Your letters - March 5, 2010

Warning to drivers

I AM writing as a stark warning to all drivers.

Ever since he was a little boy my son has loved cars and was desperate to learn to drive as soon as he could. He had passed both parts of his driving test, bought, taxed and insured a small car and done his CBT (compulsory bike training) within three-and-a-half months of turning 17.

On Monday last week he returned home from the magistrates court minus his driving licence and almost 200 out of pocket. His crime? Mistakenly thinking that the fully comprehensive insurance he purchased for his own car would cover him third party to have a ride on a friend's moped. Yes he was wrong to assume instead of checking but he paid more than 1,800 '“ yes you read that right! '“ for fully comp insurance so it should be obvious he would not knowingly then ride a moped uninsured. Sadly he had the misfortune to be dealt with by a police officer who did not believe this was a genuine mistake (well he's 17 and from Sidley, he must be a liar, right?) so he was issued with a fixed penalty ticket of six points and 200 fine. This is particularly harsh for a new driver because six points means having to re take both parts of your driving test. It would also push the cost of insuring his small car to over 6,000 - effectively banning him from driving for the foreseeable future. Being unable to drive for any length of time would also have cost my son his job.

I understand that the punishment needs to be enforced for people who cannot be bothered to insure their cars, but when an innocent motorist commits this offence unwittingly, to tar them with the same brush seems exceptionally harsh. Let's be honest those who do it deliberately will probably only do it again anyway!

My son has paid a high price for an innocent mistake so I would urge anyone who has fully comprehensive insurance to check the small print carefully before driving anyone else's car.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Penalties for taxis

YOUR taxi may soon not be able to pick you up or drop you where you want to go.

Under the new taxi licensing officers' laws and penalty points system, a taxi will receive three points on the driver's taxi licence for parking illegally.

We know taxi drivers are prone to do this, mainly because the majority of our customers in Bexhill are either retired or disabled.

They know the taxi can, in the past, pick them up outside shops, banks etc, but this means double parking, parking on double yellow lines or bus stops.

If taxis receive points, the only safe place to pick up and drop off customers in Bexhill would be the De La Warr car park.

So be warned '“ taxis are here to help '“ so let the council know if you object.

CHRISTOPHER SPECK

Ridgewood Gardens

Bexhill-on-Sea

Bexhill 100 confusion

WHILST his suggestions for an annual motoring event in Bexhill are no doubt well meant, John Ellis seems unaware that we have 'been there, done that and got the tee shirt'.

The Bexhill 100 was a huge event, running for many years.

Kim Freeman and I both pointed that out and, yes, Mr Ellis did mention the Bexhill 100 in his original letter but it would appear he is confusing the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club with an event of the same name.

The club was born out of the demise of the event. I know this to be so because I was at the inaugural meeting. It's good to see that the club has flourished and is well-established.

There are many and varied reasons the Bexhill 100 was discontinued. Those of us involved in it were, in spite of all the hard work, bitterly disappointed we had to give up. There were a small number of people at the heart of the show who got little credit for all the work they did but did it anyway.

I hope this explains why I wrote in the first place. I and some of the original organisers were pereplexed by the apparent lack of awareness of the original event.

ROGER SIGGERY

Little Common Road

Bexhill

Landfill and flooding

READING BALI'S Nick Hollington's letter and the report of flooding in various areas of the town reminded me of our journey last week along Turkey Road, home of the Ashdown brickworks and, potentially, yet another landfill site in this area.

As your report indicated Turkey Road was flooded and it was immediately noticeable that a great deal of that water was coming over and seeping through the bank alongside the brickworks. I am well aware that we are experiencing unusual amounts of rain just at the moment but there is nothing to say that this will never happen again, so just imagine all that water seeping through rubbish in a landfill, picking up who knows what contamination and depositing it on the highway and into the many local watercourses spreading the contamination over a wide area. Some of those watercourses run beside people's gardens, one runs along the perimeter of the recreation ground in Little Common where small children play. Yes, there are fences but fences fall down, are knocked down and are so tempting to climb - whose child will be the first to fall into that contaminated water? What will be the consequences?

JACKIE BEAVIS

Peartree Lane

Little Common

Follow the money!

MY earlier letter to the Observer was intended to provoke a reaction, and it did. In putting forward the suggestion that we accept responsibility for our own waste I omitted my start point. Follow the money!

The present owner of the "hole-in-the ground" off Turkey Road probably has a well-depreciated asset on the balance sheet. To be able to sell or lease out that hole promptly converts it to a current asset; improving the balance sheet, creating cash flow or both. Any such solution makes good sense for the owner.

For the waste disposal company to find an alternative disposal site, relatively close to its existing facility and to buy or lease that site also makes good economic sense. The company does not have to recalculate significantly its operating cost base and its staff can transfer over quickly and efficiently.

For the county council, an approach by a commercial entity which takes away one of the council's major problems is, as far as it is concerned, the best possible outcome. For the planning officers to advise that entity on the correct and best way to submit a planning application is both natural and correct. Should they not so offer advice then they would be derelict in their duties.

For politicians at district, county and national level, support is easy; they can make a loud noise, get their names in the media and, in effect, do nothing. This must make the best of good sense for them.

For BALI the solution is simple, find a way to replace the cash in the balance sheet of the site owner; an owner who already has one solution. This is the responsible approach. To emphasise things such as increased pollution, road access problems and a deterioration of the local environment is ducking the issue. Such considerations are of concern only to those who live close to the problem.

I fully agree that Bexhill/ St Leonards have fully shouldered their responsibility for disposing of waste created by human activity and it is now someone else's turn. The fact remains that we, here in Bexhill, have a hole-in-the-ground and it is up to us to suggest a good use for it otherwise what today makes good commercial sense will prevail; waste disposal.

I am very much against and further landfill or Incineration in Bexhill but I am also a commercial realist.

Surely Bexhill has the expertise to come up with an alternative.

NEVILLE WRIGHT

Buckholt Avenue

Bexhill

What bad language?

IN response to L Woodley's letter of February 26, regarding saddened by comments and language, where was he to to hear bad language?

The atmosphere may have been heated at the meeting but there was no bad language.

Also it would be better to get the facts correct at no time has anybody been against football being played over the park we all agree it is good for youngsters. We are more concerned about the football club making a public park into a football stadium with floodlights, barriers and charging people to watch in what is a public park. Also the argument is how close to residential property the pitch is. Mr Woodley is welcome to come and see the view from our windows any time.

S COUGHTREY

Eastergate

Bexhill

I am appalled

I AM appalled that the residents of Bexhill and district are put in the horrible position of trying to appeal against the prominent landfill near Highwoods Golf Club.

There are people here who have worked and saved all their lives to live in a quiet corner of England which they love.

There are also many residents of the younger element who just want to live here and appreciate the area. The general feeling of the public is that 'the powers that be' will get it passed by whatever means they can.

This landfill site is on the edge of some very beautiful countryside, and wonderful leisure facilities, for example the Golf Club and the parks etc. What on earth has this area of town and everyone in it done to be treated in this manner? They seem to have no say in it.

Can you imagine seagulls circling, lorries in inestimable numbers from all quarters bringing waste here? And I mean hundreds and hundreds of loads. Does this mean the powers that be think we have no feeling towards all of this when our town has been preserved since Victorian times and before? Look around you gentlemen to really see what you have and what you will never have again should you agree to all this. I am no idiot and I can foresee the terrible times ahead for our residents, their properties down in value etc.

You know I am just not talking about our senior population, I am talking about the future of the hundreds and hundreds of youngsters who are being educated locally in our new schools and colleges in the area, and who will hopefully, when the time comes, settle here once once our economy gets a kick start.

Think deeply about the responsibility you have for everyone's future.

BARBARA RUSSELL

Highwood Avenue

Bexhill

How refreshing

HOW refreshing to read that Charlie Clark is refusing to accept an increase in his expenses. Obviously he and Sue Prochak are people with principles. It is a pity that the rest of the council cannot follow their example, especially Councillor Carl Maynard, who should have been ashamed of his attitude in this matter.

J TOLLETT

Bidwell Avenue

Bexhill

Rest in peace, Jean

ON Tuesday February 9 Jean Hopkinson, past Bexhill councillor and county councillor, passed away in New Zealand.

Her son Michael sent an email and hoped we would pass on the sad news to all who were privileged to know her.

Jean was a great friend to the people of Pebsham and fought tirelessly on environmental issues for us.

We could contact her 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and only received great courtesy and dedication to duty from her.

The yellow pen came out and all matters that concerned Pebsham were highlighted and relayed to us immediately, and she lobbied council and county council members to promote our cause.

We have lost a wonderful friend and her son's words are so true.

He said: "I thank you for being part of her life which will leave the world just that much better for her being here."

Rest in peace, Jean, your friends:

Brian and Marion EdmundsFilsham Drive

Bexhill

Death of councillor

IT was with great sadness to hear of the death of Jean Hopkinson recently.

Jean served as a local and county councillor for St Michael's ward for many years and I am sure many of her friends will be saddened to hear this sad news.

Jean was a very honest and dedicated councillor and strived to help her constituents.

Jean moved to New Zealand to be close to her family, but she kept in touch via e-mail to hear news of Bexhill and friends.

I feel ashamed that not one of her fellow councillors did not have the compassion to acknowledge her outstanding dedication whilst serving Rother and county.

KEN PATERSON

Filsham Drive

Bexhill-on-Sea

Care homes audit

I AM writing regarding the recent 'Audit Commission' report, which highlighted the need for local authorities to be 'creative' when facing up to the issues associated with an aging population.

I work for Ardath Residential Care home in Bexhill, which is run by a local not-for-profit organisation that has provided residential care in the county since 1946. I really feel this report focused more on cash than care, and neglects to recognise the fact that we are all different '“ for some care at home is preferable, but for many, the support and care provided at residential care homes help people enjoy a new lease of life, something I've had the pleasure of seeing on many occasions.

Care homes can help alleviate the isolation older people can feel when living on their own, because as even with carers visiting several times a week, there will often be days when they don't see anyone. On the other hand a well run, supportive care home, there's always something always going on and someone to talk to '“ including having more time to enjoy and pursue their own interests.

Jane Narborough

Ardath Manager

Hastings Road

Bexhill

100 years ago

A hundred years ago, in 2015, the infamous East Sussex Rebellion occurred, which started in the coastal town of Bexhill and spread across the whole of the South-East.

The trouble began when locals started to riot against a number of county council decisions.

One of the main areas of contention was the landfill site which started at a small disused brickworks in Bexhill and later spread as far north as Ninfield and virtually reached down to Little Common swallowing up the Highwoods Golf course in its wake.

This landfill site was originally opened to serve Brighton and Eastbourne but was extended after five years to cater for rubbish from Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth.

There was talk at the time of improving the roads from these western towns to Bexhill but this was considered too costly by Rother Council and East Sussex County Council.

Another reason for the riots was the amount of money that the local council had wasted on seafront shelters at that time. Up to 2020 the council had build thirty different styles of shelter, losing a number to the strong winds which were customary in Bexhill, and others that had just deteriorated or had been vandalised.

There were two original Edwardian shelters remaining but these only lasted until 2048 and were always considered old-fashioned by the council.

Bexhill, or course, closed down as a town in 2070, as no new businesses could be attracted to the area as it had become congested with charity shops and estate agents. The talks were still continuing up to 2060 for a link road, or even a by-pass, but no resolution could be reached on either.

The famous De La Warr Pavilion which graced the town for years had been used as an immigration hostel and drug rehabilitation centre until 2030 when it become so delapidated that it was eventually demolished.

J Langford (local historian)

London Road

St Leonards

Stamp collection

A BIG thank you for the wonderful response we have had from all the people who have donated used postage stamps in aid of MPS to help with research into these rare genetic diseases affecting the lives of young children.

We would like to ask you to please keep collecting throughout the year.

Once again, many thanks,

Keith and Shirley Bown,

Putlands Crescent

Bexhill

Rubbish burden

Referring to Mr Wright's letter The Waste Debate (Observer 19 Feb), I don't think anyone, and certainly not Bali, has any arguments with the first paragraph. It is the second paragraph that misses the point. The reasons Bali is against the Turkey Road proposed site are, as I understand it, its close proximity to residential property (within yards in some cases), the threat of vermin, seagulls and smells to those and other nearby homes, the threat to the Highwoods, adjacent to the 'hole', and its birds and wildlife, it being a Site of Scientific Interest, and the danger to the water table.

The latter, if it happens, threatens ground pollution to homes all the way down from Turkey Road to the Little Common Road, including Glenleigh Park. It will also affect the Highwoods Golf Club, situated right across the road from the site, or to be more accurate, the golf club members and their visiting guests. It will not be nice for visitors to the adjacent cemetery either, and the new college in Gunters Lane is within a stone throw too. Huge rubbish trucks trundling along and around this location will endanger everyone, including the students.

While it might be noble to suggest we deal with our own rubbish, then the argument follows too that the other towns who will send us their rubbish should also share in the problem and not dump it on us.

Bexhill and Pebsham areas have shouldered the rubbish burden for many years and in fairness other areas should take a turn. We are hoping for regeneration, not degeneration.

Norman Franks

The Ridings

Bexhill