Your letters - January 15

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Reflections on snow

TRUDGING home from the shops, a laden plastic bag in one hand and a newspaper in the other, it took previously untapped powers of concentration just to stay upright.

Snow has that sort of effect.

We take note for the first time of the grip on our footwear. "Seems all right. What a fascinating pattern in the snow."

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Another effect is even more remarkable. We usually walk along the street, keeping ourselves to ourselves, and disinclined to make eye contact with passing strangers. Snow changes all that.

Snow actually encourages people to talk to each other. It may be a simple "Good morning." But the greeting is delivered with a knowing facial gesture, reassurance that we are all in this together

There may be a follow-up comment: "Good morning, I don't fancy this much."

"Good morning, I had to leave the car at home."

"Good morning, is this what they mean by global warming?"

Snow provides a welcome change of focus. If we normally live out our lives on our own little islands, then snow constructs the bridges to link us in a common purpose.

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The office worker is not immediately thinking of today's target.

His biggest accomplishment is to battle through the snow just to reach the office and put the kettle on.

A colleague obliges with the burning question: "How long did it take you to get in?"

The shopkeeper is keen to put up his promotional slogans on the latest recession-beating bargains ... but not before he has cleared the snow from his forecourt.

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The daily school ritual is interrupted by the snow. Access roads too tricky for the little ones to negotiate.

The folk who stay at home gaze out of the window to see if the dustmen will make it through the snow. If not today then perhaps tomorrow...

The white stuff keeps falling as an urban fox zig-zags forlornly for scraps. The neighbour's cat is not sure what to make of either the snow or the fox.

Soon the snow will be gone. Normality will return.

What on earth will we talk about then (assuming that we talk to each other at all)?

PHILIP ELMS

Carmel Close

Little Common

Weather Conquest

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On SATURDAY I had to go to the Conquest for a minor procedure.

I would like to give thanks to - Parkhurst Taxis for turning up to take me, the staff at the hospital for being there, the Red Cross for taking me home, and for transporting staff to and from the hopsital, and the Coastguard who were also out doing this.

Thanks also to Rother for gritting the roads. However, the difference when we left

Rother! Surely the main routes to the only emergency hospital in the area should be gritted.

We passed a stopped ambulance on the way home.

K KENNEDY

Ceylon Walk

Bexhill

Slippery issue

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IT astounds me that the local council has gritted main roads into and out of Bexhill but not attempted to make the pathways safe for pedestrians.

Given the large elderly population of Bexhill, most of whom are not motorists, this leaves many of the old and vulnerable citizens stranded in their homes unable to get shopping or medical necessities.

Does our council not realise this or does it no longer care?

Peace and best wishes.

DAVID BARRY

Terminus Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

Community spirit

MY husband and I decided to clear away some of the snow by our cars/house on Saturday.

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Obviously after all the snow during Saturday there was no evidence.

On Sunday again my husband and I went out to start clearing the snow again and a group of neighbours decided to come out and lend a hand to clear the snow/ice off the roads of Sunningdale and Kestrel Close so that they could all get to work this morning (pictured).

Who says community spirit is dead? Not on Penland Wood.

SUSAN COOMBER

Bexhill On Sea

Milkman is a star

I WOULD like to say a big "thank you" to the milkman on whose round I am on, Peter Robertson.

He managed to deliver my daily pinta and various other groceries on all his usual days, even when there was five inches of snow on the ground.

Thse guys are real troupers. Well done!

ANNE CAREY

Woodsgate Avenue

Bexhill

Gritting confusion

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I BELIEVE we are all aware of the priorities for gritting main roads during this severe weather but I wonder if someone could enlighten me on the overall gritting strategy for towns like Bexhill.

On Wednesday I witnessed two people slip on black ice on a corner near the library. On walking through the town I also observed little patches of clear pathway with compact ice in abundance.

Given that the snow has been with us for a few days I decided to contact Rother District Council to see where in the gritting strategy it was likely that the town's key pathways would receive some treatment. The Rother District Council's web page indicates that East Sussex County Council (ESCC) are responsible for main highways and Rother responsible for access to public buildings and key pathways.

This does not appear to be the case. Rother subsequently confirmed that it is in fact only responsible for its own buildings. This of course is nothing more than what each of us are responsible for regarding our own properties by ensuring a duty of care to visitors. Key pathways did not come into the equation.

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It appears therefore that ESCC is responsible for all gritting strategy according to Rother District Council. I am still awaiting a reply from ESCC but given the pressure they must be under managing East Sussex I doubt if they know about the situation in smaller towns like Bexhill... unless someone in Rother District Council has advised them. But then it is not Rother's responsibility for gritting in Bexhill.

C JUSTICE

Downlands Avenue

Bexhill

A skater's dream

ONCE again our wonderful government-guided and taxpayer-backed council has done us proud.

The recent snow and ice conditions on not just local roads made almost countrywide chaos reign once more.

Parts of Hastings and St Leonards were impossible to get into or out of, almost every back road was a skater's dream and the damaged vehicles and broken bones can be put down to lack of foresight (there's a surprise) and certainly lack of funding.

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The motorist puts about forty billion pounds in the treasury coffers via road tax, I believe the figure for road expenditure by the government is about a third of that, that does not take into account the money we give to the local council in Council Tax so why do we have to put up with 18th century service in the 21st century?

As the council has decided not to grit pavements the amount of admissions to A&E departments has risen sharply, yet we have councils driven by pointless and basically stupid Health And Safety issues who are obviously happy to ignore the basic need of any normal Health or Safety requirement of ice free roads and pavements.

Unfortunately I can almost hear the old argument that we only get this every 10 years...get a better calendar, this is the third time we have had these conditions in the last six years, we realise that the current snow fall has been the worst, but the council knows its going to happen, but can't be bothered to spend the extra money in case it leaves its inflated salary or pension-pot short.

If that is the case, then let us hope that all the people with broken bones or could not get to work and possibly lost pay, remember this when that increase in Council Tax drops through the door next time, or some stuffed shirt tells them they can't take a balloon into a supermarket or hang up a flower basket.

DEREK STOCKER

Duke Street

Bexhill

Life is a risk

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I WAS appalled after ringing our local Bexhill Sorting Office this afternoon to discover that we had not received any post in Sutton Place during this cold snap for two days due to the fact a risk assessment has to be carried out before a postman/woman/person is allowed to step out in the snow or Bexhill pavements.

Life is a risk, where is our Dunkirk spirit?

I am 60 and I walked to the town over the snow carefully.

Important post is being witheld due to our politically correct society - roll on the general election.

By the way the Post Office is blaming the Council for not gritting every square inch of our area.

KARIN MALLEY

Sutton Place

Bexhill

Why not at Christmas?

I HAVE just moved to Sidley in October and cannot believe the amount of snow compared to Bexhill.

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It is just like being in Old Coulsdon, Surrey, again as we always got a lot of snow there.

If Kent had snow we had it, the trees look so pretty, but why do we not ever get snow at Christmas?

When I was a little girl we often used to get snow at Christmas and I remember being so excited, it made Christmas special.

But now if we get it, it comes in January,

or like this year just before Christmas, but why?

I suppose we will never know.

DAWN MURKIN

Preston Road

Bexhill

I'm a little bit concerned

AS a parent of a year seven pupil at Bexhill High School I read with interest your article about Mr Conn stepping down in Observer of January 8.

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The bringing in of Sir Dexter Hutt and his company Ninestiles looks on the outside to be an exciting proposition for Bexhill High.

However when I read the statement of the parent who "couldn't be more pleased" at his arrival I began to be a little concerned.

She states that he does a very good job and the three schools in Hastings he has been involved with now have the same discipline and are all run the same way.

Anyone with any local knowledge of schools will realise that the three schools in Hastings have extremely poor reputations for behaviour and are well below standards set by the government for exam results.

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Can anyone then explain to me how this is going to benefit Bexhill High School which itself doesn't have the best reputation or results?

It is a shame Mr Conn has put so much effort into the new school building instead of concentrating his efforts on improving the behaviour, truanting and results in his school.

After all what use is a fantastic new school if it is still full of the same pupils and staff?

JO PELLING

Reginald Road

Bexhill

High on cost, low on results

WITH reference to your piece last week concerning Bexhill High School I must make comment on your article. It states one reader contacted you expressing her delight that Dexter Hutt and his private company Ninestiles will be also working with the school, after their work in Hastings last year.

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It concerns me and other tax payers that the project cost 900,000 of tax payer's money, spent on what amounted to little more than private consultants' fees. Many people, me included, know that such "fees" are usually high on cost and low on results. As for Mr Conn's sabbatical, as our new school has cost us 38 million presumably some of that vast amount went on paying professionals to ensure it was presented to us ready for use.

Another obvious question is if Mr Conn and the schools in Hastings need all this "expert" assistance it must be because they are not up to the job themselves. I for one will be thanking the Lord if Mr Conn does not return. In that respect 900,000 of our money may well be money well spent.

As for his amazing new school, his forcing through of extended hours against much opposition is hardly an innovative new way of learning. The extended hours will not apply to those who need it most - those with behavioural problems who only attend part-time now. The answer it seems for those parents against the plans is to tell your child to misbehave, thus getting them placed on special measures - the name for part-time timetables.

One massive step forward he could bestow on our children with our money will be to introduce the revolutionary new idea of coat pegs or free lockers in the new school. That way we won't have the current situation where hundreds of high school children freeze their way to and from school without a coat purely because there is nowhere for them to hang it when they get there. I bet Mr Conn has a coat peg in his office.

J CRUMP

London Road

Bexhill

Open to the elements

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HAVING visited the ludicrous exhibition in the De La Warr Pavilion to see the model for the new seafront shelters, I can only say it is absolutely hideous and not fit for purpose, being very open and exposed to the elements. Has anyone taken the trouble to look in the dictionary and find the exact definition of a shelter? The design of the kiosk is not exactly appealing either, it certainly doesn't do a lot for the seafront. Clutching at straws springs to mind.

I accept that the present shelters do need some attention, but I would like to suggest that they could be refurbished and the money saved could be spent on the Bexhill Rowing Club to enable the members to have the accommodation and facilities they deserve for the honour and prestige they bring to our town. That would do far more good than putting up ghastly, useless and very costly structures on the seafront that the majority of people don't want anyway.

I shudder to think how much money has been wasted on this venture already.

PAT CLEMENTS

West Parade

Bexhill

Beware of the "word police"

CAN this council get anything right? The way it has allowed Bexhill to deteriorate is not news, neither is the seafront shelter and kiosk fiasco. Now plans for the Colonnade show a cylindrical monstrosity is to rise in front of the De La Warr Pavilion's terrace and ruin the wonderful view of the sea. Its purpose? To house a spiral staircase to the proposed restaurant below, when there are already two stairways to the side of each of the cupolas and another proposed to replace the ramp beside the rowing club boathouse. Wheelchair users will have to continue to go across the lawn to the slope on the west side, or approach from the promenade.

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Now the Daily Telegraph (Monday January 11) reports that Rother has wasted police time accusing a businessman of being 'offensive to gypsies in an e-mail he had not even written'. They seem to consider that the word 'likey' (yes, with an 'L') is racist. The waste of police time spent on this, including taking samples of DNA and holding the man in a cell for four hours whilst investigations were made, is scandalous '“ especially when it is reported that the police fail to respond, time and time again, to help with genuine grievances.

Apparently this incident has cost us all no less than 12,000. I am sure this will be of interest to readers and something to bear in mind when the next (increased) council tax bills land on their doormats. Meanwhile beware the 'word police' (not so very far removed from Orwell's 'thought police').

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Council getting it wrong

WHY do the officers at the council keep getting it wrong?

Last week, the project manager for Next Wave stated that the wrong forms at the shelter exhibition were left out for six days and the council was informed of this the following Monday.

It was only because we protesters had the proper forms printed that the public had somewhere to write their comments. Once again, as at the museum exhibition causing queues in the rain, the council got it wrong.

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Also, the project manager, in her statement, advised us that there would be "possible changes" to the tree. However the council said, on their own consultation form at the 'exhibition', "the tree will not form part of the final design".

Where lies the truth? The designs, on which such enormous sums of money have been spent, are never final - they are merely 'concepts'. Consultation results and design briefs are ignored and promises made are not met.

The ratepayers' views are ignored and ridiculed. Councillors who try to put across the peoples' wishes are quickly shut up by the council leader.

Perhaps this is why the council officers keep on getting it wrong.

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When the council gives out publicity it should get it right. They set great store by good publicity. On August 4 2008 it was stated in a report to cabinet that their own reputation was "critical to its success". The report however said that what the residents believed they are receiving was "not necessarily correlated to the quality of services received".

Let's hope the council will get it right soon.

JACKIE BIALESKA

Vox Pop

Double standard on parking

On 20/11/2009 the Bexhill Observer published an article, on page 5 with an accompanying photograph which stated that Sussex Police were to start cracking down on illegal parking in the Turkey Road area.

The police are using Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 which states that it is an offence to obstruct the highway.

While the police are enforcing this act in this one area, in other parts of Bexhill they not only condone motorists committing this offence, they actually commit the same offence themselves.

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On Wednesday December 30, two of their vehicles were parked in the same manner as those shown in the photograph accompanying the article, along with a line of other vehicles also parked in the same manner, in De La Warr Road.

Could someone from Sussex Police please explain the double standards being shown here?

GRAHAM MARTIN-ROYLE

Dalehurst Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

It's crockery discrimination

MILLIONS of people have pretty cups and beakers decorated inside and out with flowers.

Without exception these are in breach of our anti-discrimination laws.

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Right-handed persons using this crockery can enjoy seeing the interior decoration, but left-handed folk are denied this pleasure, because it appears only on one interior side, the side towards them, and is therefore invisible to them '“ clearly a breach of lefties' human rights.

The remedy? Potters must either apply interior decoration to both interior sides, or must furnish their cups and beakers with two handles, marked "Left" and "Right".

RALPH HILL

Willow Drive

Little Common

Peverel retirement block

FURTHER to your article in the Bexhill Observer on January 8, I used to live in a Peverel-managed flat.

All I can say is their mantra is "you can have anything you want as long as you pay for it".

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When I viewed the new property we were assured certain things that were not provided, and which we didn't get.

They also came up with a wheeze I have never come across before.

If you wanted to, for example, buy a buggy, or put in a battery, to name two examples, the company charged 40 for the

request.

I personally would not move into a Peverel-run block.

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