Your Letters - April 11

Playhouse demise

SO the Redstack Playhouse has closed its doors. Only two years ago according to many letters in the Observer, the Playhouse would be the new People's Palace, "putting on shows and films that everyone wanted, unlike the DLWP which only catered for the few highbrows of the town."

The latter is still operating, going from success to success whilst the former has to close due to lack of support.

What has happened to all those supporters from the past? I see two reasons for the decline of attendances, either people cannot afford to go out or that Bexhill's residents are not prepared, putting it crudely, to put their money where their mouths are.

Personally, I believe that the former is the primary reason not only for the empty seats in the Playhouse but also for the fact that we have so few quality shops and hospitality outlets in the town. Contrary to what many may think, the average income per household in the town is not amongst the highest in the UK but is well below the national average except for one ward, St. Mark's.

I believe that visitors and some new businesses arrive in the town totally mislead by the apparent affluence of its residents and find out all too quickly their mistake.

To sum up, the closing of the Redstack Playhouse, an event which should sadden everyone was, to me, not unexpected.

JOHN BETTS

Eden Drive

Police mystery

I FELT I must write having recently had correspondence with the Town Hall about the unsurprising rise in my Council Tax.

I wrote asking the reason for a 4.9% rise in Sussex Police Authority contribution as I personally have not seen a police officer in Bexhill for eight months.

It goes without saying probably that my other issues were addressed but the point about the police contribution rise and my question as to what exactly are we paying for, basically a service that we don't seem to be receiving, has remained without response.

If I am not receiving a service in any other respect I don't usually pay for it so my next move may be to challenge any further rise as I personally would consider it illegal.

I would be most interested in other people's views on this matter, or maybe someone from the Town Hall would be willing to respond via your pages if you publish this letter, they seem not to want to answer me personally, I wonder why?

Derek Stocker

Duke Street

Single tax

I HOPE you can print the following and that someone will offer me a valid explanation.

I have been studying the table shown on Council Tax Benefit 2008/09 and wonder why a single person aged between 60 and 64 should have to pay exactly the same amount as:-

v) a "COUPLE", no dependant children;

vi) a "COUPLE" 1 dependant child;

vii) a "COUPLE" aged between 60 and 64:

viii) a "COUPLE" over 65.

Surely a couple have more money coming in whether it be in wages or benefits. It appears to me that a single person is being penalised. Another form of legalised robbery by the Government or just Rother!

MARCIA LINDEN

Martyns Way

14.8m scheme

READING the In Days Gone By feature in the Observer dated April 4, I was interested to note that in 1998 that the Bexhill Regeneration Partnership, having received a government grant of nearly 1.5m, would be putting into action a seven-year 14.8m scheme with schools, job creation and the wider community set to benefit. As that scheme would have come to an end by 2005, I'd love to know where the money went. Bexhill College comes to mind as a beneficiary, but just what else?

Another thing I'm interested to know is to what use the De La Warr's off-site office is to be put now that it is empty. What an ideal spot for a Tourist Information Centre if funding could be found. There would be real people to speak to instead of these computer screen things which Bexhill is meant to be having, dotted around the town. Friendly, helpful people to talk Bexhill up, not machines that let you down. And that, going back to my first subject, would create a couple of jobs!

What does anybody think?

C. COX (Mrs)

Arthur Road

Dark forces

HAVE the dark forces of the bureaucrats in Brussels been at it again? For years they have wanted to do away with our historic county names and call them zones.

According to an information sheet from the Highways Agency and an advert in the Observer for the Miramar tea rooms, I now live adjacent to GALLERY HILL. Why were we not informed of these name changes? What other surprises have they in store for us? We cannot let our guard down for one minute.

R. ALLDER

Ridgewood Gardens

Purse thefts

YET again there was a report in last week's Observer that a purse had been stolen from someone shopping in Sainsburys, but I have to ask why do some people make it so easy for these despicable thieves?

Last Saturday I spent less than 20 minutes in the store, but during that time I saw two trolleys, both with handbags hooked on them and left unattended in the aisles. I also saw a person with a shoulder bag which was wide open and the purse clearly visible. For any would be thief there were three ideal opportunities.

Some might say that Bexhill is a town of mainly elderly people and that we forget to ensure that our purses are safe, but even though I am a senior citizen I always ensure that my bag is firmly shut and held tightly under my arm when I shop. We don't often need two hands to take goods from a shelf, so if others did the same perhaps there wouldn't be so many stolen handbags and purses.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

BLODS' welcome

AS a member of Bexhill Operatic and Dramatic Society (BLODS), I was intrigued to read your reporter's write up in last week's paper of the Bexhill College's performance of A Vampire's Story. A glowing and richly deserved critique for these young performers which I wholeheartedly support, but which also raised many questions.

a) He said that the drama students could easily act the town's amateur performers off the stage. If they are so good, why not join the town's leading society (BLODS) and let the whole community see their special talents. We advertise all of our shows and are desperate for young people to join and carry on the tradition of amateur theatre.

b) He also said they deserved a better stage than the college drama studio and that those involved HOPE to act in larger surroundings with a performance at the Pavilion. If they love performing so much, why not join the town's leading society (BLODS) and appear twice a year, for a week, in superb musicals, where they can really show off their talent AND on a large stage (the De La Warr Pavilion).

c) The BLODS have proved to be a stepping stone on the ladder to success to several young people, who wish to make a career in the entertainment business. They have provided funds to help towards drama school fees to two young performers, Amy Maynard and Ciaran Bird, and they are setting up a bursary scheme to continue this type of support, to talented young people.

Local societies are having a lean time, with lack of support by the public (i.e. bottoms on seats), and also by the talented young performers that your reporter speaks so highly of in his report.

Therefore, as our chairman has asked the members, we must promote our society, at every opportunity, to carry on the tradition of amateur theatre.

This year is the 75th anniversary of the birth of BLODS and we shall be performIng The Music Man from June 11 to 14 at the Pavilion, and the very first show that BLODS performed back in 1933, The Mikado.

So make a date in your diaries and come and enjoy an evenings superb entertainment and you could possibly see new faces, some perhaps from Bexhill College.

TREVOR OLDHAM

Barnhorn Road

Slow ride

ON returning from a week away I was horrified to discover that the A269 between Boreham Street and Ninfield is now decorated with 30 mph signs! This is not a built up area and whilst I can see the sense in traffic calming measures in Ninfield village this latest measure beggars belief.

If we are told to drive much slower we shall soon be going backwards, or perhaps there may be a market for re-introducing the Austin Seven!

DAVE FOSTER

Hillcrest Avenue

Bin wait

I NOTICED that S. Saunders has been unable to meet the criteria for a large size Rother wheelie bin.

Our household also has two adults, two children (but only one dog), and we were supplied a large bin on request in 2007 (actually after three telephone calls over a period of four months). I suspect the truth is that Rother can't afford any more large bins.

Don't give up at Saunders Towers '“ big bins come to those who wait '“ and make a nuisance of themselves!

Rother never asked for my small bin back, so I have a back up in case they rummage through our bin criteria and reclaim my big bin!

Improvements will come as the range of recycled materials will hopefully increase to include tin foil, cardboard and more plastics.

Name and address supplied

Dance award

I WOULD like to say a big thank-you for my Bexhill Honda award to Mr Greg Camburn of Honda who thought of the idea and to the Hastings Musical Festival committee for their support. My thanks also to my singing teacher Judith Colman, my dance teachers Janice Blake and Amanda Lacey for their help and support over the years.

FRANCESCA FORDE

Bexhill