Readers' Letters - April 16 2009
Readers' letters from the April 16 issue of the Observer.
Now, how about a memorial park for lords of the manor?
Now the planning application for a housing development on the site of Burne's shipyard in Bosham, submitted by Burhill Golf and Leisure, has been turned down, perhaps it is time to consider possible alternatives.
The likelihood of any development on this very sensitive site being both acceptable to the villagers of Bosham and commercially profitable for Burhill are slim.
The Iveagh family have been associated with Bosham, both as lords of the manor and property owners and developers, for many decades, to the benefit of both parties.
How refreshing it would be if, in recognition of the advantages they have enjoyed from this relationship over the years, the Iveagh family were to instruct their firm to demolish the present unsightly dilapidated yard and replace it with a non-commercial open area, similar to Bosham Quay Meadow.
The cost and lack of profit from such an uncommercial enterprise would be more than compensated for by the gratitude of future generations of villagers and visitors.
Perhaps the Bosham Parish Council, or even the National Trust, could be persuaded to be responsible for the upkeep of such an Iveagh Memorial Park.
Noblesse oblige may be an out-dated concept, but none-the-less welcome for that.
Dr CD Lacey, Moreton Road, Bosham
The development would have been a flagrant assault upon Chichester harbour area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).
The harbour is a vital asset, not only to this part of Sussex but also to the nation. Thousands of people a year come to enjoy the special qualities of this precious resource, whether to sail, walk, bird watch, or just to enjoy the harbour villages.
This development would have been an environmental disaster for the harbour if it had gone ahead. We accept that the old shipyard buildings are unsightly and some development is to be welcomed.
Mike McKeand, chairman, The Bosham Association, Stumps End, Bosham
'City of culture' left behind by other towns
On reading the Observer of March 26, I wondered whether April Fool's Day had come a week early.
As a Cicestrian I was disturbed to read executives of the district council, the county council, the University of Chichester and the festival theatre have been wasting our time and money in pursuing such a cock-eyed and impractical proposal as the building of an amphitheatre.
I can see there might be an occasional use for such an open-air space, but surely what we need here is a multi-purpose complex with meeting rooms, a concert hall and the capability of providing an affordable theatre space with a proper stage to meet the needs of the local drama groups or operatic societies.
Here we have an emasculated Assembly Hall, the Festival Theatre – prohibitively expensive and difficult to hire most of the year – and a magnificent cathedral whose prime function is as a place of worship.
It is sad that in this 'city of culture' we can see that Crawley, with its Hawth, and Petersfield, with the Memorial Hall, are in some respects better off than we are.
Tim Bastow, Westgate, Chichester
It must be hoped the urgency of the need for an amphitheatre in Oaklands Park – the third theatre in that park – will be first carefully explored.
Chichester is fortunate in its excellent parks yet every new development in them cannot help but reduce ever further the green open space that is the very essence
of any park.
For members of the public, it is hard to understand the different channels through which their money is spent by councils so some projects opposed by many go ahead while more basic needs for all remain in the queue for funding.
Such a situation might well occur with the parks where the very consideration of an amphitheatre implies possible funding sources.
Many might regard such a development as either unnecessary or more suited to another site.
The fine existing parks have basic needs to further the enjoyment of their many users.
Several of their buildings need renovation or replacement while anti-social behaviour can be threatening, although usually the result only of thoughtlessness such as the huge litter problem, introduction of dogs and bicycles or battering of the Guildhall with footballs.
The authority of a regular warden could transform the position.
These essential matters have been under review for a number of years. Surely they need to be settled before any move is made to more questionable developments?
David Hide, Priory Road, Chichester
Dug up again - and cement's hardly dry
What on earth is going on in Eastgate Square? I went to have my hair cut in Buzby and Blue to discover the pavement which had been out of commission for weeks while new and very expensive slabs were being laid had been dug up again almost before the cement was dry.
Apparently, the work was to put in electricity cabling. Why was this not done before the slabs were laid?
How are businesses supposed to survive in these difficult times when totally unnecessary duplication of work is carried out in the street in front of their premises?
Can the council please let us know why this work was not carried out before and who is footing the bill for digging up and replacing the slabs?
Richard Deighton, Bognor Road, Chichester
Helmets won't help a cyclist in an accident with a car...
I was interested to read Duncan Barkes' comments about cyclists being 'forced' by law to wear a helmet.
He suggests because motorists have to wear a seatbelt by law, they should be compared to a cyclist being enforced to wear a helmet. There is no comparison whatever to be made as the two road users are in a different league.
The car driver can do any speed at will and go over the speed limit with no problem, which is why a lot of accidents occur and mostly between cars. How many cyclists go over the speed limit?
As a motorist who is strapped in by law, I can see no comparison except a motorist may want to use it as an excuse to relinquish themselves of any guilt if they hit a cyclist and he is injured. Do helmets prevent accidents? No – they may help a cyclist's head escape injury if they are involved in one, though.
As a cyclist I can also comment on my own experiences over the years. I have raced since 1959 here and abroad and have also had my fair share of accidents, too.
In all the accidents I had, only once did I have a head injury and it was a minor abrasion, that's all. Mostly it was a broken collar bone or legs that suffered – do we take it, then, the cyclist should be forced to wear a suit of armour to protect himself against the negligent motorist?
I do wear a protective helmet just in case the negligence of some motorists, which does seem to be getting worse as we go through the years, but in my experience over the years it's the body that takes the blows.
The highways department planners for the county do not help, either. They expect cyclists to use the provided cycle paths, but they do nothing at all to keep them swept or free of garbage which other road users, including pedestrians, deposit on them.
The highways department wish to spend nothing on cycle paths because none of the staff uses bikes – they use vehicles the council tax payer has provided for them, such as Land Rover Freelanders at 23,000 a time.
It is through this lack of understanding we see such stupidity of planning for cyclists as a recent arrangement on the A259 at Ford Road/A259 junction near Littlehampton. The authority has sealed off use of the cycle path, making it more dangerous for cycling along this part of the road. Do the planners think the cyclist can sprout wings now?
Michael Flanagan, Pagham
In the particular High Court case highlighted by Duncan Barkes, the cyclist was awarded full damages because the judge decided a helmet would not have made any difference in the accident.
The maximum impact speed for a cycle helmet is 12mph. In practice, this means if you fall off a bike for some reason a helmet may be of use but in a collision with a car or motorbike, it will not be a safeguard. I think many people fail to realise this.
There is no justification for a change in the law to make wearing cycling helmets compulsory. In countries where it has been imposed, the number cycling has fallen dramatically.
The health benefits of cycling far outweigh the risks.
Research in countries where a helmet law has been imposed has shown that looked at overall, cyclists' safety has not been improved by helmet wearing.
Recent research showed that, on average, motorists overtook a cyclist wearing a helmet closer than one not wearing a helmet.
I think it is worth noting there are many more cases of head injuries to drivers and their passengers than to cyclists but there is no great campaign for drivers to wear helmets.
Edwin Jones, secretary, Bognor Chichester CTC and West Sussex CTC, Brooklands, Pagham
What can be expected to result from banning cycling for all but helmet wearers?
What evidence has Mr Justice Williams seen that wearing a helmet prevents severe brain injuries? 'The law is an ass' stems from rulings such as this.
Various cycling organisations are outraged because while helmets absorb some impact and can prevent superficial injuries, there is no consensus among clinicians as to the effectiveness of helmets, which meet international standards, in preventing brain injuries.
On April 7, newspapers reported the fatal accident in West Stoke where retired police inspector and respected local cyclist Laurie Pither was the victim. He only recently started wearing a helmet, producing a nice hole in the windscreen of the car which hit him, but Laurie is no longer with us.
Yes, there are benefits to be obtained from cycle helmets, but also disadvantages. Try riding for hours on a hot day with a block of polystyrene on your head, which gets very warm – studies confirm concentration suffers, while perspiration eventually starts running into your eyes, further affecting concentration.
The vast majority of your readers probably would support a road safety campaign. Might I suggest it is based on:
* Re-introduction of the ban on advertising maximum vehicle speeds;
* Re-introduction of routine roadside checks to test for defective eyesight, excess alcohol and drug ingestion; and
* The re-appearance of traffic police might also improve driver performance.
Don Lambert, secretary, Bognor Regis Cycling Club, Cardinals Drive, Bognor Regis
Switch-on 'cheap'...lights are lovely
I was fairly disgusted at the decision to have the seafront lights switched on this year by someone dressed as a Star Wars stormtrooper. Surely there was a local celebrity who could have done this. Having someone in fancy dress perform the switch-on is cheap, insulting to the public, and summarises the local disinterest in promoting Bognor as a quality holiday destination. Where is their sense of occasion?
Victoria Clarke, Nyewood Lane, Aldwick,
Driving along the seafront over Easter, I was very impressed with the lighting display.
Having lived in the area all my life, Bognor seafront has improved greatly over the years and is now the best I have ever seen it.
GR Diggens, Tuscan Avenue, Middleton on Sea
Stop the talk - it's time to take action for a safer tomorrow
I read with interest the front-page story about the pedestrian dangers in Angel Street and the subsequent letter drawing attention to Sadlers Row and Park Road.
I fully endorse them, and also I am aware there is work in progress looking into the dangers of North Street and the top end of East Street.
I expect residents of other streets would also tell of their concerns, for example High Street, Grove Street and, of course, The Square.
Since, at long last, it is hoped Petworth is to get relief from its lorry problem with the installation of new siganage around the town after Easter, is now not the time to start a campaign to make all the town-centre streets a safer, greener, disability-conscious area in which more people can be encouraged to walk around in safety?
At the present time, despite the volume and current speed of the through traffic, there is precisely one protected crossing point, yet I would hazard residents in all the streets witness or experience risks taken by pedestrians, young, old or handicapped, on a daily basis, particuarly in the morning and evening rush hours.
It is time for change. Conditions have changed, vehicles have changed, driver behaviour has often changed, and sadly not for the better.
Environmental concerns should be ratcheting up the agenda, making changes necessary for safer greener streets in residential areas.
Much of the pavement provision in Petworth's streets is woefully inadequate and must surely fail to comply with 21st-century health and safety.
There will be every argument put forward why not to spend the necessary money, but the need is real and the need is urgent.
It is time to start lobbying now for a safer tomorrow. It will take time but we should make a start.
Mrs MJ Rudkin, East Street, Midhurst
What a night - Observer should be proud of a great celebration
I could not let the Observer Business Awards Evening go into local history without mentioning what a fabulous success story it was for all who were fortunate and privileged enough to have attended.
The organisation and timing of events were brilliant and faultless. The dinner, served promptly and also very tasty, was superb.
The company was wonderful and very friendly, new business colleagues made, old and new friends met, and, I have no doubt, new business deals and arrangements confirmed.
Fred Dinenage was an excellent choice for such a prestigious event. He is a very relaxing man to listen to and made us all feel comfortable and in a party mood in his first few minutes of talking to us and being in control of the evening's events.
From all those attending, allow me to say a great big vote of thanks to the Observer and its staff for arranging and organising such a wide-ranging and obviously very complicated but very successful evening.
I know we will all remember and talk about it for a very long time.
For those very fortunate and lucky few who won awards in our different categories it was the icing on the cake. What an evening! What an event! What a privilege!
I have been very fortunate in my life; it has been a wonderful exciting adventure. In a profession I have loved and along the road of life I have met some wonderful kind and learned people and have been privileged and lucky to have attended some memorable events, the 2008 Observer Business Awards being one of my memorable evenings.
In my heart and in my mind I thank all of you who clapped, cheered and screamed with delight as the fortunate winners' names were called out and then walked to the stage to collect their prizes. A wonderful and unforgettable moment in my long life's adventure.
Good luck and best wishes for next year's Business Awards Events. You will find it very hard indeed to improve on the 2008 awards evening.
What a wonderful end to my long and active business life – an evening that gave me hope for all our futures. Bless you all.
Frank Hellyer, East Broyle Estate, Chichester
I know I am biased, but there could not have been a more worthy person to win the lifetime achievement award than Frank Hellyer.
I have known and worked with Frank for 25 years and during this time he has given his heart and soul to Covers.
Everyone at Covers is absolutely delighted for him.
Janet Bruce, David Cover and Son Limited, Quarry Lane, Chichester
The Observer deserves many congratulations on organising such a brilliant Chichester Business Awards ceremony at Avisford Park.
Our table of 12 from the Bourne Community College, who represented all areas of our college from site manager, canteen manageress, business manager, support staff, cleaners, chair of governors plus teaching staff, all thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
Avisford Park was a superb venue; dinner was outstanding and service first class. We were absolutely thrilled to be presented with two awards out of such a prestigious array of business folk all competing for them.
Margaret Eva, headteacher, Bourne Community College, Southbourne
Cabbage White are really proud to have been highly commended in the Retailer of the Year and Best Shopkeeper categories at the Observer Business Awards.
We'd like to thank all our customers for their extremely loyal support since we opened in 2006.
Lucy Griffith, Midhurst
Thank you so much for the award I was given at the 2008 Business Awards.
My job has always been extremely gratifying but I could not do my job without all the help and support I receive from the businesses, agencies and organisations I work with, and for, in Chichester.
I work with some wonderful people and it is a pleasure to serve the business community. There are not many jobs where you are encouraged to come up with mad ideas and make them happen!
I am truly humbled to have been given this special award.
It was a fantastic event the Observer can be proud of.
Kim Long, Chichester City Centre manager, Kingsway, Selsey
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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