Plastic bags arehelping createnicer village

Nigel Fothergill, who runs the local Spar shop in the village, decided to charge a token fee for bags and give the proceeds to Northiam Conservation Society to help pay for improvements.

As a result a new fingerpost sign for Beales Lane is due to go up at a cost of £752.

More than £900 was raised from the sale of bags over the space of a year.

It has also helped to pay for the repair and renovation of benches in the village.

Conservation Society chairman Mervyn Hayes said: “Our sincere thanks go to Mr Fothergill for his generosity, which has enabled us to make necessary improvements in the village.”

He added: “We are having to use our funds to refurbish items as Rother Council and the Parish Council have no spare money due to the cuts that began in 2008/9.

“If we let the infrastructure fall apart the village will start to look tatty and poor.

“Last year was a busy year for us.

“The Conservation Society only charges £2 to be a member and if you join as a member you can take pride in what we are trying to achieve.”