Your letters - August 22

Renault upset

ON Thursday, August 7 I received a letter from Renault UK informing me that they were "delighted" to announce that Russell's dealership had been taken over by Lifestyle Renault and that the Bexhill branch was closing! This was a surprise to me and, I imagine, to thousands of loyal customers but the shock came the following morning when I drove down London Road and discovered that they had done a moonlight flit!

I presume that the Bexhill business was not profitable but why was this so when the town has a high proportion of Renaults? If Russell's management had bothered to emulate their apparently successful rivals in Beeching Road we might still have a Renault dealer in town and not be expected to travel to Eastbourne.

Their premises in London Road has hardly changed in years and is miserable, cramped and inefficient. Russell's may blame contractual arrangements for being so sly but presumably they signed the contract!

It is very sad for customers and for Russell's management that they have chosen such a shabby way to say goodbye to the town which has supported them for so many years.

RON BRAZIER

Winston Drive

Irvine praise

Re: Poor standards in Bexhill Irvine Unit - Observer, August 8

THREE years ago I spent 12 days in the Conquest hospital after falling and shattering my thigh. I could not fault any treatment whilst there.

I was transferred to the Irvine Unit where I remained for eight weeks, during which time I was visited twice or three times a week by one of three orthopaedic surgeons checking on my progress and arranging further x-rays. They were either accompanied by a physiotherapist or a senior member of nursing staff.

At the time it was not certain if I would walk again, but through excellent care and attention I can now get about, even though I have to depend on my four wheeled walker. I am so grateful to all the nursing staff concerned who at the time kept me smiling through severe pain.

Whilst in hospital we all expect commitment from nursing staff and a positive attitude, and I believe it should also come from the patient.

MRS SHEILA MAYES

Grange Court Drive

Hall was too small

I VISITED the Bexhill Art Society exhibition at St Andrew's. It was a small hall and their work could not be displayed to their full potential. The talent and enthusiasm of the artists shone in their work and in the welcome given by the club's stewards.

I have resided in Bexhill for two years and could not understand why the De La Warr Pavilion had not welcomed and encouraged the art group to exhibit there. I went to the De La Warr and found the foyer bare and empty.

I met the manager and was assured the art club only had to apply to exhibit. It would be most beneficial to our community if the De La Warr welcomed all forms of art to exhibit and perform, as they could do this with ease and style. It would also enrich our society by giving us the opportunity to see local artists.

B. THACKER

Ellerslie Lane

Reduce the waste

WRITING to the paper is something I have tried very hard to resist; this is because as a former councillor I should put my arguments through my councillor who will represent my views if asked to do so in the chamber.

However on this occasion I feel that my views would never get the hearing or raise the debate that could just make the elected members think that maybe they could be making a huge mistake wasting three and half million pounds of the taxpayers' money - not theirs, but ours.

As a Conservative, I am surprised that the current administration are ready to spend such sums without having secured at least one blue chip company to take a long lease on the proposed six shops around the Colonnade.

It is plain for all to see that we have a plethora of empty premises throughout the town and actually on the seafront, why is it, that the officers of Rother have far more expertise and insight than the private sector retailers?

Could they explain who will occupy these premises and make a profit by doing so, could they put in place documents that would show a business plan that would be accepted by any professional investor?

The regeneration department have little or no expertise in the private sector, and have produced next to nothing in regeneration projects that have brought any jobs to Bexhill.

Wealth creation is the name of the game, more profitable businesses employing more people who in turn will spend money in our shops and on services will in itself create demand.

Please stop and think before making this huge commitment, it is my opinion and only mine, that we would do far more good in supporting new enterprise, with small business support on rent and rates in the first year of a new business.

Young people in our district at present cannot earn sufficient money to support themselves without handouts, we should do all we can to attract new business with well paid jobs, that will deliver all the extra money our authority needs to spend on the nice things of life without using reserves and bidding for European handouts.

We are littered with expensive white elephants already, please do not build any more.

I am sure many would agree that improved facilities would be desirable on the seafront, remember the wonderful ideas put forward by the young people through the late Gill Hamilton, they would not have cost millions and the residents not only liked them, but supported them.

Reduce the waste, stop frittering away much needed resources on new unwanted and irrelevant officer jobs, if it doesn't add value, improve the visitor offer and improve the residents' lives, don't do it. We need the elected members to take back control of the council and its agenda and remind the officers who the electorate chose to lead them and who will be answerable at the ballot box, I am sure it will be the councillor not the officer who will ultimately take the blame for any mistakes.

STUART EARL

A Born and Bred Bexhillian who cares.

A former councillor who will now probably be deported for being disloyal and for having a different opinion.

Leave town alone

HOORAY for Mrs Poulter and her heartfelt and eloquent plea for local politicians to leave Bexhill alone!

Why must these jumped-up Jacks- (and Jills-)in-office persist with attempts to interfere with the traditional character of the town instead of doing what they should be doing - ie making sure essential services like rubbish removal and town cleaning work properly?

And if they really have to interfere, why don't they, as some of your correspondents suggested last week, start by making sure our excellent sub-post offices are re-opened and that the catastrophically failed De La Warr Pavilion functions properly?

The town just about survived the ghastly Gubby Era, we certainly don't need his successors to p(r)imp up the seafront and the Colonnade.

B. W. BROWN

Peartree Lane

Photo Club history

I AM trying to trace the history of the Little Common Photographic Club from its inception to the current day.

At some point the LCPC became detached from its parent club (The Bexhill Club). I would like to understand the why's and wherefore's of the split and the date.

If there are any of your readers that can help me with this project may I, mostly kindly, ask them to contact me at any time.

CHARLES KING

10 Ocklynge Close

Bexhill

TN39 4PF

39 empty shops

TODAY, 08:08:08, I walked through our town centre, and counted 39 empty shops.

Do we really need to build more shops in the Colonnade?

GILL DULY,

Newlands Avenue

Conquest thanks

MANY thanks to Murray Ward at the Conquest Hospital, for looking after my mother, Mrs Lily Moody so well.

My mother over the past year has been in many hospitals in Surrey, before she moved to live in East Sussex, and she did not receive the good care and attention she got on Murray Ward.

Thank you Murray Ward for your kindness to her.

MRS P. KEARNES

Ellerslie Lane

1066 Cruisers

YOUR report on the 1066 Cruisers event (page 18, August 8) informed your readers that one group of participants arrived "wearing solar toupees (sic) and bush shirts".

I am getting rather thin on top and would like to know where I can obtain such a wig as it sounds more convenient than the solar topee that I normally wear in the summer.

GORDON WATERS

Bidwell Avenue

Not all gormless

Re: Mr Caunter and his recycling

WELL Mr Caunter, we all do our bit and work hard on our recycling the same as you.

But we do not take our cardboard to Ravenside recycling centre, because there is NO bin for cardboard.

We all take it to the Pebsham tip, it's the only place you can take cardboard.

Mr Trimby was correct and deserves an apology. We're not all gormless, like Mr Caunter seems to think.

J. AUBREY

Gloucester Avenue

Shop closure

ON August 23, the shop at Cooden Beach railway station closes after almost eight years.

I have had the great pleasure of working there since it first opened its doors, selling train tickets

along with groceries.

I have always felt extremely lucky to work in such a beautiful location, and I am very sad to be leaving. In this time I have met some lovely people; both customers and workmates,and I want to say a big thank you to everyone. You all helped me through the sad death of both my husband and former workmate at Cooden (Mary). With you all I have laughed and cried and I will missyou all very much.

Thank you. This has been so much more than just a job for me and I've loved working there.

As my employer is Southern Rail, I am shortly going to be working at Bexhill Station in the newly-refurbished ticket office and I hope if any of you are passing, pop in and say hello. Carol and Pete are going to remain in the new ticket office at Cooden Beach Station and I hope you will continue to support it for your rail tickets/enquiries, also the good news is the shop is going to reopen with new people in charge, and I wish them well.

Thank you again.

Mrs JAYNE DORRELL,

Riders Bolt

Question for the Cabinet

CAN anyone in the Cabinet of Rother District Council please explain to their rate payers why they would want to spend 3.5m on altering the Colonnade area of Bexhill.

I only ask the question because on a recent walk along Western Road and Devonshire Road, I discovered that the first road has 12 empty shops and the latter has five empty shops.

As these two roads between them are the hub of the town, could the council not spend our money more wisely trying to encourage outsiders to come to the town to sell their wares and leave the seafront as it is. Let's face it, in the summer there are plenty of visitors to be seen walking along the seafront but in winter it can be a very bleak area.

DAVID STARKEY

Marina

Will anyone listen?

I READ with great interest the letter from Chris Cox in last week's Bexhill Observer (August 8). I have also wondered what had happened to the previous plan concerning the rowing club on the Colonnade site.

My late husband, then a councillor, although not a rower, thought the plan was exciting.

The idea of having a state of the art indoor tank to practise on in the winter would be amazing. The members of the club work very hard, and are very enthusiastic. I often see them out on the sea quite early in the morning training.

They have put Bexhill on the map with their 'winning' ways, having won numerous trophies. As the previous writer stated, the tank would give Bexhill an amenity which would be the envy of all other seaside towns, and would also help the youth of our town.

I know the club have said that they can't afford to pay from their own funds, but surely it would be better for Rother to put money into a venture like this, rather than just fritter away their funds on schemes for shops that nobody appears to want, especially as there are already vacant premises around the town. Whoever thought up this plan for a so called 'evening economy' must live in cloud cuckoo land. We certainly wouldn't want a restaurant there likely to be open until 2.30a.m.

Incidentally, I am not a member of the rowing club, but I do get pleasure from watching them on the water.

I saw ideas for steel seats and steel shelters on the seafront. The pictures of them in the paper looked ghastly, that is not Bexhill. As the old saying goes 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. There is also no need to make any alterations to the putting green, or the grassy area to the West of the De La Warr Pavilion, both of which have low walls around them, making them safe for children.

We will no doubt have to wait until the plans for the partial destruction of our seafront are put on display, and then give our views. Hopefully someone will listen!

PAT CLEMENTS (MRS)

West Parade

Waste of public money

THE modern, stainless steel shelters and benches proposed in the "New Wave" plan for our seafront are described by the council leader as "only artist's impressions."

That may be so but they are also an indication of what the council officers have in mind. What other modern, comfortless monstrosities will the designers produce for the planned October exhibition? And at what further cost to the rate payer?

The trolley is out asking residents what sort of shelters etc they want and how they want the seafront to look. There are many issues in the 4m proposals (taken out of our rates reserves) - the planned shops, loss of part of the putting green etc. But if the designers take their brief from the resident's letters instead of the council officers they would come up with changes that the people, who provide the money, really want.

The council officers are now planning to employ two communication officers, at a cost of 100,000 a year to try to get us to love the council. What a waste of public money! All they had to do is to stop spending vast sums of our money on grandiose schemes that will not work - like Devonshire Square which Mr Gubby promised would be a hub of activity in the town. And all they have to do is listen to the people and give us the things that the town needs to prosper. If they read the letters and act on them they won't need communication officers because we will love them all.

JACKIE BIALESKA

Cantelupe Road

Tale of two seafronts?

WHAT the dickens is going on? Is this a tale of two seafronts?

I refer, of course, to the 'Sea Change' bid most recently presented to Cabinet for their consideration, with a recommendation that they provisionally allocate 3.5m pounds from Council's (our) Capital Resources. (No increase in capped council tax, just a few cuts in services).

Having been roundly criticised by the Seafront Strategy Working Group on July 14th, and then teetering through the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, also chaired by Cllr Starnes, the Cabinet had a chance to debate the project on Monday at 2pm.

I mention the time deliberately, because several members of the public and some councillors, arrived too late to appreciate the quality of the debate! (Cabinet used to begin at 2:30pm). Just as well, then, that communication between Rother and the public was also on Monday's agenda!

But I digress. 'Next Wave', will get another chance to gulp for air when Full council discusses it on September 29th. There will also be a chance for the public to view and comment on the proposals at a future exhibition in the De La War Pavilion, (DLWP).

After this it may sink without trace if additional funding is not forthcoming. The plan is to 'refurbish' West Parade front and the areas around the DLWP with a wavy wall and other modernist style fixtures and fittings with new landscaping around the Pavilion to 'set it off'. The aim is remove the clutter'¦.

Fortunately for those who oppose the plans, De La Warr Parade will remain untouched. Visitors and residents alike may still continue to enjoy the newly painted Edwardian railings and original shelters which are so much a part of the traditional image of Bexhill-on-Sea.

Now, I wonder what Mr Micawber would have said?

CLLR MARTYN FORSTER

East Bexhill & St Michael's Ward.

Pebsham progress

THE current consultation being carried out in Pebsham for young people regarding improvements to the children's playground in Seabourne Road is directly at my request to Rother officers, following the results of the local Action Plan for Pebsham.

Following meetings with Parks Officer, Rebecca Owen, I requested a consultation process for young people, so that when the project is complete, it will have the consensus of everyone, there will also be improvements to play facilities in the recreation field next to the play park in Seabourne Road.

Rother officers and myself are committed to improve recreation and leisure facilities for the young people of Pebsham.

CLLR CHARLES CLARK

Rother District Council

Time for freeby

ALL around us shops are closing and pubs shutting down.

Surely this is a time when our 'Local' papers should be doing their bit?

Support local businesses and pubs, do features, pick an area each week to promote FREE.

It's alright for the big chains - they will survive this slump, but many small independent shops and pubs will disappear for ever.

In a few years' time, will all high streets be the same, will shopping and walking in Hastings be the same as anywhere else?

Will it all be boring?

Come on Observer do your bit!

It affects you too - what will you report on?

I would get behind any campaign that helps local businesses as would lots of local business owners.

This is not all about self interest either; it's about a serious interest in local communities and issues that affect us all. Let's do our bit a lack of things to do, places to shop, sights to see will surely result in this beautiful place fast becoming a ghost town.

Don't let the town die!!

Remember, use it or lose it.

STEPHANIE BEALE (Owner of one pub -TN38 and one shop -TN40)

Editor's note: The Observer is a business, I would say we are doing our bit

Nail on the head

MRS Chandler, you hit the nail on the head in your last letter to the Observer dated August 1 when you said "The letters page is for people to exercise their right to express their views", and yet when I did just that I am told to stop reading the letters page!

Does my opinion not count?

Like yourself I am a mature lady of a certain age, and my legs are not what they use to be so when there is a big queue I come back when the queue has died down.

Queues are not an enjoyable experience for anyone however, queues are a fact of life.

I ask you what is the difference between standing in a queue in the local supermarket when doing your weekly shop, or standing in a queue in your local bank, or standing in a queue at your local Post Office?.

So my question to you is why does the Post Office receive more negative press regarding queues than banks and supermarkets?

Mrs L ROBERTS

Amherst Road

Sincere thanks

WE are writing to express our appreciation for all the hard work the staff of Manor Barn, especially Christine and Barry, carried out for our wedding day.

Nothing was too much trouble, from setting out our tables, taking delivery of flowers etc, to washing up the dirty dishes, thus ensuring our day ran smoothly and was stress-free.

Christine's advice and help and Barry's support were invaluable and they were still smiling at the end of a very long day.

Also, our thanks to the cast of Romeo and Juliet who were concerned about intruding on our celebrations. Such concerns were totally unnecessary as they were professional and unobtrusive, providing a twist on the usual wedding entertainment!

Thank you everyone for making our day absolutely perfect.

ANDY and AMY FROST

Address supplied

Next to useless

THE annual report (newspaper) of Sussex Police Authority and the Chief Constable has landed on the mat. It took about a minute to digest. It's not much more than a PR leaflet and next to useless. The figures on crime are meaningless. Statements such as: "x up/down by y%, z fewer victims", tell us nothing there being no base for comparison. It is some years since a proper statistical analysis appeared and it told a somewhat different story. Perhaps that's why.

The only significant table in the report is the Home Office assessment (p.6). Fair to Good isn't a strong recommendation. If Martin Richards, the Chief Constable, doesn't like chasing statistics he might consider chasing clarity.

STEPHEN JACKSON

Second Avenue

Busy thoroughfare

DESPITE being a country lane with many hills and bends, Powdermill Lane is a busy thoroughfare.

Scores of motorists must have encountered the same danger as I did at about 5pm last Saturday, August 9, caused by what appeared to be a large wedding.

Driving carefully towards Catsfield in wet conditions and well within the speed limit, I rounded one of the many blind corners to be confronted by a stationary oncoming vehicle in the middle of the road.

My first reaction was that there had been an accident. About 15 smartly-dressed bystanders were milling around the stationary vehicle (a large 4x4) in an apparent state of confusion.

Upon reflection the stationary vehicle might have been trying to turn right to park in the field, but despite knowing the road well I could not have foreseen this at the time as the entrance to the field is simply a gate which is not normally in use and I've never seen used before.

To the organisers of this event I would say that it would have been very helpful, courteous and very much safer to have placed warning notices in both directions to advise drivers that the road ahead was likely to be obstructed.

There are bends approaching the scene in both directions which conceal the field entrance until the last moment. I have no idea why so many people in the road but they were obviously presenting an unnecessary hazard.

The volume of traffic using Powdermill Lane has increased tremendously in recent years, there are many obstructions and there have been some nasty accidents in the past. May I appeal to anyone organising an event along here to ensure that adequate warning notices are used, as done on a regular basis by both Battle Abbey and the caravan club.

PETER WEBB

Glenleigh Park Road

Are they a danger?

NO wonder I am losing all fuchsia leaves. I've just had a close look and discovered really fat caterpillars, green ones and black ones, measuring 3" in length sitting on the stems tucking into a very nice meal. I can even see their teeth. Are they dangerous or poisonous to humans and animals? Does anyone else have them and where are they coming from? Unfortunately my camera was not available to photograph them.

MARCIA LINDEN

Martyns Way

Are you special?

WE are looking for someone special, and that could be YOU!

If you can communicate by telephone or computer, we need you to liaise with people who are holding their own fundraising events.

Their events are raising funds for very special children, who are sick or disabled, to have specialist medical treatment and therapy.

The funds pay for their treatment.

We have had two children this week, needing funding of over 15,000 each.

And so, if you are able to help us in any way, and donate some of your time, we would like to see you.

Please call Corinne Gardner on 01424 224656.

www.treeofhope.org.uk The TREE of HOPE Children's Charity

Corinne Gardner

De La Warr Road

Quite a shock

IT was quite a shock to discover over the weekend that Russell's had closed so suddenly.

Since my accident in 1993 being a Motability car hirer I have had four cars from Russell's over the years (they are changed every three years) and have had excellent service from the staff in London Road '“ so much so when I got my third car they left me a lovely bouquet of flowers in the front seat when I picked it up.

So I called them this morning '“ they already call themselves Lifestyle Europe Ltd. and I was told by the woman (voice I recognised as previously working for Russell's) that some staff have been relocated but some have been made redundant and some are 'waiting to see what happens'

I also know one of the young mechanics who worked in the workshop and will check with his mum today to see if he's still got a job.

I have some outstanding work on my car so Lifestyle Eastbourne have called me and I am booked in for next week to have my brakes checked.

But it now means driving to them in Eastbourne '“Lottbridge Drive '“ and not able to be local or get home by bus '“ and waiting in Eastbourne for the work to be done '“ possibly a couple hours.

I was told the Motability transfer and collection of cars can still be done in Bexhill '“ but not entirely sure whether this will be possible?

This may mean after many years of excellent service and treatment locally by Russell's I may consider changing from my Renault to another car when I change it next time.

As I rely on my car to get me to work and to get around this is quite an inconvenient challenge and seems to have come out of the blue'¦'¦'¦'¦'¦..

PHILIPA COUGHLAN

Gordon Place

Filled with despair

NO doubt as I am an ancient person, an article has filled me with despair.

I just can not understand how someone, who commits a violent crime, is given bail, so they can then go and make a further attack on innocent people.

Then their 'extra' few months punishment are added to an already paltry sentence - Well! it really beggars belief. Perhaps some learned person can explain to a simpleton like me, how this is in order?

JOYCE HUMPHREY

Reginald Road

Free swim offer

I AM WRITING with regard to the recent free swim promotion that has been offered by Kelloggs and is valid by them until 30.04.2009.

I have used several vouchers at Bexhill Leisure and Hastings pools over the last couple of months and have a few in hand to take my grandchildren swimming in the holidays.

I feel it is so important that they have confidence in the water and are all able to swim. I went with one of my granddaughters to the Bexhill pool on Saturday afternoon only to be told that they were no longer accepting the vouchers as they were losing too much money.

There was no notice outside but one taped to the desk near the cash register, the notice stated that they were only accepting vouchers up to August 1st.

My granddaughter was really disappointed that we could not swim as I had no cash on me. At no time before this had we been made aware that Freedom Leisure were withdrawing from the free swim promotion for the summer holidays. What a swizz! Come on Freedom Leisure you are far from free! Hastings and Rother Councils, where is the fitness for all that you so greatly promote?

How can people on low incomes and with large families get the kids swimming?

Surely Kelloggs are financing this and Freedom Leisure must have agreed to participate in the beginning. The pools make enough profit year round to accept a few free swims and help promote healthy exercise and safety for our kids in this seaside town.

We pay high enough council tax in this area and I understand that eventually the government is planning making all pools free to local residents.

So can someone explain to me why the Kelloggs vouchers are so completely wasted in this area, or should we assume that once again greed in the leisure industry has taken over goodwill?

MRS PAT GERRISH

Park View

Pavilion slammed

I HAD the rather dubious pleasure of having lunch at the De La Warr Pavilion last Sunday with my parents who also live in Bexhill and my sister who was visiting from Malvern in Worcestershire.

I was appalled, not to mention embarrassed by the whole experience. How it can be called a restaurant, is beyond me, plastic tables and chairs, condiments in plastic, no table cloths, paper napkins, a filthy carpet and a noisy atmosphere - not my idea of a restaurant but certainly qualifies as a cafeteria, like the old Lyons Cafes. The absence of any dress code meant people were in there straight off the beach with their mats, beach balls, etc.

However, we decided to stick it out as we had booked and ordered our drinks, three glasses of wine and a diet Coke. Easy? No, we had two glasses of wine, a Coke and a rose. This was beginning to look ominous and when the main course arrived, we were proved right. Wrong order, again! A chicken kebab turned out to be a leg of a chicken masquerading as roast, swimming in some light coloured 'gravy' with mashed potato slowly spreading out in the gravy. The food was a disgrace and an absolute nerve to expect people to pay 8.50 each for what was supposed to be a light lunch, which incidentally we chose as we thought we'd get out more quickly. Wrong, again! Two courses took us two hours so we were pleased we hadn't had a starter. The meat was tasteless and the kebab I ordered had onions and peppers the size of my fingernail and the lamb was in minute lumps which you need not have chewed, just swallowed. Apart from all that, everything was COLD! Incidentally, would the De La Warr management pay the parking fines for people who get tickets because of their appalling service?

I was all for walking out but didn't want to embarrass my parents and sister, but we did go and fill up on pizzas later on that day!

For their finale, they got the bill wrong too! If this is what you expect visitors to put up with, you have a long way to go. As I mentioned, my sister was visiting from Malvern where their theatre is small, local and magnificent. Not only do the shows, plays, concerts, etc. attract well-known actors and musicians, their restaurant is superb and hugely popular. You have to book every time and then be lucky. It is of the same concept as the Pavilion, but worlds apart. Perhaps a posse from the council and the management could visit for a day and see for themselves what is achievable.

Anyway, I for one have no intention of ever going there again for whatever reason, what breaks my heart is that my money helped pay for it and continues to do so.

I also intend to write to Channel 4 and suggest that the De La Warr would be an ideal candidate for a Gordon Ramsay makeover!

I'll be surprised if this letter goes to press as I know how the council and De La Warr management resent any criticism of this big white elephant, but I love surprises!

M. E. KEEN

Manor Road

Jacobs Acre

IT seems but a short while since two ladies peered through overgrown plants from the pages of the Bexhill Observer complaining at the lack of maintenance on Jacobs Acre.

This once showpiece development of Orbit Housing Association has since declined to the point it appears on the pages of the Bexhill Observer with far more serious issues.

Walk on to the Acre and see two properties empty; boarded windows and a door covered with plate metal.

As a regular visitor I can vouch for the eerie silence of day leading up to the shouting of abusive language and the frequent visits of the police during the night.

Why was it not possible to halt the progress in to this situation when residents had only garden maintenance to concern them?

Why does the minority control the living experience of the majority?

Why do we as a society permit this situation to continue for two years without resolve?

My answer would have to be the rights of people who prefer an alternative lifestyle at the expense of the majority.

On the whole that majority will be you and I the reader; the decent, the non aggressive, the working when able, the taxpayer, the citizen of Bexhill.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED