Your Letters - January 11

Theatre value

I REFER to your article on amateur shows at the De La Warr Pavilion and Rother Council's warning that the subsidies received by the BLODS and BATS are in danger of being withdrawn.

I would remind councillors, Rother officials and the Pavilion Trust that the BLODS have been performing at the De La Warr since it first opened and only the Second World War and recent refurbishment have interrupted this laudable achievement.

In this time the BLODS have provided a unique service to the local community by producing shows which would not otherwise be seen in Bexhill. The Pavilion could simply not afford to stage professional shows with casts between 40 and 60 people and the BLODS shows have often been praised as being of professional standard.

In addition the BLODS and BATS provide an unrivalled opportunity for young people to develop personal and theatrical skills by becoming members and performing in public, these opportunities would not otherwise be available to them.

A good number of members (many of whom I can name) go on to succeed as professionals in the drama world. Others find that drama is a wonderful instrument in personal development by way of self-confidence, discipline and concentration.

Audiences, of which a good proportion do not visit other shows at the Pavilion, experience live theatre through the BLODS and BATS which cannot be equalled by Television or Film.

How then does Mr Stevens measure the benefits to the community by the BLODS and BATS, simply in financial terms? How does Councillor Patten intend to measure 'value for money' simply in terms of audience numbers? Whilst St Peter's Community Hall is an admirable venue, large musicals cannot physically be staged there.

Do the people of Bexhill, who after all pay for the subsidy, wish to see the death knell of the BLODS and BATS resulting in more 'dark nights' at the Pavilion? Does the Pavilion Trust wish to turn the 'auditorium', which we call the theatre, into another art gallery? I would suggest, the answer is in the negative as the council's own survey results prove. The councillors and the Pavilion Trust must listen to the people they represent.

Finally, how ironic that the then Lord De La Warr, in 1940 as President of the Board of Education, chaired a committee which was the forerunner of the Arts Council of Great Britain, which now subsidises the De La Warr Pavilion Trust, began by subsidising amateur theatre as a means of 'raising the morale' of the people at such a depressing time!

Bernard Simon

Past chairman and life member of BLODS

Good taste

R. F. HASLETT (Letters - December 21) suggests that the DWLP is not responsive to local taste and only caters for a minority of residents. So in fact the approximately 1000 strong crowd of all ages who attended the free al fresco concert at the Pavilion last summer, featuring a brass band that played acid house music was an apparition, and in reality residents are waiting for people like R. F. Haslett to let us know what we really want.

STEPHANIE WEBB

Collington Avenue

Sassy show

WORKING as a designer, having moved away from Bexhill 10 years ago, I have for many years been a Pavilion 'enthusiast' and have been disappointed with the negative press this historical landmark continually receives.

Returning to Bexhill to spend Christmas with my family, I decided to book a table at the De La Warr Pavilion to see Acrobats and Angels. Well done DLWP! The show was sassy and exciting and the performers were professional and thoroughly entertaining. This is exactly the modern, avante garde production that Bexhill's biggest asset should be promoting and thoroughly in keeping with the beautiful venue. I look forward to next year's productions!

SARAH AUSTIN

Tetsworth

Oxfordshire

Andrew's story

I FELT extremely pleased with the Observer last week after reading 'Schizophrenia - Andrew's story'. The paper had published an article that painted a real 'lived experience' of a severe mental illness.

It is not often that you will read, 'person with schizophrenia attains Masters Degree in Social Policy'. I also know people who teach, write, perform, have highly responsible full-time jobs, have relationships and families, and live with the severe and debilitating symptoms of health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bi-polar, 'personality disorder' and schizophrenia.

It is hard work convincing people to look at the stigma, prejudice and discrimination faced by people who live with the distress of such health issues; but employers, colleagues, friends and families need the media to respond and provide positive messages, which in turn can help and encourage communities and individuals to tackle the injustices, supporting people with such health problems to achieve their productive and valued lives more easily.

SU BARNICOAT

Focus on Mental Health

Trinity Street

Hastings

Racing cars 1

IN reply to Grumpy Old Man of Cooden Drive, I completely agree about the speeding vehicles.

I live in Cooden Sea Road; we have no 30 mile an hour limit signs. The majority of traffic races down Cooden Sea Road to get to Cooden Drive and of course the speeding traffic from Cooden Drive will then race up Cooden Sea Road. Our road is no more than a lane with quite a large part of it without a pavement. It is full of twists and bends.

For the last three years I have regularly raised this issue with the Police and Highways Agency but I am told that people should know that it is a 30 mile limit! I have been promised lamp post signs to remind people to reduce their speed but I am still waiting. It is an accident waiting to happen.

N SMITH

Even Grumpier Old Man

Cooden Sea Road

Racing cars 2

RECENTLY our neighbour had a cat mown down on the race-track that is Buckhurst Road. This is the second fatality, the first was injured and crawled into a garden before being found and sadly put to sleep.

Please drivers, SLOW DOWN! and if you hit an animal have the grace to check its condition.

One day a child or pensioner will be killed on this road. Perhaps then something will be done.

Yes, we have written to the council (two years ago). Result, no reply.

ANDREW & SARAH COOK

Cranfield Road

Edited out

I MUST agree with Mr Fairhurst letter (January 4) 'Antiques Let-Down' that to most of us in Bexhill who visited the recording of the BBC Antiques Roadshow in the summer at the De La Warr Pavilion, were very much let down by coming under a 'special' 1970's style roadshow, and not quite the normal format we are used to watching on Sunday night.

I indeed spent nearly an hour being filmed and interviewed by its main presenter Michael Aspel along with my 'Antique' 77-year-old Austin 7 motor car, yet even that, along with Bexhill's rich motoring history never made the final broadcast!

However do not despair Bexhill, as I have received a letter from the BBC production team hinting that we may well be included in a compilation edition later in the year.

Fingers crossed they may do us proud yet?

LEE DUNN

Church Street

Party thanks

MAY I have space in your newspaper to thank and congratulate Sidley Community Association on their Christmas Party in December.

An excellent meal and entertainment, much of it done by young children and all volunteers.

Their expertise and talent was far beyond their years and the whole association must have worked for months to put on a wonderful treat for old people.

In these days, when one hears so much about bad children it made me feel proud that we have so many young people (and not so young) giving up their time to help us old 'uns.

May I, through your newspaper, thank all those who were involved.

JIM HEARN

Calgary Road

Money plant

REGARDING your article about Betty Lucia's flowering money plant. I had one that flowered regularly each year until my daughter acquired a kitten which used to enjoy climbing among the branches and eventually destroyed it.

Despite rescuing several of the pieces, unfortunately none of the 'offspring' have yet shown any signs of flowering.

Pamela Malpass

Salvington Crescent

OUR money plant story last week produced a lot of blooming interest. See page 19.- Ed

Sore loser

WHAT a sore loser ex-councillor Peter Fairhurst is turning out to be ("Poll dates", January 4). And is that a way to speak to the voters of St Michael's and Sackville? And what about Conservative county councillors? Or is it only Lib Dems who hold "lucrative" posts?

Come on, Peter, lighten up and stop being such a grouch!

STEPHEN JACKSON

Second Avenue

Paper lady

I WOULD like to pay tribute to Joyce - the elderly "paper lady" who, after 20 odd years has now retired from her paper round with "Good Intent" newsagents. She has plodded through the streets, up and down steps etc in all weathers delivering papers from her 'Sholley' - Good luck, Joyce - I shall miss you.

P BROOK

Cantelupe Court

De La Warr Parade

Roller skating

AS we have already got skateboard ramps I think it would be a good idea to have an outdoor roller skating rink, something all the family could enjoy.

GRAHAM WILLARD

Second Avenue

Ever grumpy

IN your January 4 issue of the Bexhill Observer one of your correspondents signed himself as "GRUMPY OLD MAN, Cooden Drive".

Well, I do not agree with his comments because I am a grumpy old man, too, and, as you see, I have an address in Cooden Drive.

Doubtless we are not the only ones - probably there are a number of others, but for the time being I will sign off as ...

ANOTHER GRUMPY OLD MAN

Cooden Drive

Name and address supplied

Barnhorn development

Re: Rother planning application RR/2007/3123/P

Large Development on A259 on Barnhorn Road

I HAVE no idea how many people - pedestrians - cyclists - motorists - business vehicles - local emergency services - the elderly - the children and the handicapped, who use the A259 at any time, realise the extent of the disruption that will be caused to them by the above proposed development, which goes before the planning committee sometime around January 17.

This planned development aims to demolish five (5) substantial houses to make way for - and I quote from their blurb "Redevelopment to form Tailored Care Living (TCL) Development for the Frail Elderly" and will consist of a two to four storey building comprising 36 serviced apartments and 30 nursing suites, plus all the communal facilities.

The serviced apartments, which can be bought or rented, will consist of, one or two bedrooms, lounge and bathroom but no cooking facilities, (a fully staffed kitchen prepares meals for all the residents within the development), and they will either eat in a communal dining room or have their meals brought to their individual apartments.

The nursing suites, comprise an open plan sleeping / sitting area, with a separate shower room and toilets. Meals will be in residential suites.

Now, taking into consideration, how many residential and how many nursed individuals, plus cleaning, cooking, nursing, maintenance, visitors, local services etc. will at any time night or day will be entering or leaving the development, I leave you to speculate.

There will be 22 parking spaces plus areas for mobility scooters to be recharged, but will this space be adequate for daily deliveries, staff, visitors plus some residential staff may still be driving, who knows, and will they be parking on Barnhorn Road if a parking space is not available.

My neighbours and I, usually spend between three-five minutes to join the traffic flow and even longer if we wish to cross the traffic flow.

We have been campaigning to stop this idiotic development and I am so disappointed by the apathy shown by residents on the A259, who have had the opportunity to voice their concern over the "infilling" being practised by developers, who are paying high prices to householders and putting up huge developments, which will test to the extreme, the local services - water, hospitals, doctors and social services.

If this development goes ahead on an already congested road, a trunk road, that accommodates every size of vehicle, the houses will have to be demolished, and rebuilding on the site will take any time between 18 months and two years. Will YOU be prepared to wait in a traffic jam, whilst on the way to work, to the hospital, shopping or taking the children to school, while large vehicles come and go on the site, delivering materials or taking away rubbish? I DON'T THINK SO. At the time of writing this letter for publication (I hope), the outcome for this particular planning application has not been decided, but I do advise everyone in Rother, to read their local papers, listen to their councillors and put a stop to unwanted intrusions from developers, who are intent on destroying communities and our peaceful and beautiful vistas, for the sake of making big profits for themselves and their stakeholders.

TREVOR OLDHAM

Barnhorn Road

Pavilion costings

Re: The De La Warr Pavilion

THE OVERVIEW and Scrutiny Committee of Rother District Council will be meeting on January 28 to decide how much money to provide for the Trust which runs the Pavilion.

For the past five years they have been providing 500,000 which has increased each year in line with inflation.

The lease specifies that a new agreement be made in April 2008 for a further five years. A committee of councillors under the leadership of Cllr Ensor was set up in 2007 to assess the position.

Cllr Ensor has made a splendid effort to obtain comments from the public and to present the views of his committee to the council. However, I am seriously concerned because I believe that on the present indications the council may not take a strong enough line in this matter.

The pertinent points are as follows:

1. A figure of between 7 & 8 million pounds was raised to restore and renovate the building, but it still belongs to Rother District Council.

2. The Trust is entirely responsible for the maintenance of the building and the running of its activities, but as one of the two main supporters (the other being the Arts' Council) Rother clearly has a right to question its policies.

3. It is acknowledged by many experienced people in Rother generally and Bexhill in particular that since the Pavilion re-opened in 2006 the Trustees have not co-operated with the public at large and have signally failed to utilise the building fully in ways that would edify rate payers and justify our investment of over half a million pounds each year.

4. Specific points at issue are as follows:

a. Insufficient use of the theatre.

b. Appallingly limited use of the gallery and exhibition space.

c. Very doubtful organisation of the cafe and restaurant facilities.

d. Limited use of the shop.

e. Reluctance to incorporate the Tourist Information Office into the Pavilion.

It is clear therefore, that the Trust must be told in no uncertain terms that they must change their policies and look far more carefully at the costs of running the building. We also need many more local Trustees.

BASIL R. STREAT

Cantelupe Road

Invitation to burglars

Re: Rother recycling

ON Friday, January 4, Verdant, the council's contractor attached a sticky label to our black bin. It read as follows: "We were unable to empty your container for one of the following reasons (with boxes)

*container contaminated

*container too heavy

*wrong container presented for collection

*container not at right collection point

*no side waste collected

unauthorised container presented"

There was no tick to identify the reason. Our household rubbish is collected every two weeks instead of weekly, so I guess the bin was too heavy. This is predictable, common sense is like virginity, you either have it or you don't.

Now then, wheelie bin microchips monitor the amount of rubbish a household produces. Burglars only have to hack into the council's computer to see which households are producing less rubbish than usual to find out who is on holiday. So, don't go on holiday.

Recent recommendations, in a report by the Justice Committee call for officials in the public and private sectors to face criminal charges if they put people's data security at risk through carelessness or impropriety. At present, anything goes, privacy can be underminded by, for instance, the lack of data encryption, inadequate password protection and leaving wireless networks open. The self congratulatory glossy newsletters boasting of the council's success in reducing the number of rubbish collections contain no data assurances.

Rather than fly posting its own wheelie bins for no apparent reason, the council would be better occupied saving on the cost of labels and reducing council tax, otherwise, people will either drive to the tip by car, thereby weakening the fight against global warming or not recycle at all. Childish stickers, part of the relentless pressure to force people to recycle waste give a negative feeling and are stressful for the elderly.

We are recycling to the best of our ability and have done so for many years as is apparent on site. Is the council protecting our data?

E D COOK

Sandhurst Lane

Driving safety

Re: Elderly Drivers:

YOUR correspondent on this subject in the Observer, December 28 gives many reasons why he would prefer to be driven by someone over 75 than by a young driver.

I would not agree with this. Saga Magazine in the January issue has an article on older drivers with the Government's possible proposals regarding licences for older people and possible tests of their ability to drive.

I certainly agree that some sort of tests, and not the driver's own assessment, should be brought in before issuing new licences to those over - and they proposed 75 - but I would say that 70 should be the appropriate age.

The Observer has published reports of various minor accidents that older drivers have had in this area as well as the sad accident of the elderly driver who reversed in the dark along a pavement and killed a well-known local man. Some of these accidents could be caused because they drove automatic cars which, as I know, can easily be in the 'wrong' gear by mistake.

I would like to cite my late husband as an example.

He had taught himself to drive before tests were brought in and he refused also to read the Highway Code, a necessity for those applying for a new licence at 70. He was a terrible driver, much too slow, never indicated until he actually turned, etc.

His doctor gave him a certificate for a Blue badge even though he knew his heart could fail at any moment. And of course the doctor had no idea of his lack of driving skill. In the event my husband did die suddenly when driving the car, but luckily he was parked at that moment outside a library.

I, and I know of several other friends and neighbours, who have now voluntarily given up driving as they considered they were no longer capable for various health and mental reasons to continue driving. I myself passed my test the first time, in 1963, but when I was no longer able to walk to the shops, I did not apply for a Blue Badge but gave up driving my automatic car.

I appeal to all other drivers approaching 70 to really think responsibly about whether they are really fit to drive now given the present traffic and the necessity of being very alert to respond to some of the young irresponsible drivers who unfortunately are also using the roads. I also appeal to the friends and relatives of elderly people to persuade any drivers they feel are not now capable, to give up driving before any more tragic accidents happen. I also think that doctors could be more responsible when issuing medical certificates to elderly patients so that they can get a Blue Badge.

NAME & ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Fleet carriers

DID you ever serve on board any of the light fleet carriers, HMS Bulwark, HMS Albion, or HMS Centaur? Our association - the HMS Bulwark Albion Centaur Association - is open to anyone who served at any time on these ships.

Magazine three times per year plus events including annual meeting / social, sea-days with our new ships, and anniversary commemorations. Recent years have seen the association in Malta and we held a very successful 200th Anniversary Trafalgar Night Dinner at HMS Nelson.

For our annual meeting and social this year we are back in Portsmouth at Nelson on Saturday, May 10. Last year we were on board the restored HMS Trincomalee, previously Foudroyant, at the Historic Quay in Hartlepool with an excellent social at the Hillcarter Hotel. Membership is all of 8 per annum! Enquiries to Leigh Easton, Glenmoray, Hayford Place, Cambusbarron, Stirling, FK7 9JX, or email at [email protected] or visit our website at www.bulwarkassoc.plus.com

LEIGH EASTON

Membership Secretary

Such kindness

ALREADY only a few days into the New Year, someone has renewed my faith in human kindness.

I was daft enough to lose my spectacles out of my pocket while walking along Egerton Road on Saturday. They were expensive and would have been a pain to replace. Some kind and thoughtful person found them, put them in a plastic bag and left them on the wall where they were found on Sunday by a helpful lady I met. Thanks so much!

Carolyn Scott

St Kitts

West Parade

Bethune Road

I AM researching the history of the land where now stands Grosvenor Park, the BUPA care home, and wonder if any local historian can give me any idea of when Bethune Road became Brookfield Road?

I have a print of a map of 1872 ( revised 1908 ) which shows it marked as Bethune Road, which I assume infers some interest in the wishes of Earl De La Warr to turn the eastern end of the sea front into an English Monte Carlo!

I'd be so pleased if anyone could shed any light on this.

C. Cox (Mrs)

25 Arthur Road

Happy Easter

I ENJOYED my first hot cross bun today, bought this morning from a local supermarket.

Of course the first Easter eggs and Easter cards hit the shops before Christmas!

So may I be the first to wish you all a lovely summer holiday before someone beats me to it!

Paul Minter

Bexhill Road

St Leonards-on-Sea