Your Letters - July 11

Bypass need

WHEN I moved house, 27 years ago, I was told by the estate agents that the Bexhill/Hastings bypass would shortly be started as part of the A27 Folkestone to Honiton, Devon road. For that reason, we bought our house. Since then, and noted to be the fifth most dangerous road in Britain, too many people have been killed or severely injured.

We know, according to the police, that most accidents are caused by human error.

But, why oh why hasn't the bypass been started?

We know the funds are available.

Is it a case that those who should be putting the bypass into action, just don't care? How many families have to suffer as a result of the deaths?

On top of this, the traffic, both to the front and rear of my home is outrageous now. The extra traffic caused by the summer holiday makers makes it worse. The noise and pollution is terrible. I can no longer sit in my garden and enjoy it.

Please start the bypass now, instead of spending a fortune changing traffic lights that could have lasted a bit longer.

C. Gardner

De La Warr Road

Crunch time

VERY little has been recorded about the effects on shops in Bexhill of the so-called credit crunch.

Everyone has their own "trigger" which alerts them to what is happening. For me the closure last week of Hennessy's Cheese Shop - a favourite of mine just off Town Hall Square because it sold Sussex Blue cheese - and it seems a good time to review the Bexhill scene over the last six months.

As I walked around town, I made a note of some of those establishments that have expired. Thus in Devonshire Road there was Ashleigh (hardware), Gamleys (the town's toyshop). In Town Hall Square - apart from Hennessy's - there was Haldane's News (stationery), Mr Pickwick (stationery).

While at the Sackville Road crossroads the "up-market" florists "Torch Ginger - Floral Genius", which replaced the much-loved cake shop, lasted barely six months.

However, the fastest casualty must have been Downey and Davies Home Development Consultants placed at the Little Common roundabout (2 Village Mews) whose life was only measured in weeks.

There will be different reasons for the demise of each shop but the trend is clear. Looking at the depressing number of estate agents' signs in shop windows around town, it is clear that The Crunch is well and truly here.

With another two or three years of this still to come, the immediate future looks bleak indeed.

A.P. Hamilton

Southcourt Avenue

Vote choice

I OFTEN abstain from voting at an election, not because of indolence on my part, but because of the paucity of the political talent usually on display.

I always give as much consideration to voting as I do to abstaining. Stephen Jackson chides abstainers for not voting at elections. Perhaps he could explain to me, to what extent he feels that the voting in of the least incompetent candidate benefits the electorate?

Try thinking Stephen Jackson, that perhaps many of the 70%-80% who fail to vote, take that course of action because they are probably better judges of an aspiring political candidate's ability than the candidate himself or herself.

In view of all politicians' greed and/or arrogance I find it surprising that anybody would choose to vote for them at all.

Derek Duly,

Newlands Avenue

Ward thanks

MAY I use your columns to record my thanks to everyone who voted for me in the Sackville Ward by-election last week.

Many of you I met on the doorstep and I enjoyed our conversations and discussing your concerns.

Clearly there is much to be done and my congratulations go to Cllr Carroll, who now has the opportunity to work with you over the next three years in resolving the many issues we discussed.

I should also like to thank the Liberal Democrat campaign team for all their hard work I do not believe that this effort has been in vain as the combined Liberal Democrat and Labour opposition once again renders the Conservatives the minority party in this ward.

Peter Webb

Liberal Democrat Candidate

Glenleigh Park Road

Perry blow

THE talk at the De La Warr Pavilion last Saturday (June 28) by Grayson Perry was very well attended. It was enjoyable, delivered with humour and wit by the artist, who wore a lovely red bow in his hair. Perry's astute reflections on life were a stimulating requisite for his exhibition in the gallery.

It was, however, disheartening to find that the exhibition had run out of catalogues. To add further disappointment, Perry's biography had also sold out in the book shop! We don't often have artists of Perry's calibre in Bexhill and obviously management had badly under estimated public interest. This was unforgivable in the circumstances and needs to be urgently remedied if the Pavilion is to be promoted in the future as an art gallery.

ANGELIQUE AND ELIZABETH PALOMBO

Baldslow Road

Hastings

Open door

THE De La Warr Pavilion has now explained why the building cannot be accessed during sell out shows (Bexhill Observer, June 20].

This apparently makes security so much more difficult! (Other places seem to manage.] There has been no response, however, as to why the building is otherwise now closed every evening, particularly during the sort of glorious summer weather that we are enjoying at present.

In my opinion, a major town facility has now been lost as a result of this policy.

Pavilion managers who no doubt will have read the "other" Observer this weekend may have missed an item on page ten, "Cultural venues that stay open after normal opening hours are drawing in the crowds". One of the venues cited (The Design Museum] had an exhibition in 1999 that heavily featured the DLWP. It was reported in The Guardian but (strangely] only mentioned locally after it had closed! The Pavilion was open in the evenings though!

DAVE WALSH

Rotherfield Avenue

Motor policy

I RESPOND to your article (page 9, Observer, July 4) in relation to the misuse of the Classic Motor Cars for Hire and / Reward. We have no comment on the facts of the case being reported, only that we at the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club wish it to be known that we do not encourage this sort of unlawful behaviour by our members.

The good reputation of this club is very important to both our members and the general public of Bexhill who support our activities on a regular basis. It would be most unfortunate if anyone reading the article last week then believed our club was involved in this sort of practice. Our members are reminded about the lawfulness of motoring matters via our house magazine The Flagman and do not knowingly break the law.

D. T. Brodrick

Chairman

Strawberry treat

THE Bexhill Caring Community would like to thank everyone who supported their Strawberry Tea on July 1. A special thank you to Mrs Jane Smith and her staff at Grosvenor Park Nursing Home for all the help they gave us on the day and to everyone who donated cakes, raffle and tombola prizes and all the helpers who worked so hard preparing and serving the teas. Approximately 650 was raised towards the fund for the refurbishment of the Community Room.

Volunteers are always needed by The Bexhill Caring Community and if anyone would like to hold a fund-raising event or can help in any way towards the appeal please contact the office on 01424 215116.

MARGARET VON SPEYR

Manager

Bexhill Caring Community

Top care

MY 18-year-old daughter was recently rushed into hospital after being ill for three months which our GP at first thought was glandular fever but turned out to be a mystery virus.

She had to have a blood transfusion because the doctors at the Conquest Hospital said she had a very serious case of anaemia because the antibodies in her blood were attacking her red blood cells, they put her on a drip and gave her steroids.

I cannot praise the Conquest Hospital staff enough. Claire was at first sent to Seadoc, then admitted to the Medical Assessment Unit overnight then spent a week on Newington Ward. All the staff without exception were truly kind and professional. They have been a godsend and have put her on the road to recovery. They saved her life and I and my family will be eternally grateful to them.

Earlier in the year I had to attend A & E at the Conquest when a petrol tanker came into the back of our car and I was treated with the utmost care and attention. Also when my 11-year-old son had a slight accident on his bicycle he was taken care of very well by the staff at A & E at the Conquest. On the 60th anniversary of the National Health Service I think we should be very proud of our hospital. I cannot praise them enough.

JEAN DOLAN (Mrs)

Links Drive

Think again

I WRITE in response to M. A. Pierce's letter of June 27. What a sad individual this person must be.

I fully understand the complaints with regards to rubbish and inconsiderate parking, this is unacceptable and should be addressed. However, to welcome the demise of the single largest employer in the town, which would obviously lead to redundancies and all the heartache associated with this, seems to be a very unchristian response to what after all is a problem with parking.

Please, M. A. Pierce, try considering the welfare of others.

D. M. BYETT-STEPHENS

Leasingham Gardens

True blessing

WHAT a blessing we have the Conquest Hospital. Recently I was admitted for an operation to the Richard Ticehurst Unit.

The service and kindness could not have been better.

All the staff so cheerful and helpful, they are "brilliant" and how hard the long hours they all work, "nothing" too much trouble, they never seem to stop.

Grateful thanks to all including transport.

N. SCOTT

Buckhurst Road

My fall

MY thanks to all the very kindly ladies who helped me when I fell at the crossing in Bexhill opposite Warburtons, including the lady from one of the shops who brought me a chair and the lady who rang the paramedics. Luckily, I have no lasting effects! Once again many thanks.

PAT SMART (Mrs)

Riders Bolt

Pretty cemetery

I VISIT Bexhill Cemetery every week and no matter what the season it always looks a picture. I would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff for their hard work.

MARGARET WILLSHER

Millwood Road

Gamley's donation

THANKS to Gamleys and staff past and present for the donation to the Save the Children shop. Christmas won't be the same without you.

Thanks again and good luck.

JACKY HAYNES (AND VOLUNTEERS)

Hillside Road

Post record?

LAST Thursday at about 11am I queued in the Devonshire Square post office for 14 minutes 35 seconds. Is this a record?

D. A. BOWLES

Dorset Road South