We need to take balanced view
I WAS amazed to read the front page of the Battle Observer on October 10.
The reporting did not engage with the real facts, neither has Battle Town Cllr. Ron Harris grasped the implication of his statement.
He said that 'everyone in Rother wishes a Town Council for Bexhill' - an outcome that would be magnified in the present national financial circumstances.
He takes the usual Liberal view that costs are of no concern and has the misguided assumption that the seafront proposals 'are bound to affect council tax' but forgets to say how much the Council Tax would be affected with the introduction of a further layer of local government. All sweeping statements and headline grabbing.
Your front page invites readers to look out for reactions to the TIC tender, I can only imagine what they might be.
My reaction is to meet Margaret Emeleus following her email, who represents Battle in Bloom to talk the issue over with her, a positive action rather than just words.
Rother District Council is a well managed authority, that has not taken risks with tax payers money, it provides good services across the board, in a climate of heavy demands from central government, even before the credit crunch.
The seafront proposal, (because that is what it is) is dependant on matched funding and it was a necessary requirement that planning permission had to be sought, but which if that funding is not forthcoming may never be used.
I am sure that the residents and businesses of Battle do take a balanced view on issues both national and local; it is a pity that its elected representatives are not able to view things in the same way. Do you really want Battle to be like this?
My email is cllr.ian.jenkins@rother.gov.uk
Ian Jenkins
Etchingham

Insufficient support for consultation plea
ON MONDAY, Rother District Council's scrutiny committee had one item on the agenda: consideration of the future of Battle and Bexhill's Tourist Information Centre (TIC).
Sufficient councillors were concerned about the Cabinet's decision to award the contract to English Heritage and requested a special meeting to 'call in' the decision.
The Chief Executive introduced the topic by saying proudly that Rother had very few 'call ins'.
In my view, it is because the process rarely changes the ruling group's decision.
Also it is because the ruling group has a pre-meeting of Conservative councillors to decide the outcome beforehand, behind closed doors. And this is what happened on Monday.
The Lib Dems proposed that a decision on the future of the TIC be deferred to allow some consultation with the tourism and hospitality industry in Rother.
Cllr Ganly moved that the Cabinet's decision be upheld. The Lib Dem proposal was not sufficiently supported.
The message to Rother voters is if you vote Conservative, whether in Bexhill or rural Rother, you get a supine councillor who serves politics, not the needs or interests of the community.
Cllr Vereker and Cllr Lendon are exceptions in speaking out and supporting good sense, but they are marginalised by the Conservative group.
Lib Dems believe this sort of politics has no place in local decision making.
Bexhill, Battle and Rye deserve investment in tourism and each should have their own high-quality visitor information service.
Cllr Sue Prochak
Leader, Rother Lib Dems

Leave them to it?
IN A recent letter bewailing the ruination of Romney Marsh by the visually appalling and pratically useless wind farm, I closed by hoping that it would, at least, end lunatic plans to expand Lydd Airfield (not an airport, you note, or even more barmily, London Ashford, not being close to either location; as daft, in fact, as labelling Gatwick as London Gatwick which led certain American colleagues of mine to emerge from arrivals expecting to find themselves in Piccadilly Circus).
Has this country really gone round the twist? Not content with destroying the landscape for generations with windmills, those useless monuments to greenness and political ambition, it now seems prepared to contemplate a huge increase in air traffic over what remains of this special part of coastal England, to cater for the alleged demand for still more fuel-guzzling flights; a demand yet to be proved and particularly now, with the economy teetering on the brink of recession.
If the Lydd expansionists are allowed to get their way, in the name of more profit and a few measly jobs, and at the expense of the environment, then the time really has come to abandon hope of making the world a better place and instead admit defeat, leaving the vandals to carry on destroying a way of life that is clearly of no interest or value to those eager to win a vote or make a quick buck. Of whom there are, tragically, many,
Frank Barnard
Tillingham Lane, Peasmarsh

Out of control
THE European Council has just adopted the French proposals on EU immigration control supported by French President, Nicholas Sarkozy, who stated that the EU will now control immigration rather than individual nations taking independent action.
So this vast European Empire has secure borders, has it? I don't think so! Even as an island nation Britain has been totally ineffective at keeping out illegal immigrants.
If we can't do it with over 20 miles of salt water round our boundary how do you think Eastern European EU member Nations will be able to control immigration when all the immigrants have to do is walk through a wood or down a country road. Talk about 'spin'!
Haven't we had enough of politicians telling us what we want to hear rather than the unwelcome truth?
TONY SMITH
Brownbread Stud
Ashburnham

Dog mess plea
INCONSIDERATE owners who pick up their dog's mess, put it in a plastic bag and then throw the bag down are creating a worse environmental hazard than if they had just left the mess where it was. Plastic does not dissolve, it will be around for years.
Walking through the beatiful unspoilt countryside at Winchelsea Beach, I come across many of these bags - some in fields where sheep were grazing.
Dog owners should be aware that if they are caught there will be a fine for leaving their dogs' mess, plus a further fine for dropping litter. So pick it up and take it home with you.
S BURNETT
Cowper Road
Sittingbourne, Kent

Deferred payment
I AM hearing daily about the problems that the 'credit crunch' is causing our older residents.
In particular, I wanted to make the point, via the letters page, that the disintegration of the housing market makes this entirely the wrong time for older people to sell their homes to pay care home fees, and they do not have to do so.
People should know that the local authority can wait to obtain owed fees, as a charge can be placed on the care-receiver's estate.
The technical term for this is a deferred payments agreement.
People can also set up trusts, or gift their assets to their relatives.
There are particular rules around trusts and gifts, so people should get professional advice on this.
Nick Perry
Parliamentary campaigner
Hastings & Rye Liberal Democrats

Thanks to care home
I HAVE recently been asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding care of my husband who is in a care home. This is for their own information.
I would however like to say publicly a big thank you for the care he does receive.
The home is light and airy, well furnished and being greatly improved. It is clean and the only smells around are fresh air and good cooking.
The managers and staff are always welcoming and willing to discuss any problems.
There is also a great activities programme which is a great help to such patients, so thank you again to all at Greenhill Care Home, Crowhurst.
JOAN SHEPPARD
Ninfield

Bench dedication to crash victims
IT HAS been a privilege during the past eight months to assist with a project that I know had a great effect on the community of Rye 41 years ago.
I refer, of course, to the Hither Green Rail Disaster on November 5, 1967, when Ricky Spencer, Diane Reed (nee Williams), Gay Breeds and Judith Breeds, who all attended Rye Schools, lost their lives along with 49 others.
There were a further 78 injured making it the sixth worst rail crash in British transport history.
The Rye Old Scholars have been liaising with the Environment Agency in recent months and a special bench will be dedicated, to those who lost their lives, at Strand Quay in Rye on Thursday, November 20.
The short service starts at 2.30pm with a small reception afterwards at a local hostelry to raise a glass to absent friends.
Anyone affected by the crash at the time be it family, friend or contemporary is very welcome to attend, not only to commemorate the tragedy but also to celebrate the young lives of those lost.
If you would like further details please contact me at r.fm@btopenworld.com or 01424 444058.
The Rye Old Scholars Association take great pride in organising this event and looks forward to seeing those who wish to attend.
Richard Moore
Chairman
Rye Old Scholars Association

Free skin tattoos?
FREE swimming for the over 60s! Why not free skin tattoos? Free pile ointment? Dear God! My heart sinks every time a politician opens his mouth.
Over 60s who want to swim do swim (this may come as a revelation to those in lofty ministerial towers) - and they don't mind paying.
The last thing we need is a lot of elderly obstructions standing chatting in the shallow end of the pool who are there just because it's free. I wish that the government could get in touch with reality.
Linda Graham
Winchelsea Beach

Wonderful staff
I WOULD like to express my gratitude to the doctors and wonderful staff in the orthopaedic ward at the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, and the Rye Memorial Hospital during my recent long period of injury and recuperation. I have nothing but appreciation for the National Health Service. Thank you all.
ANNEMARIE ROGERS
Cornwallis Gardens
Hastings

Energy answers?
ONSHORE wind energy sometimes causes (aesthetic) problems, as Dr Pitcher says. So let me suggest three other ways we can make use of the generous supply of energy the sun and moon provides.
1 Offshore windpower. The UK has 60% of all of Europe's wind energy.
2 Tidal power (lunar) and wave power (mostly solar). We should not block estuaries - but we should be capable of harnessing the twice daily rise of the seas surrounding our island (about 20 feet up and down!) as well as the currents and surface waves.
We should be using the earth's huge supply of sunshine energy. Yes, indeed, UK houses can have their own individual solar panels (costing only £1,500 now!), but I refer to the Sahara Desert - where space and sunshire are plentiful.
Five north African countries come to mind especially, some now supplying us with oil; so why not export their sunshine instead?
We have the technology to transport this solar/electrical energy long distances with only minimal loss of power. We really, really need the political will here.
To summarise: Make full use of our own 'home-grown' energy, especially that of the constant tides. Encourage individual buildings, domestic and otherwise, to take on board energy, too. But don't forget African energy - for the mutual benefit of our two continents.
David Colquhoun
Caldbec Hill
Battle

Unable to give our views
I WOULD like to thank all those Battle residents who sought to try to persuade Rother District Council to return the Tourist Information Centre to private hands.
It saddens me that the Leader of the Council, I have been told, sought to make political capital out of the fact that neither Kevin Dixon nor I were at the Overview & Scrutiny meeting to argue Battle's case before the decision was taken.
As he well knows, but many readers probably do not, we were forbidden from attending.
Anti corruption rules prevent, rightly, councillors from taking part in debate, voting and even being present in the Council Chamber when decisions are being made which could give financial advantage to friends and acquaintances.
However these rules, as interpreted by Rother District Council, meant that neither of us was even allowed to make a statement in general terms about the community we were elected to represent and then leave.
We were not able to get a special dispensation to speak at the meeting although I am sure Cllr. Maynard must know we requested it.
This means that any councillor who is truly a part of the community they represent is prevented from doing their job by the over zealous interpretation of the rules.
Councillor Kathryn Field
Virgins Lane, Battle

Is it so wrong to dream?
HOW can it be wrong to write a genuine eulogy to a world-famous star and philanthropist who showed a personal interest in Icklesham?
I am totally baffled to know how, according to Mrs Maureen Callis, my tribute to the late Paul Newman could be 'offensive to the village of Icklesham'.
Mrs Callis accuses me of dreaming! With several new halls having recently been constructed in UK villages even smaller than Icklesham, is it so wrong to 'dream' of raising substantial funds for a new modern community centre for our village?
Having been a fund-raiser for over 50 years, I have helped to make many 'dreams' come true by raising tens of thousands of pounds for various charities.
It was with the best of intentions that I used my expertise and wrote to celebrities and foundations within the UK and USA, because I sincerely felt that we, the residents of Icklesham, deserved a brand-new venue.
The committee knew I had started writing these letters before they were forced to make their decision to abandon plans for a new venue and go ahead with the refurbishment of the old hall.
Unfortunately it was just after this decision, last October, that Paul Newman's offer of $10,000 towards equipment for a new hall came through. His was the first positive response which he hoped would spearhead others to follow.
Mrs. Callis states categorically that I 'knew there was never going to be a new hall'. Would I have bothered to send out my appeal letters for funds for a new hall, had I known there was 'never going to be a new hall'?
It is clear Mrs Callis did not read my letter carefully for I criticised no-one. I would never do anything 'offensive' to anyone in Icklesham where I have lived happily for over 30 years.
During that time I, like others, have always done my best for the village. I have also been unstinting in my praise for those who deserve it, as your newspaper files can prove.
Mrs. Callis's accusation that 'the contents and details' of my letter of October 10 are 'questionable' is a defamatory insult to me and dangerously inappropriate.
She also, by association, taints the memory of the late Paul Newman.
I cannot understand why she is on the defensive over my sincere obituary tribute to the generous American actor who offered to help our village or why she has launched such an unwarranted snide and vicious personal attack on me.
ANN RACHLIN MBE
Icklesham

Unacceptable behaviour
AFTER the success of another busy weekend at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill, with thousands of visitors to the Ben Nicholson exhibition, The Big Draw, a fully-booked restaurant, The Neil Cowley Trio in the auditorium and a private wedding function, I would like to express my concern and disappointment at the behaviour of some of the visitors to the Next Wave exhibition in the studio.
Whilst we are familiar with local visitors expressing strong opinions to us, we were shocked at the anger and rudeness directed towards our staff.
Rother District Council (not the De La Warr Pavilion) was conducting a public consultation in the DLWP studio and, although we appreciate that feelings were riding high, there was no excuse for this unacceptable behaviour towards staff who were just doing their jobs.
Had such behaviour been demonstrated by younger members of this community, people would have deemed it thuggish.
What example are we therefore setting to others and what image are we projecting to those visiting from outside our community?
Visitors should feel confident that DLWP reserves the right to remove anyone from the building whose behaviour we consider to be offensive to the staff and other visitors.
Alan Haydon
Director
De La Warr Pavilion