- 'Sharp drop' in degree courses
- Travellers 'hit by rip-off charges'
- Probe into sex-selection abortions
- UK urged to support tar sands ban
- GPs 'over-paid for ghost patients'
- Action urged on hip fracture costs
- Clegg reveals £1bn jobs fund boost
- Tributes paid to funnyman Carson
- Fast-track asylum delays criticised
- Korean firm wins MoD tankers deal
- Mother and daughter given Asbos
- 'Exceptionally' mild weather on way
- Teenager 'repeatedly raped by gang'
- Man quizzed over women's murders
- Cherie Blair makes phone hack claim
- Man accused of murdering vicar
- Peacocks saved, but 3,000 jobs go
- Sex attacker was under surveillance
- RBS set to unveil £400m bonus pot
- 'Anxious' teacher 'set self alight'
Readers' letters
Bye to Bonmarche
WHAT WILL there be in Chichester now to warrant me to come and shop there? I say this because of the loss of Bonmarche, one of the best shops in Chichester.
Keep it green, CDC
WE HAVE just received a letter from Chichester District Council (CDC) stating they will no longer collect recyclables put out in plastic bags. They recommend that waste should be put in ‘a reusable plastic storage box with a lid that can be purchased’ (by us not by them) ‘relatively cheaply’.
Thanks for support
ON SUNDAY, February 5, the annual Chichester 10k Road Race took place for the 21st time. This road race attracts about 2,000 entries with many local running clubs represented as well as some of the country’s best long-distance runners.
Bridge an eyesore
WITH the question of the possible construction of the Fishbourne Road East bridge once more raising its head, I felt I had to ask ‘why?’
1 commentPlans for canal are exciting
I WAS born in the city 75 years ago and if during those years I had a pound for every plan to reopen the canal I would be a relatively-wealthy person.
What is your policy?
As one who has lived in the area for 25 years, and a member of the Inland Waterways Association for 40 years, it has always seemed extraordinary that neither West Sussex County Council nor Chichester District has not long since funded the re-connection of this waterway. It is not as if it is a major task compared with the now hundreds of miles of canals which have been restored in other parts of the country.
Safety first please
AS MANY readers will be aware, there have been three pedestrian fatalities in the past six weeks on the A27 between the Stockbridge and Wyke roundabouts. The three men killed have been clients of Stonepillow.
Stop parking on our roads
The residents of Lennox Road, Meadowfield Drive and Shamrock Close are heartily sick of workers from St Richard’s parking in our roads.
2 commentsHall help is at hand
I READ with some concern your piece (Observer, January 26) about the high costs charged to hall users (‘Rise in hall fees could spell the end of small clubs’).
Offer of help for small clubs
On reading Clare Hawkin’s article on the rising costs of hiring halls by small clubs, I write to make an offer of help.
Homeless do not have a vote
I would like add my sympathy to those people who have already written about the recent tragic deaths of homeless people on the A27.
1 commentBus passes may help
HAS anyone considered issuing a small number of bus passes to St Joseph’s clients to get them from the city to their refuge, valid say between 4pm-7pm in the dark winter months.
1 commentDifficult to fund coastal defences
Unfortunately it’s the case that for most public coast defences, there’s no obligation for any organisation to keep them repaired.
The sea wall issues rises up once more
THANKS for giving the matter of the Selsey sea defences an airing.
Good opportunity to meet people
I WOULD like to respond to a recent letter (Observer, January 12), referring to street collections by charities.
3 commentsNot enough jobs to go round
WITH all the stories about benefit spongers propagated I suspect by this government, your readers might be interested to know that according to the Office for National Statistics in December there were only 488,000 job vacancies in the UK.
Please get in touch
I WOULD be very grateful if the good samaritan who picked me up from the pavement outside the chemist in North Street, Chichester, at about 9.20am on Saturday, January 21, and took me to A&E would please get in touch by telephoning 01730 892016.
Thanks for aid
I AM writing to thank all the kind people who came to my aid on Friday, January 13, when I tripped and fell by the cathedral bell tower and tried to plough up the pavement with my nose!
Misleading impression
WE SHOULD be grateful if you would correct the misleading impression given in your recent article that Aspects of Whyke – Through the Ages, which the Whyke Residents’ Association has republished, is only concerned with the Whyke Estate.
No to glasshouses
I WAS surprised to read the article about the glasshouses at Almodington and the statement ‘this development will have little negative impact on Chichester and will have the very positive benefit of creating jobs...’.
Homes for students
I WOULD like to congratulate the recent progressive decision made by city councillors to grant more student dwellings on the Stockbridge Road site, in the face of the usual generational prejudice from local residents and conservationists.
1 commentWorking in all weathers
I would very much like to praise the men working for the gas board in Parklands.
Thanks to workers
ON MONDAY, January 16, there was a small explosion in a connection box on a telegraph pole in Charlton which carried both electricity and telephone cables to a number of houses in the village.
Tackling congestion
AS SOMEONE frequently staying in Chichester I fully endorse the points made by Mr Wells (Observer, January 12) regarding the need for road improvements.
1 commentWe’re back on track
I WAS delighted to see a beautiful steam train has been installed in the playground of Singleton Cof E Primary School!
New homes an issue
HAVING lived in Birdham for 24 years, I am surprised to see councillors Bolton and Crossley calling for faith to be restored in our parish council.
No surprise over Butter Market
I cannot understand why there is any surprise that much of the new Butter Market is unused.
Why should we pay to park on Sundays?
AS A worker in Chichester, and not receiving any assistance in parking fees, I pay for my monthly ticket of £40.
Friends have yet to agree on support
I WAS surprised to read your leading article in the current edition entitled ‘Innovative plans for Priory Park praised’. It adds that ‘the Friends of Priory Park welcomed revised plans for the area’.
Defend bus subsidy
GREG Miles’ timely report (Observer, January 5), ‘Bus campaigners urge residents to fight cuts’, should be supported by all who care for those depending upon bus subsidies for essential mobility.
Tenuous links
There are three separate reports in the Observer (January 12) I wish to add my comments to. They have a tendency to be repeated week after week in some form or other and there are tenuous links between them.
Fares are fair deal
IN DUNCAN Barkes’ recent column on increased rail fares (Observer, January 5), he states some fares went up by nine per cent in January. He mentions he regularly commutes to London on a morning peak train. An annual Southern season ticket from Chichester to London has increased by 4.9 per cent – a figure a full one per cent below Southern’s average figure of 5.9 per cent for regulated fares, a small amount below the current rate of inflation (RPI @ 5.2 per cent in November 2011 – source ONS) and a long way from the nine percent Mr Barkes refers to. The closest increase to this from Chichester to London is the Travelcard season ticket which has increased by 7.9 per cent.
More needed, MPs
THERE have been several issues recently published in your paper highlighting concerns people have in relation to a lack of response from their local MP, namely Andrew Tyrie. It does anger me time and time again no reply comes back from our elected representatives. I wrote to Mr Tyrie once myself and yes, nothing.
Rethink lights cash
I READ with disgust the report that Chichester City Council are to spend £35,000 of taxpayers’ money to illuminate their offices. If they can afford to spend that amount on this project then they could pay for the Christmas lights in Chichester at a cost of £15,000.
Frontage an affront
I WAS interested to read objections from the Chichester Conservation Area Advisory Committee and the Chichester Society regarding a restaurant sign in South Street had been overruled by a planning inspector.
Butter Market ‘dull’
I HAVE to agree with other comments in the Observer (January 12). The revamped Butter Market is dull and disappointing. It may have needed a lick of paint, but I think most Cicestrians preferred it the way it was with its interesting mix of little shops, some of them long established and much loved.
No cash for city councillors
FIRSTLY could I point out that Chichester city councillors do not receive any allowances at all and it is all voluntary work carried out as elected representatives of the city wards; the only exception is our mayor who has an allowance to carry out his civic duties. Perhaps the Chichester district councillors could take a leaf out of our book and refuse the extra allowance and perhaps one of their many cuts can be averted.
Aboard gravy train
WITH reference to WE Beckett’s and other letters (Observer, January 6) ‘Why do we need so many councillors?’ As they do so little to assist local people and their communities, (note my address... need I say more). Perhaps a few less on the old gravy train, or as some might say, fewer snouts in the trough, might persuade the remainder to be more ready and able to justify their existence and help the communities they are supposed to represent and work for us and not against us.
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Weather for Chichester
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
