Your Letters - February 15

We welcome your letters - email them to [email protected] include your name and address if your letter is for publication.

Mindless vandals

I AM writing to you to see if you will print the mindless damage these yobs do when leaving the pubs on Friday and Saturday nights, like many people who happen to live in this area of Bexhill.

There are a lot of hard-working people in this part of Bexhill and some of the people who live in and around Victoria and Reginald roads park their cars and vans in these roads.

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I for one had my car parked in Victoria Road on Friday night and on Saturday morning when I went to get into the car some yob has come home from the Friday night after having a skin-full and thought it funny to walk down Victoria Road kicking in wing mirrors.

These mindless yobs do not care as the average price of a wing mirror complete is in the region of 120.

There were four cars done in Victoria Road so this yob has done about 500 worth of damage. When this matter is reported to the police the answer that is given is that there is not enough police for this area and then give out reference numbers, which is no use to man nor beast.

This is not a one-off case. This happens every weekend in Bexhill. You could understand if this was London but it is not.

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A message for these mindless yobs - join the Army and do something useful with your life instead of kicking in people's cars.

Ian Blake

Reginald Road

South East in Bloom

I WRITE to remind those of your readers planning to enter this year's South and South East in Bloom competition, sponsored and supported by Southern Water, that the closing date for entries is February 22.

It is easier than ever to enter the competition because entry forms can now be downloaded from our new website www.sseib.com.

South and South East in Bloom is the regional competition promoting, supporting and encouraging gardening, horticulture and environmental sustainability across Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and parts of Dorset and Wiltshire.

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Entries are invited annually from community groups and local authorities across the region who wish to improve their local environment.

People who are entering, or considering entering, and want to find out what the judges will be looking for in 2008 should attend one of our seminars next month. There will be two seminars, one at Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead on March 11, and one at The Assembly Rooms in High Street, Alton on March 14.

To book a place and for more details contact the co-ordinator, Anne Holman, on 020 8662 1021, email to [email protected] or write to 124 Gravel Hill, Croydon, Surrey CRO 5BF.

Southern Water's support and sponsorship has enabled South & South East in Bloom to quadruple in size since 2002, not only enhancing local communities but also encouraging us all to avoid wasting water.

Peter Holman

Chairman

South and South East in Bloom

Nowhere for bikes

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I HAVE been attending Bexhill Leisure Centre for over a year now, and still cannot leave my bike outside!

This is because the limited and rusting bike racks force you to park your bike out into the disabled parking bay.

Even if we park along the wall instead, this only leaves room for three bikes - not very helpful is it?

And now, there have appeared in reception huge jars of cookies for sale.

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The machines near the door have fizzy drinks and chocolate and crisps, and no sign of fruit or salad or anything healthy at all!

What encouragement does this give to those of us watching our weight and health? None basically.

After all it is meant to be a health and fitness centre, or is it really just a commercial enterprise dressed up to extract our hard-earned cash?

Juley Ross

Dorset Road South

Heroic chemist

THROUGH your paper may I give my most grateful thanks to the 'Gentleman Courier' from Marshes, (the chemist) who, on one of the worst nights of this winter, bothered to go the extra mile to find me to bring urgent medication. In my book, the hero of the day!

YVONNE LIGHTFOOT-ST JOHN

Nazareth Hill

Thanks for support

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CHANTRY Community Primary School would like to officially thank the following traders who kindly donated gifts to support their Christmas Fair:

Torch Ginger The Florists; Mr Floor; Wards Outfitters; Shaws Butchers; Sainsburys; Tesco; Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne; De La Warr Pavilion; Trattoria Italian Restaurant and White Rock Theatre, Hastings.

MRS GONDA BOREHAM

Chantry PTA

Town council

IT is hardly surprising to read (February 8) that 80% of people questioned in Bexhill support having a separate council. With little time to think, one feels that this would allow Bexhillians to make decisions for Bexhill, so one answers "Yes".

Upon reflection, the facts are that a separate council would add another layer of bureaucracy and may lead to local and district councillors arguing with each other about proposals; at least this is what happened up to 2006 in E.Herts before we moved to Bexhill. The reason is that the District Council controls the purse strings for most matters and therefore still has to give approval.

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Also Bexhill is the largest town in Rother District and a separate council could undermine the existence of Rother.

At present we enjoy having the council offices in our town with an important say in Rother decisions.

Without Rother we could well be swept in with Hastings becoming just a small fish in a large pool instead of the other way about.

I suggest that careful thought needs to be given to this matter, which is not achieved by accosting people in the street or knocking on doors.

JOHN M. TAYLOR

Birkdale

Hotel with heart

Re: 'Is the Cooden Beach Hotel attractive place to visit'

I EXPECT the answer to be a definite 'Yes'.

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The hotel has now got 'heart and welcome' where as before it was just a hotel.

It is a beautiful building, set in a lovely part of our region with stunning views.

The new family owners are 'hands on' managers and have improved the service and appearance of the hotel.

The lawns are always attended too as are the flowers and the borders. It is well maintained and people I see when I visit are always smiling, staff and visitors alike.

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The replacement windows are in keeping with the character of the building also the health club with its sauna, pool and gym are welcoming.

I think the people of Cooden and Bexhill are very lucky to enjoy this hotel building.

DAVID MORE

Maple Walk

Unstable bins

I WONDER if anyone at Rother's council offices knows anything about basic physics.

It seems to me that they don't. Because, if they did, they would have been aware just how unstable an empty wheelie bin can be if the bin is so much narrower at the bottom than at the top.

Which, of course, is indeed the case.

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Because of this ignorance of basic science, we have ended up with bins which habitually get blown over by the wind once they've been emptied and have been left standing on the pavement.

On a couple of occasions in recent weeks, I've counted dozens of bins that have been blown over in the town. In some cases, the bins have been blown across the pavement and into the road.

This is clearly a potentially dangerous situation and it's only a matter of time before someone gets injured.

When this happens, the blame will lie fully with Rother Council.

ROB SCHIFREEN

Cooden Drive

Discrimination

Re: School Rules, Bexhill Observer, February 1

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A. BROMLEY writes concerning the "discriminology policy" of St Richard's which he/she seems to regard as unfair.

I certainly do not.

To discriminate is to discern, to differentiate and to distinguish. St Richard's is certainly "distinguished" as both local and national accolades testify. "Discrimination" is surely essential to survival and to a civilised society and we should encourage our children to discriminate - between right and wrong, good and evil etc. "Discrimination" should not be confused with prejudice which means to pre-judge without information or facts (or bias which has been described as "prejudice in nappies").

Many people in Bexhill and surrounding towns and villages have "discriminated" and made the decision to become Catholics. They have further "discriminated" and help through weekly collections, and covenants to contribute to the funding of St Richard's through their parish and diocese.

St Richard's has a strong Catholic ethos, a family atmosphere and is a caring community. Its academic success is highly acclaimed and it helps to support the wider community through various fund-raising events.

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The governing bodies of all schools have a list of their own entry criteria and thus it is not surprising, and is certainly not unfair, that a Catholic school, has being a Catholic on its list of entry criteria. However, I do know of many non-Catholic students who have enjoyed a St Richard's education.

I am sure I am not alone in thanking Mr Campbell for what he has done for the school and its students and wishing him well in his retirement.

JOHN MULHERN

Peartree Lane

Private fostering

NOT many people realise, but if an adult is informally looking after somebody else's child/young person under the age of 16 for more than 28 days, then this is known in law as a Private Fostering Arrangement. Anyone, other than a close relative, looking after a child/young person on behalf of the parents, comes under the Private Fostering Law. By 'close relative' we mean grandparent, aunt, uncle or step-parent with parental responsibility.

So, if you have arranged for your child to live with someone else who is not a close relative, you are required by law to notify NCH Tall Trees Family Centre. We will then arrange to see the child/young person and the carer(s) to ensure the child/young person's safety and offer advice/support to the carer(s).

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If you know of a child/young person under the age of 16 living in a Private Fostering arrangement, or have any questions, please contact: Tall Trees Family Centre run by NCH the Children's Charity on 01424 730022 or e-mail [email protected] and we will do the rest.

So let's work together to help children in our community reach their full potential and keep safe.

SUZANNE CORNFORD

Project Manager

NCH Tall Trees Family Centre

Heartfelt appeal

DID you know that each year up to 600 children are diagnosed with a half a functioning heart?

Up and down the country there are brave children, and their families, who are living with the life changing diagnosis of an incurable heart condition. Thanks to innovative surgery more and more children are living into adulthood, but their hearts will never be normal. Many will face a heart transplant in their teens.

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So how can you support these children? It couldn't be simpler. February 14 is recognised as Valentine's Day. Many people may not be aware that it is also Congenital Heart Disease Day and to mark the occasion we are encouraging young people and adults to bake and then sell cookies for children with half a heart throughout the month of February. A range of Valentine's Cards is also available at Tesco stores countrywide with 10p from each card donated to the charity. For more information visit www.lhm.org.uk.

Little Hearts Matter offers a listening ear and easy to understand information on all aspects of treatment and lifestyle. They also create new opportunities for children who spend their lives told they can't do the same as their friends. With your help Half a Heart won't mean Half a Life.

SUZIE HUTCHINSON

Director

Little Hearts Matter

Greenfield Crescent

Edgbaston

Birmingham

Escaped dog

WE would like to thank the people who in the early hours of Friday morning found a Staffordshire bull terrier (Benson) and kept him until they were able to take him to the police station where he was reunited with his owners, our grandson Adam and his wife Amy.

Mr and Mrs Crowther had moved house the day before and Benson had escaped from the rear garden.

Benson has not left his owners' sight since.

Alan and Lynn Fuller

The Mead