Your letters - August 7

Middle Barn tragedy

MAY I thank you for your sympathetic reporting of the tragedy that befell Middle Barn Farm. What the Veritys had established there was an absolute treasure for those who know and love what our part of Sussex can produce.

To be able to buy locally reared pork, lamb and above all, beef matured until at its prime, alongside bacon, smoked with real smoke (unlike supermarket 'smoked' '“ dipped in smoke solution! ) is a realisation of what local food production should be about.

Unlike many 'Farm Shops' they did not buy in their meat and sell it at inflated and trendy prices by riding on a Sunday magazine bandwagon of organic or celebrity chef sponsored 'Taste the Difference' or 'Finest' labelling.

Roger and Julie enabled us to buy what our part of Sussex produces from Pevensey Levels and Sussex Weald pastures with what must be the shortest 'field to plate' range locally available. To be able to grow you own vegetables and to enjoy meat reared within walking or cycling distance should be our birthright.

Julie said she was not sure she had the heart to start again. I sincerely hope she and Roger have, and would urge those who love our corner of Sussex to support them to do just that.

Personally, I will be buying the first lamb or half pig they can supply and will happily share.

JOHN BULLEN

Glyne Ascent

Bexhill

What a failure

Some weeks ago I wrote a letter, which was published in the Bexhill Observer.

I suggested that Mr Barker should hire the De La Warr Pavilion and invite all comers including the Press and TV to an evening session of political debate.

This should be well advertised in order that everyone from Bexhill to Battle and beyond would know the month, day and time. Instead, what did we get? A series of meetings so well advertised as to be comparable with the publicity given at the time of the D-Day Landings. There have been more posters heralding the farmers' market, yoga classes and school fetes in Little Common than announcements of a forthcoming meeting with our MP. If it had been for votes our letterboxes and bins would have been cluttered up with useless political claptrap.

I was therefore amazed to see a photo of Mr. Barker and friends outside a church hall in Little Common and to read that a meeting had been held there and that Mr Barker had explained away all his expense issues to a riveted audience of about eleven, four of whom were Conservative Councillors. What a failure!

MIKE ROSNER

Little Common

Somewhat confused?

I HAVE been reading the letters pages of the Bexhill Observer for years as I find it a constant source of amusement.

However, on July 24 I was dumbstruck by a letter from Tony Smith of the UK Independence Party claiming that wind turbines never replace the energy required to build them. Financially speaking why would any company go down that route if there were no profit in it? A quick search on the internet convinces me that poor Mr Smith seems to be somewhat confused about the subject.

A quote from the BWEA website states that "the average wind farm in the UK will pay back the energy used in its manufacture within six to eight months, this compares favourably with coal or nuclear power stations, which take about six months". And of course wind energy doesn't produce CO2 or nuclear waste after its construction.

I must say that when I read that the letter was from a member of UKIP, I did take it with a large pinch of salt. After all, a party who uses an image of the great Winston Churchill on their posters (a man who knew all too well about the need to forge strong relationships with other countries) as an example of why we should stand alone, must be just a little bewildered by life! If they had been in power during the Second World War then I suspect that I would be writing this letter in German!

At least they've been proved right about joining the Euro though, what sort of a financial mess would we be in if we didn't have the good old dependable British Pound?

PAUL BISHOP

Cambridge Road

Bexhill

Ask, not accuse

Dear Ashamed of Pebsham:

What a pity it is that you did not come to the Pebsham Princess Competition, where you would have seen that a party is not held after the event.

Had you actually bothered to stretch your neck out further than your nose, you would have seen that the centre has its own waste bin that is paid for by the Community Association to dispose of any waste from the building.

The centre staff are actually forever clearing up rubbish that is dumped, so before you go blaming people who work hard in this community get your facts right and do not make accusations on assumption.

If however you still require any further information on how the centre disposes of its waste perhaps you could actually ask and not accuse.

MRS Y BLACKFORD

Pebsham Sports and Social Club

Seabourne Road

Bexhill

Thanks from museum

NOW as Bexhill Museum has been reopened, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have made this date possible.

Those who have contributed financially and those, including many volunteers, who have given of their time and energy over so many years. Far too many to name in this letter. The former group will be recognised by their names displayed in the museum's entrance, the latter by the many fine displays throughout the three galleries.

However, I feel that I must mention those responsible for one exhibit, on display to the public for the first time. I refer to our restored Elva sports racing car. The PRISM Grant Fund managed by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council for their 50 per cent funding of the conservation and restoration project. Roger Dunbar, proprietor of Elva Racing Components, who sourced and bought the car on behalf of the museum and who has provided invaluable guidance and advice throughout the work.

Peter Brown for his very 'hands on' management of the works and not least Alan Jenner, who built the new aluminium body shell, Len Sayer, Tony Recknell and Bob Curl who completed the team.

Plus of course the group of students from St.Richards College.

I believe that this project, restoring an Elva Mk111 built in Bexhill in 1958 is unique, in that all of those named above with the exception of Peter Brown and Roger Dunbar were involved when the car was constructed in 1958. Surely the first time that a classic car has been rebuilt by the same team who built it originally half a century ago!

I am sure that when visitors see the car in the Motoring and Technology gallery, as it looked in 1958 when it left the Elva workshop in London Road, will all acknowledge that the hard work over the past 18 months by our dedicated team of volunteers was worthwhile.

JOHN BETTS

Trustee/Head of Fundraising

Society of Bexhill Museums

Eden Drive

Bexhill

Hard figures wanted

YOUR report on Page 5 of the Bexhill Observer (July 24) states that last May, the Daily Telegraph alleged that the Member of Parliament for Bexhill and Battle, Gregory Barker MP, had made a profit of 320,000 on a property bought with the help of public money. Indeed, the Daily Telegraph website states: "Mr Barker bought the property in Chelsea for 480,000 in November 2004. He claimed 15,875 for stamp duty and other costs, then claimed back 27,928 for mortgage interest payments over the next two years.

He then sold the flat for 800,000 in February 2007, and was free to keep all his profit." (Source: http://parliament.telegraph.co.uk/mpsexpenses/expense-microsite/expenses/Gregory-Barker/mp-10713)

If the Daily Telegraph was correct, that would result in a 320,000 capital gain for Mr Barker over just 27 months assisted by a public subsidy of 43,803.

Your article continues by saying Mr Barker "refutes suggestions he profited excessively from the sale, saying he invested a "very substantial six-figure sum" of his own money into the house, which was not claimed back."

My recollection of the public meeting was that the Honourable Member for Bexhill and Battle appeared to defend himself in his speech by claiming that:

n He and his former wife Celeste had spent a substantial amount of their own money improving the Chelsea flat.

n As leaseholders, they were required to pay a share of a major roof repair resulting in further outlay.

A brief search of property prices along Cheyne Walk would confirm that a property in that price range would have had to have been a leasehold flat, not a house as stated in your article. Indeed it seems difficult to visualise how he could have spent a "very substantial six-figure sum" simply refurbishing a flat and contributing towards a roof repair.

In the absence of any hard information, I am therefore making some plausible assumptions:

n Improvements to the interior of a luxury Chelsea flat: Assuming the consultancy services of an interior designer, a new top of the range kitchen and bathroom, decorating and carpeting with thick plush underlay. Let's generously assume 45,000.

n Major roof repair required by freeholder shared between several leasehold flats. Let's generously assume 20,000 per flat.

On this basis, Mr Barker's capital gain over 27 months would be just 255,000 assisted by a public subsidy of 43,803.

I would appreciate if Mr Barker would refute my estimates by providing some hard figures. Perhaps he would publish:

n The costs which he has implied were incurred on the refurbishment with supporting receipts.

n The service charge accounts displaying the roof repair.

n The section of the lease for the flat in question that displays the percentage of the service charge for his block of flats that he was required to pay.

A copy of the lease and the service charge accounts would normally have been provided to the buyer's solicitors prior to contract exchange and should therefore be available to him to provide the second and third requests for data.

As this investment has been heavily subsidised by public monies, the public appears to have an ethical right to have sight of these accounts.

The Daily Telegraph adds: "Mr Barker repeatedly changed the designation of his second home, submitting large claims at different properties." This implies that he was using the House of Commons expenses system for repeated personal gain.

The highly-respected Honourable Member for Hastings and Rye, Michael Foster DL MP, has pledged to donate the entire capital gain on his second home (a modest London studio flat) to the Charities Aid Foundation, a charity specialising in helping charitable donations extend further (www.cafonline.org)

Will Mr Barker follow the ethically admirable commitment of the Labour Member for Hastings and Rye by pledging to donate the many hundreds of thousands of pounds he appears to have personally gained on his various publicly subsidised second homes to charity? Which charities and how soon?

PAUL COURTEL

Amherst Road

Bexhill

Heroic honour

WHAT an honour it was to attend the civil reception for our heroic Indian Ocean rowers and to learn of their extraordinary adventure first hand - 40ft waves, killer sharks, blistered bums and all!

They have certainly put Bexhill on the world map and deserve all the credit bestowed upon them, especially the Freedom of the Borough.

Such has been their great achievement along with the continuing competitive success of their

Bexhill Rowing Club colleagues, surely now is the time for the powers-that-be, many of whom

attended on the night, to finalise plans for the seafront and make a new rowing club headquarters a priority.

And perhaps, once completed, it could be named after our local heroes.

How about the Oarsome Foursome Boathouse?

Alan Bearne

Park Road

Bexhill

Centre changeover

I HAVE been half expecting someone to inform your readers that Sidley Community Association

(SCA) is no longer in charge of Sidley Community Centre.

The purpose of this letter is to advise readers of this major change. SCA has been in charge of the community centre for some 60 years.

My mother was a founding member in 1949

when Sidley was a rural village so I feel somewhat guilty.

The reason for the change is wholly due

to SCA being unable to, (a) obtain sufficient funding to run the Young People's Centre for the 10-19s; and (b) fill the funding gap that has occurred, and is ongoing, for the Rainbow Childcare Centre for children aged up to five.

The offer from East Sussex County Council (ESCC) that it would take full responsibility for keeping these vital activities in operation had to be accepted. As a result, SCA staff were offered transfers to ESCC and many have accepted which means that Rainbow activities, and the Family Service activities which were already funded by ESCC, will continue as usual.

The future of the Young People's Centre which has had to shut down is, as yet, unclear but it is thought to be unlikely that ESCC will offer the same slate of services that the young people of Sidley and the neighbourhood is used to.

The effect of these changes is that from August 1, SCA has no employees and, at this time, has no presence in the community centre.

However, the allocation of a room within the centre to enable SCA to exercise its charitable responsibilities to the community is being negotiated with the landlord - Rother District Council, and the incoming tenant - ESCC.

I wish therefore to apologise personally to SCA's members past and present, to our former staff and to the people of Sidley, both young and old, for my part in the failure to retain the centre under local management which I have always regarded as a key factor in serving the community.

However, I sincerely hope that the new management will prove to be a capable substitute and that their ability to obtain funding from all of us, through taxation, will ensure that the centre can continue to serve people of all ages without difficulty.

John Izzard

Holm Oak Close

Bexhill

Seafront benches rally

UNDER plans for Next Wave, the council wants to remove the western seafront memorial benches and replace them with contemporary ones.

These new benches will cost you and me lots of money.

These new benches may be ugly, they may be uncomfortable, and why do we need them?

We have good strong benches which we love and they have recently been freshly painted.

As for the money, ratepayers' money, isn't it disgusting to spend it this way when the Sidley youth club has just closed and the shopping area is desperately in need of a facelift.

If you want to save our much-loved seafront benches, come to our silent protest rally.

It will be held on Monday August 10 at 11am beside the putting green on the seafront.

The people whose names are on the memorial benches would join us if they could, wouldn't they?

Jackie Bialeska

Chairman, Vox Pop

Graceful past, ugly present

WHAT a joy to see the Nostalgia Spot pictures in last week's Bexhill Observer - but how ironic to see that the Colonnade and St Leonard's Road have never looked better than a century ago.

It is, of course, all the more poignant that you print the picture of the Colonnade at the very time that Rother District Council is on the verge of crushing the delicate symmetry of this well-loved landmark. The lunatic scheme to sink a shaft into the Horn behind the Colonnade will almost certainly '” as the council's recent record of other disastrous 'improvements' all too readily indicates - permanently ruin the character of the area.

Sadly St Leonard's Road is already ruined - although more by municipal neglect than by mis-development. In consequence it seems to be the current haunt of choice for local sociopaths and borderline psychotics. Risking a transit of this once gracious street nowadays is like entering a reality Jeremy Kyle Show which, as the more genteel of your readership may not realise, is the infamous bulwark of daytime bloodsports television. One is at constant risk of being jostled by overblown, malodorous and thuggish-looking males, often attached to mean-looking dogs and/or overweight (and equally meanlooking) females swathed in skimpy clothing that struggles to conceal 'body art' of the most intimate and provocative nature. I would advise no-one to enter this area without adequate supplies of smelling-salts and holy water.

This contrast between the graceful past and the ugly present graphically portrays the measure of decline that our town and nation have sustained over the last hundred years. In spite of these distressing comparisons, however, please do let us have more of these illustrations from our glorious past. Apart from the wistful joy they bring, it is even possible that they may eventually shame our criminally philistine council into taking proper consideration of our town's heritage and character.

Dunstan Fisher

Westcourt Drive

Bexhill

Thanks from the animals

I write to thank everyone who supported the Animals Helped Abroad garden party on July 19.

Thank goodness the rain stopped and stayed away allowing everyone to enjoy the jazz pianist, skiffle group, Morris Dancers, food and raffle.

The total raised was 323.20 which will allow the rescued animals in Serbia to have their basic needs.

Members are still welcome at only 1.50 and 2.50 pa plus helpers for future fund raising activities.

Please contact Marcia Linden 01424 731006 or [email protected]

Marcia Linden

Martyns Way

Bexhill

Bollards wanted

MR Nash has a point (Bexhill Observer July 31) and the traffic on the A259, especially those going west (some of whom regard Barnhorn Road as a race track) should be slowed down so people can cross the road safely.

Vehicles going east normally have to stop, which gives people time to cross halfway, as traffic from the south goes onto the A259 or Peartree Lane etc.

The A259 comes under the Highways Agency and we are working with them to ensure that, not only will the area by the Wheatsheaf be safe, but also to ensure that the road from there to the UAE camp is safe as well.

The policy we are pushing for is that each pair of bus stops should have a bollard with lights in the dark between them so that passengers who have to cross the road can get across safely.

What we have to ensure is that the "boy racers" keep to the limit, which is of course 30mph and then 40mph until we pass the UAE.

Whilst on the subject of roads, Churchill Avenue will be altered in April next year where those exiting into the A259 must turn left.

No traffic will be allowed into Churchill Avenue from the A259 and the pavement at that point will be improved for the children going to school etc.

More details will be published nearer the time.

Cllr Brian Gadd

County councillor for Bexhill West

Please paint seat

I have just been reading about the money that may be spent on our promenade, may I ask a small request?

Could someone put a spot of paint on the seat which bears the names of Peggy Paige and Richard Burnett; two lovely people who gave such a lot of pleasure with the Penguins.

The seat is a disgrace and Bexhill should be ashamed of itself.

M Kerr

Catley Court

Bexhill

Opportunity in change

I WOULD like to present another view regarding the extended school day as last week I feel the letters were very one-sided.

There are many parents who would fully endorse the changes proposed for the school day.

It is not as stated a foregone conclusion.

The governors held the consultation meeting to gather views from all parents.

They will then take all the comments and feedback into account before making their decision.

However at last week's meeting there were a few parents were not willing to listen to Mr Conn and what he was trying to say, and were very rude and confrontational. This did not allow other parents an opportunity to convey their views.

From the meeting it was clear to those parents that were listening that Mr Conn is passionate about the new school and about the opportunities the children will have presented to them during the extended hours, and the positive affects this will provide for their learning.

Although change can be hard to receive and accept, it will hopefully provide opportunities for our children that many of us as parents have not had and will allow our children access to education for the future.

Name and address supplied.

... it's a brave step

HAVING been informed of the proposed changes to the school day at Bexhill High I will admit that I was originally strongly against it.

The parent consultation, which was ineptly chaired by the chief govenor, did little to sway my original opinion.

I decided to arrange a private meeting with Mr Conn to give him a chance to explain the exact formula the new day will follow, and also to answer any questions I wanted answered.

At the meeting Mr Conn was very amiable, extremely enthusiastic about the change and managed to put my mind at rest regarding any concerns I had. I have no doubt that Mr Conn's reasons for wanting this are entirely selfless, and not for his own ends, which has been suggested.

I have changed my mind, this will be a good thing for all our children. It's a brave step forward in the way education is delivered (my words not Mr Conn's).

I would urge any parent with any concerns, or any parent who wants to better understand the new day to go and visit Mr Conn and let him explain it to you. Don't let's stop this because we're all scared of changes.

I'll leave you with a quote from Georg C Lichtenberg ( A German Sscientist from the 18th Century ), he once said "I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better."

G Markham

Windsor Road

Bexhill

n A FINAL appeal is being made by Mr

Clark to contact the owner of a cat he ran over in June.

Mr Clark, who wrote to the Observer on June 12, is concerned the lady may have been on holiday. His contact details are at the Observer offices in Sackville Road should she chose to come forward.

40 years of Bexhill Ramblers

LAST weekend, members of Bexhill Ramblers celebrated their 40th anniversary by holding an afternoon party event at Centre Stage in London Road, Bexhill.

What a find that venue was; nobody would guess there was such a lovely large garden and arbour at the rear of the property, quiet and out of sight, where we all enjoyed drinks under the gazebo, followed by a cream tea and we were entertained by Bexhill Harmony, a ladies barbershop choir.

Many "retired" walkers enjoyed their reunion with old friends, and meeting new members and sharing memories.

Please allow me to thank James and Debbie Hayes of Centre Stage, without whom the event would not have run so smoothly.

Their professional service and attention made the afternoon hitch-free and their help and input during the planning of the event was greatly appreciated. Nothing was too much trouble for them, and yes James, we loved your chandelier!

Thanks to you both, and here's to the next 40 years of Bexhill Ramblers.

Shirley Witham

Windsor Road

Bexhill

Greedy Link Road

As most of us are aware the building of the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road at an estimated cost now of 98million, has very little to do with lowering CO2 emissions and saving the planet and more to do with greedy developers.

The council is selling off great swathes of farm land and green spaces to the developers so they can build masses of houses and a buisness park in the name of regeneration.

Rather than lowering CO2 emissions it will only increase them with all the extra traffic created by the development.

The money could be better spent on helicopters and equipment for our troops in Afghanistan.

James Pearce

Bancroft Road

Bexhill

... but how about park and ride?

IT seems to me that there are better ways than the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road to improve the traffic between Bexhill and the north.

The present plan seems to be worrying people in Bexhill that it is going to cost too much to achieve so little.

It would disrupt the traffic too much along the line of the present London Road right on to the place where it would go under the railway near Upper Wilting Farm, especially thrugh the much- loved Combe Valley. This is also a scene of outstanding natural and special scientific interest.

A much easier way would be to divert traffic on to Dorset Road and then past the front of the College to cross the eastern side of the Pebsham estate and then round the eastern end of the Combe Valley close to Harleyshute and still cross under the railway at the same point.

Details of such a route would have to be worked out after a proper survey. Nothing has been said about providing a park-and-ride facility at the point where it enters Queensway.

I am quite sure that this would get a much better reception locally than the proposed plan. It would also give good access to the proposed Country Park when the tip is closed.

It would be interesting to see what people think of this especially our planners at County Hall.

John Thurston

now moved from Actons Farm

Bexhill

Countryside vandals

In my efforts to keep fit I have taken up walking.

I walk in my area ,which is out of Sidley, along Ninfield Road and around the lanes close by.

I am absolutely amazed at the litter and rubbish on my walks '” TVs , rubble and general household waste.

Doesn't anyone see these countryside vandals? What's the matter with people?

We live in a wonderful part of the county and its being spoilt by these idiots.

We all know that its getting harder and harder to dispose of household waste but to be so irresponsible and mindless as to litter our countryside with it beggars belief!

Stephanie Beale

Ninfield Road,

Bexhill-On-Sea

Ridiculous proposal

I AM in the fortunate position that all of my children will have left the High School before the ridiculous 'proposed' changes to the school day come into effect in 2010.

However, I agree wholeheartedly with the contents of letters in the July 24 edition of the Observer from 'Concerned Parent' and others against the new school day.

The High School will never achieve better standards until it has a complete shake up at senior management level.

As one correspondent rightly pointed out - other schools can achieve high standards within the framework of a 'normal' school day.

t is thus obvious that if Bexhill High can't, then there are major failings within the school which will not be rectified until consistently good quality teachers are employed by a strong but fair management team.

Mr Conn, orginally from a business background rather than a sound educational one, so I understand, has run the High School along increasingly autocratic lines during his time there - and 'Concerned Parent' is right to query whether the governers will indeed have the backbone to gainsay him and actually listen to, and act upon, the wishes of parents in the town regarding the new school day. My guess is that they won't, as my personal experience of them is as a group of puppets whose strings are firmly pulled by Mr Conn.

'Concerned parent' is also right not to put their name and address to the comments and queries they raised, instead requesting anonymity, as have I.

I have criticised Mr Conn's leadership of the school in the past decade, and have put my name to my comments, believing that to be the honourable thing to do. I, or more importantly my children, have had cause to regret that belief.

Words cannot adequately express just how glad I am that none of my children will be the equivalent of laboratory rats in Mr Conn's bizarre experiment.

The High School has had some excellent teachers over the years (even though it cannot seem to retain them) - and yet now, year on year the GCSE grade averages drop, and Ofsted reports are never what could be called 'glowing'. Why?

Because these days the overall standard of teaching is truly appalling. Scant, if any, attention is paid to correct spelling and grammar, in any lesson. Teachers leave and are not replaced by regular staff, instead 'supply' teachers with no real interest in getting the children to GCSE standard and beyond, are employed.

Name and address supplied.

... but how will it work?

TWO years ago Mr Conn told new year seven parents his proposal to increase the school hours. The reasons he gave were: to keep the children off the streets of Bexhill and a free childcare service.

He is now saying it is to get all children good GCSE results.

Perhaps he could explain why with the new school hours which would have lessons from 8.30am to 2.30pm (six hours learning with 1/2 lunch plus additional breaks) 2.30pm to 5pm homework club and sport/leisure clubs, compared with the present hours 8.40am to 3.10pm (six and a half hours learning with breaks) would give such better results.

I cannot imagine that homework would be more than an hour a day, at present the amount they have is highly inconsistent, which does not help the children to develop a habit of learning at home.

Recently I spoke to another local headteacher and I was told it was to keep children off the streets and also to give disadvantaged children a further chance at school.

Not having homework anymore is a great carrot but, in my opinion a very shortsighted view, it is a real skill to be able to work at home and the school should be encouraging this not discouraging, why do all schools with good results give their pupils consistent homework?

Do taxpayers really want to fund a free childcare service? How do present club owners feel that children could now do clubs at the school free, this could effect their business.

Finally if the hours are changed the LEA does not have to fund the transport from school, how long would the school be able to fund this themselves. These changes really could have a huge impact on many different areas. People should write to the governors with their opinions as they have refused a ballot or even a questionnaire.

Tania Turner

Bexhill

Hot rod success

ON behalf of the 1066 Cruisers Hot Rod and Custom Car Club, I would like to thank the public for their overwhelming support and the club members, family and friends for their sterling efforts in making the club's show a great success.

We hope to see you all again next year.

Kim Freeman (Chairman)

1066 Cruisers Hot Rod and Custom Car Club

Delightful museum

At the Bexhill Museum preview for supporters on July 24, I was delighted to see that now, with its Costume and Motoring Galleries, the total display is three times as good and as big as it was before.

The old museum, now called the Henry Sargeant Gallery, fittingly preserves the name of the long-serving curator without whom there'd have been nothing to extend and develop in current style.

It's now hard to believe that, about 25 years ago, the Museum was so neglected following the death of Mr Sargeant that the late Humphrey Smith, then chairman, just clung to the hope of Rother DistrictCouncil help, even threatening to leave the museum keys on the Town Hall steps.

At that time, volunteers including myself, led by the late Dick Child, opened the place up on weekend afternoons. In the cold weather, we were pleased to keep active doing a bit of muchly needed dusting, for there was no heating.

On one occasion, a teacher who was on such duty with her small daughter left early because she thought the child might get a chill. We never took our overcoats off on cold days. For that mercifully short period, being a custodian in winter was like an outdoor job.

Much changed after that, of course, and now the stylish new complex shows that great improvement can still be forced through eventually, even in unfavourable times, if enough people have the will.

And I was pleased to see that, through it all, the Giant Crab of Japan, still retained its place in Mr Sargeant's Gallery. I feel sure that, like so many of us, the shy Henry must have held it in special affection.

Long may the honourable Crustacean cling there.

Allan Bula

Wickham Avenue

Bexhill.

Cat comeback

MARGARET Cullingworth (Letters, Bexhill Observer, July 24) is perfectly entitled to regard me as "ridiculous" for objecting to someone's cat entering my living room.

However, I hope that you will allow me to respond to her unfounded accusation of "ignorance".

In addition to invading what should be the privacy of my home, other people's cats persistently enter my garden, treat it as their lavatory and terrorise the birds that I like to watch. As a result, I know far more about the nature of cats (and their owners) than I would wish.

Additionally, a friend who works with cats has explained to me how, with correctly designed fencing, it is possible for cats to be kept within their owners' territories. It may not be easy or cheap, but would such considerations be relevant if a dog owner were not controlling his pet?

Cat owners enjoy a uniquely privileged position - they give their animals all the usual pet benefits, but are not required to respect the interests of the wider community by restricting their liberties and cleaning up after them. Therefore, as cat numbers continue to rise, so too will the amount of cat nuisance and the number of wild animals pointlessly slaughtered by these well-fed domestic pets.

That may all be legal, but, as the scandal of our MPs and their expenses has proved, what is legal and what is right are not necessarily the same.

Paul Campbell

The Highlands

Bexhill

It's a small world

THE piece about journalist George Vine by Andy Hemsley on page 16 of last week's paper made me realise just how small the world is.

In 1939 Alan Whicker and I arrived at the offices of the Hants and County Press in Emsworth as cub reporters on a salary of five shillings a week.

There we were greeted by someone whom I think was George, but it's so long ago I cannot be absolutely certain. After a few months the paper had money problems and George left. The adminstrator offered Alan and I the chance to run the paper which we jumped at and it was a wonderful experience.

Alan went on to become a TV star and for 10 years off and on, I wrote the gardening column for this newspaper.

Harry Hamilton

Willow Drive

Little Common

Points on crossing

With regards to the letter published in last week's Observer, concerning the dangerous pedestrian crossing in Sea Road, I would like to add a couple of points.

When I came to live here in Bexhill in 1970, I informed the traffic attendant that the crossing was illegal because it should be 30 feet from a junction.

He said he would see the police about it. The next day he informed me that I was quite right and the Traffic Act stated that a pedestrian crossing should be at least 30 feet from a junction.

Now if it was moved 30 feet it would be illegal because of the junction where The Grand used to be. Perhaps that is the reason why it is still there after many years.

I would also like to point out that the council at Woking in Surrey was forced by the courts to alter three pedestrian crossings because they were illegal.

Les Mason

Bedford Avenue

Bexhill

Unhappy Anglican

I AM not surprised by the plans to demolish the church of St Barnabas on Sea Road.

I find this quite disgusting and will only prove that the Church of England is really interested in the money and not the people in the parish.

The new priest is an evangelical, quite unsuitable for a high church Anglican mission, no doubt put there by the local bishop.

St Andrews and now even St Peters have been mentioned as possible closures in the future.

The Church of England claims that no one wishes to attend Anglican church services, but they treat their parishioners with utter contempt, with clergy that change the services whenever that have a new incumbent and think it is a good idea to have trendy new services.

Sprinkle a few bad priests in to the mix and act as if it is the local parishioners' fault for not going to church, then call them Godless!

Yours a very unhappy Anglican.

Frank King

Dorset Road

Bexhill

Strange MP meetings

GREG Barker may have announced a series of meetings to discuss amongst other matters MPs' expenses, and his own, but he does go about it in a strange way.

First he advertised vague locations of the meetings and dates but not times. You have to ferret that information out from his website '” and even then it is not immediately obvious.

Then he is holding them at rather odd times of the day, with none finishing later than 6.15pm '” and apart from the first one, which has now gone, none on Saturdays, but on a Thursday and Fridays.

How does he expect working people to attend his meetings?

Where is the publicity '” apart from this letter?

Why no meeting planned in the new chunk of his constituency, dominated by Heathfield, assuming he aspires to represent them after the next General Election?

From the report we have seen thus far of the meetings, they look a bit like an excuse for a cosy chat with a coterie of acolytes.

Stephen Hardy MBE

High Street

Robertsbridge

Wallet thanks

I would like to thank the kind person who handed my wallet in to Sainsburys in Bexhill on Thursday July 30.

I very foolishly left it on my car bonnet in Sainsbury's car park while I packed my shopping into the boot.

I realised it was missing about 20 minutes later when I went into another shop.

To my great relief it had been handed in.

So once again, a very big thank you to the lovely person who found it.

J Jones

Withyham Road

Cooden

No PCA after-party

THE Pebsham Community Association hold a Pebsham Princess contest every year and there is no after party.

The PCA holds charity events and any waste after the events is disposed of in a large red bin which is paid for by the PCA.

The recycling bins at the bottom of the car park are for the public to recycle.

Unfortunately a minority of the general public abuse the area leaving rubbish outside the bins. I am glad that 'Ashamed of Pebsham' in a recent letter seems to be a very observant person and wishes to voice their views to the people of Bexhill.

Unfortunately their views were completely wrong by pointing the finger at the PCA. It would have been quiet acceptable for 'Ashamed of Pebsham' to call into the centre and ask to meet a member of the committee association who would have been more than happy to show all the facilities which are in and around the the centre.

'Ashamed of Pebsham', please do some researching before accusing anybody, I am sure if you were to be involved in the community you would find that it is hard enough to raise funds for the centre so that adults and children from Pebsham and surrounding areas can enjoy the use of the facilities without being accused of fly tipping.

I am ashamed that you point the finger at the innocent and name names in your letter when yours didn't seem to be at the bottom of yours.

A big thank you to Bexhill Carnival

Committee for organising carnival, with which adults and children from Bexhill and other towns can let their hair down and entertain the people of Bexhill.

Committee Member

Pebsham Community Association