Your Letters - July 20

Tread carefully

I HAVE read Camilla Lake's account on the death of Marion Ham's husband to the MRSA infection, and fully realise the devastating blow this must have been to Marion.

The sheer enormity of this situation must also have hit home hard at the staff of our local hospital whose main aim is dedicated to saving life.

At the present time the principal attack in fighting MRSA and C.Difficile is ward cleaning with also a great deal of concentration being aimed at sterilising hands when entering hospital, plus staff cleanliness.

Has anyone carried out an analysis of the contamination that is carried into all hospitals on the soles of shoes by visitors and staff when entering such establishments, bearing in mind the deep grooves present in the modern shoe sole?

I am sure that most people have experienced treading on dog excrement, horse manure, pigeon and seagull droppings, spit, rat droppings and their unseen urine at some time in their daily routine on or around pavements and roads throughout the country.

If we are unfortunate enough to have stepped onto such detritus wearing the deep-grooved shoe sole, it is obvious how difficult it is to remove. However the main problem, and the point I am making, is that we may walk into any casualty department or hospital ward unwittingly carrying these possible infections or others on our shoes, with perhaps horrendous consequences.

DOUGLAS MARTIN

Collington Lane East.

Policy mystery

NOW that the flats in Sackville Road have reached their full height, it would be helpful if the chairman of Rother's planning committee or his chief professional adviser, would explain for the benefit of the rest of us, in what way, if at all, the building complies with their policies for the Town Centre Conservation Area.

The policies were set up to preserve and enhance the very special Edwardian and Victorian character of the town centre. This building totally ignores them.

JACK SEABROOK

Richmond Avenue.

Underpass

I WAS really pleased to see that someone had mentioned the problem with the (King Offa Way) underpass last week as it is something I have been so frustrated about that I am now prompted to write, too.

Each time it rains the underpass floods. If you happen to use the underpass during the school run you will see parents fishing out their children's wellies, giving them rides in shopping trolleys or piggy backs to get across. Or, most usually, and me included, having to walk down the hill to the nearest crossing point and then getting across the duel carriageway as fast as possible.

When you have three small children, as I have, it really is a case of say a prayer, dash across and hope you make it safely.

So, please, please can the fault be fixed? I really am worried one of these days someone is not going to make it across the road in time.

Zo Smith (Mrs)

Barrack Road.

Path inaction

IN the past two weeks, I have heard of three people who have fallen, due to the uneven pavements in Bexhill. Thirteen years ago my granddaughter wrote to your paper about the pavements, asking for them to be tarmacked. Nothing has been done to prevent the elderly falling.

It must be costing the NHS thousands and thousands of pounds, taking people by ambulance to hospital, to mend broken bones.

It might be a good idea for the councillors to walk down all the roads in Bexhill to see just how bad the pavements are! People who have had hip and knee operations are unable to lift their feet as easily, therefore if a paving stone is slightly uneven, people can easily trip.

If the councillors really cared about the people in Bexhill, they would tarmac the pavements, as my granddaughter suggested years ago. Yes, it will be costly, but in the end will save the NHS thousands of pounds and relieve the suffering of countless people.

How many more years will it take for the council to make our pavements safe?

M ILOTT (Mrs)

Park Avenue

Link burden

IT is claimed that building the link road is vital for the regeneration of Bexhill.

But if you think about Bexhill's problems - mindless violence, arson, vandalism, the closing of public conveniences, the lack of car parking space etc, how is the building of factories and housing estates going to help? Is it not more likely that such a development is going to have its problems and prove to be an unwanted burden on local resources?

D W WOOLLER

Collington Rise.

Museum thanks

I WISH to offer my sincere thanks for the gift to Bexhill Museum presented on behalf of His Highness President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nayan at the UAE Technical Training Project Student Graduation Day.

I would also take this opportunity to thank Barclays Bank who, through Peter Mills, their Local business manager, funded the museum's new digital recording equipment for the use of our Oral History Group.

Thanks are also due to everyone who attended and who organised our Elva Evening on 11 July.

This was a truly memorable event held to launch Bexhill Museum's Elva Restoration Project. It was a pleasure to meet up with so many ex-employees of Elva Engineering and their wives and family members of Frank Nichols, including his brother John,a past Bexhill Mayor.

Finally,I would like to express the gratitude of all members of the Society of Bexhill Museums and indeed the general public to the Rother councillors who approved the additional funding for the Museum Redevelopment project,which should now start during September of this year.

John Betts

Head of Fundraising

Society of Bexhill Museums.

Post concern

I HAVE just been speaking to postal workers on the picket line at the main Bexhill Post Office in Devonshire Square who are protesting at proposed changes that will lead to the closure of many sub post offices and other service cuts that must have an impact on the more vulnerable people on our society, especially the elderly and those suffering mobility problems and those that may carry wounds that cannot be visibly seen but still have an enormous impact on daily living. I believe that any curtailment of such services can only end in hardship for those who can ill afford to cope with additional issues and problems in their lives.

PHILLIP FLOCKHART

via email.

Kids' mentality

I CANNOT understand the mentality of the kids of today. Setting fire to people's property, stealing cars, and breaking windows etc. We never did things like that when we were teenagers; we always found things to do, go to the local youth club or pictures, or a friends house and listen to music and chat, not roam the streets all hours looking for trouble like the kids of today causing mayhem and havoc. Since all discipline has stopped we have had nothing but trouble. I feel sorry for the teachers in schools and some parents.

The way some of these children talk to them. If I ever spoke to my parents the way they do I would have been given a smack and sent to my room. That's what's wrong with this country. It's gone soft. Bring back the National Service. It would teach some of these youngsters a thing or two. It didn't harm any of our youngsters in fact it taught them respect and made men of them. They say they have nothing to do at night so is setting fire to buses and taking cars fun? I don't think so. It's just sheer and utter provocation that makes them do it, and it's about time something was done. I think our government should start being tough and bring back discipline and the National Service. I'm sure most people would agree with me.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

BALI fight

TOWARDS the end of July a dedicated team of BALI campaigners will be in Peartree Lane and the surrounding areas so that we will be able to give you an update on the proposed landfill site in Turkey Road and also hopefully enlist your support. The residents in the Peartree Lane and adjacent areas of Little Common will suffer the greatest impact from such a site with the increase of heavy lorries, noise, pollution, noxious smells and other environmental hazards.

Peartree Lane action group is already concerned by the increase in the number of vehicles using the road and the residents have already experienced the resulting odours from unemptied waste bins. Just imagine what is in store for all of us if a planning application is granted for a landfill site to co-exist with brick making at the Ashdown site! It must not happen and therefore we urge you to join BALI to fight this threat. We look forward to seeing you all from mid July onwards.

MIKE ROSNER

BALI.

Good sports

I WAS unfortunate to suffer an accident the other Sunday and as I was being rushed to hospital around lunchtime I reflected that it was not a good idea, it was lunch time on a Sunday, the men's final was being played at Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix was on at Silverstone and The Tour was in Kent!

I should not have worried, the reception was great, there was an abundance of doctors and nurses, I was treated rapidly and professionally and even the nurse who had drawn the short straw, with the "hurtie job" ie. injections, dressings etc, did it with a TLC disposition. They packed me off to East Grinstead in a "dee daa" and they were also terrific.

Thank you all, anyone who has to go to A&E, do not worry, they will treat you beautifully.

DAVID FOSTER FRICS

Henley Down Farm

Catsfield.

Elderly drivers

Much as I have sympathy for the recent tragic death of Derek Norcross the words of the coroner regarding a review of elderly drivers will I fear once again fall on deaf ears. And not just with the officials but with many elderly drivers who insist on continuing to drive when they plainly are not able to control their own reactions. Let's face it living here in Bexhill we see numerous such drivers every day.

"I've been driving for years" "I've never had an accident" "I need my car" are all phrases regularly trotted out on such occasions when anyone dares to question their competence.

As someone who survived but have been left partially disabled because of an accident caused directly by an elderly driver and as a mother to a 17-year-old-now undertaking more rigorous theory and practical driving tests than ever I had to undertake, might I suggest compulsory re-testing at 70 years of age should be introduced and those that flout the law or ignore the dangers and injuries or deaths they cause by their negligence be treated a little more harshly than generally feeling sorry for them.

And what has become of the man who killed Mr Norcross?

At the end of the day a car is a potential fatal weapon in the wrong hands - either young or old.

Philipa Coughlan

Gordon Place.

Ward thanks

I FELT I must write to commend our Conquest Hospital, having just spent a few days in Gardiner Ward.

First of all, I would like to thank Mr Khoury and all his efficient team.

Nothing was to much trouble for all the nursing staff despite their long working hours but still being always so cheerful and kind. A great big thank you to you all.

Eileen Thompson

Rectory Way.

Animal cash

ONCE again I would like, on behalf of my animals, to say many thanks to everyone who generously donated to our street collection. The brilliant sum of 339 was raised - thanks everyone.

All the 600 animals at the sanctuary are hoping to see you on our Open Day, August 5 - plenty to see, plenty to do, plenty to buy and plenty to eat! Again thanks.

BARBY KEEL

Animal Sanctuary

Freezeland Lane.

My accident

ON the morning of May 29, I had an unfortunate accident while parking my car in the roadway between Egerton Park and Polegrove Recreation Ground. I was quite shaken up but very lucky not to be hurt.

My little dog and I would like, through your paper, to thank all the kind help given to us there by people, especially the park personnel, policeman and ambulance men.

Also, my sincere apologies for the trouble caused to others involved.

E BECKETT (Mrs)

Glyne Drive.

Fast treatment

SEVERAL members of Collington Surgery recently took part in the Race for Life in Hastings. We raised an amazing 394.80 and would like to thank all our patients and family and friends for their donations and support. Thank you.

COLLINGTON SURGERY.

Waste answers

WE are lucky enough to be a household of two, whose undersize wheelie bin is just about large enough for fortnightly collection.

We have no complaints about the collection as our bin has been emptied on the appointed day and our recycling boxes containing four newspapers and a small amount of other paper and our plastics bin containing four milk containers and a couple of other plastic items are duly thrown back on to our drive after emptying on the alternate week. How larger families are coping, I dread to think, and going by the increased level of litter around, they are not.

So what am I writing about? Our 'not my fault' council leader, Cllr. Carl Maynard.

In this week's Bexhill Observer he was quoted as blaming the consultants for 'failure' to ensure.. explanatory literature ... was not satisfactory'. He is quoted as blaming the 'bin men's 'pay and conditions' talks... for ongoing delays'.

He blames the 'service failures of the main contractor, Verdant'. Verdant blame the tip contractors for closing at 4.30pm etc.

Hang on a minute, if the blamed are to blame, who employed these obviously inept people to screw up our waste collection service? Aren't they to blame? Does the buck not stop there?

Who are these people who cannot employ people who can do the job? Answer: Rother Council and its leader, Cllr. Carl Maynard, of course.

Does not the buck stop there? Stop blaming everyone else and explain to the public what you are doing in the way of sanctions against the contractors that you employed who are apparently not up to the job.

On the Rother website he explains that 'very detailed planning and consideration went into the introduction of the new refuse collection contract.' Did they now? They did not do much good then especially as they did no envisage the scale of the problems that they had.

Was not the 'planning and consideration' meant to foresee these possibilities?

A couple of weeks ago 'our leader' was quoted as saying that the council underestimated the number of bins required. Do they not know how many households there are in Rother?

This week, he states that 'over 80% of our residents are receiving satisfactory or improved service.' Improved from once a week to once a fortnight? What planet is he living on? Anyway, 80% satisfied means one household in five is not satisfied. What kind of major satisfactory achievement is that?

On a slightly different note. I believe that council employees were once (and maybe still are) known as 'Civil Servants'. We, the taxpayers pay their wages. We employ them to provide a service. By their name and employment, they are our servants. We are not, as they condescendingly call us, their Customers.

T THOMAS

De La Warr Road.

Size matters

I HAPPENED to be in the Community Help point today, and overheard many people complaining at the chaos that has resulted in recent changes to our bin collections, it seems many have a gripe of some sort!

However, one particular gentleman interested me, persistance pays it seems, as he argued for many minutes at his wheelie bin being too small for him and his wife, they could not cope with the normal size bin and insisted he recycled as much as he could. The lady at the desk told him he must be doing it wrong, no he replied, and eventually she agreed to order him a large wheelie bin.

If the council are going to give large bins to a couple on their own, then why do the rest of us with children and living in larger families have the small one's?

It seems a strange situation for sure.

ABI THOMCROFT

via email.

It's dangerous

I AM writing regarding the refuse collection fiasco. I am at my wits' end and desperately need my rubbish collected. To precis my situation, I live over a shop, accessible by a flight of stairs.

The only external space I have is a small square at the top of the stairs. Prior to the change in the collection system, my bins were collected without fail from here.

Since the change they have not been collected once when they should. After frequent phone calls and e-mails, I have eventually had them collected as a 'missed bin'. I have been told I should still be a weekly collection as I have no external area for a wheelie bin nor recycling box.

As usual, my rubbish, uncollected, has piled high. Maggots are swarming all over it and on my steps, I have vermin which has now entered the property, the smell is unacceptable and embarrassing. I was promised a priority collection last Friday or Saturday without fail, which did not transpire. I have e-mailed Rother trying to get to the root cause of the problem, ie. should I place my rubbish at the bottom of the steps, if so please tell me when and where and I shall do it, but I will not on the off-chance it may be collected because of the risk of wildlife and seagulls strewing it everywhere. I was told my e-mail would be forwarded to Verdant and I would receive a reply from them - I have not.

Yesterday, on attempting to leave the flat, through the small space we need to squeeze through because of the rubbish, my toddler son nearly fell down the very steep set of concrete stairs. This is totally unacceptable - the rubbish has attracted vermin, it's embarrassing and now dangerous. I have no idea where left to turn.

I have been polite, courteous and sympathetic whilst dealing with the council to no avail. All I can think to do now is put a banner outside my flat begging Verdant to PLEASE collect my rubbish, I am desperate.

D WHITE (Miss)

via email

Appalling smell

ONE day last week while waiting to pick up two colleagues I parked behind a refuse truck.

The properties they were collecting from had no wheelie bins owing to steep steps so the rubbish had to be hand collected as in the old days.

There is one big difference, some of that rubbish is now 13 days old and the smell idiots who introduced this scheme go out and do a week's collecting, why should the collectors have to put with the terrible smells?

And they tell us in all their wisdom that it is not a health hazard, the smell alone is enough to make you feel sick.

Ken Isted

Woodsgate Avenue

Filthy centres

A PRE-REQUISITE of a well used recycling scheme is a high standard of maintenance and cleanliness, never apparent at Rother's overflowing bottle banks and recycling centres.

In terms of health and safety, there are legal requirements for various operations and practices pertinent to the management of bottle banks, recycling centres and waste collection. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974, Rother have to ensure the health and safety of themselves and those that may be affected by what they do. This includes those using the bottle banks and recycling centres.

Poor standards of cleanliness produces hazards for the public and contractor's staff, and leads to an overall feeling that people are uncared for.

This is now leading to a downward spiral of neglect and indifference, evidenced, not only by the catastrophic failed launch of the very necessary recycling and waste collection service, but also by the lack of commitment to resolving rubbish collection complaints.

Three weeks or will it be four or more of no rubbish collection, despite several telephone calls demonstrates lack of care by Rother authority.

Lack of cleanliness at recycling centres signalled the present waste collection shambles. As for rats, the receptionist enquired whether they were in the house, so it seems that they must be resident, rather than, roaming Sandhurst Lane.

What is the recycling letter/pamphlet?

Where is the green bin/box?

Why is the black bin half the size of that provided by other authorities? Recycling is currently being rolled out, for example, in Torfaen, South Wales, with giant size bins for all.

Finally, will the council make the waste collection and recycling contract, plus the Management Plan available at all local libraries?

Everybody should be able to see what the priorities are for further investment and future development.

On July 5, it appears that everyone else's rubbish in Sandhurst Lane was collected, but not ours. I have never experienced such an abominable mess. I am wondering when there is going to be normality. I am fed up with the lies and deception, promises to collect our rubbish, but all wind and no action. It is not the fault of the contractors, Rother Council is ultimately responsible.

On Friday, July 13, the Communities and Local Government Select Committee came close to recommending charges for household waste collection, in preference to a rebate for recyclers/reducers of waste and a surcharge for non compliance.

In last week's Bexhill Observer (July 13), Cllr Carl Maynard responded negatively to council tax reduction for non collection of bins.

If Rother Council have no contingency plan for council tax refunds, then they are not likely to be capable of operating any rebate/surcharge scheme. However, it appears that the complexity of the scheme may result in charging for waste collection. Logically, Rother Council will not be able to process the charges. No doubt, we will get even more spin.

E. D. COOK

Sandhurst Lane.

Wrong plastic

I HAVE been recycling plastics and cans for years and was pleased when my black box arrived, thinking that I would no longer have to go to the recycling centre at Sidley. But no.

After reading the literature about the different categories of plastics and carefully looking at the numbers on the bottom of yoghurt pots, meat trays, cottage cheese cartons, etc, I find that they all have numbers higher than three and therefore can't go in the black box because of the contamination problem. It's my guess that many lorry loads of plastic have been contaminated.

Supermarkets need to get their act together and make sure all their food containers are made from the "right plastic".

DOREEN MILLS

The Briary.

New landfill?

CAN someone tell if the recycling centre at Little Common is the new landfill site? On my last visit it certainly looked like it.

The glass bin's totally full, glass bottles in rows on the floor, cardboard all over the place. Little Common is a quaint, quiet lovely area to walk around and shop.

Rother Council, please get your act together. You should offer a reasonable service if you are charging such council taxes. You are asking people to pay for a service and getting a poor return.

Can Rother council get something right?

D. Wells

Knebworth Road.

True value

I NOTE that Cllr Maynard states there would no refund of Council Tax if refuse was not collected. Also that 0.73p a week is involved. It appears that he knows the cost of everything but the value of nothing. Instead of boasting about Rother having the cheapest Council Tax in East Sussex, may I suggest that the weekly collection of refuse be re-instated. That is what everybody wants.

C . E. GIBSON

Coverdale Avenue.

Flat refusal

AT long last, the people are given the chance to say what they want about how rubbish is dealt with! Get rid of all black bins now and return to black bags and know the rubbish will be collected as promised.

Then people in flats will be able to get their bags taken away like everyone else. So come on everyone, vote now for what you want.

K PYBUS

North Road.

It's the ultimate dilemma

COUNCILLOR Standring rightly points to the 80,000 people in Rother District who will have to pay costs if Rother loses an appeal (Bexhill Observer, June 29).

But, of course, developers are very aware of the "ultimate dilemma" for councillors "weighing the rights and opinions of the individual or small community, versus the ratepayers at large."

These developers are thereby emboldened in submitting applications for greater and greater density in the great "land grab."

For how long can this situation continue? Until every piece of land is built upon and any amenity value that an area once enjoyed has been destroyed? That is a recipe for plummeting house prices closely followed by plummeting council tax receipts and increased council tax benefits payments.

If the planning refusal reasons are strong enough and include every reason laid down in the planning, legislation, then surely the number of applications going to appeal will decrease, as the chances of success at appeal diminish.

Ultimately, such strong action by our planners will save nothing less than communities themselves.

Basil R. Streat

Cantelupe Road.

Help!

THE Sidley Day Centre needs helpers. It meets every Friday at All Saints Church Hall from 9am until 2pm, except during holiday times.

If anyone can spare an hour or two of their time, on a voluntary basis, to help out it would be greatly appreciated.

In addition, I am looking for someone to prepare and cook food for the lunch that we provide for the old people.

The job would start in September next and a small fee would be paid for the work.

I would be very pleased to hear from or talk to anyone who might be interested.

Please phone 214954 for more information.

HAZEL BUCKLEY (Mrs)

Organiser

Buxton Drive.