Selsey's awful - and parents are to blame

Should parents not take a lot of the blame for the recent anti-social behavioural crimewave currently blighting the town of Selsey?
I've lived in the town for more than 30 years and I honestly can't remember a worse time to be a resident.
Gangs of teenagers roam the streets at night, intimidating people and just generally causing a disturbance to neighbours by excessive shouting and swearing.
Why can't the parents keep their children under control?
What are the police and Selsey wardens doing to try to stop this behaviour once and for all?
It seems to me as though the parents are just happy to get some peace and let their kids out of their houses without knowing where they are and what they're up to.
My main concern is where will this lead to? Are we on our way to gang culture, drug problems and knife crime?
Something needs to be done – and fast.

W Brewer, Selsey

I would like to tell you about two of Selsey's most well-regarded people.
Dr Julian Moore of Selsey health centre and Father John Harrington of St Peter's church.
I visited Dr Moore in his surgery this morning. He is a doctor like those I remember from when my children were young. He listens and he doesn't tap away at his computer while talking to you.
You leave his surgery knowing he is doing everything he can for you and you have confidence in him.
On leaving the health centre I met Father John Harrington. He also is a caring man who listens and gives comfort to others.
He always seems to have time for everyone. To see him with the children in church is wonderful. My granddaughter and her friend saw him in the supermarket and were amazed he goes to the shops!
Four years ago he took my son's funeral service. He made a terrible day bearable with his kindness, love and support.
I want to share these two special people with others. Although I am sure others have their own special people, these are mine.

Kay Everrett, Broad View, Selsey



If schools need lights, at least make sure they work

There should be a word of warning regarding the installation of school lights of any design or function.
Quite a few years ago it was decided to install flashing warning lights in Meadow Way, Tangmere, on both sides of the school entrance off Meadow Way; a single light on one side and double light on the other.
The history of these lights is appalling. One light, the singular, has never functioned since installation.
The other set of lights work anywhen outside school hours, including holidays. One of them has a tree growing in front of it and is not visible to motorists.
The Tangere school authorities, the district councillor and the local community warden have all been informed of this problem, but to no avail.
All of those mentioned claim to put the safety of children very high on their priorities but in my opinion it is lip-service only.
The possible outcome of the erratic and non-functioning of the lights will lead to motorists and other road users ignoring these and other warning signs, to the detriment of child safety; not to mention the cost to local tax payers for the installation of equipment that does not do its job.
The final insult to me by one of the 'responsible' people informed was the lights probably were not needed anyway.
If it is decided to install school lights, make sure they are kept in working order and operate at the appropriate times.

Tony Gilbert, Tangmere



Green light must be given to new traffic controls

A traffic-light system to safely regulate traffic and improve access on to the Bognor Road roundabout on the A27 has been proposed and received wide support from members of the Mundham and Runcton Residents' Association.
Such a system already operates successfully at the Warren roundabout north of Worthing where Broadwater Road meets the very same A27, carrying presumably a similar traffic load.
A modern traffic-light system such as this cannot only be phased to ease the traffic flow but can respond to varying traffic densities as they occur, from different directions.
The members of this Association live south of the A27, and at our recent annual meeting the frightening prospect of negotiating the Bognor Road roundabout on the A27 was raised yet again as a major concern.
For many of them this is a daily ordeal as they risk accident and injury as they are forced to launch themselves into seemingly non-existent gaps in the whirl of fast-moving traffic coming round the roundabout.
All roads joining the roundabout suffer similarly. For all drivers it is unpleasant and scaring, for the elderly and inexperienced it must be truly horrifying.
We now hear the highways agency has informed the district council that delays in improvements to Chichester by-pass mean 'there is no guarantee the works will be carried out within the district council's plan period' – that is, a minimum of ten years in all probability.
The prospect of any solution to the Bognor Road roundabout problem through A27 major roadworks is therefore effectively out of sight, certainly for ten years.
With this grim prospect ahead, we urge support for a traffic-light system at the Bognor Road roundabout from all users, but especially from our elected representatives, to bring some sanity and safety to this matter.

Mark Neave, chairman, Mundham and Runcton Residents' Association



My memories of Whyke classroom

At the age of five, I was dragged off to the Rumboldswhyke school, known as Whyke Infants.
There now seems to be only the wall at the roadside left, the wall we dared each other to sit on with our legs dangling over the roadside without being caught by the adult overseer.
The brightest memory was the third-of-a-pint bottles of milk in crates stacked around the coke burner in the middle of the classroom during the winter months to melt the frozen contents.
If you had the coveted position of milk monitor, an exalted post indeed, you handed out the bottles, giving some choice to the favoured ones for either warm, tepid or cold milk.
We then sat round the same burner to drink through a straw that passed through a hole in the cardboard top made by pressing out a small disc, very carefully, as milk squirted out.
Your 'pully' would smell pretty sour by the end of the day, and you'd blink furiously as the fumes from the heater would drift in your direction, resulting in watery eyes (I wonder what health and safety would have to say about that?)
The headmistress was tall (to us at any rate), a little severe and called Miss Maidment. When I was about six I fell in love with one of the teachers, whose name escapes me. She drew, in coloured chalk, a large portrait of Hiawatha in a feathered headdress on the blackboard and I thought no-one else in the world could do that.
The only pantomime I was involved in was Alice in Wonderland, and I only remember that because with one other I was one of the guards holding the Knave of Hearts after he had finished stealing tarts, but the two of us had a little spat as there was only one pair of handcuffs, and I didn't get to use them…
Then there was the elder tree growing at the side of the lane between the school and the public house. If you snapped off the old thicker twigs and cleaned out the middle with a thinner twig, one could make an excellent pea shooter (or elderberry shooter), the green berries going further but the ripe berries made a satisfying blue-black mark on the back of near-white collars!
Almost all the boys had one, and I remember the girls not being at all happy at being the prime targets.
After a playground encounter I had forgotten I'd stored some ammunition in my white shirt pocket and had to wear thereafter a pullover to hide the never-to-be-removed stain.
I just wondered if there were any members of this class still around in Chichester?

DJ Barratt, Whyke Infants old boy



Well, the potholes now look nice...

Residents of the parish of Funtington will know Moutheys Lane in East Ashling has, over the past few years, become a rat-run for commuters looking to shave the last few minutes off their transit time.
This onslaught has led to a quite serious deterioration in the condition of the road surface.
Over the past weekend an army of road workers arrived in East Ashling to, I thought, fill in the many potholes.
But no. What they did was resurface the whole of Lye Lane and Moutheys Lane from end to end – without paying any attention to the potholes.
Perhaps that's a bit unfair – what they have done is to resurface the potholes without filling them in, so what we have now are potholes that are harder to see because of the gravel. They now look nice but they are still very bumpy.
Can someone explain why anyone would think this is a good idea – or, more importantly, why it's a good way to spend money?
Is it that nothing will be done about the potholes or is someone going to come and fill them in after the resurfacing?
One positive result – the traffic is moving more slowly.

David Ash, The Dairy Farm, East Ashling



Helmets are not great life-saver for cyclists

So, the cycle helmet debate arises again. In the awarding of damages in a court of law, all factors have to be taken into account. If a moped rider were in a court of law for a compensation claim, his or her damages would be reduced if he or she were not wearing a helmet, and many cyclists do ride as fast as mopeds.
British Cycling, the UK regulatory body for cycle racing, regulations require riders to wear helmets when racing.
The UCI, European regulatory body for cycle racing, introduced compulsory helmets for cycle racing in 2003.
The CTT, the UK regulatory body for cycle road time trailing, strongly advises competitors to wear helmets. Horse riders under the age of 14 have had to wear helmets since 1990.
Yes, I have read all the research regarding the wearing of cycle helmets – for every piece of pro-cycle helmet research you will find research against cycle helmets, so the debate is quid pro quo.
In my humble opinion, and from painful experience, a cycle helmet is a lightweight, valuable piece of safety equipment that could save you from head injuries when involved in an accident.
I believe the wearing of a cycle helmet has saved me from serious injury on at least two or three occasions in the past 15 years.
One must ask the question why cycling regulatory bodies have made helmet wearing compulsory or strongly advise the wearing of helmets and young horse riders have to wear helmets by law?

Peter Holleyfield, Mansfield Road, Bognor Regis

West Sussex councils and highways authorities seem to have little regard for the safety of our cyclists, judging by the potholes in our roads.
Maybe West Sussex highways officers should be buying all cyclists helmets as roads are in such a poor state of repair.
Last week, while I was wearing a helmet, a wasp entered one of the vents. I was desperate.
If you think having a wasp in your car causes panic, as you try to drive and the kids getting into a panic, then imagine what I went through – and on a main highway, too.
Trying to keep calm in that situation was dire, I can tell you.
This was not the first time this has happened and I am seriously considering leaving off the so-called protective headgear as it wasn't a protection at all.
Had I not been wearing it, the wasp would have just gone straight past me.

Michael Flanagan, Pagham

Nanny speaks again! Make safety helmets compulsory for cyclists? Why? Can't we have a choice?
One can go through life cycling without a helmet without injury to one's head and a hard hat is no protection to other parts of the body.
If my head gets damaged – hard luck on my part for going bare-headed; my head, my choice, my life, I took a chance.
In my opinion, Mr Justice Williams (Barkes at Large, April 9) was 100 per cent right in his judgment.
Judging by the 3,000-plus fatalities suffered by car occupants each year perhaps, they are the ones who should be prevailed upon to wear safety helmets when travelling.

Dave Fanning, Marquis Way, Bognor Regis

When I was ordained nearly 40 years ago, I joined my training parish and was faced with an accident to a nine-year-old girl.
The previous Sunday, this girl had just, to the family's joy, performed her first duty as an altar server. Cycling home on her own, she was knocked off her cycle by a car and ended up, as reported to me, with her brain spattered on the pavement after hitting the kerb. No helmets in those days.
She ended up in hospitals for the rest of her life, just sitting, dribbling and staring into space until she died at 21.
Perhaps any teachers reading this may care to relate it to the children in their care. Then perhaps we won't get the attitude of 'it will happen to someone else, not me'.

Rev John Collins, Exeter Road, Chichester

There is no clear or conclusive evidence to support the view compul-sory helmet wearing would necessarily improve cyclists' safety on the roads.
In America, as elsewhere, millions of people have accepted as an act of faith that wearing a cycle helmet will keep them, or their children, safe on a bike.
However, here research has proved otherwise.
Safety experts in the USA admit to being mystified and have stated categorically 'it is puzzling, but we can't find the benefit of bike helmets'.
In Australia, head injuries per cyclist went up, not down, after helmet use was boosted by legislation.
In Western Australia, injuries are now at an all-time high, despite cycle use being 15 per cent less than before the legislation.
Evidence from Canada and New Zealand indicates compulsory helmet use has not reduced fatalities or serious injuries.
Whereas in Holland, where people continue to cycle throughout their lives, cyclist casualty rates are way below the UK levels, and helmet wearing outside racing is almost unknown.
Thus it is important to look at the facts rather than emotional opinions. Facts, in the form of government statistics, show it would save more lives if occupants of cars were compelled to wear helmets as they incur more head injuries than cyclists.
The same applies to pedestrians who are six times more likely than cyclists to suffer lethal head injuries.
Furthermore, even in collisions with vehicles, children suffer four times as many head injuries as pedestrians than when cycling.
This is all data on hospital admissions provided by the Department of Health for England. So, one must ask, why single out cyclists?
This present government has introduced more new laws than any previous government so the last thing we need is a law to make cyclists wear safety helmets, which, based on the evidence in other countries, seems likely to increase rather reduce fatalities or serious injuries.
Lower speed limits on country lanes coupled with strict enforcement of the law will be more effective than compulsory use of cycle helmets.
I am not anti-helmets per se but it is important to recognise their limitations. The British Standard BSI 6863 which covers cycle helmets clearly states this standard 'is intended to give protection in the kind of accident in which a rider falls on to the road without other vehicles being involved'.
As a motorist I recognise I have a duty of care to other road users.

Roy Fairchild, Kingsway, Bognor Regis



Traffic in our town has become an out-of-control free for all

The seemingly-endless tally of traffic-related issues that plague Bognor Regis suggest someone, somewhere has negotiated a derogation of the national rules governing vehicular, cycle and pedestrian activity within the town boundaries.
Traffic speed seems to be a completely open option on residential and other local roads with massive excesses occurring on a routine basis.
The situation is bad enough during the working week, but at weekends is a lot worse.
The local enforcement and the county highways agencies appear to operate on a 9-5 Monday to Friday basis only in relation to this issue.
The actions of the police to constrain speeds by occasional monitoring have little or no effect. The 20mph zones are totally ignored and represent a waste of resources as presently managed.
Parking enforcement is erratic and there are regular and routine violations of clearly-demarcated no-parking areas with little risk of penalties for such abuses.
Pavement cyclists are a continuing major problem.
Cyclists of all ages seem to think the pedestrian footpath is for their exclusive use and that pedestrians should move aside. Wrong answer!
Not only is the use of the pavement by cyclists dangerous, it is also illegal.
It is nearly a year since a small child was badly injured in such a situation and there is little evidence of any routine attempts by the police and local authorities to stamp out this practice.
The use of the pavement at night by cyclists without lights just adds insult to injury.
Bognor Regis seems to be plagued by this problem. It is not a conurbation or major city and should be a manageable issue. Plainly it is not.
Pavement parking is a further problem. Cars are parked (landed and abandoned?) on or across pavements and footpaths, forcing pedestrians into the roadway as a consequence. Parents with children, possibly in pushchairs, the visually and physically impaired are often forced into such situations because of the selfishness of drivers (cars/delivery vehicles etc).
This is an ongoing problem which the local agencies just seem to ignore.
My conclusion is somewhere the normal rules governing traffic movements have been suspended and we are in a free-for-all that is effectively out of control or concern (until something tragic happens when lessons will be learned).
Conscientious incompetence might be a better description.

Phil Mortimer, Elfin Grove, Bognor Regis



Records galore - thanks to your support

As chairman of Pagham Pram Race committee, may I advise readers our street collection on Boxing Day 2008 raised £1,923, which exceeded our expectations in these difficult times.
In addition, a raffle held before Christmas raised £1,442.
These two amounts, plus a small donation, allowed us to distribute a total of £3,600 to local causes and charities.
I would like to thank our many supporters and contributors, including the landlords of the local pubs – The Bear Inn at Nyetimber, The Lamb Inn at Nyetimber and The Pagham Beach Hotel at Pagham.
I would like to thank the record number of competitors and participants – 64 – who took part in the event, many of whom take part each year.
I believe we may have had a record crowd of spectators, estimated at around 4,000 to 4,500.
This year we are putting together a new website which we are building up with the history and photographs of the event since 1946 and wish to include as many of the local people and participants who might like to be included.
We seek stories, newspaper cuttings, information and photographs. We will return any information received.
We will make an announcement a little later so please turn out lofts and cupboards in preparation.
We intend to hold another horse racing night in September to raise further funds, for which we will be seeking sponsorship.
We will advertise nearer the time.
In conclusion, I would like to thank my hardworking and ever-cheerful committee, my fellow Rotarians, members of Bognor Hotham Rotary Club, Pagham Parish Council, our main sponsors Kia at Slated Barn and New Barn garages of Aldwick Road, the many local business people who generously provide raffle prizes and the residents of Nyetimber and Pagham villages.

Tim Holland, chairman, Pagham Pram Race committee, Bognor Regis



Something's brewing down at the tea shop...

In the autumn of 2007 I was approached by Truestone Asset Management, a finance house in Fenchurch Street, London about a team-building event.
'Could you organise a treasure hunt in Midhurst?' they asked. 'Something not too difficult but which is based on interesting things around the the town.'
The Midhurst Treasure Hunt was thus born.
It had to take no more than two hours, so I was limited to about 20 clues.
Not all the interesting things in the town could be included, but we managed to get in gems like the Victorian sewage ventilation pipe in Duck Lane.
I wasn't sure whether to conceal some clues in Tupperware pots. One pot hidden in a hollowed-out tree root at South Pond disappeared within two days, presumably taken by an over-zealous cleaner or kids thinking it was a drug drop!
Another pot buried in tree roots on the Rother Beach disappeared under flood waters.
It's just as well I plan ahead, I thought to myself, hoping everything would be plain sailing now.
But not a bit of it. Within days scaffolding walled up two more clues in the parish churchyard; and two days before the team came down to stay at the Spread Eagle in mid-December, the owners of Jefferson's, the butchers in West Street, reorganised their windows with a Christmas display, throwing out one clue and repositioning another.
Emails with revisions winged back and forth to Truestone. Everything was sorted. The team – 20 individuals – came down and had a wonderful time. Phew!
The Midhurst Treasure Hunt, sponsored by Frasers Menswear, then became a promotional tool for Midhurst. But come 2009 I decided an update was necessary and started a check on all the clues.
Imagine my amazement when the giant white teapot in the window of Ye Olde Tea Shoppe suddenly disappeared and was replaced by another huge blue and white pot.
The white teapot made of papier maché had fooled nearly everybody with its low weight, the clue being: how heavy is the teapot?
I rushed in to see Mary Geiss. 'What's happened to whitey?' I cried. Mary seemed unfazed.
'Oh, it's been relegated to fireplace duty with a large bottle of champagne. What do you think of my new pot?' 'Amazing!' I said. 'Where did you get it?'
And thus the story tumbled out.
The owner of Churchill Clocks had popped in to tell Mary he'd spotted this giant teapot up for sale by auction at Stride's in Chichester. Was she interested? Was she just!
On the day of the auction she made a successful telephone bid of £120.
Mary knows nothing about its provenance. We're going to start by asking Stride's what they know. In the meanwhile, a search on the internet reveals giant teapots were created to celebrate Queen Victoria's jubilee and other events during her reign.
In 1910 – the Edwardian era – Gibson's of Burslem made the largest teapot in the world at that time with a height of 2.5ft and a capacity of 1,024 cups of tea with a weight of about 50kg – so heavy it took two strong men to lift it.
Mary's teapot is 2ft high including the lid finial and too heavy for us to peer at its bottom for clues as to its provenance; and probably too heavy to put on scales – even if we can find scales which are suitable. Seeing the look of frustration and defeat on my face, Mary said: 'So what's the question going to be this time, John?'
In truth, I had to reply: 'I haven't got a clue.'

John Trueman, Henley, Haslemere



Innocuous? This could really threaten our role in planning

A Bill, called the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, is currently passing through Parliament.
It may sound innocuous and obscure, but it could have a serious effect on our ability to influence future developments in our local area.
The Bill will make changes to regional planning that could make it even harder for local people and communities to engage in the planning process.
This is really serious as the government currently has a target to build three million new homes by 2020.
Regional plans are used to decide where these new houses should be built and once these targets are signed off by central government, local councils are required to make sufficient land available to enable these houses to be built, even if the regional targets are not achievable.
With the current recession, the numbers of houses the government wants to see won't get built, and developers will pick only the cheapest and easiest sites to build on.
With such high targets councils will be forced to let them build wherever they want, regardless of any negative social, economic or environmental impacts.
While there is a need for more affordable homes, research, by organisations such as the Campaign to Protect Rural England, has shown that just building more and more houses doesn't make them more affordable.
There needs to be targeted action to build affordable homes where they are needed most.
Changes need to be made to the Bill so people are guaranteed a chance to influence what development happens where they live.
If this is to be achieved it is essential people write to their MPs to call for changes to the Bill.
Go to www.cpre.org.uk to find out more.

Ms Lesley Harman, Meadowlands, West Clandon, Guildford



The answer to potholes - drive even more slowly...

I have twice written to West Sussex County Council and my husband has phoned them recently to complain about the size of the potholes leading from a roundabout to an industrial estate along from Holmbush Way in Midhurst.
I complained I was worried about the tyres on my car and that my car shook when I drove over them.
I was told I should drive appropriately over the potholes!.
I was really annoyed with that comment as I always drove really slowly over them – and the fact it was a small roundabout and a place where you can't drive too fast anyway.
I told the gentleman (who phoned me at work) that I did drive very slowly over them, but he just repeated himself.
My husband started to complain about the potholes so he rang the office and spoke to a lady who said she would definitely see that something was done.
They marked the road a few weeks ago but that is it – I do not think they are actually going to do anything.
I could be wrong but I am not holding my breath. What are we paying taxes for.?

Mrs V Buckle, Midhurst

Residents of the parish of Funtington will know Moutheys Lane in East Ashling has, over the past few years, become a rat-run for commuters looking to shave the last few minutes off their transit time.
This onslaught has led to a quite serious deterioration in the condition of the road surface.
Over the past weekend an army of road workers arrived in East Ashling to, I thought, fill in the many pot-holes.
But no. What they did was resurface the whole of Lye Lane and Moutheys Lane from end to end – without paying any attention to the potholes.
Perhaps that's a bit unfair – what they have done is to resurface the potholes without filling them in, so what we have now are potholes that are harder to see because of the gravel.
They now look nice but they are still very bumpy.
Can someone explain why anyone would think this is a good idea – or, more importantly, why it's a good way to spend money?
Is it that nothing will be done about the potholes or is someone going to come and fill them in after the resurfacing?
One positive result – the traffic is moving more slowly.

David Ash, The Dairy Farm, East Ashling



To the point...

I have no idea whether another amphitheatre is needed or would be successful if it were built, but I do deplore the philosophy which appears to lie behind the suggestion, and that is there is no inherent value in a green space; that something has to be done with a green space.
Please, please let the empty green space remain empty.

Elizabeth Stevens, Cambrai Avenue, Chichester

Is nothing sacred any more, even death? And how selfish of Antonio Rolls to depict someone dying in this way (Observer, last week). I wonder how his family feel his last days were without dignity and privacy.
As for anyone wanting to view her 'art' – well, words fail me.
For the many readers who may be daily dealing with cancer in their own lives, to view such pictures must indeed feed fear in them.

D Spreckley, Neville Gardens, Emsworth

As a former military town, with its own barracks, and four airfields – sometime ago – it may be useful to know our government has handed over the forces of this country to Europe. This is despite the fact it was announced to the world 'there is no rapid reaction force in Europe'.
Many will say well, we are in NATO and that is a foreign organisation. True, but we have the right to refuse to participate in any NATO action.
With the European version they can demand our forces are used and our servicemen and women would have no option but to obey.
If I were still serving – I served for 22 years – I would be seriously considering one of two options:
1 – to immediately resign; or
2 – to take the government to court for breach of contract.
My contract was to the Queen, her heirs and successors, not to Europe.

James McCulloch, Newlands Lane, Chichester

The revelations in the Observer regarding West Wittering Parish Council come as no surprise. These days, it is expected that parish councils not only comply with current legislation, but fulfil their democratic role by being seen to comply.
No longer can a parish council excuse its conduct by stating its affairs have been conducted in a certain way since time immemorial; times change and its electorate demands more.
West Wittering Parish Council's finance and general purpose 'working party' comprised all the members of the parish council but met in private.
Although there are some financial items which may be discussed by parish councils in closed session, such as the clerk's salary and tenders, it would be more acceptable if all other items were discussed and decisions made before full council, in public, to ensure transparency in the council's finances.
West Wittering is virtually surrounded by parish councils who do an excellent job keeping their parishioners fully informed. East Wittering and Bracklesham, Birdham and Donnington are just three; perhaps West Wittering Parish Council might consider following their example.

Keith and Janet Smith, Tower Place, East Wittering

I am trying to trace any relatives of my mother Gertrude Maud Matthews, who later married and become a Crisp. She had two brothers – Ernest (who was drowned at sea in 1918) and Charles, and had two sisters, Ada Alice (who married George Russell) and Nellie Florence.
Their parents were Ernest Matthews and Sarah Jane Matthews, formerly Payne.
They lived in Coombes, North Lancing and Westhampnett, and my grandfather was a bailiff in 1919.
Can any one help me in my search? After my mother's second marriage she became a Charnick. I am looking for where my parents are buried, and did my aunts and uncles have any children?
I would ask anyone who can help to phone me on 01460 271776.

Dave Charnick, Somerset

There is a proposed ban of dogs from the Steyne Gardens. However, as a responsible dog walker – and there are many of us – why should we be punished by the actions of the ignorant few?
When I walk my dog, I see litter and fly-tipping as a much bigger problem. A recent visitor from France was amazed at the level of litter and filth in the Steyne. It's such a shame, as the area is so attractive otherwise.

Roy Shuttleworth, The Steyne, Bognor Regis

I couldn't agree more with Mr Jones (Observer letters) about the decline of Bognor Regis.
How about turning the old Woolworths store into a roller-skating arena with small shops, cafes and gift stores around the edge?
This would give the visitors and our own children – and maybe adults – some exercise.
Of course I do not know how suitable the site is for this, but from what I have seen it looks large enough.

K Stone, Hawthorn Road, Bognor Regis

After reading the letters about cyclists, when walking down Summerley Lane recently the following rather nasty limerick came to mind.
There was an old lady of Felpham
Who found cyclists on pavements unwelcome
She thought that one day
In a moment of play
She'd poke her stick through their spokes – then God help 'em.
But I do sympathise with cyclists because they have to compete with the motorists who use Summerley Lane like a racetrack.
Can nothing be done to enforce the 30mph speed limit in Felpham, or at least in Summerley Lane, with its entrance to HM King George V playing field?

Mrs Joan Hobson, Summerley Lane, Felpham, Bognor Regis

The story about fire-safety checks at SDS Consulting (Bognor Regis Observer, April 16) was overtaken by events before publication, making it, I am afraid, somewhat out of date.
Before the story went to press, Kevin Brown, risk reduction manager for Arun, made a follow-up visit to the premises and discussed the situation with Mr Gibbons, the joint owner.
As a result of these discussions, Mr Gibbons said he was of the opinion the work required as a result of our original inspection was reasonable. There was no suggestion about 'goalposts being moved' and they parted on good terms.
The overall aim of West Sussex County Council Fire and Rescue Service is quite straightforward: to make our community a safer place to live in and work in. This involves working with local businesses big and small.
We appreciate complying with laws and regulations can be daunting and that in the current economic climate many businesses are facing particularly challenging times.
Because of this, I would like to stress we are anxious to work with all businesses to assist them to meet their statutory responsibilities, while at the same time being sympathetic to the pressures they face.

Dave Benham , Arun District Commander, West Sussex County Council Fire and Rescue Service

As a regular observer at meetings of the West Sussex Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE), I was glad when it agreed to drop any reference to hymn practice.
Far more important was the decision to explain in updated advice to schools the importance of assemblies for worship developing the moral values that are shared by all the faiths represented on SACRE, in line with the description by Christine Gilbert, the head of Ofsted, of formal assemblies and strong values as important factors in raising standards in her latest report.
As the Children's Society has recommended in its recent report A Good Childhood, based on more than 35,000 interviews with children and adults, 'every school, whether a faith school or a community school, should in its own way be a values school'.

Rev John Brown, Manor Way, Middleton-on-Sea

Regrettably Simon, Piers and Amanda were at the wrong venue last Saturday.
They should have been at Fernhurst Village Hall for the centenary celebrations, when the cast – and in particular two young dancers from the Haslemere Performing Arts Group – put on a display that stunned everyone present.
Had they not been booked to appear at Fernhurst, they would surely have topped the voting on the TV programme.

Alan Bloomfield, Glebe Road, Fernhurst

Petworth is an idyllic town
but soon we shall all be knocked down
the lorries carrying their heavy loads
grind along our twisting roads
we flatten ourselves against the walls
but no-one hears our anguished calls
the tourists who come for history
must wonder about the mystery
of a council who seems to pay no heed
to cars who delight in terrible speed
rising up on pavements in the street
nearly running over our feet:
we will not go gently into that good night
until highways and byways see the light!

Carole Irvine, Orchard Close, Petworth

Observer reporter Jenny Mouland paid a recent visit to the Midhurst Bowling Club in June Lane and among the topics discussed was our centenary year 2012.
We were able to show her our original committee meeting minutes from 1912 in their immaculate copperplate handwriting.
Initially the club bowled on the lawn of the Angel Hotel – a location we are all familiar with in Midhurst. However, shortly afterwards in the minutes there was discussion about moving the bowling to the lawn of the New Inn.
Can any readers enlighten us – where was the New Inn? What was it like and what happened to it? Is it a building we are now aware of under a different name?

Howard Seymour, Midhurst Bowling Club

As secretary to Petworth Park Joint Sports Association, I am writing on behalf of Petworth Park Cricket Club.
Sadly the cricket club are no longer able to field a team on Sundays as part of a league. This does not mean they have folded, but are now playing friendlies on Saturday afternoons. Their first game is Saturday.

Mrs L Packman, Fairmead Close, School Lane, Fittleworth



Thanks

CancerWise would like to thank Sainsbury's Chichester for their support and their customers who gave so generously to the collection outside the store on Saturday, April 18.
A total of £334.62 was raised and this money will be put to good use, enabling CancerWise to continue supporting cancer patients and their carers.

Diane Townson, centre manager, Basin Road, Chichester

On behalf of the Parkinson's Disease Society, Chichester and Bognor Regis Support Group, I would like to thank the Chichester District Council for granting us permission to hold our fund raising, bucket collection in Chichester on Saturday, April 4.
Our thanks also go to the kind, and generous people of Chichester, who helped us raise the amazing sum of £592.35 for local activities.

Pauline Ashwood, secretary, Parkinson Disease Society, Chichester and Bognor Regis Support Group

My grateful and sincere thanks to those various people who endeavoured to help me on Thursday, March 19, at the Chichester cemetery after placing flowers on my mother's grave for the 50th occasion for Mothering Sunday and after which my legs failed and, despite my wife's efforts, I could neither stand nor walk.
My thanks to the determined gentleman who gathered me in his arms and placed me in my car, and to the lady who worked so hard chasing up the cemetery official, picked me up and put me in my car.

L Holden, Oak Avenue, Chichester

I would like to praise our wonderful St Richard's Hospital. I was taken ill and thought going to hospital to have only tests, but ended up staying for six days with pneumonia.
I have seen the other side of life while being in there – the care, kindness and dedication of all the staff. They were ace.
I enjoyed getting well as there was much laughter going on giving me a boost.
I was in two different wards and met some nice people. They told me on leaving that they would miss me.
You see, I don't sit around, I like to meet and talk to people as it makes the day go faster.

Mrs Rose Holder, Midhurst Road, Lavant



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