Nicholas met with local farmers in Mid Sussex on Friday to discuss the state of the agricultural sector particularly in relation to commodity prices, bio fuels, bureaucracy and over regulation, travellers and local food initiatives.

Commenting on the meeting Nicholas said; “I am very grateful to Annie Streeter and her colleagues at the NFU for arranging such a useful meeting that covered such a broad range of areas. Although some sectors of farming are having a very difficult time, such as the dairy industry, in my judgement there are big opportunities in the future and I know that the Sussex farmers will rise to the challenges as they always have done.”

After the meeting Nicholas met with Headteachers from Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath to discuss the schools investment programme.

Nicholas said; “I was very grateful to Colin Taylor, Headmaster of Oakmeeds Community College, for arranging this very constructive meeting. The Government have been extremely unfair to West Sussex County Council on education spending in respect of school buildings and I am looking forward to working with the Headteachers to produce a detailed case for a way ahead to improve the quality of the facilities.”

He concluded the day with a constituency surgery.