Your letters - September 11

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

Please slow down

I HAVE been living in Peartree Lane for 11 years now, and I've had it with people who speed along our road at about 50mph when it's meant to be 30mph.

I see at least 12 people speeding on our road every day which makes it a dangerous place for pets, elderly people and children.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The elderly people who live opposite us go to the shop just around the corner every now and again, but because of the people that speed along our road the elderly have to wait for about ten minutes before they can cross.

My family and I have had many tragedies because of these people.

We have had three cats run over on this very same road, and our latest cat (kitten) got run over two days ago and she was only seven months old.

The same thing happened for the lady up the road as well.

People just ignore signs now. We need more than that '“ we need things like speed bumps and speed cameras.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Please can you help us make our road to be a safer road before even worse things happen?

Rowan Becker, age 11

Peartree Lane

Remembering WW2

AS the Second World War 70th anniversary approaches, I am writing this in memory of my brother, and other relatives and friends, killed in that war.

On the September 3, 1939, my mother and I, and one of my four brothers Vic (later killed whilst in the Essex Regiment) were gathered in our front room to listen to our wireless radio. There were several neighbours also invited, as not everyone owned a wireless at that time.

The nation had been told that an important announcement was to be made by our Prime Minister, Mr Chamberlain. The adults in the room were aware of the serious crisis the country was in, so they awaited the words of the PM with some apprehension.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Then we heard this rather unsteady voice telling us "Your country is at war with Germany".

The National Anthem was played shortly after and all the adults stood up at once, and so did I, recognising the solemnity of the occasion.

Even after all these years, I can feel the tears not far away... I was just 19 days short of my 14th birthday.

Joyce Humphrey

Reginald Road

Bexhill

Listen to our views

I AM on the same side as Jackie Bialeska in her protest against the management of the Next Wave seafront project.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However I disagree with her assertion in last week's Observer that the "exhibition" of final draft designs to be mounted by the council represents a victory for the protesters in achieving public consultation over the project.

In fact the council has always promised an "exhibition" of these designs. The question is: will there be full, transparent public consultation?

n Will public comments at the exhibition be collected, collated and interpreted objectively and statistically?

n Will we be able to comment on the designs as a whole?

n Will the results be published?

n Is the council prepared to significantly change the designs if the reaction to them is adverse?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

n Will the public truly decide the winner of the seafront shelter competition?

The answer I have gathered so far to most of these questions is a resounding "no!". The exhibition is described as an "information event": for "information only" and "not to be regarded as consultation".

There is no plan to formally collect residents' comments or ask whether they approve of the designs as a whole.

I am furthermore told that the designs cannot and will not now be significantly changed, although "one particular aspect" receiving seriously adverse comment might be "looked at again"

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I believe the council has no intention of seriously consulting residents over Next Wave. It claims, in my view ludicrously, that it has fully consulted us already through the initial exhibition of concept designs, now largely abandoned, and the Spaceshaper event involving 19 selected residents.

The project manager, Jan Windle, to her credit, has engaged with some residents and local groups and taken on board some of their concerns.

However I believe no group or individual can represent Bexhill residents in this matter: there should take place a full public consultation as is required by the council's own consultation charter.

On July 24 a group of 25 residents, including myself, signed a letter from Christine Madeley to the chairman of the council making specific constructive proposals for further consultation over Next Wave.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

We argued that this could only benefit the project and warned of the risks that might lie in not following a consultative course: public unrest and the council brought into disrepute. We have yet to receive a reply to this letter.

The council's silence speaks volumes. It will exhibit the plans for Next Wave, but take little notice of your views on how they spend 5 million of your money, in a recession, tinkering cosmetically with one small area of the seafront while our basic facilities and services go begging and '“ I again agree with Jackie '“ our decaying town centre cries out for regeneration. What precisely is their vision for our town?

Nick Hollington

Whydown Farm

There's a better way

I WRITE to try and make it known that the route planned for the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road is far from the best.

East Sussex County Council, which is planning this road, is hell-bent on using the line of the old disused Bexhill to Crowhurst railway. This route involves destroying a lot of houses, the refuse collection depot, has no planned connection with A269 at Sidley and will destroy the important wildlife habitat in the excessively deep cutting up to the bridge under the Glovers Farm bridge which would have to be rebuilt.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There is a very much better route available allowing the traffic to proceed up the dual carriageway King Offa Way and then turning left into Dorset Road. At the northerly end of this it would turn left into Penland Road, past the new college and the Nazareth House development into Wrestwood Road. From here it can turn right to proceed up the extreme edge Pebsham Estate.

From there it could proceed along the north of the estate and the waste-tip giving access to the proposed Country Park, whence it could pass northwards along the extreme end of the Coombe Haven Valley close to Harleyshute Road.

From there it would north to pass under the present railway as the existing plans show, close to Upper Wilting Farm. I am sorry this is rather a tedious description but I drove this way the other day and apart from minor alterations to the existing roads it seemed to be very easy

It would avoid destroying the wildlife habitat, the areas of SSSI and Outstanding Natural Beauty and, most importantly, leave all the farms as they are now, especially the lovely old Adams Farmhouse, which is a grade one listed building.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This road would be very much easier and cheaper to build and could be completed in a fraction of the time the planned road would take.

So I dearly hope East Sussex Council will change its plans before time, which is short, runs out.

Dr John Thurston

Old resident at Actons Farm,

Southwater Street,

Horsham

Is it already decided?

Bexhill Link Road '“ letter to Mr Tipping, Inspector, Local Authority Orders, Newcastle upon Tyne

THE many thousands of local people who oppose the controversial Link Road have been stunned by the news that on July 29, planning permission was granted for the above road before you have deliberated on all the evidence at the public inquiry.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Suspicion has been generated that the scheme has been granted a green light and the forthcoming public meeting is a farce.

By obtaining planning permission prior to the public inquiry, without taking into account the opposition of locals and environmental experts and meteorological evidence, doubt is cast to the predilection of the public inquiry.

Have ESCC, RDC and planners taken your position as an independent inspector for granted or are you all privy to a done deal and this inquiry is a waste of time and money?

R SHAW

Crowhurst

Mr Shaw also refers to the Timesonline from June 25, 2009 re Rising Costs put the brakes on dozens of roadbuilding projects. (article 657187) written by Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent.

Is road a tip plan?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

EAST Sussex County Council and Biffa have decided that the closing date for the Pebsham landfill site is to be extended for another four years.

Ten years ago we were informed that to extend the site anymore could cause problems with health and the environment. Parts of the tip are to be closed temporarily to see if they can increase the capacity and keep the facility open longer.

The reason for the link road now becomes apparent. It is not just for access to new housing estates but also to have a road down to the landfill site. We should oppose any further extensions to the life of the tip otherwise many of our younger generation may well be around to celebrate its centenary.

R SANDERSON

Top Cross Road

Bexhill

Don't blame OAPs

DEAR Mr Minter, what a hateful letter re. elderly drivers. I am one. Been driving over 50 years, never had any problems. What a sad soul you are.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Now let's look at another group of drivers, say 17 to 50. Some, not all, break the rules, speeding, drinking, drugs and of course bad manners. That is the group to be aware of.

If elderly drivers bother you to that extent just move out of our area.

Marjorie Cooper

Richmond Road

Bexhill

Book a check now

RECENT figures from the Department of Trade and Industry show that nearly 200 fires a year in the UK are associated with faulty electric blankets.

They recommend that all blankets should be tested annually to ensure their safety.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

We are pleased to offer residents of Bexhill free electric blanket tests on Monday, September 14 at Parkhurst Road Church Hall from 10am to 3pm.

This is part of a Home Safety event where representatives of local statutory and voluntary agencies will be available to give advice and re-assurance.

Booking is recommended so please ring 01424 457129 and leave your details.

Angela Broomfield

Health Promotion Specialist for Older People

NHS Community Health Services

Malley's come home

I WOULD like to thank everyone in Little Common who looked for our cat Malley after the Observer published my plea when he went missing.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After three weeks he has come home, and has settled back in with his brothers and sister as if he had never been away.

We are all extremely happy to have him back.

Many thanks to the Observer and all our kind neighbours for their efforts in trying to find him. We have no idea where he has been but as he is in remarkably good condition some kind person or persons must have been feeding him.

Thank you all very much.

Janet Graves

Barnhorn Road

Let's go on show

MANY congratulations to all the members of the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club for putting on such a splendid show at the Polegrove on Bank Holiday Monday.

The sun shone and the public came in their hundreds to see such a wide collection of classic and very unique and rare cars.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Over the years the club has worked very hard to support local charities and to spread the word that Bexhill is the birthplace of motor racing.

The club must have been quite successful, because this year they have been given a stand, free of charge at the annual classic car show to be held at the NEC Birmingham in November

What an opportunity for Bexhill to publicise itself by displaying its three unique cars at the premier stage of classic motoring.

For this to happen Bexhill Museum would have to release the Volt electric car, the Serpollet steam car and their latest acquisition the Elva sports racing car for the three days of the show.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the NEC thousands of people will pass the Bexhill stand, TV (possibly Top Gear) and popular car magazines will take an interest and by so doing give the town the recognition of its motoring heritage.

Alas! This will not happen '“ Bexhill Museum will not allow the cars to go to Birmingham as it feels that the queuing public at the museum doors in November will be deprived of these classic exhibits.

What a lost opportunity '“ perhaps the powers that be will relent and allow the cars to go to this special national car show. Let's hope!

Mike Rosner

Hillborough Close

Bexhill

Are the figures right?

THE revised plan for the redevelopment of The Colonnade for multi-commercial use seems to have some very shaky reasoning behind it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mainly, the economic reasoning for this plan is based on mistaken calculations.

It is stated in this report that what happened at the De La Warr Pavilion is an indicator of what could happen at The Colonnade.

The councillors are told, in order to elicit their approval, that after the renovation of the Pavilion the footfall there increased from 150,000 visits to more than 500,000 which, after certain adjustments, meant an increase of 100 per cent.

This is totally untrue.

Before the refurbishment at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast in July 2005 Alan Haydon, the Pavilion's director, stated that half a million visitors had attended that year and that after the redevelopment there would be half that many again.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A year later, following the building works, Mr Haydon said that visitor numbers were an impressive half a million. Oops!

Something a bit odd there then.

So much for the speculations of the council officers.

On the Pavilion's supposed success, they are basing their overblown hopes for the financial success of the new Colonnade.

If they can't get their figures right for the Pavilion, how can we trust them, especially when the Colonnade will not have more than 1m a year of public money to support it?

Jackie Bialeska

Chairman, Vox Pop

It's a gamble

AT its meeting on Monday, Rother District Council's Cabinet decided to go ahead with a highly speculative scheme for the Colonnade in spite of being warned by a senior Conservative member of the council that they would be "gambling with 2m of ratepayers' money".

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The district council is not there to gamble with our money and certainly not without our permission.

Jack Seabrook

Richmond Avenue

Bexhill

Please help rowers

THANK you for publishing your article last week.

Your readers may wish to know that a new website, row4charity2.co.uk , is now up and running with information on the preparations for the Woodvale Atlantic Challenge in December.

Most important is the sponsorship that the lads need before they can even enter the race. In the current economic climate so many potential large donors are unable to consider helping.

Does one of the huge number of your readers who supported the boat and crew on the Indian Ocean race have an idea where we could find an 'angel', please?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It is worth remembering that The Bexhill Rowers were Fundraisers of the Month in August for The Stroke Association and could well be the Fundraisers of the Year for that charity.

So please scratch your heads and talk to all the people you know who could make the Atlantic Challenge possible for the Bexhill champions.

David Woolf

De La Warr Road

Bexhill

Support's not there

I WOULD like to comment on the families like mine in the Hasting and Bexhill areas who are struggling to keep our post-19 children with severe learning difficulties at home. Currently the whole system is designed to put your adult offspring if they have very special needs into care at 19.

We have found the support from the adult learning disabilities team abysmal. In fact the support is almost non existent. During the 24 years of our daughter's life I have never found one social worker who had my daughter's best interests at heart before their budget.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If you ring the learning disabilities office and ask to speak to anyone they are either in a meeting (the favourite), part time, on annual leave or off sick.

You have to be as tenacious as a stalking lion and keep ringing to rouse any response whatsoever. Last resort, make an official complaint. It's hard work. They offer very minimal support if any.

You have to fight the very people who are supposed to be there to help you to obtain anything you need to carry on doing the very hard work of caring for a person with special needs.

It begs the question would you really miss them if they were not there and replaced with a charity set up to help carers and their families instead?

Linda Pestano

parent carer

Bexhill

I fear for the future

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I AM really very sorry to hear that Dave Harris is leaving 73a.

Under his management this day centre for people with enduring mental health issues has achieved a great deal. I have had the privilege of occasionally being involved with the treatment of service users and I have to confess that I am sceptical about the changes being made to centres such as 73a.

A good day centre is always a boon to therapists such as myself as they provide a supportive environment for day to day crisis management, thus leaving the therapist free to concentrate on treatment of the underlying problem.

In principle the recovery model, which aims to get people with mental health issues back into normal society and in particular back into employment, is unarguably desirable. However, it seems to me that the method of achieving this is flawed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To simply decrease the support offered to these service users, thus in effect forcing them to fend for themselves, is more likely to exacerbate their symptoms.

This will at best slow their recovery, while at worst lead to increasing incidents of self-harm and even suicide. 73a, while in the hands of the council and with Dave at the helm, has provided an excellent safety net.

Your article quotes Mike Wood as saying that "No one will be left without the support they need".

I can't see that this can be true. I understand reduced staffing has led to closure at weekends '“ the time when most people with mental health difficulties feel most vulnerable.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

No doubt Mike Wood will tell us that the changes have been a success because fewer people are needing the service, however, I will be interested in seeing the A&E statistics which I wouldn't mind betting will include an increase in self-harm, attempted suicide and other symptoms of severe mental distress.

Name and address supplied

What a great day out

WHAT a wonderful day we all had at the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club's spectacular show at the Polgrove Recreation Ground.

Once again all the hard work of the club members and their supporters, gave everyone a day to remember.

All the effort put into to this annual event is for the benefit local charities, as well as a really fun day out! Local people, giving both time and money, to see the benefits for our families, friends and neighbours from our local charities.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This year's wonderful event at the Polgrove supported the 1066 Specials, Emily Lawes and the Hastings and Rother MS Society. Once more ensuring that money given locally is spent locally.

Peter Nowak

Bexhill 100

member

Hastings and Rother MS Society committee