Your letters - April 17

Roads gone to pot

IT IS rumoured that Bexhill on Sea is going to be re-named 'Jerusalem' (The Holy City), this due to the number of holes in our roads. There seem to be more potholes in Bexhill roads than there are craters in the Sea of Tranquillity.

As a motorcyclist, when I go out I play a game called 'Dodge the Potholes'. I have friends who also ride pedal cycles and they too complain of the poor condition of our roads. I know that even motorists, (and I am one of them as well) complain about road surface conditions. Have you ever tried to cycle along the Marina? It is horrendous due to the poor condition of the road surface. Is it any wonder that pedal cyclists have taken to the Promenade or pavements.

I don't know if the staff at the highways department, in particular the senior management, realise or care about the true state of our roads.

Potholes in roads are highly dangerous to people on two wheels. If you hit one of these potholes even at a slow speed and are thrown from your bike it can result in very serious injury, you could be crippled or paralysed for life. You also face being thrown off the bike under the wheels of either a following or oncoming vehicle.

I have read that it is cheaper to payout for injuries and damages than to people than to actually do a proper repair. I don't know if this is true or not, but if true, it is a negligent policy.

I cannot even say well done to the 'pothole filler teams. They turn up, put some cold tarmac into a hole, tamp it down and leave. A couple of weeks later after the poor repair has disintegrated they are back filling the hole again.

I can point out one hole which is constantly filled in and weeks later they are back filling it in as the road surface has collapsed yet again. They must have put quite a few hundredweight of tarmac in this hole over past months and now it is about 3in to 4in deep again and dangerous. This hole is next to a round manhole cover outside 107 Dorset Road.

I often have to slow down to let vehicles travelling south go past so that I can ride around this dangerous hindrance to my safety. I have inspected this anomaly and the original road surface is collapsing around it. This has been going on for about six months or more.

I know that budgets are tight, but these temporary repairs cost money and achieve nothing as the 'pot hole filler teams are constantly employed filling in holes. Surely it is better and cheaper to do the repairs properly in the first place so that they will last.

As it stands I cannot see any meaningful road repairs being done in Bexhill as the county council will say that it is due to budget cuts. There seems to be plenty of budget for projects such as the unwanted "seafront improvements" but not roads. I also expect the excuse, "A lot of the problems are due to the recent bad winter conditions". Not so, many of the problems have been going on since last year or longer.

Having recently ridden on roads throughout Spain, France and Andorra and I never encountered any roads, even very minor country roads, as bad as the roads in Bexhill.

E HOLLORAN

Haslam Crescent

Empty campaign

I FEEL there must be elections in the offing, council or otherwise, as our local MP, Mr Greg Barker seems to think it is time to put his head above the parapet.

I see in the paper that he has been going on a pub crawl to launch a campaign to save our local pubs.

He mentions 'Gordon Brown's recession' '“ where has he been for the past few weeks?

Gordon Brown has been hailed as a hero throughout the financial world, especially the praise he has received from members of the G20 for his work with the American president to get the world out of this financial mess, which of course was initially caused by the US banks.

To get back to the pubs, he mentions the supermarkets selling cheap beer. Surely the free market is one of the Conservative party's cornerstone policies?

Maybe Mr Barker should spend more time trying to reduce his own expenses as he heads the list in figures published by the Commons authorities for Sussex.

PETER MORGAN

Harewood Close

Bexhill

Let's use the park

I AM grateful for comments I receive about the great issues of our great town, whether through your pages or to the Town Hall, and I refer to the letters from Ms Webb and Mr Anon of April 10.

My efforts as your councillor are to see Bexhill improve and not suffer decline, to seek regeneration and not stagnation, to stimulate pleasant and meaningful activities within our town and not ignore the needs and hopes of our people.

Egerton Park and The Polegrove are both fabulous facilities for the town of Bexhill, and we should make the most of these treasures. The premises licence application has been submitted to enable these open-air venues to be made more widely available.

The feedback from residents will indeed be listened to and I am sure a compromise can be reached. Many people have told me that they remember the old bandstand in Egerton Park, and it is a shame that we don't use it more. I am hoping that we may have a chance use the park more and to organise some alfresco events.

COUNCILLOR MICHAEL ENSOR

Bexhill Town Hall

Mark "The Few"

AN OPEN letter to the people of Bexhill.

In 2010 the nation will celebrate one of the most iconic moments in modem history '“ the Battle of Britain. In the summer of 1940 Britain stood completely alone. Had the brave aircrew of the RAF lost the battle, the world might still be a very different place today.

Seventy years on we tend to forget how important a debt we owe to the aircrew of the RAF and the foreign nationals who came to help, and who Winston Churchill called "The Few".

I am working on a landmark and definitive project to celebrate this very important anniversary, and would like to hear from anybody who had a personal involvement with the Battle of Britain.

You may not have been a pilot, but you might have been a ground crew member of a squadron, or worked on an airfield or in a sector station. You may have been involved with RDF, the Observer Corps, searchlights, ack-ack guns, or barrage balloons. You may have worked in a factory making Spitfires or Hurricanes. You may have worked for the NAAFI or Red Cross and served the airmen tea and sandwiches. You may have diaries from the time, or written letters, taken photographs, or even film. Or you may have been related in some way to one of the pilots.

Original photographs will be copied and returned. If you think you can help in anyway, please write to the address below

HENRY BUCKTON

PO Box 2770

Glastonbury

Somerset

BA6 9XD

[email protected].

www.henrybuckton.co.uk.

Hair-raising time

LAST Tuesday my wife had an hairdresser's appointment. Requiring a spot of tonsorial attention, I decided to seek a haircut myself.

As a recent incomer, I have been attending a small barber shop run by two gentlemen, but who have now left and their successor has not endeared himself to me.

So I dropped into another quite well-appointed establishment to be greeted with loud pop music but was invited by a young lady to take a seat until one of the two operators became available.

The language, however, by one of them, describing some event was so extreme '“ and I served in the services during World War II '“ that I walked out.

Of the two other establishments I visited, one closed at 4pm (it was then 4.30pm) and the other was closed for illness.

I returned to my car, parked legally(!) in Western Road and noticed a unisex hairdresser.

Any port in a storm, I thought. The shop was empty and shortly a young lady arrived.

To my suggestion that she could give a haircut she glanced at the clock which showed 4.45pm and announced: "Nah, we close at five and I can't do it in that time."

I retired duly admonished, wondering why, as I have enjoyed for the past 10 years in the West Country there is no appointment system here for men's hairdressers. Or is there?

FE PEARCE

Cooden Drive

Bexhill

Thanks Conquest

I AM writing to say how well I was looked after when I was a patient at the Conquest Hospital recently.

I had a three-week stay at the Wellington ward, and I was impressed with both the standard of my care and the standard of cleanliness.

Every day the ward was cleaned and sheets changed, and staff even changed the water in patients' bedside jugs three times a day.

P SURESHAN

Bixlea Parade

Little Common Road

Bexhill

Who wants road?

WITH my council tax bill there was enclosed an ESCC leaflet in which it stated: "Consultation showed overwhelming support for a new road..."

Please can your paper publish the report on which they rely to make this statement.

I have not met anyone who is in favour of this Link Road.

As far as I am concerned most people have become "enlightened" and know that we must reduce our carbon emissions, so road building should be stopped.

On a local level 100.3 million for three miles is too much money to spend. Where is this money coming from?

As the local paper it will be really useful for you to keep the public informed so this road and all the houses and factories is not just pushed through without proper consultation.

Consultation I am sure would now overwhelmingly reject this road scheme and the pollution and urban sprawl that goes with it.

J LOWE

London Road

School success

I WOULD just like to thank the many businesses and people who helped make Chantry School's Easter fair a success.

These are Sainsburys, The Cooden Beach Hotel, Tesco, Wards Outfitters, Devonshire Park Theatre, Middle Farm, Kent and East Sussex Railway, Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway, Wilderness wood, H&H confectioners, Yesterday's World and Scants Motors.

Also a word of thanks goes to Ernest Cannon for the lovely fruit and veg basket he kindly made up and donated because he could not be there to support us on the day.

Since taking over as chairperson last September, the PTA members have gone from strength to strength and this has made for some fantastic events.

You all work so hard for the goodness of the school we all love and I fear I do not tell you enough how thankful I am, your time and effort never goes unnoticed.

So a big thank you to everyone.

Onto our themed summer fair!

TAMMY GOLDSPINK-SAUNDERS

Chantry PTA Chairperson

Models help

I AM afraid the two volunteers at St Michael's Hospice Shop have misunderstood the gist of the letter in the Observer of March 27. The point, as I understood it, was that since the shop occupies such a prominent position on the front, it would be much improved if the donated clothes could be displayed on models as they are in the Battle shop and also in many charity shops here in Bexhill.

Incidentally, if I may say so, their neighbouring shop, the charity Mind, goes to great pains to have a different 'themed' display quite frequently.

M. STERLING

Magdelen Road

Bexhill

Costly error

THANK you for publishing my letter in the Observer on April 10 regarding Pebsham Countryside Park and the Link Road.

However unfortunately a printing error has occured which will mislead and misinform the public.

The cost of the Link Road is 103million and rising, not 1.3 million. This is for a road 3.4- miles long. This cost is too high!

K KANE

Hastings Road

Be on guard

THIS is an urgent plea to Rother district councillors.

For some considerable time now the Observer has published letters from local inhabitants explaining that the Cabinet is failing in its responsibility to the Council. The Cabinet is arbitrarily pursuing a most wasteful scheme for the seafront. At the same time it is ignoring a number of necessary ideas which would clearly benefit the town as a whole.

Would it not be possible to challenge the Cabinet-inspired policies and the lack of overall planning? For instance why go along with CABE and its ludicrous pseudo-bureaucratic ideas about the seafront? Why not cancel the fanciful ideas and give our seafront a sparkling spring clean?

If we, the public, can identify the needs of the town how can it be that members of the Cabinet are unable to formulate plans to fulfil those obvious and essential requirements?

Please take action now and show us that you are in control.

BASIL R STREAT

Cantelupe Road, Bexhill-on-Sea.

Thank you

ON behalf of the whole family, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of the friends and acquaintances who have written, telephoned or just stopped by to offer their condolences and good wishes on the passing of both our parents, in March.

It has been a very comforting experience that so many people have taken the trouble to contact us at this difficult time.

Mum and Dad had been in poor health for some time, and endured spells in and out of the Conquest Hospital.

Mum, in particular, spent a considerable amount of time both as an inpatient and an outpatient in the hospital over the last year or so. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my thanks for the considerate and dignified way in which the staff of the Conquest conducted the treatment, for my mother in particular, during the term of her illness.

The personnel who were regularly in contact with her always maintained a happy and positive attitude, which rubbed off on all of us. Nothing was ever too much trouble for the consultants, nurses or supporting staff.

At a time when many people are inclined to criticise the NHS in general and specific hospitals in particular, I felt the need to write this letter in order to convey my sincere thanks to all the staff and associated services, for having worked so hard and diligently to make mum's last few months as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

Their expertise and dedication was without question and we, the remaining family, have been extremely grateful for their support.

PETER HAYWARD

Mill Lane

Hooe

Votes count

ONCE again, Stephanie Webb (Letters, April 10) '“ rushes into indignant print to denounce anyone who has the temerity to suggest that all may not be well at the DLWP (on this occasion Rother councillors Ensor and Clarke).

But what has happened to Ms Webb? Whereas in years gone past she would content herself with simple differences of opinion, she now insists that "the Pavilion must ignore these misguided politicians!" Excuse me, but ever heard of democracy, Stephanie? I would have thought that all right-thinking people accept that elected local representatives have every right to influence the conduct of matters of great local importance, and when those local matters involve council expenditure of over half a million pounds a year, I would say that right becomes a positive duty.

And why does Ms Webb persist in using "the Pavilion" when she surely means "the DLWP"? Is she no longer able to see any difference between the two? In fact is it just possible that Ms Webb's fundamentalist devotion to the DLWP has caused her to become slightly derailed by the constant tide of local discontent with what is going on at the Pavilion?

ELLA SARGEANT,

Cooden Sea Road

Bexhill

Food bags

THE Bexhill Caring Community would like to thank Gerry Robinson and the Staff at Curves as well as all the people who very kindly donated bags of food which will be distributed to the needy of Bexhill over the next few weeks.

Due to the economic climate many elderly residents are finding it very hard to make ends meet and a bag of groceries will be very useful to them.

If anyone would like to recommend a relative, neighbour or friend, whether single or a family, please inform the Bexhill Caring Community on 01424 215116.

In order to raise funds a coffee morning is being held next Wednesday (April 22) from 10am to 12noon at Grosvenor Park Nursing Home, Brookfield Road, Bexhill.

Everyone is welcome to join us.

There will also be a raffle, bring and buy, cake and plant stalls and donations towards these will be greatly appreciated.We look forward to seeing you there.

MARGARET VON SPEYR

Bexhill caring community manager

Light worry

I AM writing to ask all readers of the Bexhill Observer one question. Is your street well lit? At Bexhill Youth Council many of us feel scared and intimidated walking down many of our town's roads after sundown. Only a few months ago it was still getting dark soon after the end of the school day.

We are looking into which roads may need better lighting to make everyone feel safer. If you know of anywhere that applies to our campaign, please don't hesitate to let us know at: [email protected], or you can write to us at 18, Cowdray Park Road, Little Common, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex, TN39 4ND.

FRANKIE RAY

Bexhill Youth Council

Bin dancing

FURTHER to contributions from Mr Harris and Mr Kinsella:

I was a founder member of the DDC (Dustbin Dancing Club). Fourteen years ago before we had the good fortune to relocate at Bexhill we lived in London.

Our rear garden was 250ft long, consequently our green bin was totally inadequate.

Then came a Milligan-inspired Eureka moment so I danced up and down in the bin, doubling its capacity.

The bin was collected, fixed on the van and shaken.

It was shaken more and more violently,still it would not disgorge its contents.

One last even more violent shake and bin with contents still inside it vanished compacted into the bowels of the van.

A new bin was delivered and I performed an encore dustbin dance.

Once again bin and contents were swallowed whole.

A new bin was delivered with a note:"Should you require a fourth bin it will be at your expense."

Alas my dancing days were over.

JOHN FINCH

Cooden Drive

Bexhill

Elementary

THERE have previously been letters and articles in the Observer re the use of the De La Warr Pavilion by local dramatic societies '“ and the financial support given to them by Rother DC.

This year the total sum available to societies has been reduced, but the amount awarded to BATS is sufficient for us to present our forthcoming production of The Hound of the Baskervilles on the De La Warr stage. Other plays will be performed in Bexhill later in the year but this will be the only one at the DLWP.

BATS has enjoyed a long association with the DLWP, performing our first play there in 1935 '“ the year of its opening. The challenge in 2009 is to show that Rother's assistance is justified. We can only do that if sufficient numbers of people come to see us. So this is an appeal to local people. Please come and see The Hound of the Baskervilles on April 24 '“ 26 so that, together, we can show that there is a place for live amateur theatre in our town.

TRISH DALY

Chairman, Bexhill Amateur Theatrical Society

Good value

REPLY to Mr David Barry's letter Don't plug pub.

Just because Mr Barker defends pubs does not mean that he is encouraging us all to become alcoholics!

Pubs are more than just places of alcohol sale.

I have a public house and lots of my customers spend a whole evening drinking tea and coffee. Pubs are a community centre, a place for conversation, a place to meet friends and make new ones, it's a place where boys meet girls it's a place where young and old mix. Its not all about alcohol.

Publicans are social workers, care workers, marriage advisors and event organisers, if fact we do a valuable job! We host wedding receptions , funeral wakes, birthday parties and any celebration that is worth a 'do'. We raise money for charity. e even ave football teams and fishing clubs.

We notice if a regular customer doesn't come in for a while, we care for the elderly, we check on them. We may be the only place where an elderly person has a chance to talk to another person. A good well-run pub is a an asset to any town or village.

We are not all hopeless alcoholics, nor is everyone who goes into a pub.

Mr Barker obviously realises that. Wise man.

So Mr Barry its not about the beer, it's about choice.

STEPHANIE BEALE

Licensee

Ninfield Road

Bexhill on Sea

Not fantastic

OUR rich language is in deadly danger. There is a crocodile engaged in swallowing up hundreds of our precious words.

Its name is fantastic. Here are just a few of the expressive words, gathered from a quick alphabetical trawl, which disappear into its capacious maw: admirable, beautiful, charming, delightful, excellent, formidable, gorgeous, heroic, immense, jolly, kingly, laudable, marvellous, notable, overwhelming, powerful, quintessential, ravishing, splendid, triumphant, uplifting, vast, wonderful.

So intent is this monster in the impoverishment of our language that it employs the aid of minor monsters, brilliant and great, to effect its deadly work.

Sadly, also, those whose trade is words, the folk in the broadcasting media, to whom we should be able to look for good example, are the most active allies of the monsters.

RALPH HILL

Little Common