Your letters - July 3

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

Beware of the Tories

The election of the new Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, was greeted with grim-faced silence by his fellow Conservatives.

I'm wondering whether the British public has a real grasp of what we're heading into if the Tories win the upcoming General Election.

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You see, Bercow has gone from blinkered diehard to free thinker. He is regarded as little more than a traitor by his party, the vast majority of whom voted to keep him out. Deep in the collective psyche of the Tory party is a rooted intolerance of any deviation from the norm.

If we know so little about Tory policy, now, thanks to the expenses scandal, we certainly know a great deal more about them, the kind of people who could be in power this time next year. For those who prefer the discerning approach to the mindless shouting of 'thieves' '“ which I met during the recent elections '“ what has been revealed is the colossal wealth of the Tories: wealth and indifference (I have excellent hearing). No wonder David Cameron is so worried that the 'caring' image he has worked tirelessly to project could unravel at any moment.

For me, Shadow Cabinet member Oliver Lewin epitomises the attitude: "I was served a statutory notice by the water company to repair the leaking pipe, which runs underneath the tennis court and garden. No improvements were made to tennis court or garden." So that's all right then! Just how much is the Shadow Cabinet worth?

Estates, farms, country houses, mansions, grounds, moats, duck houses, swimming pools, tennis courts, stables, servants and servant quarters '“ all speak of a world far removed from the mass of the population. An elite moving in a circle of its own.

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And what of the Tories' backers? Cameron, who sees nothing wrong with corporate and entrepreneurial donations, can provide no public explanation why big money is piling into his party or where it comes from. Since he became Tory leader more than 50 million has flowed into the coffers of 25 Victoria Street, with a target of 40 million more. Cameron expect us to believe on nothing more than his word that this near-100 million investment in his party has no bearing on its policies.

The Tories have a very definite agenda: tax breaks for the wealthy and the corporations. And our role is to underwrite that agenda. How much longer are ordinary Tory voters going to turn a blind eye?

Stephen Jackson

Second Avenue

Proud to be in BNP

Tony Smith's letter (Observer, June 12) says that he believes "slagging off an opponent is as low as you can get in the field of politics". Yet he devotes three of the four paragraphs of his letter to just such a process. A phrase including the words, "stones" and "glasshouses" comes to mind.

Contrary to Mr Smith's allusion, the BNP does not regard UKIP as its most threatening opponent. To be threatening one also has to be serious. The facts, however, show that while UKIP is certainly one of the festering mountains of corruption in Britain's political establishment, it had just one candidate in the county council elections in Hastings. He stood as a Liberal Democrat in 2008 and as a Conservative in 2006. The BNP fielded candidates, including myself, in all eight county council divisions.

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I am proud to be a member of the BNP because during the turbulent times our nation is currently experiencing, it is the only party fighting genuinely for the restoration of our national sovereignty and traditional British values of freedom, identity, security and democracy.

Following the election of two BNP MEPs, violent thugs from the Tory and Labour-backed UAF organisation with a Hastings branch showed their hatred of free speech and democracy by physically attacking a BNP press conference outside the Houses of Parliament. Mr Cameron is a signatory to the founding charter of the UAF, which has extensive links to the Socialist Workers' Party and the Communist Party of Great Britain.

Mr Cameron must tell his supporters if he really aligns himself with these thugs who resort to violence in the face of the democratic process.

The reality is that the BNP campaigned democratically, peacefully and was openly elected to office. It does not matter if they disagree with us '“ we disagree with the other parties fundamentally '“ but the use of violence draws the line. The Tories, Labour, Liberal Democrats and UKIP must tell the world if they support political violence or not.

KEITH STANDRING

Amherst Road, Bexhill

MP is no victim

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HOW odd to see so many letters in defence of Greg Barker MP in last week's Bexhill Observer.

Even odder that the same old chestnuts about privacy and sexuality were wheeled out together in an attempt to portray Mr Barker as some kind of sociological hero.

A cynical observer might well suspect the hidden hand of political chicanery at work here '“ especially at the very time that Mr Barker has been revealed as one of the foremost exploiters of home-flipping and tax avoidance in the House of Commons.

The laying of such a suspect trail would, of course, serve very well to paint Mr Barker as pathetic victim immediately after he had been portrayed as the opportunistic perpetrator par excellence in the devastating Daily Telegraph expenses revelations. There is quite a range of choice in these images: is Mr Barker to pass among us as St Sebastian or Arthur Daley? Well, there might be pathos '“ even bathos '“ at play but a victim is one thing Mr Barker isn't and never has been. His lifetime mission statement is to have his cake and eat it. And we must allow that he has been remarkably successful at achieving his goals.

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But what really galls is that this pantomime cloak of Mr Barker as victim and family man effectively ensures the continuing suffering of the true victims in this saga '“ his discarded wife and family. How can Celeste Barker and her children ever reach satisfactory closure in these profoundly unsatisfactory circumstances? Isn't it about time that Mr Barker put their interests above the survival of his own soiled brand?

G Butler

Cooden Drive

Bottom of the class

AS most parents of pupils at Bexhill High are now aware, Mr Conn intends to rob our children of even more of their childhood by keeping them in school until 5pm in an attempt to improve their education.

He states that the children will no longer be required to do homework, yet the government guidelines on homework state that a child should be doing between 45 minutes to one hour per night, depending on age. Why then is he suggesting our children do an extra two and a half hours per day?

If his proposal goes through then my child will be in school for more hours a week than I work and with fewer breaks.

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Mr Conn has also stated that he has had plenty of support from parents regarding this but I have not spoken to one parent who is happy about the proposed changes.

I would like to urge every parent who doesn't want to see their child's valuable, gone-too-quickly childhood stolen by this ridiculous idea to attend the evening at the High School on July 8 and register their protest. Please, for our children's sake, say NO to Mr Conn.

Name and address supplied

Thank you for caring

The Bexhill Caring Community would like to thank everyone who helped and supported the spring fair on June 20.

More than 1,200 was raised on the day, which is a fantastic contribution to our building fund for the refurbishment of the community room.

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We would like to thank everyone who generously gave us donations towards the raffle and stalls, in particular, TVC, CBS, Bexhill Farm Kitchen, Wobbly Rabbit, Funky Bits 4 U, Julian Graves, Johnson's Shoe Repairs, Rye Shoes, Alfredo and Sue Silva's Caf, Dorothy Marchant, Barraclough and Stiles, CeeJays, Destinations, Cats Whiskers, Wells H&H Confectionery, George Blackman and Bexhill Photographic and all the cake makers and gardeners.

A big thank-you too to all the staff and volunteers who turned up the evening before and who helped on the day and to the Carnival Court who also attended.

Our next event is the strawberry tea on Wednesday, July 8 at 2.30pm at Grosvenor Park Nursing Home, Brookfield Road. Tickets at 3.50 each can be obtained from Bexhill Caring Community, 25 Sackville Road, 01424 215116. This is a very popular event and tickets are selling fast. Hope to see you there!

Margaret von Speyr

Manager

Bexhill Caring Community

We must shop locally

I WAS disappointed at the news that the farmers' market at Little Common is no more because of lack of support.

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The traders at the market have really excellent goods on offer, from lovely fresh local eggs to smoked fish and meats, cheese, home-made jam and everything in between.

The baker even makes my favourite loaf in a wholemeal flour especially for me at no extra cost! All the traders are friendly and accommodating.

The good news is the Bexhill market is going to be at Parkhurst Road twice a month for the summer just to see if there is enough demand for it.

It's up to all of us to support this venture '“ or lose it.

Having watched Mary Portas on BBC2 trying to help the shopkeepers of Tewkesbury keep their businesses running, I am even more determined to support my local shops.

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When you look at Bexhill town centre and see the number of empty shops it is a warning that unless we all make a point of shopping locally even more will close.

We all need to shop but why give our hard- earned money to the big boys, which already make far too much profit?

So come on Bexhillians, support all your local shops and producers.

Vera Douglas

Tilgate Drive

Bexhill

Encourage the flora

NO, Mr Turner is not the only person who prefers to see wild flowers instead of tufty green/brown grass verges.

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Wild flowers and fine grasses look so much better. Think of the wildlife they encourage (and I don't mean dogs), the pollinating insects, butterflies and bees so essential and in decline.

Some of the species of wild flowers and grasses are in decline too and should be encouraged.

How lovely to see certain areas of Bexhill Cemetery left wild. It's just a shame that it has now been mowed and strimmed and not left for longer, giving the wild flowers and grasses time to mature and go to seed for next year.

Once again, species of wild flowers and fine grasses should be encouraged. They are much more pleasing to see than boring, brown tufty grass and are a haven for many species of beneficial insects.

Toni Slaughter

Pear Tree Lane

Spelling it out

THE "I before e" rule has three lines:

"I before e

Except after c

Whenever the sound is ee."

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That takes care of "eight", "weight" and "species". An experienced teacher also teaches the sound-group "er", "ir" and "ur", which takes care of "their", "weir" and "weird". Ask all my Down School/High School pupils, 1962-1986.

Ralph Hill

Willow Drive

Little Common

Is Tesco law English law?

I VISITED Tesco Ravenside on June 26 with my children aged 11 and 15. I purchased several grocery items and some alcohol.

When I went to the checkout with my children I was refused the alcohol sale as it was claimed I may give it to my son!

I quoted the law '“ Tesco was wrong. My sale was declined by the cashier and line manager. A friend who was paying for his shopping simultaneously offered to put my shopping with his. He was refused the alcohol sale and we were asked to leave.

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I contacted my husband who came to the store to purchase the much-required alcohol.

The children were sent to the car to wait. When my husband went to purchase the alcohol, security intervened and accused him of trying to buy for a minor, and informed him the police were being called.

I came back into the shop to speak with the duty manager, who merely took the stance they can refuse any sale. This is true. However, you cannot accuse us of committing a criminal act with no proof.

The police arrived and could do very little other than waste taxpayers' money.

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They couldn't interfere with Tesco's decision and they could take no action as no crime had been committed.

When did Tesco law become English law?

Why was my integrity questioned? Why '“ when I explained that it was my alcohol, I was paying for it and that was my son '“ was the sale still refused?

For clarity: It is illegal to purchase alcohol if you are under 18 '“ I'm not.

It is illegal to serve a policeman in uniform with alcohol '“ doesn't apply.

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It is illegal to serve someone who is intoxicated '“ I wasn't, only with rage.

It is illegal to serve someone who you know is going to pass the alcohol to a minor and that minor is not the child of the adult.

It is not illegal for a child to drink at home from the age of five.

I was appalled at my treatment by Tesco, which perceived me as some common criminal. I would love to hear from other people who have encountered the same arrogance and ignorance from Tesco staff.

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If Tesco has its own policy why is this not advertised? Furthermore, how can it then (which it has done in the past) deliver alcohol to my home when I have children living with me? This contravenes its own policy.

Why does it not ask every parent with a child for ID?

I have raised the issue of Human Rights, Article 8 '“ the right to a family life. Is Tesco saying I need to leave my children at home when I shop for alcohol?

And discrimination. This is not a set policy. Why did Tesco pick on me? I have put these questions to Tesco and am awaiting a detailed response.

Emma Wilson

Grand Avene

Bexhill-on-Sea

Sorry that sundial is going

I WOULD like to say sorry to all the people who have loved the sundial that was erected on the grassy area in Bealieu Road, and for all the support from people wanting to keep it there.

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I have asked St Michael's Hospice if I could put it in its grounds, where people will get pleasure from it, as it was always meant to do, and I have just been told that a spot has been found for it in the gardens.

I have given in because if I take this to court and my "slab of concrete" has to come up, then I could not live with the fact that the seven seats that have been put there on "slabs of concrete" (the covenant states that the area should remain as grassed) also might have to be taken up. Then it would put their loved onesthroughthe same grief I am feeling.

Bob did so much for others in his life; it was something he would have liked to have given back after his passing.

From someone who was very proud to have been his wife.

K Erends

The Barnhams

Narrowness is no excuse

IN relation to the letter in the Bexhill Observer of June 26 about parking hazards, there are a couple of points I wish to make.

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The correspondent states that they have spoken to the police but the police have not been able to follow this up because they do not have the resources.

In order to follow something up, the police need to make a start. This they have never done.

The correspondent then goes on to mention that some roads are narrow and cars may risk having their wing mirrors damaged so again the police turn a blind eye.

Firstly, De La Warr Road is not narrow. Secondly, the narrowness of the road is not an excuse for parking on a pavement. Thirdly, if drivers are parking on the pavement to protect a wing mirror, where will they park should the opposite wing mirror be damaged by a pedestrian trying to get past their illegally parked vehicle?

Graham Martin-Royle

Dalehurst Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

Saving the church

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I READ in the Observer (June 19) that Heloise Brown and the Victorian Society desperately want to save St Bamabas Church and that any application to demolish it will be fiercely opposed.

It is easy to pass resolutions from an armchair or a committee room but if they want to preserve the building there is another way.

Heloise could marshal all her members in East Sussex (how many I wonder?) and get them to commit themselves Sunday by Sunday to be a part of the living church and pledge themselves to give at least 5,000 each year towards the upkeep of the building.

If this were done I am sure the Bishop of Lewes and Father Roger Crosthwaite would think seriously about maintaining the fabric and building a vibrant Christian community in Sea Road.

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As a Baptist minister I, too, am appreciative of Anglican neo-Gothic architecture, but we live in the 21st century and with declining congregations we have to take tough decisions.

If St Barnabas Church amalgamated with another local Anglican community there would still have to be decisions made about the future of the building, and redevelopment of the site along the lines suggested would seem to be the desirable option.

The Rev Philip Gathercole

Buckhurst Road

Timely move

WHAT a good idea school going on until 5pm.

It is already like that in schools in Kent and works very well. Children do their after-school clubs within the school day so are not losing out, and when they go home they are free '“ no more having to be nagged to get on with homework. My grandsons living in Kent enjoy these hours. Well done the High School for bringing this into being.

Name and address supplied

Sad loss of club

Picture the scene '“ Friday evening Sidley youth club. Large group of youths with youth worker Ed outside playing a game of football who are all enjoying themselves.

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Inside, manager Julie is with a large group of youths who are busy playing snooker, playing on the Wii and there is also a group on the computer. Some youths are chilling out at the snack bar.

Does this sound like a youth club that should be closed down? No, but that is what has happened despite all the local objections.

I want to thank all the youth club workers for all their good work over the years.The kids of Sidley need to be doing something.

Michele Thomas

Camperdown Street, Sidley

Thanks, everyone

WITH reference to our Armed Forces Day church service at St Augustine's on June 27.

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As the chairman of the Bexhill Royal Naval Association, I would like to thank all those who attended this service, especially the Rev Robert Coates and his helpers for making it a success for all present.

The sea cadets from TS Hastings and the air force cadets who attended were very smart and a credit not only to their units but also to the youth of the country.

I'd also like to thank the head of Rother District Council, the mayor and our MP, Greg Barker, who attended and inspected the cadets, RNA, MVS and the standard bearers.

Finally, I would like to thank Tesco and Sainsbury's for supporting this event.

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The sum of 223 was raised and this will be donated to the charity Help For Heroes, which provides help and treatment for servicemen.

Thank you.

Eric Woodhouse

Chairman, RNA

Turkey Road

Ban cigs vending

I HAVE just written to the new Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham, demanding a total ban on cigarette vending machines.

We don't allow alcohol, fireworks, knives or other age-restricted products to be sold from vending machines, because we know a face-to-face transaction is the best way to make sure they don't end up in the wrong hands.

Cigarettes should be no different. We need to tackle this anomaly that allows children an easy way get hold of cigarettes and damage their health.

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The Health Bill, currently going through Parliament, includes further restrictions on cigarette vending machines but stops short of a full ban.

I urge you to support this campaign and visit www.bhf.org.uk/outoforder where you can let the government know it must prevent children picking up an addiction that threatens their future health.

M Sullivan

Ashford Road

Gardens matter

THANKS to your correspondents who care about our gardens and verges.

What made Bexhill a lovely garden settlement on the sea included green front gardens and verges.

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Residents can assist our council by maintaining our boundary verges, as many people still do.

Your correspondents are certainly correct about the damage from paving or slabbing front gardens. This inhibits rain permeation and contributes to earth heating.

Green front gardens and verges act as carbon sinks and bless not only our eyes but also our atmosphere.

Dr and Mrs Edward Echlin

Address supplied