coastline with the rich diversity of the South Downs, pretty villages and bustling towns.

Tranquil Bexhill has an historic seafront, the internationally known De La Warr Pavilion and plenty of room for casual visitors, even in August.

This division of east Bexhill-on-Sea, however, includes Pebsham, a relatively deprived area which lacks adequate play and recreational facilities for young people and where adults lack the opportunity for quality cultural activities. Penland is a residential area with no facilities bordered by a seedy out of town shopping area, the congested A259 trunk road and a busy road leading into town.

The rest of the division is an area between the railway line and the seafront, which is densely populated with many blocks of flats, again with no facilities.

The division is blighted by the refuse facilities and waste water treatment plant in the so-called Green Gap between St Leonards and Bexhill. However, this is part of a very large rural area designated for a Countryside Park Project, which also includes parts of the seafront at Bulverhythe and east Bexhill.

Any regeneration in the town, such as the main shopping area, the remains of the Grand Hotel, the seafront or the Ravenside Retail Park needs to be of very good quality. Careful planning should ensure buildings are in tune with their surroundings and don’t cause traffic problems.

My home life

My wife and I have four grown-up children and three grandchildren between us. We live in the Pebsham area and share the feelings of many residents, who feel that we are often overlooked by the decision makers unless, of course, it is to give us something nasty that no one else wants!

Now that I am retired I can devote a lot more time to the service of all the electors in this division.

The best thing about being a councillor is that you finally feel able to bring about change – no matter how small. It enables you to give a voice to all the people you represent.

My spare time

In my spare time, I like to do DIY, visit our beach hut, do gardening and walking. It is good to talk to people and find out how they view things. You notice a lot more on foot, and it is easy to stop and talk.

I also love cars and driving, so I’m glad to be living in the town where the first motor car speed trials took place, the home of motor racing Bexhill-on-Sea.

Find out about my politics and how I represent the people of Bexhill East