Your Letters - August 17

Recycling aims

IT would be good to see recycling statistics for Rother published quarterly in the Observer and how these compare with strict targets. For instance, what amount of rubbish was sent for landfill in the first three months of the new financial year? What is the target for plastics, glass and metal recycling, and so on, how is the target met and where are recyclables sent for processing?

Your August 3 issue (Waste Mix-Up) highlights a problem. To date, our separate containers have been mixed up on collection and this week at Pebsham tip, I too, was told to place a mixed load of recyclables, wood, plastic, even metal in the general rubbish pile.

Stringent recycling targets mean that for Rother to fail to reach them would incur significant fines, which, of course, would have to be passed on to residents through increased council tax bills.

Perhaps Rother could explain why recyclables are going for landfill? How much does it cost to send recycles for processing and who pays? How far are recyclables being transported? Is Rother's recycling plan environmentally sound?

E D COOK

Sandhurst Lane.

Extra waste

THE other day I heard on breakfast TV that a local government (not Rother) said that if the residents were given larger bins, they would throw more away.

I wonder if the increased amount of 'residual waste' taken to the tip by people who find that the smaller black wheelie bin is not big enough is taken into account when calculating the percentage of 'waste' that has been recycled?

Have I stumbled on the real reason that Rother have provided the smaller black bins despite the recommendation of the larger bins? This would make the divisor of the calculation smaller, thus increasing the apparent percentage recycled and making the target easier to hit.

I'll refer back to my opening paragraph which sort of suggests what would be a fairly unpopular way of easily reaching a 100 per cent recycling level.

A recent question to the leader asks if Rother could impose a ban on garden bonfires due to the increase in their number. For goodness sake don't do that or we won't be able to burn the waste that you won't collect and we can't take to the tip without a 60min.+ wait.

T J THOMAS

De La Warr Road.

Green question

IN my younger days I used to read a magazine called the Ecologist long before environmental issues became trendy and taxable but, "that's it" I will no longer attempt to recycle cardboard.

On two separate occasions last week I drove to my nearest "recycle" site in Little Common only to find as I have in the past the containers overflowing.

On previous occasions I have taken my cardboard home and returned at a later date, in future however any cardboard of mine will go in the bin.

Speaking of which, last week we were told by the council that we could put out two bags of garden waste for collection I assumed this "green" waste would be composted, but it went into the lorry with my domestic waste and eventual landfill, I am now convinced that the council does not take recycling seriously so if they can't be bothered and though it pains me to say it then why should I.

R.E.Wilks

Woodsgate Park.

Show tolerance

IF I wore hats I'd take mine off to R. Dawes 'Youth Respect'.

I am a mum of two, a 20-year-old son doing an animation degree and a 16-year-old daughter due to start Bexhill College. Both of my children are polite, respectful and have never caused a problem in society.

Yet like R. Dawes, they have had to experience negativity. I have been with my daughter when she has been spoken down to just for asking a bus driver directions, he didn't realise her mum was stood behind her! It is sad society treats all youths the same. I am a great believer that in order to get respect you have to lead by example.

I have seen pensioners, in bus queues, push to the front. I have also seen youths holding doors open for adults/pensioners and not even get a thank you.

What I am saying is that we should not tar any social group with the same brush. There are good and bad in all walks of life. At the end of the day no one wants to be labelled just because of someone else who causes problems.

So come on, adults, show tolerance after all we wouldn't want to be labelled a paedophile or pervert just because our neighbours may be! Don't assume all youths are trouble, some are decent, polite adults in the making.

R FIDLER (Mrs)

Suffolk Road.

Mutual respect

I WOULD like to respond to the letter posted last week (Bexhill Observer, August 10th) and entitled Youth Respect.

The young adult who wrote the piece firstly should be commended for the role of a very well penned person for his years. He is most definitely right about the youth of the town being seen as trouble makers (majority of the time, it is totally unfounded), sadly that has been the case for many years, going back when I was a child in the town. I was born and raised in Bexhill, my parents owned a well known business and because of my father's connections to the community, the members of my immediate family were recognized wherever we went. I remember going with both of my parents and sibling to numerous charity events, especially events geared towards the elderly and always being frowned upon, just because I was a minor at the time, and seen to not be "respectful" of the elderly in the town and its outskirts.

That was an untrue assumption on many people's parts, none the less it was an occurrence. I must add that I went on to work in residential homes for the elderly and got the most satisfaction working in this area, caring for people that sometimes showed no respect towards me for taking care of their daily hygiene needs, daily moral needs etc, I did this work because I loved it.

It was my career, and just because I got paid for doing these things, didn't make me look down upon the elderly, it made me understand their lives more, it made me look beyond a frail person with not many weeks, months, years left on this earth, and it certainly made me a better person, more able to cope with my future and what it would hold. I want to let you know, Mr. Dawes, it does get better, I promise, whether you can stand the test of time will be down to you, just carry on being polite, and when approached by an elderly person who seems to want to wage a personal war on the young, maybe you could remind them that they were young once and should be a little bit more understanding. It's an uphill battle, especially living in a community like Bexhill, but it can be reached, the top of the hill can be reached! I now live in Texas.

My family still lives in Sidley, and I miss them desperately (I love you all very much). Living here in the U.S.A., you see many things occurring daily, some good, some not so good, but statistics show that many elderly people could not survive without the younger generation taking care of their medical and financial needs, and the appreciation towards the younger people is vast.

There is a lot more "respect" here, but it works both ways. I hope you have a very well rounded life.

Thank you for bringing this subject to the attention of the local people, and thank you for being so eloquent.

ALLISON J CLARK (Mrs)

El Paso

Texas

USA.

Bonfire menace

HAS anyone else noticed the increase in the late afternoon and evening bonfire and incinerator smoke? Where I live there has been a smell of smoke every day for the last couple of weeks.

We have to close all the windows and doors and this while we have been enjoying our brief summer.

I feel that the increase in smoke started after the fortnightly rubbish collection started, are people now burning their rubbish?

What if we all did that?

We have been indoctrinated into going green and now we have these indiscriminate people polluting the atmosphere. Surely this smoke is as harmful to the environment as any other pollution.

I think the council should be saying that it is an offence to burn rubbish and to have persistent bonfires. I also think in my opinion incinerators should be banned, as they smoulder and smoke for days.

I am sending a copy of this letter to the Environmental Health Officer at Rother Council, I do hope some of your readers will also write to them with their comments

G. Hedges

Dalehurst Road.

Sidley Green

Regarding the extension and 'beautification' of the triangle of grass in front ot Smith and Himphrey's garage in Sidley, John Dowling states (Bexhill Obsever 10 August) that historically, this is the true Sidley Green, not to be confused with the larger area of grass near the New Inn.

As I have been researching the history of Sidley for the past twenty years, I feel qualified to say that this is simply not true!

Documentary evidence shows that the grassed hillock on which the New Inn stands has been known as Sidley Green for hundreds of years. It was originally much larger. The whole village was also known as Sidley Green.

The only source I have seen that referred to the top end of Sidley's 'High Street' as 'The Green' was on a wrongly captioned postcard of the 1920s. Most of the older Sidleyites knew it as 'The Triangle' or 'The Irons'

Some weeks ago I had a letter printed asking for loan of photographs of various Sidley cottages for a forthcoming book on Sidley's history. I am still seeking photos of Sprays Cottages, which stood along the back of the Green (i.e. the road from the corner of Bank Road going up past the back of the New Inn), and cottages in Glovers Lane. If anyone can help, please ring me on 01424-210668.

Margaret Cullingworth

2 Pankhurst Close

Sidley.

Building risk

MANY years ago didn't Hastings Council do a deal with the then Greater London Council who built them industrial sites and housing estates? Yet today their MP refers to Hastings as a deprived area with high unemployment! So what makes the planners so sure that developing north Bexhill is not going to be a similar failure?

Won't the new residents from the estates be in direct competition with the unemployed of Bexhill and Hastings? And couldn't the numbers of unemployed go up rather than down? The invasion of Iraq proved to be a disaster because of the lack of careful forward planning - has the lesson been learnt?

D W WOOLLER

Collington Rise.

Troops' needs

NEWSPAPERS and broadcasters have been active recently reporting futile offensives which took place 90 years ago during the First World War and the young men whose lives were sacrificed in vain. In the 1914-18 War, British troops were defending their country and immediate interests; in stark contrast to our current military presence in Iraq. Our involvement there has occupied roughly the same time as hostilities during the First World War and British troops are now dying fruitlessly and in greater numbers than at any time since our arrival in Iraq in 2003.

There are desperately anxious families all over the country whose sons and daughters are out there in the 120 degree heat being targeted in their bases night and day by mortars and rockets. Out on patrol in Basra, they are attacked by road side bombs, rocket propelled grenades, machine guns and sniper fire.

The greater the clamour for the return of our service personnel, the more urgently the Government will respond and withdraw our troops. So, write to Gordon Brown, Des Browne, our part-time Minister of Defence, and your local MP to demand that our military personnel return home before we enter a fifth year of involvement in Iraq.

For those with a generous nature who would like to boost the morale of lonely soldiers, my son '“ a platoon commander with the 4th Battalion The Rifles in Basra Palace - has suggested that parcels containing food, magazines, razor blades, drink sachets and confectionery (not chocolate !) would be very welcome.

The NAAFI has been closed. Parcels should be addressed to the Chaplains, 4 Rifles, Op Telic, BFPO 657. The cost of postage is UK inland.

Anthony C. Shuttleworth

Sutherland Avenue.

Be guarded

IF Paul Meyer (Coastal Patrols, Letters, August 10) is right in saying that 'Rother is now the only council on the South Coast not to have qualified lifeguards', he is to be congratulated for drawing our attention to the matter. While money is always a very limiting factor, I would have thought the councillors could have had a few raffles, and used the proceeds to put up a few vandal-proof notices; 'No lifeguards available for this beach'. Otherwise, it's both no help and no warning!

ALLAN BULA

Wickham Avenue.

Barby's day

ONCE again Barby Keel has succeeded in putting on a great Open Day. Against odds, that some people would have given up. Everyone was smiling, the animals looked so happy and loved, the stalls were great. I hope plenty was raised to help run this worthy cause. Barby and her team are 100 per cent genuine in all they do. Thanks to you all.

DAVE MORE

Maple Walk.

Cricket backing

BEXHILL is a town proud of its past yet needing to look to the future. It is a town, in common with many others, concerned about young people having a positive impact on their environment and contributing to community prosperity and wellbeing.

We all know that the mindless vandalism and violence that all too often grabs headlines is a feature of a tiny, yet malignant, minority.

We do, therefore, all have a responsibility to ensure the majority grow up to respect the town in which they live and contribute to its development.

We should all applaud the contribution made by our schools, our playgroups, our cultural and sporting societies.

Anybody visiting the Polegrove on a Sunday morning will delight in the huge numbers of young people engaged in learning the art of cricket, under the watchful eyes of voluntary yet qualified coaches from Bexhill Cricket Club imparting both sports coaching and ethical guidance on the way to play the game.

How disappointing for these coaches and their charges to see the state of the ground following the recent horseshow.

I would be hypocritical not to acknowledge the contribution of horsemanship and horse care to the development of those young people involved but urge Rother District Council to broker a solution that enables the equine-loving section of our community to thrive without destroying one of the town's most valuable assets, a potentially top class cricket ground.

Without it many of the youngsters being taught to enjoy the game of cricket will inevitably drift away to the magnificent facilities of Horntye Park or the Saffrons for their chosen sporting pursuits or, worse still, give up the game completely.

I championed the cause of sport for young people during my time at Bexhill High School and I urge the present councillors to give their officers the mandate to ensure that Bexhill Cricket Club is supported in the work it is doing for the young people of the town without punishing those who prefer equine pursuits.

The town is big enough for the both of them.

DAVID COWLEY

Vice-President of Bexhill Cricket Club and former Assistant Headteacher of Bexhill High School

Wishing Tree Road

St Leonards on Sea.

Ground care

I am an ex-member of the Bexhill Cricket Club and indeed was fortunate enough to be Bexhill's overseas professional player in both 1998 and again in 2002 when I both captained and coached this proud club. Having thoroughly enjoyed my time in Bexhill and being fortunate enough to make many friends, I follow the fortunes of the club with great interest each weekend.

Recently, I was forwarded the picture of the state of the Polegrove shortly after the carnival held there.

Needless to say I share the club's disappointment at such an outcome. This is a ground which has the potential to be one of the county's finest, but instead is treated as a paddock with no regard shown to its tenants who put so much time and energy in to it. I trust the council will be the first to put their hand up when one of the many children who receive regular coaching receives a ball in the face courtesy of a dangerous surface or breaks an ankle chasing a ball.

I find it interesting as a resident of Sydney the difference in approaches taken by our respective councils.

In Australia the value of sport to the community is taken seriously enough that we don't destroy our playing fields by running heavy plant and machinery across it in the middle of a season.

I'm reluctant to suggest that our superior treatment of our facilities plays a part in our on going on field success but I am certain it doesn't hurt either.

Bexhill Cricket Club has been pro-active and very diligent in improving the facilities and providing a safe environment for the many children and ratepayers who use the ground through out the summer.

It would be nice to see the council do their best not to undermine this.

SAM ROBERTS

Sydney

Australia.

Half baked

I HAVE never read such half baked rubbish as the letter by R. Hams (August 3 issue). Presumably he/she never reads those newspapers he/she talks about or watches the news and is therefore totally unaware of climate change and the effects it is having on the world's weather patterns. Or perhaps R. Hams is simply too selfish to care? Clearly R. Hams is not solely responsible for climate change but every person bears part of the responsibility. We all contribute to global warming and other ecological problems. If everyone was too idle to recycle or do the simplest things to reduce carbon emissions then the situation would be far worse. No one can just absolve themselves of any responsibility - we all have a carbon footprint. What kind of a world will today's children inherit if the lazy, selfish, irresponsible attitudes of R. Hams and other people like them are allowed to go unchallenged? We cannot say "I really am not interested" and exempt ourselves from society.

Perhaps if a tornado, flood or other weather event were to destroy R. Hams' home they would begin to take the situation seriously.

KAREN SMITH

School Place.

We belong

HAVING already written to you this week about Inspector Mann's alleged statement on oriental sin, I have now read the letters page and I feel that Cllr Standring's contribution cannot go without comment.

I should like to ask whether the views he expressed are purely personal, or representative of his ward supporters, his party or the district council?

Having been fortunate enough to spend over three weeks this summer in Greece and Austria, I have to say that my lifelong conviction that I am a European citizen has only been strengthened. Where else does Mr Standring believe that we belong as we approach the end of the first decade of the 21st century? As a dependency of the USA, or the 51st state? A member of the fractious Commonwealth club? Or standing in glorious isolation as a remote island off the northwest coast of continental Europe?

The days of empire have long since vanished. Politically, socially, economically, culturally, we are part of Europe. I want to see us as a leading presence at the heart of that entity, rather than being dragged like an unwilling child out on a shopping trip.

If we are to have a future in the world it has to be within Europe. It is uncharted territory but no less exciting for that.

Perhaps Cllr Standring could tell us exactly how Bexhill is/will be any more of a "subservient province" in relation to Brussels than Westminster, and also clarify the sinister "goings on" to which he refers. Does he know something which the rest of us don't?

PETER WEBB

Glenleigh Park Road.

Coastal help

LET'S cut the rates, reduce the staff to one, as 50 years ago, and of course sell the boat and all its associated costs. Fifty or so years ago the Parade Inspector (Mr D ) marched up and down the parade, dressed as a naval officer. supervised all the goings and comings, provided information controlled the children, hung out the flags and markers.

He did not need a boat, one glare was enough to stop anyone thinking of launching a boat, without ability to control it.

Back in real life, anyone with any ability with boats, Rowing Club, Sailing Club or Fishing Club would launch if they had a hope of effecting a rescue, in the same way as they make a personal assessment as to whether to launch in pursuit of their sport.

I cannot see Coastal Control Officer standing by wringing their hands, as did a bunch of nuns years ago. Having bought the boat and all the associated equipment why not train the staff to use it, they are probably trained in first aid, getting permission to get their feet wet does not take that much extra training, I bet on a personal level they would enjoy the training and responsibility.

If one life is saved, it does not matter about the label of the rescuer, CG,RNLI, RAF or Old Bill in a boat or even Fred with his water-wings!

P. G. Cole

Bexhill Road

Ninfield.

Nightly bonfires

HOW do I know that summer has finally arrived? I have my doors and windows flung wide open to let in the clean, fresh warm air or I have lines full of washing out to dry in the warm, clean air or I sit out in the garden listening to the birds and breathing in the warm, fresh air or I listen to the sounds of happy children playing in their gardens? No - it's the arrival of the bonfires belching out their stinking, ash laden smoke, filling the lungs and nostrils of everyone with their filthy, pungent carcinogenic fumes as they burn their way through their selfish, inconsiderate owners' rubbish! Doors and windows open and all other normal delights of summer? You must be joking!

If these people MUST have bonfires, why can't they have them in the late evenings when most people are indoors with doors and windows closed and all washing brought indoors?

This is not an exaggeration but almost every day this last week I've had to rush to get the washing in, shut all doors and windows (and melt in the stifling heat indoors) and forgo my gardening because of these bonfires. This is not just happening where I live but judging by the comments from other people, it's everywhere.

Please, please can everyone be sensible over this matter, think of other people and the environment, dispose of your rubbish in other ways or have your bonfires at night, ensuring they are out in the morning. For the sake of everyones' health and well being it's not too much to ask is it?

H. BARTON (Mrs)

Potmans Lane,

Lunsford Cross.

Carnival cash

IN response to the letter from V.Chalcraft of St.Leonards (letters, August 3) about collecting money at the Bexhill Carnival.

First thank-you to all those people who kindly gave. We had a large group of walkers with our float many who were young children.

The collecting boxes are quite difficult to handle, the slots are small and it takes time to feed in the small change, which people are generous to give. We are always concerned that the children are not left behind to wander about, as the procession moves we try to keep up with our display.

Many people ride on other floats, therefore there is no opportunity for them to collect so it left to those who are able while walking.

I'm sure any donations missed by the collectors could be sent to the Carnival Committee to be included, and perhaps another year extra volunteers could be recruited simply to collect money, not being part of a display in the parade.

We did our best to move around as much as possible and hope the result has been worthwhile for those charities, which benefit. You may like to be first to volunteer for next year.

Sheila Richardson (Mrs)

(Christchurch Methodist Church)

Cooden Drive.

Scouts' beliefs

IT was good to read in David King's report about the Scouting movement's centenary celebrations of the worldwide enthusiasm for this organisation, and all the excellent work it does in the development and training of young people, and the provision of leisure activities for them. David and the other local leaders have worked tirelessly for the benefit of our youngsters in the Bexhill area, including my own two sons, and I am very grateful for it.

However, he says that Scouting is open to "... every country and person, no matter what class or creed ...", and if my understanding of the organisation's policy is correct, that is not wholly the case, because they continue to exclude atheists from being members and leaders. In practice, of course, many candidates for membership do not have any religious beliefs, but provided they don't specifically object to saying the ".... to do my duty to God." part of the Scout Promise, they can be admitted.

On the other hand, those who feel it would be dishonest on their part to make that commitment, are not currently offered an acceptable alternative statement in the Promise, which is a pity because, if they do choose to make a stand on the issue, it suggests a level of personal integrity which would be beneficial to the Scouts.

BARRY WRIGHT

Cranston Avenue.

Loud bang

THE customary peace and quiet of this area was completely shattered on the night of Saturday/Sunday (11th-12th) by a series of extremely loud detonations which continued over a period of about four hours. The prelude to this unwelcome disturbance came at about 7.45pm on Saturday evening with a bang which aroused dozens of birds although I do not think it was a gunshot, far too loud and unlikely in a built-up area.

We retired at 10.45pm and at 11.15pm came another terrific bang and this was repeated at 01.05, 02.10 and 02.40am. At approximately 02.50am came four more in quick succession but by then our sleep pattern was broken and we lay awake waiting the next one but all remained quiet. A neighbour also heard the bangs but has no idea what they were.

We live in Little Common and the sounds seemed to come from the west or northwest but sound waves of that magnitude are difficult to pin-point. I would ask: how many others in the area heard them and has anybody an explanation of their cause?

J. K. LYON

Collington Lane West.

For mums

AFTER the fevered protests, marches, outraged patients and copious letters surrounding threatened 'cuts' to maternity services in Hastings, that saw not just the Tory but Labour protesters unite to maintain the best service for pregnant mothers in Hastings and surrounding areas '“ how strange that they and our local MP Greg Barker have gone quiet about the chosen Option 4 decision recently backed by BOTH Tory-controlled Rother District Council and Hastings Council (and their Labour Group).

Option 4 plans to create an improved service at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings but maintain the midwifery-led service in Eastbourne.

Obviously in an ideal (and plainly more costly) scenario Option 5 to keep consultant led services going in both areas was something that could not be achieved. But making decisions within the NHS does have to be based upon growing costs against the greatest need that we all have to accept unless we choose to go down the path of increased private health care and we should all be delighted that we are keeping the focus of services in Hastings.

So where are the protesters now? And why aren't they backing Option 4?

Philipa Coughlan

Gordon Place.

Speak up

FIRST of all we had mediums at the bowling alley. Then Mr Morgan and his Spiritualist 'church', now we have clairvoyant Jenny Croft and her healing bowl. Is there no end to the rubbish being taught locally? When is the local Christian community going to stand up to these people and take some form of action? Are the churches and priests going to stay silent? Someone once said, for evil to prosper good men only have to look the other way. Well this is evil at the heart of our community in Bexhill and it's time to look it squarely in the face and tell it to 'get out of town.'

I call on all Christians of all denominations (and none) to stand up and be counted. First let's flood the Bexhill Observer with letters. Then let's form a group and decide what action to take!

PAUL MINTER

Uplands Close.