Readers' letters October 21

Presented very much as a fait accompli by officers of the CDC, both our district councillor, 
Cllr Adrian Moss and Fishbourne Parish Council are strongly opposed to the measure.

The officers refer to the ‘opportunity’ to introduce the order whereas at the last Parish Council meeting there were both public and Parish Council votes held that were unanimous in their objection to the proposal.

We do not consider the proposed Dog Control Order an opportunity at all.

Many objections were raised and the evidence presented by CDC was considered circumstantial at best.

The only certain result of the Order would be the addition of one more person – the dog warden.

Fishbourne Parish Council formally minuted its objection: proposed by me, Cllr Pembery and seconded by Cllr Barnes that Fishbourne Parish Council was totally opposed to the ban and would make representations accordingly.

We will be doing so, and I would welcome your support with this issue.

Cllr Stuart Pembery

Fishbourne Parish Council

THANK YOU Councillor Adrian Moss for writing some very sensible arguments against the absurd proposed dog control order forcing dog owners to keep their animals on leads around the Fishbourne Channel (Letters, Oct 7).

I run with my Jack Russell on the path several times a week.

He sprints up and down the path while I just plod on.

Dogs such as him need to run a lot and run fast, around 25mph to keep fit.

I, nor any other human, could possibly keep up if he were on a lead!

I see many other people exercising their dogs.

The overwhelming majority of dogs are on the path and minding their own business.

I can only remember one or two occasions where I have seen an animal running loose away from 
the path.

So please, can the Solent Forum, who are accusing dogs of endangering the wildlife, provide the public with scientific data to support their claims?

This will need to show the time, location and nature of each incident.

Then, if it can be proven that dogs really are a problem, maybe less draconian measures could be put in place, such as installing fencing around particular problem areas, or restricting access to certain areas during the breeding season.

This would surely be cheaper than employing a Dog Control Warden?

That money would be better spent on a litter control warden and would no doubt be of greater benefit to the environment.

The proposal also mentions dog fouling as a major problem.

It is not, the path is usually pretty clear of mess.

Again the vast majority of owners take responsibility to clear up after their animals.

In fact I, and several others will even clear up other mess if we happen to come across any.

I and many dog owners will have to take to our cars to get to somewhere where we can exercise our animals properly, which of course WILL have a proven negative impact on the environment!

Russell Catchpole

Bourne Close, Fishbourne

WE ARE responsible dog owners with a great respect for the environment and live adjacent to the harbour at Fishbourne meadows.

Our dog is exercised over the harbour at least twice a day so we are very familiar with the activity in this area.

In common with other regular dog walkers we keep to the footpaths and walk along the sea wall (not on the inter-tidal areas) and this gives us much pleasure without having to restrict our dog on a lead.

The harbour is an ideal environment for this pleasurable activity, we have seen no evidence 
at all of nesting birds being disturbed by dogs roaming free and are intrigued to know how some ‘experts’ have reached their negative conclusions regarding these proposals?

As far as the nesting birds are concerned, in common with most of the locals, we suggest that if there is a problem (which has yet to be established) it is probably caused by the deteriorating pollution situation in the harbour resulting from the over-burdened sewage plant having to cope with all the additional housing.

We have also noticed the fox population has increased considerably since we settled here ten years ago and they of course are not accompanied by adults keeping them under control.

We have heard suggestions that residents from the new Graylingwell Estate will all be flooding over the harbour with their dogs thus making matters much worse.

This must be nonsense as we are sure they will regularly exercise their dogs nearer home which would be north of the city where there are plenty of ideal dog walking areas without having to face the dubious pleasures of Chichester’s traffic in order to reach the harbour.

We would also like to point out the parking is very restricted around the harbour as you should know.

One or two more poo bins would also be a good idea encouraging certain dog walkers to be more responsible.

Perhaps one or two polite notices could be displayed requesting that harbour visitors respect identified sensitive parts of the area?

What is the alternative vision?

Will dog wardens lurk in the undergrowth ready to pounce out at unsuspecting dog walkers threatening them with heavy fines?

The simple pleasure of enjoying a walk in the harbour with one’s dog off the lead is at risk and this sadly could affect so many people.

Mike & AnnetteBell Dennett

Fishbourne

I THINK Chichester District Council has completely missed the point.

I feel it’s climate change, a colder winter and a general decline of birds altogether everywhere. But what really is the problem is the sewage in the water.

Have you seen the brown, foamy scum in the water?

That is sewage.

The mud is so toxic, it is poisoning the wildfowl and all sealife.

How can CDC blame the dogs when it has no proof?

It also says people will flock down here from the Graylingwell development to walk their dogs.

No – they will walk to Lavant.

There are no car parking spaces here.

If this ludicrous scheme goes ahead, we will have to use our cars to find somewhere to walk our dogs.

Please, Chichester District council, listen to the people for once.

Marina Stanley, Fishbourne

WHAT BIRD would want to nest on the stinking sludge of algae that is washed up and crusted on the waters edge?

How does all this algae affect the food the birds feed on?

I have walked many times around the creek and dogs are under the control of their owners,

The only dog I have seen in the reeds was accompanied by a man with a shotgun!

Perhaps a fence around these nesting sites might be a better idea?

If only to prove its not the dogs and people disturbing the birds.

C Scammell, Fishbourne

.BIRDS TAKE fright at more than dogs – bird scarers, boats, fishermen, and ragworm diggers.

I am no expert, but most waterways around Chichester contradict Chichester District Council’s assumption.

Indeed the canal has a hugely diverse bird population, which seems most accustomed to humans with dogs, despite the occasional doggy paddler.

Most self-respecting owners prefer their dogs on dry land near the harbour rather than on the sewage flats.

Or is that the smokescreen being created by CDC to exploit the easy target for the proposed £1,000 infringement fine, rather than leave them in deep financial (non-canine) doo-doo?

Karen Griffin

Stockbridge Road, Chichester

THE PATHS around the edge of Chichester Harbour are one of the few places in the area where dogs can be taken to exercise off their leads.

Dogs do not interfere with bird life in the harbour: the birds are out on the mudflats where I have never seen any dogs go.

The scientific report prepared for the Solent Forum which CDC has cited in its consultation does not support this ban: quite the opposite.

It says that waterfowl are not affected when people and dogs walk along sea walls or other defined coastal paths and where soft mud prevents dogs from venturing out on to the flat: exactly the conditions around the Fishbourne Channel.

Once again, dog owners are going to be persecuted without any justification simply so the council can be ‘seen to be doing something’ about protecting bird life in the Harbour.

Lynda Howe, Donnington

CHICHESTER FESTIVAL Theatre is one of the city’s most important assets and everything must be done to maintain it.

I have attended every single year since its opening in 1962 and watched it grow in stature, popularity and artistic status in the theatrical world as a whole.

It has seen many great actors come and go over the years, mounted some brilliant productions (many of them world premieres) and is regarded of one of the foremost theatres in the country with a reputation that grows every year.

I had the honour to take part in the two Community Plays of 2000/2002 and loved it.

It has brought massive revenue to the city’s hotels and restaurants, as well as to those in surrounding areas.

Countless players, including international ones, who have trod its boards have brought additional kudos, enhancing its reputation.

Everything must be done to preserve this wonderful theatre for many generations to come.

Beryl Fleming, Findon Valley

THE COALITION government will shortly embark upon the most severe cuts in public spending in living memory while trying to convey its vital message – that the cuts are unavoidable but fair.

This first message is frequently rammed home at any given media opportunity, that it’s the consequence of Labour’s economic mismanagement.

But the crucial portion of the UK’s deficit was a result of collapsing revenue during a global financial crisis – a product of market failure not solely state inefficiency.

Much of this coalition’s policy has been defined around extreme social dysfunction with wild caricatures of ‘Shameless’ benefit claimant scroungers with little focus upon the ordinary families struggling to make a living, relying on some benefits to help them through.

I anticipate low tolerance to these cuts once the scale and personal impact starts to bite eg cavalier NHS reforms, the scrapping of universal benefits – child benefit and winter fuel allowance, welfare benefit caps, scrapping free bus passes, cuts to housing benefit, scrapping of vital organisations under a quango smokescreen – none of which were stated in any manifesto.

Such a drastic shrinkage of the public services has a human impact that needs to be addressed not just in terms of an ideological economic goal for political re-election.

If this coalition were really serious about us ‘all being in this together’ then they would look harder at progressive taxation that genuinely targets the wealthy.

This coalition insists they have 
no choice but to reduce the deficit but they are still making ideologically driven choices about how this is done and who bears the burden.

For this coalition, these cuts are not temporary belt tightening it’s their vision of what they consider a good society to be – a return to the deserving and undeserving poor.

Perhaps, this is Cameron’s vision of his ‘big society’ a return to Edwardian England.

Anyone who saw the excellent adaptation of Robert Tressell’s timeless classic The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist at the CFT this summer will know what may now be round the corner.

We deserve a fair society but it won’t be created by an ideological divisive vendetta against the poor.

DJ Gaylard, Peacock Close, Chichester

AS A visitor for a short break weekend to the area, I was absolutely appalled by the utter shambles on the A27 east on Saturday, September 25.

The traffic chaos went back almost as far as Fontwell, and in fact it took us nearly two hours to get to Bracklesham!

We subsequently found the reason for the gridlock – but only after more than one hour to get to where the roundabout was blocked.

Advance warning, if applied, could have seen us and many others, finding alternative routes.

The final straw of course was having to trek at a snail’s pace through Chichester.

There must have been simply hundreds of people on more urgent business caught out by this utter shambles. Oh, by the way, not a single policeman in sight.

A lot of the problems were at roundabouts that were a complete free-for all.

A suitable form of policing these roundabouts would have seen traffic keep on the move. As it was, traffic came to a complete standstill for long periods.

I am hoping to see something better in future as we love the area and can only hope that some lessons can be learnt from this utter mess.

Peter Watts, Swindon, Wiltshire

I CANNOT believe there will be no lights in Chichester this festive season.

I am amazed – almost speechless!

Surely other towns don’t have this debacle every season?

Really, does Oxford street have the same problems?

How kind it was of the local businessman and other local businesses to offer the shortfall but surely the council can afford the extra?

After all, it’s us taxpayers that pay for it.

At the end of each year it would be nice to see the city lit up while late night shopping, munching on a mince pie.

Maybe we’re missing something here – ‘tis the season to be jolly’ – but obviously that won’t happen here in Chichester.

Hey ho! At least their newly-refurbished offices will look festive – look after Number 1.

Amanda Smith, Lavant

HURRAH! The fortunate taxpayers have been spared paying £15,000 to match a misplaced act of philanthropy, but it should be borne in mind that even if not displayed this year, the Christmas lights will continue to incur storage costs to the council.

It is way past time that the lights were disposed of by auctioning them online, or they could be sold to a fully privately-funded organisation, or by giving the bulbs away to the local taxpayers, who have already paid dearly for them.

However they are disposed of, the council must unequivocally state that there will never again be any public funding of the shopkeepers’ Christmas fattening.

Paul Cresswell, Old Bosham

IT SEEMS that every year at about this time we have the same old problem in Chichester of Scrooge-like businesses being reluctant to provide financial help with the Christmas lights.

So I have a suggestion.

If every household and business paid just £1 extra per annum on their council tax, that is just 2p 
per week, there would be more 
than enough generated to not only light the city centre but also to purchase some new and more interesting lights.

Would anyone object to a rise of just £1 per year?

Would anyone actually notice it?

Ken Strudwick, Chichester

I DIDN’T realise how easy it was to get an annual pay rise.

I thought I had to work long hours, meet or exceed all performance targets, treat colleagues with respect (even those that didn’t deserve it), and then hope that the company made a profit.

Now I read that to get an increase every nine months, I just have to stay at home and knock another baby out.

I obviously need to have a chat with my boss about changing the nature of my appraisal process.

Richard Ingram, Hambrook

I WANT to say a huge thank-you to the team of staff that have just cared for me at St Richard’s hospital and also my GP surgery.

I suffer with a chronic illness which at times can be very severe.

My GP surgery – Avisford Medical Group, Yapton – are always on hand and one of the nurses –Teresa Meehan – sees me at the drop of a hat if necessary!

She has supported me very much over the past few years and even when I am being very stubborn and not wanting to go to hospital, makes me see sense!

The whole surgery team are brilliant and very understanding of the situation.

St Richard’s, our local hospital, is also brilliant, I get support from the nurse specialist – Rose Roberts – as an outpatient and she has offered no end of support over the past few years.

She is always at the end of the phone and willing to help when she can.

When I have to go in as an inpatient the staff on Ford Ward are fabulous.

They make the whole situation bearable and always listen to all my moaning about wanting to go home!

Sarah Harding, Westergate

REGARDING THE remarks correspondent Mr Michael Smith made about women drivers recently, I would like to point a few things out.

There are just as many bad male drivers as females.

Van drivers are mainly male, they are a right pain, always cutting you up and on their mobile phones.

The same goes for lorry drivers.

It’s always men that cut you up while on a pushbike – and I should know as I cycle regularly.

Tailgaters are mainly male.

Taxi drivers as well – they use one hand to drive with, the other is either up their nose, texting, or on their lap.

So are women drivers that bad?

I don’t think so.

S Smith (Mrs), Southbourne

THANK YOU Maura Field for your letter published in the Observer dated October 14, especially for referring to me as a gentleman!

I would like to make a response to your letter, my final one on the subject, as it seems to be turning into a bit of a slanging match.

In actuality Maura, I did expect some critical and indignant replies and would have been 
quite disappointed if I hadn’t, although the verbal responses I have received have all been 
in agreement with myself, even the ones coming from women and the elderly.

You are quite right that free speech belongs to both correspondent and respondent but I only added this part to my last letter because a previous reply had suggested that my views were unacceptable to society.

Finally, I am actually quite happy for others to criticise and question my driving ability, my sanity, my looks, my dress sense and just about anything else, but please do not call into question my patient and caring nature, as you did in your letter.

As I’ve already said, I am a carer in a residential home, one that caters for sufferers of various types of dementia.

The work requires the patience that a good many in society do not have and, although the pay is barely above minimum wage, I do it because I really do care.

Michael J Smith, Southbourne

I AM writing to highlight the complete disregard I have experienced for protected trees in the area where I live.

I moved to Birdham last year; it is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and I was delighted to be able to live in such a beautiful area.

However, since my arrival there has been a spate of applications to cut, prune and deadwood a number of trees in the area. Despite various objections to the applications most of them have been passed.

Trees seem to be neglected so that they become diseased or dangerous and so permission is given to either cut them down or prune them to such an extent that they struggle to survive; they are then cut down.

If the trees had been well cared for this would not have been necessary and the trees would continue to enhance the natural landscape and continue to support the local wildlife.

Tree preservation orders are granted to protect trees which make a significant impact on their local surroundings, they are important to ensure the areas continue to stay naturally beautiful on an increasingly crowded island.

Those who move into an area where trees are protected should realise it is their duty to care for and preserve these trees, it is our natural heritage.

If this is not their intention they should consider living in a more urban environment.

Tree protection officers should educate and ensure that trees which have been granted a preservation order are protected.

John Irving, Birdham

NO-ONE has actually said that the main concern to local residents regarding the Orchard Street playing field is the ever-present threat that West Sussex County Council, which owns it, will sell 
it for housing development, as has been considered several times in the past.

We all wish to prevent possible dangers to schoolchildren, as with any park or open space.

The school has used this field for at least 20 years without major trauma, so what has changed?

Is the fencing-off or taking control of any part of the land a component of the county council’s hidden agenda to later declare any of the land surplus leading to its sale?

I do hope the following is coincidence but a number of residents on the eastern side of the field have for some years been granted a vehicle access licence by WSCC on payment of approximately £140 pa in order to drive to the rear of our properties.

This year no invoice has been issued by WSCC and in spite of several lengthy inquiries we have been unable to even ascertain who in County Hall is dealing with this payment.

I have known this area well since 1939, and can remember speaking to a well-known Chichester lady, Mrs Hicks, who was connected with the brewery families of Henty and Constable, the previous owner of this land.

Mrs Hicks assured me, in 1975, that the field was for the use and enjoyment of local people of Chichester and should never be built on.

Unfortunately, this lady is no longer with us, but I wonder if any relative or anyone reading this can corroborate this?

The land would be such a valuable amenity for Chichester to lose and surely we can all continue to use and enjoy it?

CD King (Mrs)

Orchard Street, Chichester

WITH REFERENCE to the headline in the Chichester Observer for Sept 30 – Extra car-parking spaces in Chichester are vital for the economic vitality of the city.

Might I suggest that the proposal to add more parking spaces within the city will simply further choke our road network?

Now would seem to be the ideal time to start looking at alternatives, such as cycling or using buses.

I believe the price of car park season tickets is far too cheap: it should be set so that it is higher than the equivalent monthly bus season (£66.50).

If the price of the car park season ticket was set at £80/month, this would still work out at ‘only’ £4 per working day (rather than £40 as now, £2 per day).

Some of this excess income could then be put back into the transport pot to fund cycle initiatives etc.

Buses on many routes into Chichester are now much more frequent, and higher quality than in the past – although it is unfortunate that the Chichester- Portsmouth 700 service is soon to be halved thanks to the short-sightedness of our government.

The irony here is that most delays are caused... by cars!

Steve Blighton

Whyke Lane, Chichester

HAVING READ Mr Chapman’s rant regarding the Catholic Church in general and the clergy in particular, I am left wondering why he is still ‘a practising catholic’! (Letters, Oct 7).

Maybe he finds comfort being in the presence of saints and sinners, as I do?

We all condemn those who practice any form of abuse of any individual and certainly sexual abuse of minors, especially those perpetrators who are a position of authority.

Sadly, the Catholic church has had abusers amongst their clergy and religious, (and not forgetting the laity). Nobody denies that.

However, as I often say, ‘to reason without data is delusion’. Unfortunately much of the ‘data’ that has been provided by the secular press, including the BBC, is unsubstantiated. Many ‘reports’ are prefixed by the word ‘alleged’.

May I present some real findings?

Since 1970, 0.4 per cent of Catholic priests have been ACCUSED of child abuse in England and Wales, less have been found guilty.

Interestingly, a Jewish businessman in the USA commissioned a report which showed that ten per cent of Protestant ministers where found to be guilty of abuse as compared with 1.7 per cent of Catholic priests.

The survey also found that far more abuse was committed in schools, youth organisations, sports and training centres than in the Church; and that Catholic clergy were at the bottom of the perpetrator’s list – below doctors, teachers and farmers!

Interestingly, much of the abuse committed was towards post-pubescent males.

Maybe if the British press were to devote more of their efforts in obtaining facts and not relying on The New York Times’ bigoted agenda, similar conclusions would emerge here in this country.

Much has been learnt over the past 30 years or so, about abuse addiction.

It should be remembered that one such abusive priest was handed over to the courts by a bishop; even so, the court fined the abuser something like £300 and told the abuser ‘to go away and don’t do it again’!

As a practising Catholic I am sure Mr Chapman is aware of the Nolan Report and the resulting structures and protocols that are now are now in operation within the institute of the ‘church’.

And that from time-to-time the whole process is reviewed by independent external examiners.

These protocols make for a very safe environment for all concerned, both laity and religious.

Interestingly, because of the ‘Church Abuse Scandal’ portrayed in the media, many victims of secular abusers are coming forward thus allowing them to start the healing process for them and their families.

BUT one abuse to anybody by anyone at any stage of their life, from conception to grave, is one abuse too many.

Mr Chapman’s understanding of the ‘body of Christ’, the ecclesia together with the Institute of the Church needs unravelling, but not here!

However, there are many talks/lectures given in our local churches and may I add, at the Catholic Bible School in Nutbourne, which may bring him to a fuller understanding of the topics he has raised.

Finally, did your readers notice the change in the media’s tone during the Pope’s visit?

From hostility to acceptance (and admiration in some quarters) as the visit progressed as many, many non-RCs came out to greet him.

Bless you and thank you for you supporting the Pope.

John Hutchings

New Park Road, Chichester

OF COURSE Paul Simon Haines is correct (Letters, Sep 2) in highlighting, among other issues, the density and parking issues in the current Roussillon Barracks Development proposals.

I live right opposite the Barracks and am in favour of some selected development.

The problem is that the favoured developers, Zero C, assume that, apart from a small section at the northern end, the whole site should be razed and they should be able to maximise their investment in the remainder.

Their claim to fame is the Poundbury development outside Dorchester, but there is no real comparison with the Chichester site as that was a completely new ‘greenfield’ project.

Zero C may well have some strong green credentials, but one would expect any developer on a site as important as this to be equally responsible.

I am familiar with the current Barracks buildings, many of which are poorly constructed and of nil architectural merit and deserve to be pulled down. However, there are many handsome buildings and some quite new units, which, with a little imagination and relatively modest amounts of financial investment could easily be turned into real affordable housing.

I am sure that a better way forward would be to make selective use of the current buildings and replace those others which are not likely to pass the test of time.

I do not think it unreasonable to have units for sale for under £150,000.

I also feel strongly that the area should not be just another ‘dormitory area’ used purely for residential purposes and mainly suitable for yet another elderly enclave, without any thought about business, retail or employment (the developers here argue that there will be ‘home-workers’).

Reference is made to one or two opportunities at Graylingwell, but given the proposed combined density of the two areas these are very minor indeed.

Finally, with the combined developments to the north of the city (Graylingwell, Barracks, Whitehouse Farm) it is inevitable that a northern bypass will be required before too long.

Although this would be inconvenient personally, if it linked with various existing roads and catered for the South Downs National Park, Goodwood and other amenities, this could be of real benefit to the city and surroundings.

John Procter

Broyle Road, Chichester

WE READ in The Bognor Regis Observer of September 23 that the ‘Town is in line for a much-needed golden handshake’ – referring to Sainsbury’s £900,000 as part of the LEC site regeneration.

I urge our local politicians to make sure that Arun District Council earmark this money for the town and its community and that the funds are spent wisely.

Last month I emailed Mr Ian Sumnall, chief executive of Arun District Council regarding the commuted sums and the Grande Esplanade development to determine the amount of funds for the community to be provided by Roffey Homes under the legal agreement Section 106 Town and Country Planning Act (the act refers to the securing of financial contributions towards the provision of infrastructure and is entered into by an individual to obtain planning permission for a development proposal).

I was prompted by advertisements by local estate agents advertising Grande Esplanande apartments in the region of £300-400,000.

A recent advertisement for a penthouse flat amounted to an asking price of £470,000.

With 51 apartments nearly all already sold (according to the agent) I was surprised a modest estimate of an average asking prise of over £300,000 meant that the development was worth between £15-£20m (Roffey Homes has removed all references of contact details from its website 
so it wasn’t possible to ask the firm what the exact value of the project was).

In reply to my email, Mr Sumnall summarised the contributions as: ‘£420,000 towards affordable housing provision and £25,400 towards play facilities, all to be increased by indexation, and the sum of £76,213 towards education and library services provided by West Sussex County Council’.

The £420,000 is to be spent on affordable homes in Bersted.

Having worked for a local authority involved in providing amenities eight years ago via the section 106 agreement these sums seem low.

It appears that the planners have sold Bognor short.

The amount secured by the council from Roffey Homes amounts to £521 613.

Roffey Homes were so pleased with the development as it has won many awards they gave the town an extra ten thousand ponds for the exercising equipment along the sea front and in parks.

Even though this amount of money seems very low, we need to know that this money is to be spent in Bognor Regis.

It is essential that the money for library facilities is spent on Bognor library so that all residents benefit from the finances.

It has been argued for some time that a lift in Bognor Library will help exploit the upper floor but has been deemed to costly at £40,000.

This money should be spent for the lift and educational facilities that can be provided for Bognor people in Bognor Library.

After all the Grande Esplanade is aimed at a market for wealthy people seeking second homes by the sea who will probably contribute little to the commerce of the town and the overall economy of the town with much needed jobs.

We need to make sure that money pledged by legal agreement to the town has a specific use.

Can we trust our council and the politicians to make sure the money from Sainsbury’s is used for the good of the town and that the money from Roffey homes is used for the benefit of the whole community?

With the massive increase in the number of houses in our town surely it is time for Bognor to have a voice and a council of its own?

David Meagher, Bognor Regis

TWO ITEMS of significant local interest in the Observer – Turner’s Commercial was a real food haven.

Ideally placed close to the station it served absolutely the sort of fare needed by the worker or visitor with a good appetite – steak and kidney pudding, hot well-cooked sausages, meat and two veg, shepherd’s pie, appetising gravy.

Jam roll, fruit pudding, mince pies and lots of very good custard.

And value for money.

It was a haven for those students, like me working on the Christmas post with Mr Riddick’s van and, indeed at other times generally and before or after the cinema and, of course, for the commercial gentlemen, who had a separate area, for a modest increase in tariff.

The service was first-rate and I am more than pleased to record my thanks to the proprietors after all these years.

Goodacres, so perfectly placed near the front, with its now shingle-covered walk down to the best of Bognor’s sands, was the Toyshop Superbe.

It had everything.

An alluring display, an atmospheric interior, the best buckets, spades, fishing nets, flags and boats (which could be sailed on the now-defunct and much-lamented boating pool) Dinkies and trains and most significantly an incredible supply of lead soldiers and accessories, most invitingly displayed, in window cabinets, compelling an entrance.

The soldiers of Goodacres are recalled with affection by members of the British Model Soldier Society.

Its appeal was widespread.

It was a real feature of Bognor as a seaside resort.

I shall certainly hope to visit the new Goodacres for my grandchildren’s presents this Christmas.

Brian O’Gorman, Bognor Regis

WITH THE Con-Dems rushing us, without any mandate, towards huge and crippling cuts in all aspects of our national life, their mantra has been the huge indebtedness of the UK economy supposedly left by Labour.

Perhaps their respective local spokespersons might explain the following, culled from the records of that well-known left-leaning institution, the CIA.

These are the figures of public debt compared to GDP for 2009:

* Japan 189 per cent

* Italy 115 per cent

* France 77 per cent

* Germany 72 per cent

n UK 68 per cent

* USA 52 per cent

Let’s face it, the Tories have shamelessly decided to use their non-victory at the polls last May to force through a purely ideological model regardless of the harm to the people of this country, built on a scare-myth about national indebtedness.

At least Maggie did what she did with a parliamentary majority won openly.

This crew, who aim to do worse, have no such claim and one wonders how long it will take for the Lib Dems to stop being the figleaf for this wretched dash to dismantle/privatise the welfare state while leaving the fat cats more or less unscathed, or even better-off.

Labour knows it did not win the election, and why.

But the Tories seem unaware that neither did they win it, and the Lib Dem leadership only cares that it has some part of power, however dishonestly achieved.

The proper course would have been a fresh election and that would have been the place for any proposed coalition to have put out its stall, before people voted, not cobbled together afterwards.

Maybe one of the new mechanisms we need is a the right to a constituency-by-constituency referendum to force a general election, 50 per cent+1 to cast each constituency in favour and a simple majority of constituencies to achieve a general election if the government won’t call one.

That would put some power and accountability with the electorate.

Jan Cosgrove, Bognor Regis

I READ an article recently stating that Regis may not be as people of Bognor claim.

I have just returned from visiting the Sandringham Estate, and in the museum it is clearly documented about George V recovering from a chest infection in Bognor and how he felt so 
much better.

There is a picture of him in Bognor.

This was the time he granted Bognor its Regis status.

I don’t know why or how this was dropped from Bognor.

Mary Wootte, Shirley Drive, Felpham

AS THE owner/manager of The Petworth Bookshop I was stunned to read your recent Page 3 article Teddy talk inspired Brian to write about bear necessities – specifically that the book in question was available to pre-order from Amazon!

Perhaps you are unaware of my shop?

It is the latest incarnation of a 25-year tradition of independent bookselling at the old bakery in Petworth.

We stock a large range of children’s books for all ages up to and including the latest £100 Puffin designer classics.

In addition we hand-sell the very best of new releases with the emphasis firmly on the literary end of the market.

Our community values the shop and its expertise and enjoys keeping pounds in the local economy thus creating jobs and by not ordering online, helping the environment.

Amazon is interested in market share only and real choice is fostered through the independent book trade.

Could I ask that the next time a local author – many of whom we support – launches a book you mention The Petworth Bookshop as a route to acquiring a copy?

It is very careless of you to promote Amazon as a generic book supplier in so prominent a position in your paper when real alternatives to the corporate juggernaut are on your very doorstep.

Steve Howe, Petworth

AT A time when most people are working together to make the most of the great opportunities provided by the South Downs National Park it is a shame that there are still a few around with their feet firmly rooted in the past.

There is nothing new in what Councillors Andrews says.

We have been through the arguments over and over again for several decades, including debates, meetings, public inquiries and extensive consultations.

His argument has been lost many times over and now he wants to deny the South Downs the recognition and investment that they have so richly deserved since the park was first proposed in 1949.

Fortunately, Councillor Andrews now only represents a tiny minority of people who refuse to move on. Perhaps, as the rest of us get on with the important work of conserving and enhancing the South Downs, we should not pay him too much attention.

Dr A Whitbread

Chief Executive, Sussex Wildlife Trust

CONGRATULATIONS on an excellent researched and reported article about the National Park Authority and Capron House – but in many ways it raises more questions still!

Michael O’Kelly’s somewhat disingenuous remark about the minibus leads one to believe it would be gold-plated with all the millions of pounds of real estate that are involved here.

Could we perhaps learn who his co-trustees are, as it would appear that jointly they have more welly than the entire Midhurst Town Council in this arena?

The National Park Authority being state-funded will inevitably be empire building.

It already has 60 staff working for it on our South Downs Park apparently – go tell that to the many small businessmen in this area who are paying the taxes, along with the rest of us.

Should the NPA acquire both the East and West wings of Capron House then a condition of sale should be that the main room to the south of the West wing be retained for use by the people of Midhurst as at present, for community events.

The next condition should be that a Youth Centre of some sort be allowed for as their leisure is just as important as their education.

And, finally, a condition that Museum Space must be made as this would just as much an educational factor as the Cowdray Ruins centre.

There will no doubt be a South Downs Park Visitor Centre and that could easily include a small museum.

So, before the Hannam Educational Foundation trust rushes to sell off all the assets so all it has to do is administer them for a quiet life, perhaps it should take another more responsible look at what is actually involved here.and act in the best interests of the people of Midhurst?

Juliet Page, Stedham

THANK YOU for your interesting article on traffic in Midhurst.

I live in Rumbolds Hill, near the roundabout for Petersfield Road.

Some years ago you published a photo of a lorry which was lodged under my dining room window.

Since then my window as been damaged on two other occasions.

The problem is that lorries often mount the pavement in order to be able to turn to the right at the roundabout.

The road narrows before the roundabout, thereby making it difficult for lorries to take navigate the turn.

If West Street is closed then all the traffic will pass my home, and there is bound to be further problems for me.

It really does not matter what the designated speed is.

Smaller vehicles pay no attention while larger ones have the problem of manoeuvrability.

Wyn Munro (Mrs), Midhurst

.CAN NOTHING shame our West Sussex County Council?

Not content to totally ride roughshod over our entire community of Midhurst over the parking charges, then it made us fight to keep a day centre for our elderly.

Now to add insult to injury it is obfuscating and passing the buck about placing one traffic sign.

One traffic sign to save and preserve the historic and oldest hotel in Great Britain – The Spread Eagle Hotel – from constant weekly (sometimes daily) damage.

This is damage which is costing The Spread Eagle management thousands of pounds for constant repairs.

The manager has called, written and pleaded with Nola Hendon to place just one sign to stop the HGV lorries that are mis-directed by sat nav through the old town of Midhurst.

His plight and that of the hotel have been aired on BBC South Today and also the radio.

HGV lorries are turning left into West Street – which as we all know is terribly tight (consequently damaging the West Street sign and its wall as well).

The lorries are breaking the corner off the wall of the hotel and damaging the guttering as well as the roof structure that has stood there since the 15th Century.

The lorries are also damaging the No Entry sign situated on the Spread Eagle side of West Street.

What is the matter with our West Sussex County Council?

Does it want to destroy the golden goose of Midhurst?

The old town, its history and buildings?

The golden goose which will ensure their parking meters have clients!

Deborah Camp-Simpson

Northgate Mews, Midhurst

NOT ALL is doom and gloom on the horizon for Midhurst and its rural area.

Perhaps it does no harm to look at some positive aspects for our future in the midst of cuts in services and threat of recession not to mention some pretty gloomy rainy days.

Firstly, I felt immensely proud to be part of a community that could turn out in such tremendous numbers at a public meeting recently to demonstrate their concern regarding threats to our day-care services.

What makes it particularly special is that this concern was for the welfare of others and not necessarily for themselves.

I am hopeful that that expression of concern will not have been in vain.

While some other areas mustered 40/50 people the Midhurst meeting managed at least 450.

For me it reinforced my already held view that we belong to a very active community.

However, in these gloomy days there are some additional lights on our horizon.

School building programmes throughout the country were cut.

In Midhurst it was not.

Contracts and commitment had progressed too far by the time the cuts were being made elsewhere.

The buildings of the old Midhurst Grammar School were undoubtedly in a bad state of repair having suffered years of neglect.

Although many were sad to see the demise of the old grammar school we can know face the future for our children and grandchildren in the certainty that we will have a brand new state of the art school to look forward to in 2012.

Children joining the Midhurst Rother College now have a very exciting time to look forward to.

They will be a part of this rebirth. A journey from the beginning to completion when they will move into a fantastic bright new environment full of exciting learning opportunities.

I have every confidence that the next two years will be managed in a highly professional and caring manner that will not detract from the education of those who will share this exciting experience.

The school this year has already made great strides in its progression towards an educational establishment of excellence showing improvement all round in its academic achievement, backed up by a good Ofsted report, which will continue to improve as it moves towards its bright future.

Hats off to Chichester District Council which has not taken the opportunity in these hard times 
to cut the provision of our new sports and community facilities from its budget.

Like our school, the current Grange has maintenance costs which are prohibitive.

Ask the Trustees who have the responsibility of running it.

They will tell you.

Their task became impossible when the WSCC pulled out from its day care provision and the maintenance of its half of the building.

Our area north of the Downs needs some investment in its facilities.

We have waited for a long time.

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth – accept it while it is there, we will not get another chance.

At about the same time that our new school will open its doors we will also be opening sports and community facilities in the town fit for purpose ,fit for the future.

A bright and exciting place to be.

Together these two new buildings will offer brand new community facilities for all ages greatly surpassing those on offer in the past.

Hopefully, it might even be possible to reinstate some of those services for those in need about which we have recently been so exercised in losing.

A lot to look forward.

Now we have been told that the new South Downs National Park will have its head quarters in our town together with 50/60 new jobs which together with the additional spending spin off for our shops and local businesses can only be seen as good news for us all.

Our area in this new context will gain far more focus on its needs than in the past.

We have for a long time felt that we have been neglected in favour of our larger neighbours.

The South Downs National 
Park is good news for us in the rural areas.

To have been left out would have been a disaster.

This sentiment was by and large supported by a large majority of our community.

Having a National Park and being at its heart gives us so many opportunities for the future.

Through these developments we are able to maintain our town as a busy vibrant trading centre with social facilities able to sustain and nurture a community in the area that is active and luckily able to voice its opinions collectively when needed.

Brand new school ,brand new community and sports centre headquarters of the South Downs National Park. Can’t be that bad, can it?

Colin Hughes, Midhurst

AM I alone in thinking that Midhurst was ripped off 40 or so years ago by whoever designed and built the Grange Centre?

The Spread Eagle continues to be fit for purpose as a hotel, and is at least ten times older, as are a great many buildings everywhere.

The Grange Centre was built for purposes that it apparently can no longer provide, with local people stumping up donations to help pay for it, and not, as far as I am aware, as a temporary structure.

It was clearly not of merchantable quality when new 
or it would still have a few centuries of life left in it.

This is the least we should be able to expect from any building.

When one buys a new house it is not generally on the assumption that it will need to be knocked down after 40 years is it?

Can’t we sue for a proper replacement?

Stephen Saunders, Iping

I WOULD just like to pass on my thanks to the bus drivers of route 60 and to employees of Stagecoach for handing in my work ‘log-on card’ to our store after I lost it on the bus over the weekend.

I regularly use this bus route and am very grateful for this act of kindness – I would have been lost without it.

I promise I won’t lose it again!

Paul Thompson, Midhurst