Sharon Bowles MEP for the South East visits Worthing West again!

11.36.43am GMT Tue 29th Jan 2008

Last Friday South East Member of the European Parliament Sharon Bowles once again visited the Worthing West constituency and met local Liberal Democrat and Parliamentary Campaigner for the area Cllr Hazel Thorpe, to see for herself the extent of the wooden debris caused by the sinking of the "Ice Prince".

Sharon said:

"This is an example of one of the extra problems that councils in coastal areas have to face. Right now the timber has to be guarded from scavengers and, despite its dubious value; it had to be prevented from being re-floated by the tide in case it damaged the pier. The clear up will cost a huge sum of money and as we know from past oil spills, it may well take a significant time before the shipping insurers pay compensation."

By coincidence, the previous day, Sharon spoke to a gathering of financial and insurance industry representatives at Lloyds of London. Whilst there she visited the trading floor and was shown the register of shipping losses noting the entry for 16th January 2008 - the "Ice Prince" carrying a cargo of timber.

"I hope this makes it easier to establish that there is only one source of this washed up timber, so that the insurers will pay out quickly" said Sharon

Sharon, with Hazel in her role of Champion for Children and Young People, and Local Liberal Democrat leader Bob Smytherman met at Durrington High Business & Enterprise Centre. They met with Tina Tilley CEO of Worthing Chamber of Commerce, Roy Stannard of Spring Marketing, Cllr Diane Jones, Worthing's youngest Borough Councillor, local Colleges, WSCC Youth Service representatives and Peter Fullilove, the Worthing Borough Youth Mayor.

The theme of the meeting was two fold, the setting up of a Youth Chamber of Commerce, to engage and support the celebration of Young People in Worthing through economic development and business entrepreneurship. The group discussed how learners might improve their skills and strengths to meet their individual needs and those of local employers across the whole spectrum of lifelong learning.

Hazel commented,

"We recognised the need to speak other languages to survive in the ever changing world of business and the real need to teach life skills and value commonsense. Transition from one School or College to another was highlighted as a focus for emotional and directed learning too, something we can all participate in. It was reassuring to hear educationalists from all tiers speaking the same language".

To round off a hectic day , Sharon met Littlehampton Mayor , Cllr James Walsh and other high profile local Lib Dems at La Ristorante Bella Vista in East Preston for the popular East Arun branch annual dinner.

Sharon commented "Excellent food, well presented and well worth travelling for ! "