Readers' Letters - June 18 2009

Readers' letters from the June 18 issue of the Observer.

Buses should remain a central part of our life

We strongly oppose the proposals of Cllr Rob Campling to remove buses from Chichester city centre. Rather than turning the city into an 'open-air garage' (as quoted in last week's Observer) they bring public amenity and vitality to the central area.

It is important to keep public transport at the centre, where it is both visible and accessible. To remove buses from the city centre would make public transport much less convenient for people to use, and especially difficult for the elderly.

Buses should be at the centre of life, not removed to some periphery where they are not visible, and their use made more difficult (aren't we trying to encourage the use of public transport, not discourage it?). Buses can always be made cleaner with committed investment.

Let's keep our city centre bus friendly.

Peter and Frances Lansley, Cedar Drive, Chichester

If buses are to be banned from the city centre, what provision will be made for people with mobility issues who are reliant on public transport?

Natalie Price, Denny's Close, Selsey

I have no doubt Cllr Campling's views were expressed in a wider context, worthy of serious consideration, regarding traffic in and around Chichester, but to ban buses from the city centre is outrageous nonsense.

We are regularly exhorted to abandon the motor car, use public transport, walk or mount our bicycles. Such pleas make environmental sense and, in view of parking charges, it can be economic for the visitor (more so if you are fortunate or old enough to have a bus pass).

If my bus doesn't go to where I want to be, I might as well use the train (from Bosham, that's cheaper than the bus) or not bother.

There are other commercial considerations. Many people come into the city centre by bus for shopping. Local retailers value their custom. Others come into Chichester as visitors and tourists to appreciate its '900 years of history'.

Where better to accommodate these groups than by a having a bus stop adjacent to the historic cathedral and within easy walking distance of the many shops?

If the city centre were to become inaccessible by public transport, this could have a deleterious effect upon local commerce, reduce the number of visitors to Chichester's various attractions, and seriously disadvantage any elderly, infirm or disabled individuals who may be unable to walk from … where? The

bus station?

Colin Turton, Williams Road, Bosham

Last week it was reported on the front page of the Observer I wanted to ban buses from the centre of Chichester and extend pedestrianisation into South and West Streets. This was quite right. I do.

Since then some people have told me of their worries as to how the elderly can get their shopping done if there are no buses in the city centre. And they were right to do so!

So I need to explain that what I said was only a part of the story.

What I want to exclude from the city are the large diesel-engine buses that dominate West Street, gradually destroying the road surface around the Cross, and wrecking our enjoyment of two remarkable buildings – the Cross and the cathedral (as shown so dramatically in the photo on the front page of last week's Observer).

But what I do not want to do is to ban all public transport from the centre of our city. The elderly and frail (I'm within a few months of the state pension age myself!), mothers and toddlers, the disabled and the wheelchair-bound are all entitled to a good transport system within the city.

And I believe this could be done with a combination of imagination and commitment from our local authorities and the bus companies.

My own view – but I am sure there will be a number of alternatives readers can think of – is what is needed is environmentally-friendly,

easy-access electric minibuses, that could accommodate wheelchairs, shopping trolleys and toddler buggies. Slow and silent minibuses would travel not only along West and South Street, but also North and East Street, a system that would link into the new rail and bus station complex planned for Southgate, and to all the major car parks.

Such a system would have many more stopping places than at present and would sit comfortably with an extended pedestrian area.

This doesn't seem to me to be rocket science. It would be good for the city, for visitors and for the city traders. The inevitable boost in trade, especially for cafes and restaurants, would be a benefit to us all.

It would even be good for the bus companies.

There is a great opportunity before us at the moment. We can reclaim the city for the people who use it – a safe and busy city with street cafes and regular markets in an extended pedestrian precinct.

Of course there will be some opposition – I can remember the opposition there was to our existing pedestrian area when it was introduced in the 1970s – but no no-one would consider for a moment turning North and East streets over to traffic again.

Some readers may remember Chichester City Council put forward very similar views in a booklet called Towards a Vision for Chichester. It was published in 2005. Four years later we are no further forward.

Now is the time to lobby your local councillors, write to the Observer and say what you want for our city over the next 30 years.

Rob Campling, Orchard Avenue, Chichester

MP expenses: good value or a ride on the gravy train?

A fortnight ago letter writer Colin May suggested Andrew Tyrie MP was withholding details of his expenses and did not communicate with the electorate on local issues.

From the report in last week's paper we now know that, even as Mr May was drafting his letter, Andrew Tyrie MP must have been opening his files to the Observer.

I hope Mr May will now congratulate Andrew Tyrie on his honesty and his careful and ethical approach to claims against taxpayer-provided money.

Mr May did fairly point out that Andrew Tyrie 'appears to have a favourable record with nothing

to hide and much to be proud of', something confirmed by the Observer report and letter of Pamela Barkham published in the letters column last week.

So Mr May's faith in Andrew Tyrie was justified.

Andrew Tyrie is always seeking ways to communicate directly to his constituents.

He holds three or four open public meetings a year. He answers a mountain of letters and emails (3,000 last month) from constituents who write to him. He holds regular surgeries for people to meet him. He has led successful campaigns such as St Richard's Hospital, coastal defences, retention of post offices and much else.

In parliament Andrew Tyrie has campaigned tirelessly for many of the reforms which the expenses scandal show we now need as well as serving on the exacting Treasury select committee. We are very fortunate in having him as Chichester's MP.

Bowen Wells, Harbour Road, Pagham

The correspondence regarding Andrew Tyrie prompts me to write not so much in his defence (I am sure he can hold his own) but to present another aspect of communication with his constituents and one that is not immediately apparent.

When Anthony Nelson retired from public life, the Walls Walk Trust asked Mr Tyrie to take

his place.

Mr Tyrie not only agreed to replace Mr Nelson as a patron, he asked many questions before he agreed to do so and asked members of the committee to escort him around the walls so he understood exactly what he was undertaking. He has maintained that interest ever since.

He was equally vigorous in the campaign to retain the local post office on the Broyle Estate area, a successful campaign to the delight of everyone.

Mr Abraham, Westergate

I am delighted to see Andrew Tyrie has at last decided to tell us what he spent so much of our taxpayers' money on.

It is a shame he still thinks because his expense claim is one of the smallest, we should be cheering. He has completely missed the point, like so many MPs – it is the fact not one of them actually stood up and said 'hey you guys, this is wrong, what we are doing is just pure greed'.

In no other walk of life would you get away with it, unless of course you worked for RBS.

On another matter, I am hoping Mr Tyrie will explain why MPs have so much paid holiday. From mid-July until October you won't see an MP for dust (unless there is a film crew of course).

Then at Christmas it's a three-week break followed by another long break at Whitsun – in total an extra 60 days on top of the huge summer holiday at taxpayers' expense.

How can they justify that? And please don't tell me it's because they work so hard.

Half of them wouldn't know a day's work if it was stood in front of them, never mind actually doing a full day's work.

The system has to change, particularly in West Sussex where the old boys' club just keeps chugging along.

There are still too many 'old school' MPs in the Conservative party with the 'them and us' attitude and Andrew Tyrie is no exception.

If he had been a good MP to the people of Chichester and West Sussex, he could have started a campaign to clean up the gravy train called Westminster.

Mrs N Moran,

St Richard's Road, Westergate

So much more to festival than just jazz

I am on the organising committee of the Chichester Real Ale and Jazz Festival (RRAJ) and would like to respond to Mr Bleach's letter (June 4).

Firstly, let me introduce the RAJF. Managed and staffed entirely by volunteers, mostly from Chichester Hockey Club, over the years RAJF has raised more than 350,000 for local organisations.

We have supported dozens of local charities and good causes as well as helping to fund the

all-weather pitches at Chichester High School and Chichester College, the sports hall at Bishop Luffa School, the hard multi-sports court in Fishbourne and the cricket nets in Priory Park.

Without the RAJF, it is unlikely that the pitches would have been laid.

This year we are offering advance tickets to local charities for auction or raffle. We do not draw any profit from the event and all the money raised is invested in local capital projects.

It has always been our intention to raise money through the festival and we have learned over the years the market for jazz functions is significantly smaller than that for other musical genres. Consequently we always try to offer a variety of music and this year we have motown, oom-pah, pop,sixties, jazz and reggae. We have also launched a local battle of the bands and the winner will be supporting The Human League on Saturday, July 4.

Mr Bleach makes a valid point regarding our name and we discuss this subject every year. We feel the excellent reputation of our event justifies its retention, but this remains an item for discussion.

We fully support the other local events mentioned. We lend our stillage to the rugby club

for its jazz event, and consider ourselves lucky Chichester has such a vibrant music and entertainment scene.

Finally, if any Chichester Observer readers would like to learn more about the RAJF, our website is www.chichester-rajf.com

Stuart Pembery, Main Road, Fishbourne

Rallying cry

I have just had an idea of something we could do for Children in Need. There's already the London to Brighton Rally. Why not have one between Beaulieu and Goodwood?

Call it the Southern Spring Run and have it on a bank-holiday Monday – there are not many vehicle rallies in the south of England at this time of year.

Any type of road transport could be involved – cars, motorbikes, commercial, military, veteran, vintage, classic, hot rods, custom or kit cars and any other vehicles 20 plus years.

People could pay an entrance fee per vehicle and dress in period costume.

LJ Whitehead, Southampton

My long love affair with our glorious city

As a child in the 1930s, the first time I saw Chichester started a life-long love affair for me.

Father had driven mother and I in from Aldwick, as he had taxes to pay. After filling up at the East Street garage next to the Corn Exchange, he parked outside the Fleece Inn.

The garage site and forecourt are now built over with a hideous 1950s building that has William Hills and Phone-In on its ground floor, while The Fleece Inn is now Caff Nero.

We walked up East Street, then turned down North Pallant (where in later years I would spend 37 years of my life) and to Pallant House, where the Westhampnett Rural District Council had its offices.

Its area included Aldwick, where my parents had just bought a house on a new development called the

Aldwick Bay Estate.

While the tax business was going on, I studied a glass showcase in the hall exhibiting specimens of undesirable beetles, ranging from woodworms to death watch.

After that we returned to East Street to have tea at the Tudor Tearooms, which was about where the present-day shoe shop is.

All the cakes there were foaming with artificial cream, doubtless squeezed out of a tube, which I thought as delightful as the tearoom itself.

It was deeply disappointing, therefore, when my parents switched their allegiance to a new cafe in South Street, next to David Greigs, the delicatessen and food store, now Millets.

This new place boasted all their products were homemade, with nothing synthetic. Their Madeira sponge cake had a real cream filling, but you had to eat your sponge before you reached the cream.

Further down South Street was a shop called Fullers,

about where the Chesca dress shop is now, which sold the most delicious cakes. The white icing ones were walnut, and the brown was chocolate.

Chichester for me meant cakes, so small wonder I loved the place. The cake shops

have long since gone, but my love for the city remains as strong as ever.

Joy Crawshaw, Rose Court, St Cyriacs

All those years, all that talk - and still no action

When I arrived in Bognor in September 1975, Arun District Council had been in charge for six months. They had already laid down their marker for the town and were busy demolishing a large proportion of the seafront.

This included the Kursaal, the Rex Theatre and an Edwardian arcade which would probably

be an interesting tourist feature today.

This was despite huge local opposition and petitions from outside the area to save the theatre.

We were then treated to a car park for ten years before the Regis Centre was built as

a compromised afterthought. During this time we also lost the Esplanade Theatre along the seafront to be replaced with... not an awful lot. And so the list goes on.

It has been clear to local people for many years ADC's policy for Bognor is one of stagnation and indifference.

They are grateful, of course, for the huge revenue our rates raise for them, but in terms of value, not a lot seems to come back to the town.

Worse than that, they appear keen to prolong the town's music-hall image. We have the ice-cream scoop at the entrance to London Road; there was a serious proposal to put 'elephants' along the seafront. What's next, monkeys swinging from cables along the High Street?

Whether you are in favour of an Asda or an Argos is irrelevant. The point is these are major retail companies who had a vision for Bognor and were prepared to invest in it. We should have bitten their hands off, most towns would.

Instead, we are governed by a cynical dictatorship which behaves like a Victorian parent. Local people may have to be seen, but certainly not heard, and their views and aspirations count for nothing.

I should like to see a list of the local shops Argos was supposed to compete with. As for being detrimental to the proposed regeneration plans for the town, these circulate around 168 flats being built on the seafront, countless more off the Queensway, and between 2,000 and 5000 houses being built around the town's periphery over the next five years.

It seems to me we are going to need more retail outlets, which defeats ADC's argument. Besides which, I thought competition was a healthy thing, keeping companies on their toes and ensuring they keep their standards up.

Building quality, brand-name stores on the town's periphery will bring in jobs and encourage people to shop in the area, instead of drifting over to Chichester or even Portsmouth.

Of course, it may well be companies will cease showing an interest in Bognor because of the stonewall policy of ADC. The word must be out.

We have a Bognor Town Council. I should like to see them liaising with other local councils to develop a proactive initiative. I should like to see them acknowledge that Bognor's future is not safe in ADC's hands and that a note of no confidence would be appropriate.

If they are looking for a mandate, I am sure a referendum within the area would give them the support they require.

Is there some legal recourse that can be considered? Should our MP Nick Gibb be involved? At the very least could he act as an arbitrator to ensure our local representatives' views are taken into consideration on matters relating to the town?

Protestations from our local representatives is not enough. What local people want to know is – what are you going to do about it?

ANM Burns, Hoe Lane, Flansham

When are the local councillors, elected by us, going to listen to what the people of Bognor want? First they reject Asda and now Argos, who incidentally do sell furniture, electrical goods etc.

Hoorah for Morrisons who have the vision to enlarge their store, giving us somewhere in town to shop.

I sincerely hope the planners will encourage Wilkinson to take over the former Woolworths store.

Please, no more phone or betting shops.

Thank goodness for our bus passes, at least we can travel to somewhere that does offer decent shops – though I would much rather shop in my home town.

Incidentally I suggest the planners check the meaning of regeneration as we seem doomed to degeneration.

Geraldine Simmans, Havelock Close, Felpham

Learn the lesson - school is not place to have a poling station

I write with reference to the local elections. As residents from a part of the Felpham area will be aware, their local polling station was at Downview Primary school.

For this to happen, it was decided by 'the powers that be' (presumably the head and school governors) to close the entire school for the day.

I find this absurd.

Who decided to put the polling station within a school? Surely there were other more suitable premises that could be made available in the immediate area?

A church or church hall, the village hall, a private business premises or, even as has happened in other areas, a local public house could all be deemed as more suitable locations.

I wonder if any thought was actually ever given to an alternative location. Were such places even asked? After all, a polling station of the size of this catchment area takes up only two rooms or so.

I can understand 'the powers that be' have to put the pupils' safety first and that by allowing members of the public to enter into the school premises it could create a potential threat to their safety.

However, the electorate, before being allowed into the voting room, is checked off on the electoral role. Surely this could of easily of been done at the school gates, thus allowing only known people on to the premises. Ninety-five per cent of the school could then stay open.

There are always consequences of closing a school during term time. Parents are expected to look after their children for the day which, in many cases, means they have to take an unscheduled day off work, which even with moderate notice can cause a great deal of inconvenience to both themselves and that business.

Children's education is vitally important. Can they really afford to lose another day's education on top of the time they already lose to inset days and the like?

I cannot imagine for a second a privately-run school would ever make a decision to close for the day as it is answerable to the fee-paying parents.

I have since learned the scheduled inset day for this particular school was held on the Friday – the day after polling day.

Surely anybody with an ounce of common sense (if they insisted on closing the school) would of brought the inset day forward by one day to allow it to coincide with polling day.

This would have caused minimal disruption to the pupils – or is this a too obvious thing to do?

It sounds like the staff at the school simply used polling day as an excuse for another day off!

Paul Helyer, West Walberton Lane, Walberton

Public office is a vocation - not a way to make money

A correspondent reports (letters, June 4) his grandson is of the opinion it is possible to live on expenses claimed as a member of local government.

To those of us who have observed the changing local government scene over many years, that state of affairs has been obvious for some considerable time.

There are many known cases up and down the country of people who have never held, and have never had any intention of holding, what could be termed a regular job.

Such people are adept at screwing every last ha'penny out of the Social Services system, but have the time to indulge in activities which bring them to the attention of the electorate, which is thereby inveigled into electing them to public office from which they in turn become equally adept at milking the expenses system.

It is high time we returned to the state of affairs of my youth whereby people stood for election because they felt they had something to contribute, or felt they must try to initiate changes, with little or no reference to political orientation.

Such councillors drew no expenses, nor obtained any financial benefit, and had to be self-supporting rate payers.

As such, they were very careful of fellow ratepayers' money.

People standing for election to public service should do so from a sense of vocation, not as a prospective professional career.

M Ayling, Elizabeth Avenue, Rose Green

My gross allowances for April 08-09 was 6,174.84, nett 4,858.74. Further deductions would include my car use, telephone and internet, stationery and any other expense I may incur being a councillor.

Shortly, the expenses for all Arun District Council councillors will be published, as in previous years.

I always check the list and I have never believed any councillor has abused the system.

Cabinet members earn more than back benchers but they commit more time, so this is justified.

I believe it is the low level of expenses that deters younger people from entering local politics, along with the commitment to both their party and the council.

I am fortunate I have a pension to support me.

David Biss, Arun District councillor for Orchard Ward, May Close, Climping

Why do we have to put up with this?

The Observer recently ran a story about a broken bench in Nyewood Lane, which was making Bognor look scruffy.

This is a minor irritation for the odd person who might happen to want to use it and would hardly be noticed by anyone passing by road or foot.

Little notice has been made about the abandoned car left at the junction of Nyewood Lane and Elfin Grove for almost three weeks.

It is half on the pavement and half on the road, making it a hazard for pedestrians.

Mothers pushing children in pushchairs have to walk in the middle of the road to pass.

The rear nearside tyre is punctured and the front of the car has been involved in an accident.

I reported this car to the West Sussex Police more than two weeks ago, using their abandoned vehicle web page.

A week went by and still the car remained.

On my way home from work I flagged down a passing police car and enquired what, if anything, was being done about it. I was informed it was up to the council to remove it, but they would look into it and see if it had been reported lost or stolen.

The day after, the front windscreen had been smashed. Now a week later more vandalism has taken place to the vehicle and parts are being removed and strewn across the road and pavement.

I wonder if anyone in either the Sussex Police or West Sussex County Council will do anything about this vehicle or should we just leave it where it is?

Who knows, maybe the bench is more of a disgrace than the car?

ML Rosam, Normanton Avenue, Bognor Regis

Arun is working hard for the benefit of Bognor

The front page of last week's Observer (Butlins ready to take the plunge on 20m new pool) demonstrated both how the council is working for the benefit of the town and the vast number of organisations out there looking to make significant investment in Bognor Regis.

It was disappointing, therefore, the letters page was dominated by the issue of Asda and added to it the question of granting Argos planning permission.

I can understand our residents' desire for an Asda supermarket but the site they wanted is required for a much-needed business park.

The council would welcome Asda in the town and suggested an alternative site to the company.

Unless the regeneration benefits to be had from the Asda proposals were so significant as to outweigh the harm that could be caused to Bognor Regis town centre, it would be very much a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

As much as people may have preferences for certain retailers, the council as planning authority must always consider each application by its individual merits rather than the name behind it.

In the case of the proposals from Argos, it's worth remembering the development was approved. Argos chose not to accept the condition restricting their sales to bulky goods only, which was imposed to help protect Bognor Regis town centre.

The vacant Woolworths site is comparable with the size of store Argos appear to be seeking and we will be contacting them to make them aware of this possible alternative.

I am sure the good people of Bognor Regis will recognise the importance of talking the town up, particularly in these difficult economic times.

Arun District Council will continue to work for the benefit of the town, bringing in new investment, and ensuring benefits of new development will always outweigh any disadvantages that might arise.

Karl Roberts, assistant director of planning service and housing strategy, Arun District Council

Restaurant would have us eating out of planners' hands

I AGREE with the letter written by Molly Hawkins last week. More flats on the seafront are not going to help with the regeneration of Bognor Regis.

One of the things that would draw people into town would be an attractive restaurant on two floors with a balcony all around the first floor.

Downstairs could be a snack bar for people coming off the beach for a sandwich, ice cream etc and upstairs, a restaurant with a pleasant sea view for shoppers wanting morning coffee or lunch.

This could be a smaller version of the De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill.

I also agree that to move the library to the Chichester College area is an absurd idea given the problems with parking and the congestion along the Upper Bognor Road at various times of the day.

At present it is in a central area, which is convenient for parking and encourages shoppers and mothers with small children to call in.

The plans for the possible extension of the Morrisons store sound interesting and should help bring more trade into the centre of the town.

J Fricker, Aldwick

A revolution's taking place - and our local politicians must act accordingly

The disasters which have overtaken our country in recent months have been profound, and will take more than a generation to put right.

The banking crash, the deepest recession in 70 years, the monumental debt which this government has bequeathed to our children, and probably our grandchildren too, and now the grubby scandal of MPs' expenses which has rocked parliament to its very foundations.

All of which have the people rising up in ferocious anger at the incompetence and squalid activities of those we voted for and entrusted to look after our best interests and the interests of the country.

In all of this, therefore, it is not unreasonable to look for some sign, any sign, this has registered with local government too, and in particular our own local politicians and councillors.

So far I see no evidence of that whatsoever.

David Cameron has made two profound statements in this regard. First he will expect ministers – and therefore local government too – 'to do more for less'. And, second, the warning that he would freeze council tax.

The only marginal response I have noted was an absurd reaction from a Chichester councillor, galvanised into a knee-jerk reaction to the prospect of the council tax well of plenty now drying up.

And he, instead of looking for savings, was looking for even more ways of squeezing money out of us, having the gall to speak of there being no sacred cows – and, as if the council doesn't have enough of its own, in pointing the accusing finger at the free parking in Midhurst.

It's a case of if we can't get it one way we will get it another, and to hell with the adverse effect parking fees would have on the struggling shopkeepers to whom they have, ironically, already pledged their help.

Then there is the enormity of the determination to go ahead still with the demolition and replacement of the Grange in Midhurst, at a cost I believe of some 4m – and we all know what happens to public service estimates should the project go ahead.

The existing set-up is well run, the building in essence in good order, so the project, at best, was never more than desirable, and never essential. Another council ego trip – and here we are up to our eyeballs in debt!

So, as the current saying has it, they just don't get it. The wheels have come off the gravy train, the annual charade of the annual rise in council tax, always above the rate of inflation, to fund, aside from

the essentials, the extraneous activities which councils have taken upon themselves to provide.

In an excellent article in the Telegraph recently, Simon Heffer hit the nail on the head. "The other good that must come out of this disgusting scandal is the microscope now needs to be applied to everything else the state does, to see how much more of our money is being wasted... I do not just mean in expenses (though county councillors, the quangocracy and others in the public payroll should have to endure the sort of scrutiny being applied to MPs).

"I mean looking at whether many of those quangos themselves are necessary, whether so many local government posts are necessary.

"The scandal has, I hope, been a wake-up call to those who rule us that we have rumbled the fact so much of our money is squandered. The party ought now to be over.

"This is not just about a few million filched by bent MPs; it is about billions extorted from us and put to no constructive use whatsoever."

Quite.

I know we have many good people in local government and in the essential services, and we need to remember that.

But let us hope now our local politicians take heed of the revolution that is taking place at Westminster, rise to the momentous events which are taking place, and take the opportunity of seizing the initiative. They would be the better for it, and so would we.

Rusell Cradick, Heathfield Green, Midhurst

Art of letter writing is still alive and well

I've always enjoyed putting pen to paper but was beginning to wonder if letter writing was a dying art.

I joined the International Pen Friends Club and was delighted to discover that, far from being dead and in spite of email, the good old letter is still very much alive and kicking around the world.

For a reasonable fee, the club supplied me with a list of contacts at home and abroad. In my age group and sharing similar interests to myself, all correspond in English so there are few language translation difficulties.

These days I write to penpals in many countries. I've exchanged news and views, recipes, souvenirs, tears and laughter. My knowledge of the ways of the world and its people is greater, my life richer, thanks to my wonderful friends with pens.

The club is open to people of all ages, from all walks of life. For further information please write, enclosing a SAE to: Mrs E Hardy, PO Box 71, St Ives, Cambs PE27 5GL.

Mrs E Hardy, St Ives, Cambs

Loud music, litter and fear of crime - yet nothing gets done about it

There is a major problem of littering on the Midhurst Common just up Carron Lane.

I walk there regularly with my dog and find a place just down the southern path from the playground frequented by teenage cyclists, who leave a lot of their empty plastic bottles and food wrappings lying on the ground.

It has created a terrible mess for the Common which ever way you look.

We also have problems with noisy neighbours in Guillards Oak. As it is much lighter in the evenings, more people are out in their gardens. Sometimes on the weekends we have to put up with loud music, singing and rowdy party goers.

The police and out-of-hours departments won't do anything about it so that leaves many of us at a noisy dead end.

One Saturday night my neighbour was awakened by the alarm being set off in her neighbour's house. She called the police, but they said they would not come to investigate.

In the end my neighbour had to go next door found out what set off the alarm.

As it was it was a false alarm, but my neighbour did find the front door open and anything could have happened.

It is not very reassuring to think the police will not respond to a break-in.

Ben Jull, Guillards Oak, Midhurst

To the point...

In reply to Mr CJ Ryde of Pagham's letter (Canal is in a disgusting state, June 4) perhaps the gentleman who likes to sit on the canal bank day after day should get up off his fishing stool and help the volunteers in their never-ending battle against lazy people who cannot seem to take their rubbish home with them.

Or perhaps he could challenge anti-social people who allow their dogs to foul the tow path.

If it wasn't for the hard-working volunteers, the canal would not be the open space for everyone to enjoy, it would be completely overgrown and full of rubbish.

J Wilkinson, Chichester

I was somewhat amused to receive a huge Christmas 2009 gift catalogue last week at the end of May.

I was rather bemused to observe out of a vast selection of Christmas cards – 40 pages – not one featured the star of Christmas, baby Jesus.

M Woodard, Farm Road, Bracklesham Bay

Washington Road School in Emsworth celebrates 100 years this year. Did you go to this junior school?

If so, do you have old school photos you'd be prepared to have copied or memorabilia you would loan to the current occupiers, Glenwood School?

We're celebrating the centenary with an Edwardian Fayre on September 19. We'll have displays of old photographs, a horticultural show and many other attractions, but we need your memories.

Please contact Glenwood School, 01243 373120 if you can contribute.

Sue Watts, Emsworth

Ken Mitchell wrote from his home in Selsey, clearly upset – aren't we all? – over the 'punishment' handed down to the out-of-control yob who attacked his friend, school caretaker David Haines.

It is possible, although I have no way of knowing, that plea bargaining may have been the order of the day in the case of David and his pain and suffering will indirectly help the police tackle our feral youth over a much wider area.

Not much comfort, I know, but I'm convinced this is the way the world works for the greater good.

Take heart Mr Mitchell. Perhaps things are not always as they seem.

Pat Williams, Southover Way, Hunston

I wish to thank all of those people who came to my aid when I fell on the pavement in North Street on Sunday afternoon, June 7. Everyone was so kind.

I would also like to thank the doctor and nurses at St Richard's Hospital.

Brenda Mason, Jubilee Road, Chichester

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Cat and Rabbit Rescue Centre street collection in Bognor High Street on Saturday, May 23. The amount received was 98.26, with no expenses. This will go towards our new cat building currently being built to house homeless cats.

If you would like to donate towards this project, please visit our website for more information www.crrc.co.uk or telephone 01243 641409.

Emma Nicoll, fundraising officer, The Cat and Rabbit Rescue Centre, Sidlesham

The Friends of Chichester Hospitals would like to thank customers of Waitrose, Chichester, for their generous support through the Waitrose Community Matters token scheme, which recently raised 260.

These funds will contribute to the the Friends' purchase of equipment for St Richard's Hospital and local mental-health services.

As a local volunteer-run charity, the Friends very much value such generous donations, which reflect the importance people place on having well-equipped health facilities in our community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our work.

Jane Ramage, chairman, Friends of Chichester Hospitals, St Richard's Hospital, Spitalfield Lane, Chichester

May I thank most sincerely all those people in Selsey who voted for me in the county council elections.

May I congratulate Cllr Peter Jones on his win and wish him every success for his term of office. Unfortunately I did not win, but came a very close second, so watch out next time, Peter!

Bernard A Smith, chairman, UK Independence Party, Chichester constituency branch, North Road, Selsey

Tomorrow, between 1pm and 8pm at Clymping Village Hall, the Environment Agency will be holding an exhibition of its Arun to Pagham draft flood strategy.

I would urge all residents in Climping and anyone who has an interest in the area, including the West Bank and the River Arun, to attend to find out the intentions of the EA and to express their views.

Last week Arun district councillors were told the EA's intentions on dealing with the Climping shoreline was to do nothing and to withdraw all maintenance, allowing the sea to do as it wishes.

This will put houses at risk and will cause the shingle on Climping beach to move west, which may eventually block the Arun.

On page 14 of the summary document it describes Climping Park simply as a caravan park – no mention of the 100-plus homes or the 155 residents.

It also states 'A259 provides some degree of protection to the land to the north'.

May I suggest anyone attending the exhibition, who is online, checks the EA's website for the areas that are likely to flood should the sea defences fail.

David Biss, Arun district councillor, chair of Clymping Gap Partnership

Following the recent local elections, I would like to express my thanks to our out-going county councillor Robin Brown for all his hard work over the past 12 years.

He has been succeeded by Cllr Paul Wells and I wish him all the best.

Mrs A Evans, Crescenta Walk, Bognor Regis

I would like to express my thanks to the residents of Aldwick and Bognor Regis West who turned out to vote for me.

It will be an honour to serve the residents of this area for the next four years and now the ballot box has been put away, I'm here to serve the residents of this area whatever their politics and look forward to the challenges ahead.

We have seen some disappointing decisions made recently, like the refusal of

Asda and Argos; the local roads are a disgrace and local people feel let down and disappointed

at the decisions being made on their behalf.

I will continue to speak up and fight on issues like these where residents have made their views so clearly known.

Paul Wells, county councillor, Aldwick and Bognor Regis West

I was so pleased to see Bognor Regis might be lucky to have a Wilkinson store moving in to what was Woolworths.

In fact, I had said when Woolworths closed down I would like to see a Wilkinson store take over. If that did happen I think it would do a lot of good for Bognor Regis and I for one would certainly shop there.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed it happens.

Mrs DG Hamilton, Gordon Avenue, Bognor Regis

Family and friends of Conway Mason held a very special fun day with live music to raise funds to pay for his medication, as he now lives in Canada and is too ill to travel home.

As his mother, I would like to say a very big thank-you to all who took part in the event, especially the sponsors who donated prizes to raffle.

They are Amberley Working Museum, Blues on the Farm, Butlins, Dragonfly Design and Print, Earnley Butterflies and Gardens, Harbour Park, Littlehampton, Jill Robinson (hairdresser), Mike's Music, The Robin Hood, Simply Delicious Delicatessen, The Star, Petworth and Tesco Ltd.

It was a brilliant day in which we raised almost 2,000.

I would also like to thank the volunteers whose hard work made it possible, the bands who gave their time for free, Caz and Pete for letting us have the venue and Sharon Wicks who thought up the idea and organised it all.

Thank you all most sincerely.

Joy Mason, Arun Road, Bognor Regis

I cannot believe Chichester's council can override Midhurst on the decision of car-parking charges.

The same situation occurred in Portsmouth, but in that case the city council actually asked the opinion of residents regarding paying parking fees on their streets. The answer was 'no thanks' so the council took notice of this answer, therefore no street parking was imposed.

Perhaps Chichester's council would like to listen to Midhurst residents, after all, it is their town.

B Gollard, Clanfield

As it stands, Petworth is certainly no hub of commercial activity – to dampen what is here is insanity.

One only has to look at the death of Billingshurst, and its tiny shopping centre, to realise the same would happen here.

In these uncertain financial times, is the money made by the council for parking worth the destruction of this tiny commercial area?

Shirlita Sadler, Hampers Green, Petworth

So there we were, ambling south on Highway 83 in south central Texas heading towards the Mexican border.

The traffic was light to the point of being almost non-existent because of swine flu and the unprecedented violence of the drug gang wars.

In two hours we saw three cars, two trucks and two rattlesnakes.

At the small town of Rock Springs I stopped at a T-junction and was amazed to see a familiar face peering at me through the bars of a field gate. Round head, fat furry cheeks, rounded ears – the teddy bear look of a Southdown sheep.

I was aware from previous visits to the USA they had Hereford and Angus cattle, but until this occasion had no idea our lovely little Southdown sheep had also crossed the big pond.

Philip Pratley, Walnut Avenue, Chichester

Washington Road School in Emsworth celebrates 100 years this year. Did you go to this junior school?

If so, do you have old school photos you'd be prepared to have copied or memorabilia you would loan to the current occupiers, Glenwood School?

Please contact Glenwood School, 01243 373120 if you can contribute.

Sue Watts, Emsworth

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