Your letters - August 6

Mourning loss of Ken

I MOURN the loss of one of our local heroes, Ken Igglesden MBE. Not only was he a fine brave man in wartime but a wonderful hard worker for the local RAFA for so many years.

We all have cause to be proud of him.

Best wishes to his family.

JOYCE HUMPHREY

Reginald Road

Bexhill

Not angling club view

In response to your front page article Fishing Row as Bexhill Anglers Cry Foul Play:

The Bexhill Sea Angling Club wish to make very clear that the article does not represent the views of the angling club and its members, although Steve Hanks is a valued committee member of the club he was not in anyway a spokesman for the Bexhill Sea Angling Club and did not seek the club's opinion before speaking to the press.

There has been no objection from the angling club to Hastings fishermen fishing the seas off Bexhill.

The front page headline has not only angered Bexhill Sea Angling Club Members but has also put a strain on relationships built up with commercial fishermen in neighbouring Hastings.

Arthur Freeman

Chairman

Bexhill Sea Angling Club

Security for churches

ON reading the Observer front page on July 23 about repeated lead removal from local churches:

This seems to be occurring in many parts of the country and I am surprised that the mentioned ecclesiastic insurers don't work on a scheme of security for churches in each area.

A security company could cover all the churches in an allotted area and overall the cost to each area could be less than the cost of repeated replacement of any stolen lead, plus the churchyard itself could be covered by the presence of added security.

We hear of broken and damaged headstones and general nuisance on church property that security personnel working closely with local police could well deter.

Perhaps St Michael's in Glassenbury Drive and other local churches may like to weigh up the situation and see if something can be done to protect the local places of worship.

DEREK STOCKER

Duke Street

Bexhill-on-Sea

Future of carnival?

Well done to the carnival committee for all their hard work.

However, despite perfect weather conditions there were far fewer spectators along the route this year. Unless more local pubs, businesses and individuals are willing to make an effort to participate in the carnival then it really does not have a future.

Much comment was made in your newspaper report about Shaw's fun fair being a great supporter of the carnival. What a pity therefore that the inflated prices being charged by many rides, amusements and sideshows on carnival day itself, put them beyond the reach of most families with children.

PJ Watson

Cooden Sea Road

Bexhill

...party too expensive

I AM writing in response to a quote from Nim Whitmarsh, who organised the Bexhill Carnival.

Mr Whitmarsh implied that the Party in the Polegrove was poorly attended for lack of local support. This is completely untrue.

The reason for which many people didn't attend was because of the over-priced entry fee.

Being in a group of five friends this particular evening it would have cost 25 overall to get in, and that's without buying food and drink.

In the end we decided to play tennis, listen to the music and watch the fireworks in Egerton Park, all for free.

It turned out to be just as much fun. We spoke to several families on the night who felt the same way and described the fees as a rip-off.

I am personally offended that I have been accused of not supporting local events, seeing as every year the entry fee to events in the Polegrove is too much for younger people in full-time education to be expected to pay.

I know for a fact that my views are shared by many Bexhillians of all ages.

And although we are grateful that time has been taken to organise such events, I think that these views should be taken into consideration.

CLARISSA DAVIS

Age 16

Eastwood Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

Writers' group replies

Susan Lees was correct in stating (letters 30.7.10) that the Senior Citizens Club Writing Circle does not offer critical evaluation or show "the way forward".

This is because it has been deemed unwarranted for this particular creative writing group. However, what is provided is what is needed - in this instance gentle motivation, mental stimulus and encouragement to those club members who enjoy writing as a pastime and wish to continue in a non-competitive environment.

The group, which has been running for 10 years, meets not once, but twice a month and members customarily volunteer two items per session. Inspiration is provided by way of a selection of subjects supplied by the whole group, the results of which are later read aloud to mutual enjoyment.

The aim then is to provide members of the Senior Citizens Club with an opportunity to continue with their writing hobby in the company of like-minded over-55s in a friendly, enjoyably social, and informal manner, and also in a comfortable environment - to date very successfully.

New members (there is a short waiting list at present) are always made most welcome,

Sheila King

Group leader

...so does DLWP

In response to Susan Lees' letter regarding writing courses, the De La Warr Pavilion has been running courses for writers for the past three years.

The next creative writing course, led by writer and playwright Chrissie Harmer-Brown, will start on Wednesday September 29 and will run every week until the end of November.

Visit www.dlwp.com for details.

Sally Ann Lycett

Head of communications

De La Warr Pavilion

Jobs won't find you

RE Frustration Over Jobs (Observer letters last week):

How on earth does your reader expect to get a job without putting some effort into it?

If you don't send off your details and CV to employers, how are they going to know you are looking for a job?

I moved to Bexhill at the beginning of April and I spent part of every day either on the internet, contacting agencies or in the library looking at jobs pages in the local papers.

I also wrote directly to companies/organisations I wanted to work for.

I looked at company websites, college websites, local council websites, NHS websites, etc etc. My "job" was looking for a job.

A job won't come and find you... you have to put some effort into it and shrug off any failures or employers who don't even respond.

How can time and energy be wasted in trying to find work?

It isn't easy and it's often frustrating, but I suggest you get off your backside and put some effort into it.

I did, and I got a full-time permanent job in about six weeks.

I'm not in a profession, I don't have a degree or any particular qualifications. Oh... and I'm over 60!

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Xmas lights confusion

RE the latest report in the Observer on July 30 RDC turns to Chamber on Christmas Lights:

Why does RDC have its hand out for further cash when in 2008 42,846.00 plus VAT paid for the Christmas lights in full, with an estimated life span of three years?

Bearing in mind 50 per cent of costs were for associated permanent electrical works, so 40-column decorative fittings and cross street looms have a use until Christmas 2010.

I might also point out that the taxpayer is paying for the storage and insurance of these fittings.

Regarding council and democracy questions and answers no 485 15/2.2008 on Rother's website, the question was; Will 100,000 be spread over three years at 33,333? The answer was yes.

Presumably, the Town Hall lights paid for in full in 2008 at a cost of 10,000 and will last a similar length of time.

Confused? I am.

RICHARD PAINE

Gwyneth Grove

Bexhill-on-Sea

Contact local MP

ROTHER District Council's letter, below, is a response to comments made by the Chamber of Commerce in last week's story: RDC turns to Chamber on Christmas lights:

IN reference to the article run on July 30, the council would like to clarify a point made by the Chamber regarding 'crippling recent hike in business rates'.

The annual increases in business rates are set by central government, the council has no authority to alter or increase the rate, its role is to simply act as a collecting agent on behalf of central government.

I would refer the Chamber to contact their local MP. I would urge any local business struggling to pay their business rates to contact the council on 01424 787800 to ensure they are not missing out on the various reliefs that are currently available.

Robin Vennard

Head of finance

Rother District Council

Thanks from Chantry

On behalf of Chantry Community Primary School I would like to thank the following businesses who very kindly donated prizes for our summer fair raffle.

Their kindness and generosity is very much appreciated and they helped to make the fair a great success. Thank you once again.

Eastbourne Theatres, Yesterday's World, Sainsbury's, Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Park, Tesco Stores Ltd, Wards Outfitters, De la Warr Pavilion, Studio Photographic (Bexhill), Paradise Park (Newhaven), Clambers (Hastings), Knockhatch (Hailsham), Freedom Leisure (Bexhill), Kent and East Sussex Railway, David Hoad photography (Hailsham), No 48 Devonshire Road, Bexhill.

Gonda Boreham

For Chantry PTA

Bexhill-on-Sea

Alarm over plans to redevelop the Miramar

It was with some alarm I read in your newspaper regarding the plans for the now-shut Miramar tea rooms and accommodation.

Having recently experienced at first hand the problems at a similar housing scheme in London Road, ie anti-social behaviour, noise and alcohol, I wonder if the old Miramar lends itself to this type of housing?

Does the council have any control over these places and I shudder to think of the effect on tourists and walkers along the seafront if similar behaviour was to occur at this proposed site?

You only have to look at St Leonards to see how quickly an area can decline when similar places are put into a community without any thought or forward planning.

I am not a NIMBY but surely Bexhill seafront is the last place to site this unit,

L.P Ramswell

Cavendish Court

De La Warr Parade

Bexhill-on-Sea

Concerns over safety

I MOVED to Bexhill 17 years ago to be

close to the seafront and for its relative tranquillity. I think many people over the past 10 years have also done the same, especially families.

I agree Bexhill is changing but'¦

The elderly and disabled who cannot walk on the unstable shingle on the beach could get out of the car onto a green verge, enjoy the sea and have a picnic.

The kite/windsurfers could 'rig up' on the lawn, then fly/sail, providing entertainment to everyone '“ young and old alike.

For children we have a large fantastic park with a playground, football and tennis

just 100 metres inland from the seafront '“ safe.

We have more than a mile of deep shingle beach - safe.

The narrow stretch between the road and the beach promenade is not a safe area for children to play in.

I suspect it is too late to for this letter to change anything on our seafront '“ but I honestly feel this is an accident waiting to happen.

I hope I am wrong.

Barbara Hackett

Richmond Grove

Bexhill-on-Sea

Backing youngsters

I WAS pleased to read last week's letter abut the seafront and children.

I am a senior citizen and have lived in the Bexhill area since 1985 but have to agree with the writer that the children and teenagers should be included in any redevelopment schemes.

These people are the future of Bexhill.

They need space and premises for their needs and have a right to be around the town and the seafront as much as other people who live in the area.

Sometimes people forget that they too were young once - and they have to move with the times and encourage youngsters and

teenagers into doing good things in the community.

Come on Bexhill wake up - or you will be a ghost town as the teenagers will move away and then where will you be?

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

I could not believe it

I could not believe what my eyes were telling me - 3.5million to create a new home for the Rowing Club and build a white elephant of a restaurant in the Colonnade! The Rother Council must be mad to contemplate such expenditure.

Firstly, we must have separate estimates for the two projects. Then perhaps the Rowing Club might agree that the total cost is exorbitant and that they could consider again a site at the eastern end of the beach. We should also make a fundamental reassessment of the use of the Colonnade. The leader has given his benign blessing to these ideas but we cannot believe that he is aware of the enormous and unnecessary costs. If, as I suspect, any contribution from CABE will be no longer available we must find one determined Conservative councillor to upset the applecart and put the officers and the architects on the right path.

To add to my dismay I gather that the same team of councillors is already starting to consider the regeneration of the town centre. They have made such a sorry mess of the seafront that they are most unlikely to be capable of dealing with the town itself.

This is insupportable and the district will be living with this for the next 100 years.

Please will everyone see that this proposed venture is properly managed,

Basil R Streat

Cantelupe Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

Our credit is good

MR Sanderson should take the government's doomsday scenario over the country's difficulties with a large pinch of salt (letter, July 23).

In short, we are not bankrupt. Our credit is good. Even the perfidious 'market' retains our Triple A status.

Of course, this begs the question why there is such a divergent view. The government seems to have a problem with the truth.

As to how we arrived at this situation there is no great mystery.

For the last 30 years the country has been run not for the benefit of the people but as a speculative business venture.

In thrall to the free market dogma of 'liberalisation' - privatisation, deregulation and outsourcing - successive Tory and Labour governments have squandered our North Sea oil and gas, decimated the country's industrial manufacturing and agricultural capacity - hence a large permanent core of unemployed - and emasculated and impoverished local government, the bedrock of our democratic society.

And into this toxic brew the Prime Minister, David Cameron, pitches his big idea, the Big Society. Only someone who has enjoyed lifelong protection from social and economic reality could imagine the populace rushing to embrace a new feudal era.

This projection of an impossible idealised pastoral existence is so much bucolic nonsense. The last attempt at social engineering ended in the disenfranchisement of millions of people.

When the Tories were voted out of office in 1997 they left behind a shattered infrastructure - schools, hospitals, housing, public transport, roads etc - which took billions to restore to an acceptable standard. The great danger is that government measures could see a reutrn to that year zero, with public services, communities in decay, and unable to effect change having been effectively locked out of the democratic process.

The government's thinking is incoherent and fractured. Pronouncements and disclaimers fall over themselves with bewildering rapidity. The government must either get its act together or call an election.

STEPHEN JACKSON

Second Avenue

Bexhill

Thank you for support

I WOULD like to thank club members, family, friends and the general public for their continued help and support of our Custom Car Show held last weekend.

As I write this, Jason our treasurer is counting the pennies, which will be donated equally this year between Sussex Air Ambulance, Agape Family Trust, the cardiac ward at theConquest Hospital and St Michael's Hospice, Hastings.

Finally, thank you to the local residents of Catsfield for their tolerance and understanding as we descended on their lovely and normally peaceful village for the weekend.

Kind regards and thank you once again.

Kim Freeman

Chairman

1066 Cruisers Rod and Custom Car Club

Happy with school

LIKE C Little (Letters, Friday July 30) I too would like to show my support for King Offa Primary School following the recent negative report.

Our daugher has just left King Offa having attended the school since she was four.

During her time at the school we have been more than happy with the level of care and education standards she has received.

Our son also attends the school and will continue to do so for a further two years. We are also very happy with his progress.

If there are areas to be improved upon then I am confident the dedicated staff will endeavour to see this happens but please do not clump the whole of year six together and claim with one sweeping statement that "year six is failing".

We do not feel that our daughter has "failed".

On the contrary her final year has culminated in a brilliant PGL trip and participation in a fantastic performance of Bugsy Malone together with the other year six pupils.

She has left the school on a high, achieving results at the nationally expected standard and above.

Nicky Batchelor

Cranston Avenue

Bexhill

Welcome, Mr Norton

So, Graham Norton. It's great that you've moved to Bexhill. We were wondering if you could be our next carnival queen...?

Seriously, we remember Graham from many years ago in his debut in the TV comedy series, Father Ted.

We hope he enjoys living here, and we hope we meet him in town one day.

Andrew and Sarah Cook

Cranfield Road

Bexhill

Fantastic Shakespeare

FANTASTICAL is how I would describe BATS performance of As You Like It in

the Bexhill Manor Gardens on Saturday evening.

Five members of my family sat spellbound as another family member in the cast (I dare not print her name!) with the other actors enthralled us and held us in breathless anticipation up until the epilogue.

Each individual performance was superb, the direction amazing, continuously giving us delightful surprises.

The costumes beautiful and apt for the days in which Shakespeare wrote this incredibly funny play.

I am writing this letter 24 hours later and my mind keeps harking back to the whole of this glorious production.

May I now add the highest and most sincere thanks to all the cast members, the director, and all other crew members who have been amazingly committed to such a terrific performance.

Yvonne Lightfoot-St John

Nazareth Close

Bexhill