Your Letters - June 13

Waste figures

OUR illustrious leader has stated in reply to one of the numerous queries about the supply green wheelie bins (Q585); "The current distribution of green bins for green garden waste includes the most densely populated parts of the district so that the volumes of waste collected are maximised". In reply to an earlier question about recycling he stated that rubbish taken to the tip by the public does not count towards the bottom line of the recycling figure calculation.

Obviously then, maximising the amount of green and other recyclable rubbish and minimising the residual waste by supplying tiny waste bins and getting us to take our own residual rubbish to the tip, improves the percentage recycled.

Ah ha, I've twigged it at last, Rother's rubbish collection policy is entirely designed to meet recycling targets alone and not to provide the rubbish collection service for which we are taxed and never mind the pollutants emitted by people having to take their own rubbish by cars to the tip. Save the planet? No. Meet targets? Yes.

While I'm at it, I must try to remember to call the tip by its more modern, PC, and much snappier, not to mention bureaucracy gone mad name of, the 'Household Waste & Recycling Centre' (Q584). It's the 'tip' for goodness sake; it's where we tip our green garden and residual waste that the council won't collect.

While I'm at it, 'Bring Centres' are not bring centres, they are Take centres, as I have to TAKE my bottles etc. to them. I suppose the reasoning behind this is that the word 'bring' sounds a lot less authoritarian and Orwellian than 'take'.

TREVOR THOMAS

De La Warr Road

Preaching waste

CAN we please have a complete rethink about waste collection and recycling? Having endured last year's calamitous introduction of twice-weekly rubbish and recycling collection, we are now informed that - through these pages - Rother cannot afford to complete its roll out of bins.

The whole scheme was introduced without full consultation (no thought, for example, given to whether people could manage to manoeuvre their bins, or where they could be stored), there are maggots, and there is still an array of items which cannot be recycled (either because Rother don't have the 'facilities' or because the materials are not quite right).

Government should have insisted on a reduction in packaging and an increase in the use of recyclables before getting local authorities to introduce their schemes, and I believe that recycling policies should be the same in all parts of the country (I did read once that some councils don't even have a recycling policy!)

Retailers should reintroduce the small cash payment for returning glass bottles; there should be a limit placed on 'junk' mail and inserts in papers and magazines; we all get new phone directories and Yellow Pages left on our doorsteps, so why not organise a collection of the old copies; local authorities could compost garden waste and offer this back to householders - there are probably countless other things that could be done, and I appreciate that these do come at a cost, however what is the point of 'preaching' about waste, pollution, global warming etc when the facilities and incentives to allow people to help prevent all of these are not in place? As ever, with the probability that there will be a bin tax (so what will happen about that portion of our council taxes that currently pays for waste collection?) this Government is seeking to solve these problems in the only way it knows.

M. CHRISTIE

Reginald Road

Caring school

THIS is a letter to the High School to say a huge "Thank you" to the staff at the school. My daughter has just finished year 11, and her GCSEs. After an extremely hard year, the illness of her dad, losing a loved one, and the pressure of gaining good grades in the exams, the High School staff have helped in every way they can. From Mr Longworth keeping a close eye on Lydia in form, from teachers listening to our countless phone calls, and the head of Atlantis House Mrs Wragg helping with all our worries. We thank you.

People slate the High School, but we are proud our daughter was part of a caring community. We can't thank the High School enough. Keep up your good work.

THE PENFOLDS

Bexhill

Good Evans

WITHOUT a doubt, one of the De La Warr's finest nights, Bexhill certainly came alive last night, as Lee Evans, comic genius, played to an ecstatic packed house! Not being able to get tickets to see him at the Brighton Centre, my daughter's friend managed to get, probably the last two tickets at the De La Warr Pavilion, thanks to Southern FM.

We certainly had a truly spectacular evening and were treated to a whole host of new material. Lee's observations on life always hit the right buttons, proving so, with such a huge fan base, in the audience, of all ages, clapping and cheering throughout and ultimately a standing ovation.

It didn't just end there, we waited patiently hoping to secure an autograph, our luck paid off, he duly and happily obliged, and proved not just to be a comic stand-up star, but a real genuine person who couldn't thank us enough for going to see him. A big thank you to him for choosing Bexhill and please, please let's have some more here in our wonderful town without having to travel miles, with a beautiful De La Warr who needs more or should I say who could ask for anything more!

CAROL BONNER (Mrs)

Pebsham Lane

Pavilion saga

HAVING visitors for the weekend I decided to show them the delights of the glorious Pavilion.

After savouring the arts on display we decided to have a nice evening drink on the balcony and enjoy the sea views whist basking the sunshine. Alas this was not to be, due to bar just closing, the time being 7.30pm. on a Friday evening.

Not to be defeated we returned at an earlier time on Saturday to have a meal in the restaurant followed by drinks on the balcony. Not a chance! At the door stood two large persons who you would not wish to meet on a dark night.These gentlemen decided that we could not enter without a ticket, as it was a private function.

Now beginning to feel a bit p***** off and refusing to admit defeat we tried again on Sunday. A bit luckier this time, no meal as for some unknown reason the restaurant closes at 2pm. However, we did get our drinks and to sit in the sun on the balcony. The De La War had the last laugh though, as only two rounds of drinks were consumed before last orders were called at about 5.15pm as bar closed at 5.30pm. To rub salt into the wounds each drink purchased was between 75p and a 100p dearer than any other licensed premises in Bexhill.

May I therefore suggest that the person or persons running this restaurant and bar take a look at other profit-making establishments in the town and follow suit. Because I can see no good reason why the pavilion should be subsidised with taxpayers' money when its obvious its not there to make a profit or run for the benefit of the tourists that would like to have a drink in the sun on a summers evening.

T.M. Coleman

Cranston Rise

Beach danger

WE hire a beach hut to the east of the sailing club.

In the opinion of many of the hut users, the stones, this year, have been left in such a way as to cause a serious accident hazard.

The steep slope close (in some places just a couple of feet), from the front of the huts is very dangerous. A lot of the hut users are of more mature years, some have disabilities and this is an accident waiting to happen.

I have been in contact with Rother Council.

The head of amenities told me that "the beach belongs to The Crown, not the council! So I suggested that I must, therefore, speak to The Queen about this matter!!

It seems that our local council does not realise that probably the main reason visitors come to Bexhill, is to enjoy the beach, not to have an accident on it.

ROGER CAIDAN

The Glades

Swan harm

WITH regard to the swans in Egerton Park, yet another year sees them being attacked by a dog whose inconsiderate owner did not have it on a lead.

A cygnet eventually died from the injuries caused by the attack and the cob was mauled whilst trying to defend its young.

Surely the council should either implement a ban on dogs in the park when the resident swans have cygnets or enforce the bylaw of dogs must be on a lead at all times.

As to the culpable owner of the dog in question, I look forward to reading the outcome of your prosecution for this act.

To the dog owners who keep their dogs on leads in the park - thank you.

P. Cockram

Cantelupe Road

Bird watch

THE letter in this week's Observer about the nest of baby birds found under the bonnet of a car reminded me of an incident a few years ago. At the time I worked for the National Grid Company based at the sub station in Potman's Lane.

There was a tractor on site that was only rarely used. An emergency arose where it was urgently needed, only to find that a pair of Pied Wagtails had built a best in the metal tool box on the back.

The nest was full of baby birds so no one wanted to move the tractor and the problem was passed on to senior management.

The decision was that as the problem that the tractor was needed for was costing thousands of pounds a day it took priority over birds.

The tractor was moved and it made no difference to the parent birds; they just followed it and continued feeding their brood wherever the tractor was, even on the move!

PETER MELTON

Cambridge Road

Friends' donation

I WOULD like to express my sincere thanks to The League of Friends of the Bexhill Hospital for the donation of 1,000.

This will enable us to continue with our on-going programme of support for the Centre in what is provides for clients living in the community.

The friends of the 73A Centre are so very grateful for this recognition with their donation.

S. SANDY (Mrs)

Chairman

73A Centre

Swift action

RECENTLY my GP, Dr D. J. Warden (Collington Surgery), referred me to the Conquest Hospital, where I was diagnosed with cancer of the bowel.

I would like to thank Dr Warden very much indeed for his swift action which enabled me to have a successful operation at the Conquest Hospital (they, too, were marvellous). Thank you very much to them both.

I. J. GRAY

Address supplied

Hospital skill

I WOULD like to express my grateful thanks to the staff on the CCU at the Conquest Hospital for the excellent care I received following a major heart attack. The skill of the staff was excellent and the cleanliness of the ward was superb. Thank you all very much.

JOAN HEATON (Miss)

Albert Road

Funding crisis

I DOUBT whether many of your readers will have connected Greg Barker's closing comments on his visit to Sidley Community Centre in the May 30 Observer and the letter from Julie Ellis headed "Scope Anger".

Julie Ellis is upset because cuts in East Sussex County Council funding have forced us to make Jen March redundant.

Jen is the longest serving employee of SCA and has been providing support to families with difficulties through the Parent Scope service for some 10 years. We shall be very sorry to see her depart.

This is an example of a bureaucratic decision. The reason we were given for the withdrawal of county funding was that Parent Scope did not differentiate between families with children up to 5 years of age and families with children over 5 years of age.

We still believe that all parents in difficulty with children need support and up to August 2008 we had ESCC funding for this service.

However, this particular example is a small part of a wider governmental problem.

Over the past ten years the voluntary sector has been encouraged to deliver services, partly, because we do it quite well and partly, because we do it at a reasonable cost.

However government thrives on new initiatives '“ BIG HEADLINES. Unfortunately, after a year or two, they cut the funding apparently on the basis that someone else will pay the cost.

No one will.

In addition, local authorities and agencies control the distribution of funding and only guarantee funds for twelve months.

This makes fundraising a nightmare each year and gives voluntary sector staff palpitations toward the year end '“ have I still got a job?

So Greg Barker's final words on his visit to Sidley Community Centre indicated a rare level of understanding by a politician for which I commend him unreservedly.

Greg said: "It's important and much needed work that goes on here, helping local people with their life chances to improve their quality of life.

"Clearly, in order for projects like this to thrive, they need long term funding."

In reality, three months into the financial year, Sidley Community Association is desperately looking for funding to keep the Young People's Centre; the Learning Link service; and the UK Online Centre operating through this year. Our fingers are permanently crossed !

Finally, I sympathise with Julie Ellis who has lost a friend, and salute all those employed in the voluntary sector and particularly Jen March who society needed to cherish, not discard.

JOHN IZZARD

Holm Oak Close

Road riders

MANY of you may remember an event that took place in March of this year; briefly the challenge was for six motorcycles and their riders to cover six countries in 24 hours the farthest being Germany.

This charity event was for The Macmillan Cancer Fund, a tough challenge that started at 2am on Saturday and was completed with just one hour to spare.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking everyone who kindly donated money to this worthwhile charity, presentation was made with the Mayor and a representative of the Trust present at the Town Hall in Hastings.

Also I would like to thank the team leader Charlie Whyte, who put in so much time and effort to make this event happen.

The total sum raised has been in excess of 4,300, far exceeding our expectations. Once again a big thank you for all of you who sponsored us.

JOHN JOYCE

Team Member

The Ridings

Baha'i concerns

Copy of a letter sent to Mr Gregory Barker, MP

WRITING on behalf of Bexhill Baha'i Group to bring to your kind attention that Baha'is living in your constituency would like to express their grave concern regarding the recent persecution of members of their co-believers in Iran.

On May 14 six Baha'is were arrested; Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamalloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm, as well as the earlier arrest of a seventh Baha'i - Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, who was arrested in March.

These seven individuals serve as leaders on an ad hoc national co-ordinating group that seeks to provide for the minimum needs of the Iranian Baha'i community.

Their families do not know where these seven individuals are being held, which raises fears for their well-being. Attempts by relatives to request information from the authorities have been met with evasion and differing stories.

No legal counsel has been appointed for the arrested Baha'is. They are in effect being held incommunicado.

The Iranian authorities have claimed that they have been arrested for "security reasons". Baha'i representatives have rejected these charges as baseless and that they are being persecuted purely for their religious beliefs.

Prior to the Iranian revolution of 1979 the affairs of the Baha'i community were governed by an elected National Spiritual Assembly.

In 1980 the nine members of this institution were "disappeared and have never been seen since.

A successor body was elected shortly afterwards and in 1981 eight of the nine members of that body were arrested and executed.

The situation as you will kindly consider is perilous, and immediate and urgent action is required.

Therefore we seek your kindest support and request that you may kindly sign Early Day Motion 1608 entitled: Arrest of Members of the Baha'i Community in Iran. Thanking you in anticipation for your kindest support.

BAHEREH SAADAT YAZDI

For Bexhill Baha'i Group

Wickham Avenue

Teddy bears

I WOULD like to say a huge thank you to all the ladies who knitted teddy bears to go to the children in South Africa. Over 100 teddies were sent, and they arrived safely at their destination, last month.

The response from the Lions Club in South Africa was wonderful, and they thank you too from the bottom of their hearts for your generous contributions.

Especially the teddies knitted by a disabled lady. These were really fun, basic pattern but her own designer finish, with pants, hearts embroidered on, necklaces, sparkly bits and anything funky, I wish I could have shown you all.

The Lions in South Africa do not want us to stop knitting so, if you are able to, and willing to keep knitting please do so.

Anyone wanting to knit teddies and would like a pattern and/or some wool please contact me on 01424 225453. Thank you

AVRIL EARNSHAW (Lion)

Collington Lane