Your Letters - May 9

RNLI concern

AS chairman of the Bexhill branch of the RNLI I was disgusted by the incident reported last week, when unthinking irresponsible people failed to notify authorities of the location of their abandoned boat.

The costs involved could have been avoided had one of them thought a little further than their own comfort.

15,000 is on the high side of what the fund raising of Bexhill RNLI can achieve annually by holding monthly coffee mornings at the Sailing Club and occasional street collections.

Do these so called sailors realise that RNLI crews are all unpaid volunteers who risk their lives for the SAFETY of others? Both in shore and all weather boats were used in the search for these casual people.

Lifeboat crews are on call 24 hours of every day and use highly technical equipment to encourage sea safety.

I ask such people who may think we do nothing to think again and realise that such organisations as the RNLI have to raise money to operate 233 lifeboat stations around our coastline.

There is no Government help involved. We raise nationally over 120m per year to keep the service going.

W. H. HAMPSHIRE

Terminus Avenue

Ugly sisters

Re: 'De La Warr Heights' and its 'Ugly Sister'

RECENT correspondence in the Bexhill Observer correctly draws attention to the significance of these mould-breaking developments in central Bexhill.

Messrs Atkinson, Bartlett and Churcher wax on at great length about the Ugly Sisters of Sackville Road and their consequent desecration of the local Conservation Area - putting the blame for all this on our councillors. But in my opinion this is totally unfair and we should instead congratulate our local councillors for taking the first brave steps to overcome the dead hand of the conservation lobby in the interests of re-vitalising the moribund central area.

It must be obvious to all reasonably unbiased and intelligent people that the fabric of central Bexhill is all but worn out and the layout totally ineffective in facing the challenges of contemporary life.

What is surely needed at some time in the no-too-distant future is a scheme of comprehensive redevelopment for the whole town centre and if this means eventually over-riding the blind dominance of the present Conservation Area requirements then I say 'hoorah' for our councillors to facing this reality and taking these audacious first steps.

If the Pavilion dog does get to wag the arthritic town centre tail in this way, it cannot happen too soon for me and I am sure that I am not alone in this opinion.

R. F. GILBARD

Pages Lane

Degeneration

WITH reference to concern at the appearance of the Sackville Road developments, considerable objections to the planning applications were raised with both the RDC planners and in editorial correspondence with this newspaper.

Since these objections were totally ignored by both planners and their committee, I believe that approval may have been influenced by pressure to salvage something - anything - from the wreckage of the recently abandoned Sea Space proposals to develop the sea front. Had it not been for the successful SOS campaign there would now be at least two similar monstrosities disfiguring the south side of Marina, one on the Pavilion car park.

Following my own criticisms I received a response from Cllr Gubby claiming that the Sackville blocks represented the commencement of regeneration of the town.

Clearly, a similar word prefixed with a "d" would have been more appropriate!

J. HODSON

Cooden Sea Road

Help traffic

IT is recognised that traffic has already increased in Gunters Lane since the development of houses on the old Bexhill College site, and the development of Bexhill High School on the Gunters Lane site, and subsequent re-use of the existing buildings to house primary pupils seems inevitable.

With the consequent further increase in traffic volumes, shouldn't the emphasis be on aiding traffic throughput, rather than impeding it with traffic calming measures?

Gunters Lane needs to be made fit for the traffic it is expected to handle.

This means that the narrow area must be widened by about six feet to allow two vehicles to pass safely without having to slow down. This could be achieved by purchasing adjacent land or possibly by cutting back the bank which the footpath runs along and replacing it with vertical wall - an engineering feat which surely isn't beyond the expertise of East Sussex County Council?

The prospect of traffic flowing freely may horrify Gunters Lane residents, so I would propose a 20mph speed limit from Deans Drive to Turkey Road, enforced with three or four speed cameras.

This has to be preferable to any scheme which slows down traffic in an attempt to discourage people from driving along Gunters Lane. If traffic calming methods in Gunters Lane were to be effective, then people would simply drive through the adjoining residential areas instead.

PETER PARIS

Glenleigh Park Road

Bowls site

WE were delighted to read R. J. Dean's letter in the Observer on April 25 and its mention, four times, of the word 'community'.

GAG does not consider that there is a choice to be made between preserving the open space and preserving sporting and social activities. The two go together in terms of benefit for the 'community'.

As an action group we have always been against residential development on the Gullivers bowling greens precisely because this historic open space should not be lost. It has been established that this is a greenfield site and should therefore be protected.

What we would dearly love to see is this site saved, in its entirety, for all - offering sporting and recreational facilities for the benefit of the whole community and the town generally.

Gullivers Bowls Club receives benefits in terms of significantly reduced council tax, etc. as a Community Amateur Sports Club, even though it displays a sign at each entrance: "Private Property Keep Out". As a CASC it should have been seizing the many opportunities available to it to raise money, rather than 'flogging the family silver' and thereby effectively alienating the rest of the 'community'.

And perhaps we should remind the club that, as a CASC, it cannot just walk away from its site and leave it to become derelict. The advantages that CASC status provides come with responsibilities, too.

CHRISTINE MADELEY

Chairman of Gullivers Action Group

Unfair trade

A DECISION to allow a national pet food chain permission to sell goods at Ravenside Retail Park would provide unfair competition for two excellent town centre pet shops who offer personal service, knowledge of all their products and free home delivery.

Within the Rother District of Bexhill, Battle and Rye we have a wealth of individual shops, some of Rother District Council are determined to destroy this unique way of life, many people travel miles to our area to shop, fed up with the same products that large out of town shops offer, shame on these councillors!

HEATHER COLLINS

Middlesex Road

Open space

AS a member of Gullivers Action Group I was delighted to read that R. J. Dean (Bexhill Observer, April 25) recognises the need "to protect community facilities" and "ensure / enhance the facilities offered by Gullivers for the benefit of the community as well as retaining open space".

I hope by this he / she means retaining all of the open space which is currently Gullivers Bowls Club and which was recognised in Rother's own independently commissioned report as one of the three highest-scoring sites in all of Rother ('Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study', a report by PMP dated May 2007).

I also hope that 'community' is not just a reference to club members, but to the true community at large. If so, this marks a very welcome improvement in relations all round.

BRENDA SIMPSON

Cantelupe Road

Not guilty

I AM afraid Mr Edgar (Letters, Observer, May 2 - Town Support 3) has the wrong councillor when he erroneously states that I supported the Ravenside pet food store application. The record will show the reverse situation.

As to my lacking support for small businesses, he clearly hasn't followed my Mayoral activities, since a great deal of my Mayoral year has been devoted to small businesses support.

I forgive him for his misunderstanding.

PAUL LENDON (Cllr)

Buxton Drive

Pupils' taunts

I HAVE huge sympathy for Maree Hanna the woman you state in last weeks paper has been "driven to tears by pupils' taunts."

It is a sad reflection on todays society that people now seem to think that if you are not "perfect" then it's open season for them to pass comment or be abusive. Only last week some youths were jailed for kicking to death a young girl dressed as a Goth.

This attitude is due to pressure from the media, airbrushed pictures, peer pressure and lack of parental guidance.

I suggest Maree does not hold her breath waiting for Bexhill High School to find and punish the pupils. This attitude is allowed to flourish there.

Their own principal told me that if I allowed my daughter to be different I was asking for her to be picked on.

I am extremely proud that my daughter is different especially if being otherwise means that I can expect her to lose all the good manners and attitudes I have worked hard to instil in her for the last 11 years.

ANITA BROMLEY

Pear Tree Lane

Splendid council

PLEASE try to find space on your letters page to hand Rother District Council a bouquet instead of the more usual brickbat!

Their response to the fire at Brett Concrete, which might have deposited asbestos in the area could not have been swifter.

On the day following the fire (May 1) a letter from the Head of the Environmental Health Department was hand-delivered to local residents giving advice should they have any concerns.

Along with many others, I have complained about some aspects of the performance of R.D.C. - but this is public service at its best.

DAVE SULLY

York Road

Roc on

FANTASTIC, fantastic, fantastic.

What fun we had at the Mayor's Le Roc Ball at the De La Warr. Well done Bexhill, please more, more, more!

E. POWELL

Robert Tressell Close

Hastings

White huts

MAY I through your newspaper bring to attention the beach huts in Bexhill? I am not referring to the temporary ones that are erected each summer but the permanent ones.

I moved to Bexhill five years ago. I have applied to the council for a beach hut should one become available. However I have heard that the huts are only allowed to be painted white! Why?

Is this carved in stone somewhere within the council or do we have a 'Jobsworth'. Or is there a legitimate reason?

When anyone thinks of beach huts they always think of lovely colours. Shops in town even sell postcards of colourful huts from different resorts.

Come on council, bring some colour to Bexhill and allow owners to choose. You could even print your own postcards and maybe make a few bob!

Don't misunderstand me I'm not suggesting fairground rides or arcades. I love the peace here but the huts look like huts in a hospital forecourt.

J. R. KING

Sutton Place

Road chaos

IT is well known that on school days, cars are parked all day along one side of Birkdale; however on Friday morning, May 2, a quite new level of chaos occurred. One or two cars were already parked on the opposite side of the road limiting traffic to one direction at a time and necessitating a weave. Because of the position of the parked cars and with no regulation, traffic from Little Common took precedence all the time. A queue of slow moving or stationary traffic quickly built up stretching back towards Bexhill, including large lorries, a massive car transporter and a National Express coach to London.

We thought this would clear shortly after 9am, but it continued until after midday with the 99 bus route losing all semblance of time.

What should be done about this situation? Maybe lorries from Bexhill to Eastbourne and the A27 should be directed to use wider Sutherland Avenue to reach the A259, as wide vehicles in both directions with parked cars quickly bring everything to a standstill in Birkdale.

Perhaps other readers may wish to suggest how to resolve this problem!

JOHN TAYLOR

Birkdale

Opera shock

ANYONE who plans a visit to the De La Warr Pavilion should be warned that they are at risk. Recently I had a very unpleasant experience during the interval of Don Giovanni. I received a violent blow between the shoulder blades from the long metal door handle when a member of staff pushed open a door which opened outwards into the crowded bar area. The blow was powerful enough to make me stagger forward. I was so shaken by the experience that I had to go back to my seat in the auditorium.

The accident was bad enough but the response of the staff made matters much worse. After the opera, when I had recovered from the immediate shock, I wanted to report the matter to a member of staff and to point out a hazard to other members of the public which should be remedied. I started to speak to one of the ushers but to my absolute astonishment I was shouted down by another member of staff. After several attempts, I gave up.

The next day I phoned, convinced that senior management would be as dismayed as I was. Not so. The rudeness was laughed off as over-protectiveness towards the member of staff who had injured me. Still concerned about the risk to other innocent patrons, I wrote. Two weeks later I have not received the courtesy of a reply.

I am astonished that the De La Warr Pavilion, which is subsidised by our council tax, can treat the public with such disdain.

ROSEMARY INGHAM

Stone Cross

Pevensey

Wild plants

I WAS enjoying the weather at the weekend, doing what most people were doing, mowing the lawn and tidying the garden, when I noticed a man and his black labrador dog on the track that backs on to my garden, near the boot sale field gate.

On close inspection over my garden gate I was shocked to see this man casually digging up wild plants on the verge. This man clearly does not know that it is an offence to uproot any wild plant, bulb of a flower.

Flowers are essential part of the reproductive cycle. Last year I had some young shrubs planted by my back gates and some selfish person dug them up. Now not only do we have to put up with fly-tipping down the track but people digging up what little is left of natures pretty plants.

MS Z. WADEY

Kent Close

Bird mystery

AS a nation we are renowned in the defence of wild and domestic creatures, but sadly this title is now ill deserved.

I write because of my concern re. not a single bird in my garden, for the past six months, despite putting out daily food - Why?

I now understand a project has begun for a children's play park in Pebsham and there has been extensive culling of trees, resulting in loss of birds and wild life - virtual massacre!

The ever increasing sector of youth who will benefit, will use it as a "rendezvous" to plan their destructive recreation. Animals unlike the youth of today cannot demand their needs and pleasures.

I'm amazed that funds were available for such a project, inevitably our loss of birds has paid the price!

M. MOCKLER

Maytree Gardens

Library work

ON behalf of the friends and members of the Little Common Library, the committee would like to thank those who came along to the Open Day on April 8 and made it such a sociable and enjoyable morning.

It is gratifying to know that the work of the volunteers is appreciated and that the local community is willing to give its financial support to the library.

The amount raised on the day was 550 and if anyone wishes to make a contribution to the library funds the treasurer eagerly awaits your cheque.

Our thanks to the volunteers who made the Open Day possible and to the Observer for covering the event.

And remember - new readers are always welcome at the Little Common Library.

D. W. WOOLLER

Collington Rise

Bin swap?

A FULL set of Rother recycling receptacles seems to be a black wheelie bin, a green wheelie bin, a black box, and a green box.

I have TWO black wheelie bins, one green wheelie bin, one black box but NO green box.

I would hazard a guess that I am not the only person who hasn't the complete set.

May I suggest that to help the Council with their distribution problems, we citizens set up a swap system.

For instance I am willing to swap a black wheelie bin for a green box.

Any offers ?

E J WALKER

Barnhorn Road

Little Common

Elderly scorn

WITH the exception of the millions of people who chose not to work and to live off the so called state and hard working tax paying citizens I hope these hard times alert today's workforce to the fact that this is what awaits them in old age.

We get derided and scorned. Our annual income increases by between 1-3 a week pa to pay all our increases - council tax being the worst, heating and so on.

Our pensioners get the worse pensions in Europe and as we have no one to fight our corner we are pretty well stuck.

I am delighted the obscene 10p removal is being addressed but a majority of pensioners have to scrimp and save just like the workers of today are having to do, so forgive me if I shed no tears - pensioners also have surprise, surprise mortgages we have the same expenses - food, heat, mortgages, as our younger generation so take heed learn from this difficult time.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Family search

I'M hoping that your readers will be able to help me locate my foster brother, John William Taylor, John who originates from Lancashire, will be 50 on July 26 It is some 25 years since I last had contact with him. But, I have heard that he may be living around Hastings or possibly Bexhill-on-sea and that he ran a guest house down there, for a short while. John is approximately 5' 8" tall, dark hair, brown eyes, dark complexion.

If anyone has any information, no matter how small, I would be grateful for feedback.

Our family are desperate to make contact, as a few months ago our mother was diagnosed with senile dementia and is always asking for him, it would be our wish to find him before mum forgets him and us.

Many thanks for your time,

I can be contacted on email [email protected] or by telephone 01257 261335

JANICE HOLDEN (nee Hargreaves)

Fruity Friday

I AM writing to let your readers know it is not too late to get involved in this year's Fruity Friday on May 16.

Fruity Friday is World Cancer Research Fund's annual event that helps us raise awareness about the health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables.

As well as being a fun way to get across an important message, it also helps to raise vital funds that help us continue with our research and education programmes.

It is a great chance for local people to support a worthy cause.

So whether you want to organise a fruity breakfast for your friends and neighbours or make and sell healthy fruity snacks, there are lots ways you can get involved.

For more information about what you can do on Fruity Friday, call 0207 3434205 or visit www.fruityfriday.org

TERESA NIGHTINGALE

Head of Fundraising

World Cancer Research Fund

Top care

MAY I take this opportunity to thank everyone from the ambulance crew to all the staff at the Conquest for the excellent care and attention my husband got when he had a heart attack last Sunday (April 27). Thankfully he has made a good recovery and our best wishes to everyone from A & E and James Ward Coronary Care unit.

C. J. CRILLY (Mrs)

First Avenue