Your letters - July 30, 2010

Hunting with Dogs Act badly flawed

IN RESPONSE to S Webster's copy letter sent to local MP Greg Barker concerning the repeal of this act, let me please point out the following.

There is now an explosion in illegal hare coursing. Dogs that resemble greyhounds or lurchers are now being stolen from pet owners and breeders, last year one was taken from a local garage, she was a much loved pet and needless to say she has never been found. Microchips can very easily be removed.

As she would have been completely useless as a coursing dog, she was probably either dumped or killed!

The coalition government has far more important issues to deal with at present, most importantly reducing the huge deficit left by the last government.

The Hunting with Dogs Act is badly flawed, took up hundreds of hours of Parliamentary time and was born out of class envy and ignorance.

The Countryside Alliance supports all manner of rural issues, local shops, post offices to name but a few.

Perhaps S Webster should consider why shooting and fishing were not targeted as being cruel, too many 'working class' supporters perhaps.

Lynn Scoones

Balcombe Green

Sedlescombe

College Principal's carnival thanks

I WOULD like to thank everyone within our community who supported our carnival and fete on July 17th.

There are so many community groups and individuals who gave up their time to help with the organisation of these events and I am particularly grateful to members of the Rye & Wincheslea Rotary Club who helped to marshall the carnival route.

Thank you to PCSO Neil Holden who helped to lead the parade and oversee the rolling road closure.

Deputy Mayor Lorna Hall joined the parade and Rita Cox took time out of a busy schedule to head the procession.

St Thomas' School, Winchelsea participated in our carnival with a stunning performance that included an amazing motorised giant puppet!

Our students and staff thoroughly enjoyed the day and we welcomed this opportunity to celebrate with the community work that our students have been engaged in throughout the year.

We look forward to involving you all again in next year's carnival.

Ann Cockerham

Principal – Rye College

England bearing brunt of budget cuts

THERE was much discussion about cancer care on the BBC's edition Question Time, recently broadcast from the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill.

Harriet Harman and Labour make much of the two weeks' referral period to see a cancer specialist.

However, all this means is, English cancer patients get to know sooner that they can't get the dozen or more cancer medicines NICE has prevented for the English Health Service (since devolution there is no longer a "National" Health Service), that are freely available in the Scottish Health Service.

Also, in England women are not eligible for breast cancer screening until 25 years of age, whereas in the rest of the UK women aged 20 are eligible.

In England, bowel cancer screening is available for people aged 60 – 69, but in Scotland people between 50 and 74 may be screened.

I would suggest that people in Bexhill and Battle ask their MP Gregory Barker why they and the rest of the English population are expected to be treated as third class people in this laughably named United Kingdom.

They should ask him how every budget cut in England impacts on Scotland. In reality it is England bearing the brunt.

Maybe an English Parliament focusing on England, as the Scottish Parliament focuses on Scotland, is necessary.

It could replace the unelected House of Lords which does not scrutinise the devolved Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish chambers anyway.

Stephen Gash

St Augusta View

Carlisle, Cumbria

Fundraising support has been 'amazing'

On behalf of the Sussex Branch of the Huntington's Disease Association (HDA) and Nail-Patella UK, I would like to thank the people of Hastings and surrounding areas for helping to make our fundraising and awareness days in the town such a success.

The joint awareness and fundraising day on June 10, tiring but enjoyed by all who took part, including our Mayor Kim Forward who showed both interest and concern of the two charities we were representing, raised 81.31 for Huntington's and 103.76 for Nail-Patella.

Friends of the HDA then held a strawberry tea. The success of this was only due to hard work.

Homemade scones and meringues for the tea with strawberries and cream. Loads of home made cakes, jams and jellies were for sale.

A huge raffle put together by determination and dedication, a teddy to name and a jar of sweets to guess how many, as well as the HDA sale table which rather paled into insignificance.

The HDA regional care adviser Fiona Sturrock had a very enjoyable afternoon and made contact with a local charity she may herself be able to use in future. The event raised the charity over 300 which was truly amazing. Thank you.

Now Chris at 13 Chepbourne Road, Bexhill, is holding a coffee morning on Tuesday 10th August from 10.30 onwards. We still want money from you!

Tickets are 3 each including the raffle. Details available from Sandra Taylor Local HDA Treasurer (01424 716907) and thank you again in anticipation.

SANDRA TAYLOR

Grosvenor Crescent

Beer Festival was excellent event

LATE Saturday evening, I was relaxing horizontally on the grass outside the beer tent at Icklesham Beer Festival, when I spied a Klingon Starship de-cloaking in the skies above Icklesham.

I wondered if I might enquire if any other readers spotted this?

I would have thought this a particular newsworthy event, especially as the Klingon Starship appeared to be headed straight for Gatwick.

Anyway, whilst writing, may I congratulate the organisers of Icklesham Beer Festival for a magnificent event, well organised and professionally run.

All attendees, both horizontal and vertical, salute and thank you!

David Hartley

Marlow Drive

St Leonards-on-Sea

Poor pushed into increased poverty

MORE than a billion people go hungry every day -- shocking when the world has the capacity to provide enough food for everyone.

Of course there are many reasons for this inequality, but one of the most scandalous has just been revealed in the World Development Movement's (WDM) new report The Great Hunger Lottery.

Readers may have seen the extensive press coverage of its analysis that financial speculators and secretive hedge funds are driving millions of the world's poorest people into increased poverty and hunger by betting on the price of food; in turn causing huge rises in the prices of basic foodstuffs like bread.

If you are outraged by the fact that City fat cats are enlarging their already grossly bloated salaries at the expense of the lives of the poorest, then take action by calling the Financial Services Authority to complain, or take action locally with us by joining our group, WDM Bexhill and Hastings.

You can contact us by calling Denis Lucey on 01424 845225 or e-mailing: [email protected]. (www.wdm.org.uk)

Denis Lucey

Chairman, Bexhill and

Hastings WDM group

Maple Walk

Bexhill

Good day for Pestalozzi Gymkhana

WELL this time was arresting!! Sussex Police were hear at Pestalozzi supporting our gymkhana, not because of unruly crowds but to carry out tack marking to help in the fight against crime and it was good to see so many riders taking advantage of this opportunity and having their tack marked.

Talking of crime, it was certainly not a crime to see everyone happy, especially with all the doom and gloom in politics.

We had a wonderful day yet again and it only leaves me to once more thank our supporters and sponsors Wilmoths, The Tackroom and Caring For Homes for their continued support.

Two more dates for your diary: Kipling County Carriage Driving for the Disabled hold a sponsored ride on Auguts 8 and September 5 sees our last ghykhana of the year. For further information please contact me on 01424 773077.

Margaret Grimes

Telham Lane

Battle

Present ash tree planted in 1910

IN HER Winchelsea Village Voice (23rd July) Cindi Cogswell seems to be implying that John Wesley preached under the ash tree on the west side of the churchyard in 1910.

It should be made clear that John Wesley died in 1791. I believe the present ash tree, which replaced the one Wesley preached under, was planted in 1910. Perhaps this is what Cinndi intended to say.

Peter McMullin

Yew Tree Plat

German Street

Winchelsea

Creature came out of hedgerow

I READ with interest the letter from John Landon in last week's Battle Observer.

I saw a creature on Netherfield Hill about three weeks ago.

I was driving home about 9.30pm when the animal came out of the hedgerow, it was about two to three foot high, jet black, a cat like face and bright yellow eyes.

Glyn Webster

Battle

Thanks to all who gave to collection

THIS is a letter of thanks to all those who contributed most generously to the British Heart Foundation collection in Battle High Street on June 4 - we raised 344.88.

Celia Adams

Secretary

BHF Battle Branch.