A FOUNDING member of a residents’ association and Bafta-nominated television producer has said he will work for people in his community if elected as an independent councillor in an upcoming by-election.

Stephen White, one of the founding members of the Action on Gasworks Housing Affordability Safety and Transparency group (AGHAST) and award-winning producer, announced he will stand as an independent in the Rottingdean Coastal by-election in May.

The by-election was triggered after the sudden resignation of Conservative councillor Joe Miller earlier this month.

Mr White said he hopes that his campaign can highlight the strength of support against the proposals for the Gasworks.

He also claimed that the area “has never had a councillor who actually lives in the area between Lewes Crescent and Roedean, including the Marina”.

He said: “I know, in person, what the everyday experience of living here is really like - great sea air, beautiful architectural heritage, overflowing bins, rat runs and all.

“My long career has trained me to listen carefully to people’s real concerns. I will work for the people in my community who want - and deserve - to live in a clean, well-run, financially stable city.”

Founded in 2020, AGHAST has campaigned against proposals to build high-density apartments and has called for a radical rethink of the “insensitive and ugly overdevelopment of the site that will provide no affordable housing for the local community”.

Former Labour councillor and member of AGHAST Jean Hunter said that Mr White would be a “brilliant councillor”.

She said: “The developers and council have no idea about the exact level of contamination that’s underground.

“In some other gasworks sites, noxious fumes have been experienced up to a mile away. We value our health.”

Mr White has also attracted the support of the city’s only elected independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh, who said: “Stephen is exactly the kind of person I’d love to see more of at the council - people who’ve lived here a while and are ready to put the needs of the city, and the people who live here, above party politics.”

Candidates for the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Labour and Green Party have also been announced for the Rottingdean by-election, which is set to take place on May 5.