Your Letters - January 18

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

Thanks, Janice

THANK you, Janice Blake, for all your many years of teaching dance to hundreds of children in Bexhill.

It was my suggestion over a coffee at Hastings Musical Festival 35 years ago that she should start her own Dancing School. I am so thrilled she did.

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I have had so much pleasure watching 10 of my grandchildren and two great granddaughters dance in a great deal of music festivals and shows, some of them for many years.

Several of Janice's pupils have gone on to dance professionally, one of my granddaughters being just one of them.

Amanda has also taught and choreographed for Janice for several years and I am very proud and I am sure Janice must be too, that Amanda will be opening her own Dancing School at St Peter's Community Centre when Janice retires at Easter.

Thank you again Janice for my happy years.

PEGGY ADAMS

Manor Road

That contract

READING last week's comments by Tony Leonard regarding possible savings of Rother's 320,800 maintenance revenue budget, if your readers are thinking it, I am going to say it; a decade at least, for the penny to drop.

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Now it's four Jacks-of-all trades to cover 24 hours seven days a week; this must have been one lucrative contract at taxpayers expense, which begs the question, is RDC capable of running a maintenance team?

Richard Paine

Gwyneth Grove

Law enforcement

NOW that Rother Distract Council have decided to enforce the law by putting bollards up can we expect them to try enforcing some other laws, i.e. cycling on the promenade, or the use of the pavement for parking on De La Warr Road or the driving over the pavement by Tesco's delivery lorries at Collington Mansions (there being no dropped pavement to allow them to do this)?

Graham Martin-Royle

Robin Court

Cooden Drive

Pavilion content

I HAVE to confess to some confusion over what point Ms Stephanie Webb is actually trying to make (Letter, January 11).

She cites a one-off 'al fresco / acid house' brass band concert as her proof of the type of benefit DLWP is delivering. Now Ms Webb may not realise it, but there have been extrememly popular band performances at the Pavilion since well before World War II. But then they were called "open-air" rather than "al fresco", they contained programmes of widely accessible musical taste and, unlike her example, were delivered on a weekly basis throughout the summer season by a wide variety of excellent silver bands.

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If Ms Webb's example is her measure of the best that DLWP can bring to the table - after, let us not forget, around 10million of subsidised expenditure - then is she not actually making the case that DLWP is pretentiously providing much less content for far more cost (and therefore proving to be a near total waste of our money and time)?

JOHN WILLIAMS

Cooden Sea Road

Dog mess

HAVING read today's Observer's article on Egerton Park, I would be interested to know if amongst all the expensive plans for the refurbishment that the members of the council are planning, have they included the cost of having someone (possibly the Rother District Dog Warden) to enforce the dog fouling rules?

Last week I took my four year-old grandson down to the park to ride his new bicycle. We went round most of the pathways, and everywhere there were large piles of poo. I gave up after counting 67 piles.

Firstly could I ask the irresponsible dog owners to pick up after their dogs and not walk away leaving the park unpleasant. Secondly could Rother District Council please take action against those that do not carry out this simple and hygienic task. It doesn't matter that it is winter at the moment, the park is still well attended by many grandparents/parents with children and frankly I am fed up with having to clean my grandson's boots and bicycle wheels.

Janet Graves

Barnhorn Road

Tax freeze

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WHY are our councillors so appalled by the 'disastrous' grant settlement from the government? Surely this cannot cause any problems, all they have to do is 'dip into their reserves' as they planned to do to the tune of 600,000 to pay for quite unnecessary expenditure on West Parade. If they were to follow this course perhaps the council tax for 2008 could be kept below 5 per cent or even frozen at the current rate.

This to me would make economic sense and also show that they really care for the welfare of the public who voted for them.

J TOLLETT

Bidwell Avenue

Dog control

WITH reference to the article on sheep attacks in the January 4 edition.

This example of lack of control of dogs is probably by those inconsiderate, anti-social owners who couldn't care less, those too lazy to clear up their dog's mess on the promenade, grass and asphalt.

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Having caught the dangerous dogs I was amazed to read they will be handed back to irresponsible owners and no doubt kill again.

When farming I and neighbours had prize sheep torn to pieces so had to lay in wait then shot four dogs because it is legal to kill dogs on farms if chasing and killing. It is ridiculous in such cases as described the police can only prosecute, they should have same powers as farmers but without guns, call in a vet and have them put down immediately.

I trust the prosecution is successful and can make a bold, warning headline.

ERIC HALLIDAY

Brookfield Road

John Day

I HAVE just read John Day's obituary, and it is with very much regret that I did not have the pleasure of meeting John before he sadly passed away, I would have loved to have had a good old chat with him, the reason being is that I too was born and bred in the same place, Deptford, London SE8.

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I myself also lived through the turmoil of the blitz in London and through the buzz bombs and the V2's and can tell a tale or two. I also served with the Royal Air Force, but I never saw any of the d-day landings, although my brother did in the Royal Navy. But to all who served on the D-Day landings I hold my hat high to them.

Another thing that Mr Day mentioned was the Lewisham train disaster. I was also on that. I happened to be working on the railway when that terrible disaster took place. I was on the signal and telegraph department that was at the old St John's signal box, which alas is not there anymore, but that was one of the worst things to happen to me in my lifetime and which haunts me from time to time.

Anyway I thought I would put my thoughts on to paper and let you know as I thought you might be interested, as it was so coincidental that my life was similar to Mr Day's.

B COOPER

Park Road

Restaurant story

Re: Article on The Mistral Restaurant

I WRITE with reference to the above matter.

I could not believe what I was reading regarding The Mistral, I disagree with the whole article.

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I have been a regular customer of The Mistral for over 10 years (previously known as The Mermaid).

I have never seen the place dirty - I can only assume the mess first thing on New Years Day was the remains of a New Years Eve party - what New Years Eve party doesn't leave a mess?

With regards to flat beer and dirty lines - what a load of nonsense! I have always found the food and drink from The Mistral to be exceptional. I expect the bar was drunk dry on New Years Eve.

From my experience the previous manager made everyone feel welcome which created a happy atmosphere shown through staff and customer, which in return kept the place alive and well recommended - not something I will be doing any more.

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The restaurant had many regulars who no doubt will have a lot to say about how deceptive the article is.

Please feel free to publish this response.

MR WISEMAN

Wentworth Close

Swimming pool

WHEN first I came to Bexhill, 25 years ago - where has it all gone? - one of the hot topics being debated was ... a swimming pool.

We even had a suggestion it be sited on the De La Warr Pavilion car park. In the end, after much huffing and puffing, we got the wholly unsatisfactory leisure pool at Glyne Gap.

Come 2008, the wheel has turned full circle, as witnessed by your headline last week: "Councils asked to dip into funds for Olympic-size pool."

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Now, as then, there seems agreement all round that a proper pool would a Good Thing. But where to put it?

That also was the big debate 25 years back.

Well, I've argued this before so I might as well argue it again. There is one obvious site: the old Hi-De-Hi holiday camp at Bulverhythe.

After all, there used to be a pool there - quite a big one although not, I think, Olympic size. There has been much argument about what to do with the now-derelict site. Another pool seems the obvious answer.

There's plenty of room for a full-size pool. It would, surely, be an amenity to an area that is in dire need of improvement. Transport?

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Lots of room for parking and the 98 and 99 bus routes both pass within a stone's throw. West St Leonards station is a short walk. And development of the cycle path between Hastings and Bexhill could make things even better.

In other words, it is convenient for everyone. So, why do Hastings and Rother councils not extractum digitum and do something about it? There will never be a better chance.

And if a pool was part of a marina, brilliant!

Sinclair Robieson

Marina

Recycling plan

Re: RR/2007/3123/P Barnhorn Road Development

I COMMEND Trevor Oldham on his excellent letter last week. Unfortunately I have further bad news for the Barnhorn Road residents.

Mr Worssam, of Pebsham Farm, has submitted a planning application for a waste recycling centre at the end of Pebsham Lane. This will increase the traffic congestion in Barnhorn Road and Little Common area.

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The site where the recycling centre is to be built is in a field at the bottom of resident's back gardens. Surely the noise and pollution from this plant is completely unacceptable.

The extra number of lorries using Pebsham Lane is also unacceptable.

Mr Oldham is correct stating that the apathy shown by his neighbours in Barnhorn Road is surprising. The same problem is affecting the Pebsham residents. Unfortunately this disease probably affects most of the British population.

R SANDERSON

Top Cross Road

Rockets

I READ with interest the article on the front page of the Observer dated January 4 regarding the rocket sticks which fell onto Mr Winskell's property, some of which looked very large, and I cannot help but comment on the dangerous possibilities which could have arisen from them, especially as the article stated that on inspection the next morning, some of the rockets had stuck into the ground some six inches like arrows.

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At the end of the article, I note that some had even stuck into the gentleman's roof! I should have thought that having sticks of this size sticking into one's roof, would have caused some leakage to same?.

I would therefore be very interested to know if Mr Winskell has success regarding making a claim against the people who fired rockets of this unreasonable size so near or in the direction of any property.

I had a similar event near to my property a couple of years ago, and I also picked up several rockets the next morning around my property, all of which had stuck into the ground in a similar fashion. But the worst of it was that one of these rockets actually came clean through my conservatory roof, making a hole some five inches round and the smouldering rocket lay on my conservatory floor still smouldering and making a frightful stink!

As luck would have it, I was at home at the time, so I acted quickly and put the stinking rocket remains outside. But had I not been there at the time, it could have caused untold damage. But also one of us could have been standing in the conservatory at the time.

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Anyway, it cost my wife and me 4,000 to have the roof repaired!, and in November 2007, another rocket landed on the roof during the display from the same garden.

The garden where this display takes place every year, belongs to a neighbouring pub, and when my roof was holed, I approached the landlord for details of his insurance, so that I could put a claim forward. The landlord instantly reared up and threw much abusive language at me and ordered me out of his pub! Now I cannot for the life of me see why people have to put up with any of this anti-social behaviour, and especially when all fireworks used for display purposes should only be handled by professionally trained persons!

John Cleverley

Broadlands

Hastings

Grants

AT the foot of my letter about the De La Warr published in the Bexhill Observer last Friday the editor had added a footnote "The Observer understands the draft revenue figure is purely provisional and that the cabinet will respond after the overview and scrutiny committee has reported." All I can say is that the welfare of the De La Warr Charitable Trust appears uppermost in the minds of the cabinet as at the same meeting they were persuaded to approve grants of 7,620 to Bexhill Amateur Theatrical Society and 4,922 to the Bexhill Light Opera and Dramatic Society on the basis that the majority of this funding was to subsidise the booking of venues such as the De La Warr Pavilion and that these commitments would already be in place for 2008/09.

But what is mind blowing is that in addition to the Overview and Scrutiny review of the draft budget in January, a specialist consultation company has been engaged to interview approximately 250 people during December and January as to their views on the draft budget. At what cost may I ask? There are 38 Rother District councillors and surely they are in touch with their constituents and could/should discuss with them the various services delivered by the council and the impact of reduced or increased spending. Otherwise what are councillors for? Of course the art of specialist consultation is the framing of questions. I do not suppose the 250 people consulted will be asked "Do you think the majority of Rother ratepayers would wish to give 606,300 to the De La Warr?"

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And I would ask councillors not representing Bexhill Wards to consider that 65,000 was the sum in the 2007/2008 capital programme for village halls and community grants. Village committees work their socks off to maintain and improve their halls. For example this financial year Mountfield Village Hall Management Committee requested funding towards the cost of renovation works to the floor, the creation of lighting, sound and storage for the stage, improvements to the foyer, creation of storage for the Blind Club and replacement of internal fixtures and fittings. The estimated cost of the work was 5,500.The Village Hall Management Committee had been actively fund raising. The Cabinet approved a grant of 1000 towards the costs.

Enough said.

J E GOLDSWORTHY (Mrs)

Glengorse

Battle

School

Re: Pebsham School reunion

I LIVED in Dallington Close, Pebsham from 1981 to 2005 and spent seven very happy years at the school. When I was at the school in the reception class in 1985-6 we had a bad overnight snowfall. My Dad was a taxi driver and was unable to work, so he carried me to school as the snow was too deep for me to walk. After struggling through the snow and ice, we arrived at the school to find it was closed due to staff not being able to get there. So he had to carry me home again.

KELLY HICKS

Down Road

Rubbish

I AM writing to express my disgust at the council's decision to leave bags of rotting rubbish in the streets.

For some reason, best known to themselves, the council took the decision to empty the wheelie bins only and to take no additional bags of rubbish. This is in spite of the Christmas period traditionally being the heaviest of the year in terms of rubbish generation. There was also an extra day in the collection period - rubbish was taken a day later because of the bank holiday.

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When I telephoned the council I was told to drive the rubbish to the tip myself! When I explained that my family do not have a car I was told we could have the rubbish collected under the Bulky Waste Collection Scheme but would have to pay 12 for the privilege. We cannot afford to pay an additional 12 for something that we already pay for through our council tax.

If everyone with a car does drive their own rubbish to the tip think of all the unnecessary journeys that will be created and all that additional CO2 pumped into the atmosphere. That is totally ridiculous when the dustcart has to make the journey anyway.

We recycle everything that can be recycled but over Christmas there was simply more rubbish than usual. Gift wrapping, for example, could not be recycled according to the council's own literature and therefore had to be thrown away.

Residents in Hastings and St Leonards have much larger bins than those of us in Bexhill. Is there any reason our council thinks we make less rubbish than people in Hastings? The bin we were issued with for a household of four is the same size as for a single person household, clearly four people are going to make more rubbish than one person but no allowance is made for that.

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Bags of decomposing rubbish are now laying about the streets attracting rats and becoming a health hazard. Does the council care? They have a legal obligation to collect the rubbish and they are failing in their duty.

KAREN SMITH

School Place

Guilty

I WAS interested in Charlie Banks account of Hastings in wartime, being stationed there almost all of that time, in the ATS. I am guilty of eating black market meat at the hotel in Westfield, we walked down Stonestile Lane from The Ridge where we were billeted. We ate mostly pork chops, which on reflection were absolutely horrible, thick, fatty and seemingly uncured. We met and loved many of the Canadians in the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, rascals or not! I am still in touch with a few of them in Canada but, like the ATS, we are thinning out now.

MAY JACKSON

Ocklynge Close

Stranded

ON Friday at about 6.30pm to 6.45pm, my husband was changing a tyre on his van just off Bexhill bypass in Dorset Road. Unfortunately, the van fell on to his hand, trapping his hand under the tyre with the weight of the van going on to my husband's hand. He could not reach his mobile phone to ring someone for help as this was in the van.

My husband was on his knees waving at passers-by thinking that someone might stop to help him when they could quite clearly see him kneeling by the van with his hand trapped underneath the tyre, as he was on the roadside of the van. To my husband's complete astonishment not one person that passed him stopped. One man did stop and gave my husband the V sign!

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Eventually, a gentleman by the name of Chris Biddis did come to my husband's rescue and managed to free him from the van. Our eternal thanks goes to him.

The point of my letter to you is just 'what is this world coming to', when not one person would stop to aid a 70-year-old man! We appreciate that people are wary of stopping, but if someone had just bothered to stop and ask if he was okay and perhaps ring someone on his behalf for help it would have been much appreciated!

P BUTCHERS (Mrs)

Address supplied

Memories

WHILE in town and having half an hour to pass while waiting for a bus, I walked down Sackville Road and came across this cafe / restaurant, Princes. I went in for a coffee and being an ex-Londoner was delighted to find a London theme, the tables had 1940s / 50s newspapers under glass on the tables and cruets were London red buses, telephone boxes and mini Big Ben. I spent a lovely half hour reading the articles on the tables and walls bringing back many memories of my younger days. The staff were very pleasant. I would like to wish them well in their venture.

F A CONNOLLY (Mrs)

Chartres Close

Postwatch

IN December Bexhill Liberal Democrats who were particularly concerned over the proposed closure of the Post Office at Collington Mansions delivered copies of a leaflet across the area in an effort to make sure that as many local residents as possible had the opportunity to put forward their views to the consultation team.

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We should like to let residents know that in addition to those who wrote individual letters and signed the petition over 150 people completed and returned the back page of the leaflet and that all these were forwarded to the consultation team with a copy to Postwatch.

I have since received a letter from the team assuring me that each of these forms has been read and accepted as an individual comment and thanking us for taking the time and trouble to ensure the views of the local community are considered.

I have also had a telephone call and a letter from Postwatch saying that they have taken into account all the issues raised on these forms.

Now we can only wait and hope.

Jennifer Als

Secretary, Bexhill and Battle Liberal Democrats

Millwood, Peasmarsh

Antiques

WE are dismayed at the recent letters regarding the Antiques Roadshow at the DLWP.

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Posters and adverts around the town for months before the event stated clearly that they were looking for antiques of the future and invited people to contact them with collections etc to be assessed before the day and what better place in the whole country to set such a show?

We were asked to be stewards at the show and it turned out to be a thoroughly interesting and enjoyable experience.

The BBC staff emphasised that the aim of the day was to be pleasant for everyone. We all know that going to the AR with our bits and pieces means long queues and as stewards, we were asked to try to ensure that people were as comfortable as could be - keep their places in the queue if they needed to disappear for a few minutes etc.

The experts worked long and hard all day, their enthusiasm was boundless, each and everyone was eventually seen and they were especially caring with younger people who had spent such a long time waiting. It must be obvious to everyone that with the number of people who turn up (1500-2000 at the DLWP) that most will not be filmed and if you are filmed it is explained that you may not get onto the final programme. We understood that there were to be two programmes made, one for the antiques of the future and one traditional AR and there may also be a compilation show to include others.

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The DLWP looked magnificent and even though space was tight for the number of people milling around and the weather windy and sometimes wet, the DLWP staff could not have been more helpful.

We had taken some things to be valued, and as stewards it was not until late in the day that we could join the queue. Mark Alum really wanted to have them filmed but by then the filming schedule was full. We volunteered to visit another AR in Lincolnshire and at East Kirkby we were indeed filmed - again no promises - but we were included in the show that was broadcast on Remembrance Sunday.

CHRISTINE & DEREK

GOVIER

Ninfield Road

Clamping

PERHAPS the illegal car parkers in Channel View would prefer the council to adopt a vigorously applied wheel clamping policy?

Derek Duly

Newlands Avenue

Handbag

I AM writing to say a very big thank you to the person who found my handbag outside Lidl - Sidley yesterday (January 9) and handed it into the shop.

I was so relieved to get it back.

Once again many thanks to the person also Lidl's.

M MAITLAND

Peartree Lane

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