Your letters - January 22, 2010

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What's happening to the weather lately?

FOR MANY years I have been interested in weather patterns and their effect on our planet. So naturally I was most interested to read recently of a counter argument to those who declare we are facing a catastrophe caused by man made climate warming.

Many are wondering what is happening to our weather when we are told the climate is getting warmer. I have read reports from eminent scientists that far from getting warmer we are entering a new phase of cold weather! The bitter winter afflicting much of the Northern Hemisphere is only the start of a global trend towards cooler weather that is likely to last for 20 or 30 years. Their predictions – based on an analysis of natural cycles in water temperatures in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans – challenge some of the global warming orthodoxy's most deeply cherished beliefs, such as the claim that the North Pole will be free of ice in summer by 2010.

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Even the most committed global warming activists do not dispute that the Arctic summer sea ice has increased by 26 per cent since 2007. So why should this be when in other areas ice caps are receding? They say if one looks back to 1980 the 20/30 year warming cycle commenced about then, and if one looks back even further, these scientists say that these cycles could be recognised in earlier periods in the 20th century.

The cool cycle appears to be starting now and winters are more likely to be what we are experiencing now. Summers too are also likely to be cooler and this could last for two decades or longer. The extreme retreats that we have seen in glaciers and sea ice will come to a temporary halt. For the time being the planet has ceased its warming effect.

Despite what is said to the contrary there does appear to be a link between weather patterns and climate. The current freeze is simply due to 'Arctic oscillation' – a weather pattern that sees the development of huge 'blocking' areas of high pressure in northern latitudes, driving polar air far to the south. It appears from reports I have read that man made warming is balanced by the natural cycles in our climate. Unfortunately, for those who had in the past enjoyed a period of warmth we may have to wait another 20/30 years before the warm mode kicks in again. Not a happy prospect but maybe we shall not all burn up as is predicted by politicians and those who are keen activists of man made climate warming. Perhaps it will all balance out in the end.

GRANVILLE BANTICK

Rye Town Councillor

Common sense over snow clearance

OUR MP, Greg Barker, was concerned at the amount of snow on the railway platforms. He would do us all a huge favour if he could also address the legalities surrounding snow clearance in areas such as Battle High Street.

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I was told by more than one shopkeeper that they had been advised not to clear the snow as they could be sued if someone slipped and hurt themselves. (The wrong type of snow clearance presumably!) Who exactly was it that 'advised them' as I have also heard several times on the radio that this is completely wrong.

Our Town Council and Chamber of Commerce would do well to settle this before next winter as negotiating the frozen slush to get to some of the businesses on one side of the High Street was really quite dangerous. One slight slip and you could easily have toppled down the steps into the road.

By The Green the only 'safe' place to walk was in the road amongst the traffic. The safety of the public is improved if the snow is cleared from pavements not if it lies there, thaws, freezes, gets several more layers of snow, is trampled into ruts and freezes again. Can someone show some common sense here.

BRENDA ANSON,

Stream Lane, Sedlescombe.

Local heroes help us through the freeze

SO, THE schools closed; buses disappeared; trains ceased to run and post couldn't be delivered to outlying lanes in the village.

BUT great big thank you's are due to:

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Our milkman, who did not miss one delivery day during all the bad weather.

Our post office, which is in the village and we were able, therefore, to walk there and collect our mail.

Our butcher, who managed to keep his stocks ahead of the villagers' needs.

And, of course, our valuable village shop which somehow managed to keep stocking up despite the lack of deliveries during the bad weather.

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We just sincerely hope everyone keeps using them so that they are all still there next winter.

Thank you all very much indeed.

CHARLES AND JILL COPLAND,

Etchingham

Much-needed whiff of laughing gas

I HAVE just had a major operation and it is true that laughter is indeed the best medicine, for both my pre-op nerves and post-op recovery were greatly enhanced by the good-natured, but utterly non-PC, barrack room humour in our ward.

I bet Labour's Big Brother eavesdroppers are still reeling for we must all have exceeded our EU quota of laughs and banter.

Then I read, but now in pain from laughing, the embittered Socialists' rant about UKIP seeking a liaison with the much despised Old Etonian Tories (Letters, January 15), then it dawned on me that the writer was Stephen Jackson of the Lib-Dems, whose fanatically pro-EU party failed miserably in the Euro-elections and which has had more liaisons with Labour than I've had hot NHS dinners, which were by the way very nice indeed – so too were the nurses! Yum, yum!

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Stephen has once again forgotten his history (I can recommend Sellar & Yeatmans's "1066 and all that" as a starter) and that one's ability to succeed in life is down to a sound basic education, self-esteem, self-belief, self-governance and not the ability to absorb, and to hold, a class-conscious Socialist indoctrinated political chip on one's (left) shoulder.

Nurse!

BARRY M JONES,

Beckley, Rye.

The word 'Pikey' is not derogatory

WITH REFERENCE to the story, Innocent Man Arrested – Web Site Row, it seems that using the word 'Pikey' has been seen (allegedly) as insulting to the Gypsy people.

The original use of the word 'Pikey' for a travelling man goes back at least to the days of the English Civil War.

Royalist and Roundhead armies used pressed civilians as Pikemen. These pikemen forming three or four lines of men holding their approx 15ft pikes as a protection against cavalry charge. It was a task requiring courage and involving great risk, especially if the line of pikes was outflanked.

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At the end of the battle the surviving pikemen were paid off and, many being far from home, had to walk taking work to earn a living en route. Gangs of ex pikemen became a pool of itinerant labour, with agricultural skills and did much to increase the productivity of the land.

Pikemen, who became known as 'Pikeys', were largely labourers of indigenous descent. They were quite distinct from Gypsies whose origin was thought to be Egypt (hence the name) or India, since they spoke a corrupted Hindi.

As a lad I remember two roads, one known as Pikeys' Cross and the other known as Pikeys' Corner. Everybody used these names. There were kids at school known as Pikey kids and no one ever objected.

Please can we have History taught again in our schools (especially to those intending a career in politics!)?

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The word 'Pikey' is not a derogatory word for Gypsy and, incidentally, 'Gipsies' refer to themselves as 'Romanies' or 'Travelling People' so one wonders whether the word 'Gipsy' is insulting! Wherever will this stupid political correctness end?

CHARLIE PIGGOTT,

Main Street, Peasmarsh

Rye rail change is not for the best

CURRENTLY Rye is one of the principle stops on a strategic rail route that links it to the main centres in Sussex going westwards along the coast.

These include the county town of Lewes and the city of Brighton, which can be reached in only 1 hour 25 minutes.

From December of this year it won't be. I am told that most people in Rye think this is a change for the better. Am I missing something?

ED WISEMAN,

Rye.

We was robbed in Streete Game!!

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I READ with utter indignation the submission last week (January, 15) from The Game Marshall who unilaterally, it would appear, has reversed the score of the now infamous engagement on December 26, 2009 (The Winchelsea Streete Game).

I can (and have) been accused of many things, including political incorrectness in many forms, though to now be falsely charged with 'practising' is splutteringly beyond belief.

There is no evidence for this. The worst that could be said of the Blues is that one or two might have worn trainers, though this hardly constitutes 'practising'.

Given there is no formal appeal process, (quite rightly so, though a toothless organ could be developed along the lines of the Chilcot Inquiry), I would plead with The Game Marshall, through your worthy publication, to reconsider – and, perhaps in future, not take it so personally when his barrel gets Nick'ed!

NICK POOLE,

West Street, Rye.

Gritting should be local say Lib Dems

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A copy of a letter to Rupert Clubb, East Sussex County Council, Roads and Transport

WE UNDERSTAND that the current East Sussex County Council priorities are to grit all major roads first, only hand-gritting pavements if there's any time and grit left over.

Surely this is not only wrong environmentally but makes little sense in terms of people who need to walk to their shops to get essential supplies.

The casualty departments in our hospitals have been overwhelmed during the recent icy spells.

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This demonstrates lack of gritting to be a false economy given the bill the NHS will have to foot for all the people who have broken bones and torn tendons after slipping on icy pavements.

We also ask you to look again at enabling access to essential services including schools, hospitals and railway stations.

The time has come for an end to the argument as to which authority, District or County, Education or Health, is responsible for clearing snow and making roads and pavements safe.

It is only January and there could still be snow falls over the next three months.

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Action needs to be taken now to ensure that, if necessary by devolved powers, communities are enabled to carry out works locally when the need arises.

The current system of large gritting lorries running over many miles of the county's roads is not the only answer and does not achieve the required result.

MARY VARRALL,

Parliamentary Spokesman,

and SUSAN PROCHAK,

Rother District Councillor,

Bexhill and Battle Liberal Democrats.

Battle station roads – Meteor responsible

USERS of Battle Station may be interested to know that the responsibility for salting/gritting the roads around the car park and Station Approach falls to Southeastern Parking, part of Meteor Parking Services Ltd (0845 603 6197, [email protected], Meteor Parking Limited PO Box 475 Sevenoaks TN13 9JS).

I understand that it has an obligation to keep the road serviceable.

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I telephoned it last Thursday (January 7) to ask when they would grit.

It replied that it was dealing with all the stations in the South East area and would try to get round to all to grit them.

I followed this up with an email on Monday, January 11 when it was clear that nothing had been done at Battle Station by Meteor.

Again, Meteor replied that it was doing all they can.

Not good enough was my reply back to them, particularly as this is a main access road for station users and we may yet have more snowfall before winter is out.

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Users of this road will note that it has been treacherous with many cars getting stuck on ice going up or down the road.

Some needed pushing; others were towed.

Some opportunist owners of 4x4s were noted on Monday, January 11 charging to tow hapless commuters out of the car park.

I would be deeply unhappy if I had paid to park in a car park that I then could not get out of and furthermore had to cough up to some opportunist to tow me up to the main road.

The situation for rail car park customers, residents of Station Approach and businesses alike has been unacceptable and more could and should have been done despite the fact that this snowfall has been unprecedented (but not unforeseen).

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If anyone would like to give Meteor a call to remind it of their obligations please do so!

And lastly, thank you to all those who got their shovels out and dug the ice off the road.

ALISON NORWOOD

Mitre Way

Battle

Bad connection made good by free topping

IF YOU see the penultimate train to Hastings pull out of Ashford as you arrive from London four minutes late, don't despair at the thought of an hour's wait on a cold platform or in the truncated Lemon Tree.

We recommend you call at the nearby Pizza Go Go and meet the smiling Afghan whose warm greeting will calm your nerves and restore your faith in human nature.

You might even get a free topping as we did!

JOHN HART,

Love Lane, Rye.