Your Letters - April 18

PO despair

I COULD not believe what I read in the Bexhill Observer last Friday (April 11) that Collington Mansions post office was in fact closing after all the obvious false information that was issued earlier.

Some businesses deserve to close or finish as the owners are not competent, foolish, bullies and generally unpleasant people but the owners and staff at the Collington post office deserve better.

They have run a busy public service with efficiency and proper customer relations and if the office is closing on purely economic grounds this says a lot for our uncaring society today and sums up today's ethics.

I do not particularly blame the people who have to implement the changes and it is probably down to a system that we have created whereby money rules above matters of public service.

Any sensible peron who uses the office will be aware just how busy the office is and just what impact this will have on the local community. Enough has been said about the pressure the main post office is already under and I can already hear voices saying there is another one at Windmill Drive.

I truly despair, but wish the owners and staff at Collington all the very best for the future and trust that they will continue in some way with their efforts.

A shame on our society - perhaps one day we will all be aware of the mistakes we have made in the past by building where common sense dictates we should not and implement changes for the pure sake of economies and stupidness.

ROBERT CAREY

Eastwood Road

We're sorry

HOW sad I was to read this week in the Bexhill Observer about the closure of Collington Mansions post office.

They will be sadly missed. We have used this post office for years and they were always helpful, we were not just a number but friends.

How can they say it was not a busy post office?

I am sure everyone who used this post office would like to wish them well and say sorry.

P. CARROLL (Mrs)

Hastings Road

Square deal?

IN view of the confirmed closure of the Sub Post Office at Collington Mansions and therefore more pressure being put on the main Devonshire Square Post Office, is the council going to reconsider reinstating Devonshire Square for short-term (20 minutes) parking, "Post Office use only"? Or should it be two hours in view of the queues likely in the post office?

C. Martin

South Cliff

Clamp nuisance

WELL done to the taxi driver who had his car recovered from the retail park after being clamped.

I don't condone the alleged parking infringement but I detest wheel-clampers who will pounce on anyone at anytime and should be outdone at all cost.

With their typical don't care attitude and occupation I am surprised more don't end up wearing their clamps.

A pal of mine after being clamped in London hailed a cab to a hire shop and rented a heavy-duty bolt cropper, he returned this wonderful instrument just ten minutes later in his own car.

If the clamp is damaged or even taken away I am with the driver all the way, if you place an item on someone's property, sometimes with damage to the vehicle and without asking you've lost it mate!

Paul Stewart

Duke Street

Bin dilemma

I NOTICED from last week's edition there are many people in the same boat as me.

Despite many many emails, telephone calls etc. to the council they still cannot get their heads round the fact that because they have changed the system it is not working.

They decided to issue wheelie bins, they decided to make collections fortnightly instead of weekly and they decided to start to recycle.

We are a very large family, but according to the council rules, we do not have enough people to warrant more bins. I am told the criteria is five and we only have four adults. What about the children?

We recycle everything we can, cardboard we take to the recycling centre, also glass bottles. The collectors are not allowed to take more than one wheelie bin. What are we supposed to do with the extra bags? We had four extra last week and now they will have to wait another two weeks.

We also have a lot of cans and plastic bottles. We have been promised more recycling boxes for these but now a year on they still have not arrived.

We used to have it cracked, we bought a shed to put our rubbish in so the seagulls didn't get it (as they seem to know when it is bin day) and even if we forgot to put the bags out the bin men used to come up the drive and collect them.

Whatever happened to the goodwill of the dustmen who we used to generously tip every Christmas for doing such a great job? Is this progress?

C WOODLEY (Mrs)

Wickham Avenue

Bottle bother

I MUST have misheard, I thought this country was running out of landfill sites and yet according to the article in Bexhill Observer of April 11 "Mum on a Mission" this council will not allow our licensed premises to recycle their bottles.

Thus they have to use landfill. If putting glass and jars into landfill is ok with our council I see no good reason to litter my premises with empty jars and bottles and then waste my time and petrol driving to the bottle banks once a week.

I will now go back to the old method of putting bottles back into the house hold waste to join that of our licensed premises.

This in itself will reduce my so-called carbon footprint by one less car journey per week.

M. COLEMAN

Cranston Rise

Open plan

WHO are "the movers and shakers" involved in the proposed new Bexhill School plans?

Is Bexhill so far behind in educational matters that it is proposing to build a new "open plan" school?

The liberal environment of the 1970s also pervaded educational thinking and architects all over the country were directed to design and build "open plan" schools in which children could explore their free flowing creativity and learn at their own pace, space and time.

Of course it did not happen '“ unproven theory rarely matches up to practice.

Only recently it was reported that hundreds of schools have reverted back to a more conventional teaching environment.

It seems that Bexhill's "new idea" of an "open plan" school is hardly new - just 38 years behind the times and at a cost of 37m of taxpayers' money!!

Mike Rosner.

Hillborough Close

Kiosk farce

IS it me or has Rother District Council really lost the plot?

Part of generating income / council taxes is to encourage customers, tourists and businesses to see Bexhill as a viable place in which to shop, visit or employ staff and local councils have a responsibility (I thought) to do their most to encourage this.

No wonder the local Chamber of Commerce is seething when they are faced with the farce of Rother deciding in its wisdom that using the same funding to provide 'electronic kiosks' rather than a properly staffed Tourist Information site in town and the cutting back on an integral guide to Bexhill are now the priorities.

Why could they pay a person in Battle to do it - even though we know discover it was a complete waste of time being miles away from here anyway?

The fact that the De La Warr seem consistently to refuse to co-operate with the general desire to provide a proper tourist information desk in the building should come as no surprise but why not place it somewhere else - all those empty shops in town??? I'm sure even volunteers from loads of local community groups would be willing to staff it now and again too to enthuse about all the activities going on in the town.

Of course we are not in the dark ages (well some councillors obviously are) and many use the internet to access all sorts of information BUT many don't and I've already spotted the De La Warr's own information computer often left looking very lonesome.

The fact that the kiosks will be designed to 'compliment the present environment of the De La Warr' instantly conjures a sure fire flurry of letters of complaint and ideas for competition entries for the Observer I would think!

But no - these kiosks will cost a fortune, usually not work and designed at huge cost to look like an upside down telephone box - but they might well win the Turner Prize and bring in visitors in droves!

PHILIPA COUGHLAN

Gordon Place

Parking bikes

PARKING a motorcycle in Ravenside poses a dilemma, there are no motorcycle bays and it seems (and looks) selfish to take up a whole car bay. Motorcycles are socially and environmentally more acceptable on today's roads, they take up less space and generally use less fuel than a car.

Bexhill town centre also is not motorcycle friendly. There used to be bays but you try and find one now, car drivers don't see parked bikes and regularly back into them, knock them over and damage them.

Recently I asked a Ravenside car clamper whether he was expected to clamp motorcycles parked on the pavements in the car park, he told me he was not allowed to as the clamps could cause damage.

As I ride a vintage motorcycle and sidecar combination to do my weeks shopping in Tesco I opened up this possibility and he said the same would apply, if I parked it on the paved area his clamp would cause damage to my machine, he is not allowed.

The real parking louts are those who are too lazy to walk a little way and so take 'disabled parking' bays unnecessarily.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Bus passes

IT is a disgrace that our council has not managed to issue the concessionary bus passes in time for their use on April 1. I planned a trip to London last Saturday, April 5, to be after the date for the new passes on the assumption that I would be able to travel around the capital without charge.

As it was I was obliged to pay approximately 4.35 on top of the rail ticket to be able to use the buses. I will be applying to Rother for re-imbursement of this sum.

May I suggest that any others in the same situation also request a refund.

Maybe another time they will manage to set things up in the proper time frame.

MAUREEN ANSTEY

Park Road

Cold comfort

CAN our council workmen get anything right? On Monday morning when the grass was still covered with snow, they turned up and cut the large stretch of grass in The Glades. Now it looks dreadful.

M FOSKETT

The Glades

Eve thanks

ON behalf of the Eve Appeal for Research into Ovarian Cancer, I would like to thank everyone who participated in our coffee morning held on Friday, April 4 at Beeching Park Day Centre.

In total the magnificent sum of 408 was raised towards the appeal.

In particular I would like to thank our Resource Officer, Helen, for allowing the event to take place and grateful thanks to Nicola and Michelle for their culinary skills in producing the lovely cakes and sausage rolls, plus other members of staff, the service users, parents, carers and all who donated raffle prizes.

It was also great to see visitors from The Moreton Centre, Charter Centre and the Conquest Centre and so many members of the public. We couldn't have done it without your wonderful help and support.

Thanks again!

Trina Green

Day Care Officer

Beeching Park Day Centre

Family link

WOULD anyone be able to help me with a family search. In 1960 Mrs Ada Vecta Duffell aged 83 passed away, her address was Boveagh, Collington Lane West, Bexhill. Her late husband was Mr Gerald Francis Duffell, a former bank manager.

They had one daughter, Marjorie, who became Mrs Crispin. Ada was a well known member of the Little Common Women's Institute and at the time of her death she had a brother-in-law who's name Mr R Stewart of Cuckfield.

As I am trying to put a family book together, one of my greatest wishes would be to include a photo of Ada or Marjorie to complete that chapter.

Any other information would also be very much appreciated.

ANGIE COOK

Woodpeckers

2 Withybed Close

Carisbrooke

Newport

Isle of Wight PO30 5RJ

So kind

PLEASE convey our grateful thanks for the prompt assistance received from Tesco staff, paramedics and several bystanders when my wife, Margaret collapsed at Glyne Gap car park on Tuesday afternoon, April 8, also several young men who asked if they could also assist. Thanking you all.

JOHN CAREY

Collington Park Crescent

Jazz treat

JAZZ fans among your readers will be pleased to learn that jazz returns to St-Mary-in-the Castle, Hastings, on Saturday, April 19.

The Friends of St Mary's have arranged a programme including local singer Chris Hutchinson (son of the old radio star, Hutch) and local saxophonist Pete Burden.

The concert will start at 8pm. Tickets at 8 (7 for members of the Friends) will include refreshments. They are available from Hastings Information Centre (50p surcharge), St Mary's Coffee Shop or 01424 460797 or 442601.

So the art form that survived Depression, wars and rock 'n roll has now survived local venue take-over as well!

ALLAN BULA

Wickham Avenue

Club help

MAY I through your paper, please thank The Property Caf in Sackville Road for their continued support of Bexhill Gateway by way of fundraising. Their latest venture, The Cooden Beach Property Show which was held at the Cooden Beach Hotel. 213.10 was the result of the raffle and donations made within the office.

Thank you all very much for all you do.

FRANCES ROWLAND

Club Leader, Bexhill Gateway Club

Station Road

Beach walk

I WOULD like to thank the Beach Control Officer for allowing the gentleman operating the digger, to clear the concrete pathway beneath the Galley Hill cliff. This has now allowed access to the beach for disabled people, mothers with prams, cyclists and a safe pathway for dog walkers.

Please thank the John O'Conner contractors who continue to maintain our flower beds and manicure our lawns.

MRS LUDWIG

Cantelupe Road

Cash aid

PLEASE would you find space in your columns to thank the public for their generosity in supporting The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association through the collection days held outside Sainsbury's stores last week. The final total was 854.71 for which we are most grateful.

The committee join me in their appreciation of such support.

L. YEARDSLEY

(Hon. Secretary)

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Bexhill, Hastings & Rother Branch

Hospital care

I FELT I must write to your paper to express my most heartful thanks to all the doctors, nurses and housekeepers alike at the Conquest. In total I spent two months in there. The unit 'Woodlands' was exceptional, understanding, very helpful staff, nothing was too much trouble. I was there while the deep cleaning was taking place and I must say it was done to 100% with almost 0% disruption to patients. Also, the gentleman behind the catering on the 'Woodlands' Roger, was a treat! The food was very good also. Many thanks.

NAME AND ADDRESS

SUPPLIED