Your letters - July 9, 2010

Sovereign rights are being undermined

We do have a 'Constitutional Court' – it is our House of Lords and Judiciary, which is why it must never be politicised, but Clive Bishop has rather missed the point about a written Constitution (Letters 25/6/10).

It can only have validity if we have a sovereign government, answerable to the British people - which under the EU, we don't!

Each successive EEC/EU Treaty has intentionally eroded the sovereignty of member nations to that of obedient regional councils - as is evident in INTERREG funding!

So Clive can compose the most perfectly democratic constitution imaginable, but it will still be overridden by the supremacy of the Lisbon Treaty (aka EU Constitution) whose ratcheting mechanism automatically gives all future law making powers to the EU under Qualified Majority Voting.

The "Citizen's voice" is totally irrelevant to the EU project!

This was self-evident in the treaty, which Labour's Minister for Europe wholeheartedly endorsed, but she was later forced to admit to Parliament that she had never actually read the Treaty! Brilliant!

There is no 'reverse gear' in the Lisbon Treaty, so David Cameron is living in a fool's paradise if he believes he can recover any powers from Brussels.

He can now only safeguard home defence and taxation - yet VAT is governed by the EU while our Budget is subject to their approval!

Everything else has now been handed over and even where Britain gained derogations over the Working Time Directive and Social Chapter, the EU circumvented these through existing Health and Safety legislation - to which we were legally bound ... by EU Treaty!

Under our Constitution, no government can be bound by the actions of its predecessor. Only Parliament can amend or repeal an Act, so while David Cameron can easily repeal the Single European Act so that we can leave the EU and allow Clive his Constitution, neither Labour nor the Lid-Dem/Con men (and women) will ever allow this to happen for, like the impotent EU Citizens that we all are, our democratic voice here is truly irrelevant!

And that won't change under PR as the Additional Members are committed 'Party' men (and women)!

The silence from the major parties' spokesmen speaks volumes!

Barry M Jones

Bixley Lane, Beckley,

Sad to hear another newsagents closing

As the former owners of Northiam Newsagents we were very saddened to hear that the old shop is to close.

We ran it for over 20 years until December 2009 and sold the business as a going concern. However we do appreciate things become more and more difficult for small independent shops everywhere, it was not easy for us.

We know the home news delivery customers will get excellent service from Jackies of Tenterden but we wonder where the shop customers will go to buy their newspapers.

Perhaps one of the other village shops will take on counter sales. We urge people to carry on supporting the Northiam shops, don't let the closure of one shop lead to the closure of others as happened in Beckley.

We would like to thank all our customers of Northiam, Newenden and Beckley who supported us so faithfully, the delivery staff (adults and teenagers) and our shop staff, various people over the years, who worked hard for us.

Roy and Angela Pepper

Western Barn Close, Rye

How can the safety of a lane cost so much?

I would like to echo Martin Grenfell's disappointment over the inaction by the county to sort out the question of Deadman's Lane.

Last year at a meeting Councillor Glazier stated that he has going to make this matter a priority.

This priority was repeated in March this year (I assume that he must be working on a number of priorities and trust that this one is reaching the top).

In the meantime, the dangerous situation continues with cars having to reverse out of Deadman's Lane on to the main road.

The last occasion in which I was involved 4 cars had to reverse up the hill to allow a van towing a caravan up as it was unable to reverse.

What local people want to know is what stopping the county from progressing this matter. Is it the cost?

This was reported in your paper as being 150,000 earlier this year and in the current financial climate that is a significant sum.

I am rather suspicious of this though as a figure of 80,000 was banded about last year.

Given that the scheme would involve installing approximately 4 signs and some road markings these sums seem ludicrously expensive.

I would suggest that Councillor Glazier finds out from the highways department what is actually involved with a costed breakdown, where in their road priorities this matter sits, and how long these other road schemes have been waiting.

If he can do this and let the populace know through your paper it would at least take away some of the mystery surrounding this issue and give confidence that the matter is being taken seriously.

Nigel Jennings

Love Lane, Rye

What is it that the council calls itself?

I have just received Rye Town Council's Annual Report and have read it with great interest.

I would, however, like to know what it means by calling itself a Quality Council and a Power of a Well Being Council.

I fear that this is another example of local government gobbledegook.

Please let us have some plain English.

Bob Stephenson

Point Hill, Rye

Well done to Rother for their good work

LAST Sunday my husband and I paid a visit to the De La Warr and spent time walking round the new exhibition by Tomoko Takahashi.

We both found it absolutely fascinating after the initial surprise of being met by what looks like a pile of rubbish. I found it both thought provoking and interesting. Well done De La Warr. Too much criticism is leveled at a building which as residents we should be very proud of.

We then went on to Egerton Park and were most impressed by the new AdiZone. How amazing Rother should be one of the only authorities in the south east to win the grant to build it. Egerton Park was a hive of activity with teenagers enjoying the new equipment and young and old enjoying the park.

Rother and the De La Warr rarely get praised through the letters page, but here is one happy resident.

ALISON HIGGINS

Holmesdale Road, Bexhill

Another look at affordable housing

WHILST the Link Road is now on hold, an alternative needs to be addressed for the future, taking into account all the previous issues raised the new Government cuts and the consequential local authority cuts.

My proposal is to consider taking into account cost of housing benefit, care homes, care in the community and the pension shortfall and more part time working in the future.

To re-open and rebuild the old railway line from the London Road area (Sidley) to Crowhurst with a viaduct built to minimise disruption to wildlife and areas of scientific interest and natural beauty. A new station could be sited at lower Wilting area, linking to West St Leonards station.

Also, consider re-opening Glyne Gap station. Then limit traffic between 7-9 AM and 4-6 PM introducing a small congestion charge between these times and improve the number of buses and parking spaces at the stations to enable workers between Hastings, Bexhill and Eastbourne to achieve ease of travelling with less impact on the environment.

The proposed development areas on the map could be for a new system of housing.

The land could be compulsory purchased, at agricultural value, by the local authority, and made into a Community Land Trust.

The houses could then be built for about 80,000 each, then sold at cost with the restriction that they can only be sold back to the Community Land Trust. Tenants are to be taken from the housing waiting list. Ground rent could help towards the purchase of the land debt.

The housing to be built with the possibility of a number of houses under one roof but maintaining personal living space.

This could include a surgery, youth club, library, crche, an open church, also sports facilities and organise community projects with outdoor space for recreational use.

The way homes are built should improve everyone's mental health, reducing NHS associated cost as illnesses like depression decrease. Older people will not be isolated nor single parents, but will retain their own space again, improving their overall wellbeing.

Affordable commercial units could be built costing approximately 5,000 each to encourage small businesses and enterprise, thereby creating some employment and prosperity with the rental income going back to the Community Land Trust. Trusts like the Prince of Wales, Lottery funding, EU funding could be approached to further the community project.

Maybe this could be a model to the future of a 21st century environmentally friendly happy life.

At the link road enquiry in December, Mr Rhodri Price Lewis QC said compulsory purchase should only be made where there is clear evidence that the public benefit will outweigh the private loss.

With 3,400 on the housing waiting list and 11,200 unemployed in Hastings and Rother there has never been a greater need. I appeal to all those people plus those who would like to benefit from a new way of housing to join my campaign by emailing [email protected].

We need to get support from the youth council, the Bexhill forum, those who want their own business, the unemployed, those on the housing needs list and those who need to save for their old age.

Laurence Keeley

Herstmonceux

Council should not endorse 'discredited'

WITH the provision of new sport and recreation facilities should always be applauded, I would like to raise some concerns over the development of Egerton Park.

The installation of the 'Adizone' may be the thin end of the wedge in the corporatisation of our public realm.

What next? A picnic area sponsored by McDonalds? Flower beds courtesy of Monsanto?

But beyond this concern the citizens of Bexhill are served with a true double-whammy.

Not only is this new facility sponsored by Adidas, a company whose employment practices in South East Asia have consistently violated the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation, but it also features the symbols of the Olympic movement; a movement that long ago abandoned Pierre de Coubertin's vision of innocent youth striving to be faster, higher, stronger - to one that now openly embraces and rewards an over-professionalised, bio-chemical performance culture the Soviets would be proud of.

Shame on Rother District Council for endorsing such discredited organisations instead of investing in the amateur, voluntary and community groups that have long sustained sporting opportunity in this country and which remain the true bedrock of any effort to increase participation.

Dr Paul Gilchrist

Cornwall Road, Bexhill

Thanks to all the Light Opera helpers

As Chairman of Battle Light Opera Group I would like to thank the crew of members and helpers who worked so hard before, during and after our Charity Supper Concerts in aid of St. Michaels Hospice last Friday and Saturday in the Memorial Hall.

The evenings were excellently supported by our Patrons & other guests and have been heralded as a great success.

They've raised a substantial amount for the Hospice....we're still counting!

I would like to thank, in particular, the producer David Hance, musical director and accompanists Neil Bannock and Ivora Rees and the large team of caterers and dish washers who made the concerts possible. Well done to all!

ADRIAN COLLINS

Netherfield Hill, Battle

Parishes should also be limited in increase

I noticed in last weeks correspondence that Icklesham Parish Council decided this financial year to increase their Parish Precept by "over 13%".

Given that the Government has decided to freeze County and District rates for three years I have suggested to No. 10 that they similarly freeze Parish Precepts.

I suggested this as I would not put it past wily County and Districts Councils cutting services and suggesting parishes take over.

Not East Sussex County Council of course, nor, perish the thought, Rother District Council!

J. E. Goldsworthy (Mrs)

Glengorse, Battle