Your letters - July 30

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Fantastic carnival

Once a year it has become a pleasure for me to put a letter to the editor. And thanks to the people and organisers of the Bexhill Carnival, what can I say, only to repeat my thanks to you all for another wonderful carnival. Better for me as we won.

For many years now my family and friends have supported the wonderful Bexhill Carnival. In the early days it was a float knocked up a few weeks before the day.

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With awards under our belt. Not only at Bexhill but Hastings also. It was time my wife Margaret thought to really go big. Without taken up too much news print space, many readers will remember the Morgan Road Train from the early 90s up until 2003. For us that had to be the float to beat. Its success was continuous for over 11 years.

My float building days have not come to a stop - far from it. I now have two or even three parts that I play.

In Hastings, my home town, I am now into my third term as chairman to the Hastings Old Town Carnival Association. That can take up a lot of time believe me, as some of you will know. Not satisfied with that I was asked years ago if I would build a float for the Hastings Old Town Carnival Queen and her attendants, Well I did, and many miles have been travelled since, visiting carnivals around the south coast. On Saturday July 24 our latest, we brought this to Bexhill, a beautiful day as seems the norm at Bexhill. Our Court fresh-n-lovely for the new season and with one other Parade under their belts, have up to now won three trophies. I feel very proud. Thank you Tamara, Nicole, Francesca, and Kemi.

They have a busy season and are hoping for continued success.

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It just remains for me to say thank you Bexhil. You certainly pulled all the stops for the occasion.

Robert E Morgan

Chairman, Hastings Old Town Carnival Association

The Ridge

Hastings

I was at Question Time

IN your paper last week there was a Bexhill resident who watched Question Time and did not recognise anyone in the audience. I was lucky enough to be in the audience and ask a question at the end.

I have lived in Bexhill all my life, I have been educated in Bexhill schools and college and until recently have been working in Bexhill. I am now raising my children in Bexhill. I think that my views represented many people, young and old, in Bexhill.

I enjoyed being a part of that show and feel that all audience members of different political opinions got to voice them equally.

Rachel Bridger

Aged 23

Address supplied

Unbalanced service

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THERE was much discussion about cancer care on the BBC's edition Question Time, recently broadcast from Bexhill.

Harriet Harman and Labour make much of the two weeks' referral period to see a cancer specialist.

However, all this means is, English cancer patients get to know sooner that they can't get the dozen or more cancer medicines NICE has prevented for the English Health Service (since devolution there is no longer a "National" Health Service), that are freely available in the Scottish Health Service.

Also, in England women are not eligible for breast cancer screening until 25 years of age, whereas in the rest of the UK women aged 20 are eligible.

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In England, bowel cancer screening is available for people aged 60 '“ 69, but in Scotland people between 50 and 74 may be screened.

I would suggest that people in Bexhill and Battle ask their MP Gregory Barker why they and the rest of the English population are expected to be treated as third class people in this laughably named United Kingdom.

They should ask him how every budget cut in England impacts on Scotland. In reality it is England bearing the brunt.

Maybe an English Parliament focusing on England, as the Scottish Parliament focuses on Scotland, is necessary. It could replace the unelected House of Lords which does not scrutinise the devolved Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish chambers anyway.

Stephen Gash

St Augusta View

Carlisle, Cumbria

Ministry of Decence?

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After years of single party rule it is heartening to see the Coalition introduce so swiftly a new Government department that is bound to see most fair-minded taxpayers happy to fund.

I discovered the introduction of this body not from a leak, or a stage-managed press conference, but from an edition of the Bexhill Observer. In a report of Graduation day celebrations at the UAE training project, it was noted that alongside the guests to be expected at such an event, were "representatives of the Ministry of Decence".

It is to be hoped that these representatives were not the usual mix of politicians, bankers, estate agents and used car salesmen; but some ordinary members of the public with a spelling, or proof-reading, problem!

We live in hope!

Dave Sully

York Road

Bexhill

In defence of King Offa

AS a parent of a pupil at King Offa primary school I was dismayed that you could print so negative a view of our school (Bexhill

Observer, July 16) which we are proud to attend.

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Of course there are areas for improvement, but these will come gradually with the leadership of Jenni Miller and her staff.

I have nothing but praise for the school, the great teachers, the children and their achievements.

I have never had a moment's doubt about my child's education and care, first through Key Stage 1 and now almost at the completion of Key Stage 2.

I will continue to support my child's learning, and King Offa's endeavours to provide a balanced and broad curriculum of experience and progression.

C Little

Collington Avenue

Bexhill

Angry at toy thief

I AM writing to bring to your attention the Zippy thief!

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It's sad that people can't have anything nowadays without it getting stolen.

I work for a local company in Bexhill and sadly we had someone come behind our bar on the evening of Sunday July 18, who stole some items that all the staff here have collected.

We are all laid-back at our company and never thought that anyone could be so low as to steal Zippy.

I trust you are reading this, whoever you are ... although the intellect is probably not there, so we won't hope!

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Also, I hope that you get the most enjoyment from them and they bring you a lot

of happiness out of your thieving little

life.

S Tong

Little Common Road

Bexhill

Rudeness at work

READERS who saw the national press report on July 7 that rudeness at work can lead to mistakes may be surprised to read that a charity has been trying to prevent such mistakes for the last 24 years.

By publishing a magazine and awarding certificates of recognition to courteous individuals, the National Campaign for Courtesy promotes four constructive habits. These are good manners, respect for others and their property, respect for oneself and rejection of anti-social behaviour. As our population grows, such habits can only become more important.

But the campaign needs more members. Anyone who would like to know more is cordially invited to send a second-class stamp to NCfC, 65 Wickham Avenue, Bexhill, TN39 3ES.

ALLAN BULA

Regional representative for NCfC

Wickham Avenue

Bexhill

Frustration over jobs

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I HOPE the new offices and workshops at the Elva Business Centre will be creating new jobs for people in Bexhill, and not be taken up by already-established businesses, to open up branches with staff they already have.

Talking of which, there seems to be a problem with job-finding in Bexhill. Both Budgens and Dreams Bed Store have opened up, and are magically fully staffed, without me ever having been able to find a recruitment advertisement for these businesses. From where did they get their staff? And how are we jobless supposed to find out about these job vacancies?

Job Centre vacancies appear to be diminishing by the week, with just care homes seemingly in constant need of staff. Recruitment agencies don't seem interested in finding placements for their 'clients'. Online recruiting agencies'¦ well'¦ how many of them are there? We don't all have the patience to plough through the hundreds of job search websites. Not to mention sending off our CVs and other personal details to'¦ who knows?

Why can't we go back to the old days, when the Job Centre was the one place to find a job. Then we wouldn't have to waste time and energy bent over a computer for what is, in essence, a thankless task.

Name and address supplied

World hunger report

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MORE than a billion people go hungry every day -- shocking when the world has the capacity to provide enough food for everyone.

Of course there are many reasons for this inequality, but one of the most scandalous has just been revealed in the World Development Movement's (WDM) new report The Great Hunger Lottery.

Readers may have seen the extensive press coverage of its analysis that financial speculators and secretive hedge funds are driving millions of the world's poorest people

into increased poverty and hunger by betting on the price of food; in turn causing huge rises in the prices of basic foodstuffs like bread.

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If you are outraged by the fact that City fat cats are enlarging their already grossly bloated salaries at the expense of the

lives of the poorest, then take action by

calling the Financial Services Authority to complain, or take action locally with us by joining our group, WDM Bexhill and Hastings.

You can contact us by calling Denis Lucey on 01424 845225 or e-mailing: [email protected]. (www.wdm.org.uk)

Denis Lucey

Chairman, Bexhill and Hastings WDM group

Maple Walk

Bexhill

Seafront is for children too

I HAVE been shocked just lately to overhear a number of conversations about the changes to the seafront and how appalling it is to have included and considered the needs of children in the design.

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Bexhill residents - and I am one - would do well to consider that the town is worth more than its elderly community.

There are a large number of families in the town, and residents who live by the seafront should expect to "have to put up with" the noise and sight of children playing, even teenagers.

The seaside, after all, is a magnet for children and their families. So, if you don't like it - move!

Children are essential in a community and we ignore their needs at our peril.

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Tourism is the way forward for this town and we need families to bring in the visitors.

I am tired of hearing about Bexhill - its

minority of vocal "anti child" residents and applaud the council for considering children and their families.

Name and address supplied

Questions about clock

Re the audience for 'Question Time', the writer of last week's letter said he did not recognise anybody in the audience. Neither did I, in fact, after mentioning it to my friends have yet to find anybody who did!!

By the way, another mystery, when is the clock going to be repaired and then replaced at the Town Hall?

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I've asked two councillors who can't come up with an answer.

Phyllis Creswell

Cranston Avenue

Bexhill-On-Sea

Are we slightly naff?

SINCERE thanks to your correspondent J Griffiths of Collington Lane (Letters last week).

I thought I had missed something. He was speculating on how the multi-million pound Bexhill seafront scheme would take the whole of the summer to complete - more than six months ending in October - when this kind of contract would take no more than a few weeks with any kind of firm management.

He also wondered why whenever you walk along the seafront, there is no discernible activity.

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I believe I have the answer, for him and for your readers: The people who should be working on the fiasco are suffering from severe sunburn and lying on the top of the De La Warr Pavilion.

As regards this summer's latest piece of incomprehensible development in our beloved town, I am taken back to past closures of the De La Warr, at a cost of many more millions of pounds, which appear to end with a late reopening, and no real change. A few toilet doors changed. Who is making something out of this hopeless incompetence? Time for greater scrutiny. I have been so pleased to retire from business and live in a place which manages a degree of incompetence which is regrettable but perhaps necessary to sustain our reputation as Slightly Naff, and therefore a good place to hide from all those in the world outside who may otherwise be attracted here.

Spike Milligan lives!

Robin Thompson

Terminus Avenue

Bexhill

Prices are too high

IT seems that the farmers' markets are not making enough profit.

The idea behind the markets was they would sell to the public direct, cutting out the middle men thereby being cheaper, but they are not.

Their prices in the main are way too high.

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First rule of selling - get your pricing right and people will buy. Get it wrong and they won't.

JULIE CAMDEN-FIELD

Marina Court

Bexhill-on-Sea

Any local writers' groups?

I AM writing to you concerning my inability to find a writers' workshop. I should have thought that the De La Warr Pavilion would be a suitable venue to hold regular meetings for writers. To encourage writers to expand their craft, with help from the Arts Council. I have been under the impression that the De La Warr was a venue for education in the 'Arts'.

I understand that there is a group in Eastbourne and in Hastings. So what has happened to Bexhill? They also hold competitions, which attracts outside interest. I do belong to a writing circle in the Senior Citizens' Club in Eversley Road, but that does not give critical feedback or a way forward.

Maybe I am wrong in my assumption. I would be most grateful for any local advice.

Susan Lees

Mount Idol View, Bexhill

An enjoyable mix of talent

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I just want to say what a gem of a night there was to be had at No 48 cafe on Friday of July 23.

The eclectic mix of entertainment was totally unexpected and a real delight.

From the audience participation of Gilbert and Sullivan to a rapping poet and more than an ample sprinkling of brilliant acoustic jamming made this a night I won't forget in a hurry.

To find this mix of talent hidden in a welcoming treasure trove on Devonshire Road was one a shock I was more than happy to experience.

With a tweak of the wine list I would really be in heaven, but I've still got next month's date firmly inked into my diary. More please !

Michelle Morgan

London Road

Bexhill-on-Sea