Abolish Council Tax
I WAS staggered to read in your Letters Page about the amount of money held in the reserves of Conservative-run East Sussex County and Rother District Councils.
It is a received wisdom that Councils should hold monies in reserve to offset unforeseen expenditure, to maintain the provision and enhance the quality of local services, and to ensure a degree of stability in respect of the Council Tax levy.
We are entering an economic period which is requiring local businesses and individuals to tighten their belts.
We are entering a period where local councils will need to safeguard our most vulnerable.
A logical way of achieving both ends is the abolition of the iniquitous Council Tax and the introduction of a local income tax based on people's ability to pay.
In another letter last week, there was criticism of the Rye & Eastern Rother. Conservative County Councillor for his approach to local democracy.
This letter might also have included criticism of the Tory-Labour commitment to Council Tax.
Sustainable communities must be empowered not only to make decisions for themselves, but also to raise the funds to make their visions reality.
This has long been Liberal Democrat policy.
It should be the policy of the other parties too.
NICK PERRY
Parliamentary campaigner Hastings & Rye Liberal Democrats.

Too upbeat?
WHILE I understand your desire to cheer people up by showing a lovely summertime picture of Rye High Street and denying the recession, your article was crass and hurtful.
If your reporter had gone a few steps more he would have found Woolworths where the staff are facing a difficult Christmas and who will probably start 2009 unemployed; also shops which took less than £10 during the late opening evening.
The truth is the credit crunch is hurting a lot of people, most of them innocent victims of other's greed and stupidity, and your denial doesn't help them adjust to new circumstances. Even local newspapers are closing so perhaps your upbeat tone was premature.
CHRIS MCGRATH
Udimore

Marathon thanks
TO the public of Battle and area:
We asked for your help and understanding for the unique Hastings Half Marathon, and we have to say a VERY BIG THANKYOU, to the fantastic support that Battle gave to the runners and to supporting the event.
The feed backfrom the runners was that you were the best supporters they have ever known for a marathon, and you inspired many to record times - and in some case to manage to finish.
It would not have been possible without the tremendous support given by the Battle Bonfire Society, The Battle Muffin Club, Battle Town Council, Yesterdays World, local scout troops and the superb Battle Town Band, who sent the runners on their way with a spring in their steps. And the many Individuals who freely gave their time and effort.
The Battle Mayor, Cllr Ron Harris, looked wonderful in1908 attire,especially with his moustache and it was good to see him present the first Battle runner to finish the trophy to Ashley Varley.
Thank you again for your support, and we hope to see you again in 2108.
ERIC HARDWICK M.B.E.
Hastings Lions Club.

A look at Brown
THIS week I received a surprising letter from Mr Michael Foster MP. This was surprising because, some time ago, I tried to raise a contentious issue with him on behalf of some of his constituency members. He refused to answer on the ground that I do not live in his constituency! The tenor of his recent letter is support for Gordon Brown. It may be summed up by its caption, "No time for a novice". To set the record straight I thought an objective look at Mr Brown's record both as Chancellor and PM might be helpful. I observe:

1. Mr Brown's first act as Chancellor was to tax pensions by and estimated £5bn a year. In a single act he destroyed the pension prospects of countless thousands and moved us from an enviable position in regard to pension funding to amongst the poorest provided in Europe. Space inhibits me from detailing other stealth taxes so great that even his Cof E advised the British people are taxed to their limit- and that was before the present spending spree.

2. Being fully informed of the paucity of intelligence, he nevertheless supported PM Blair in the ill fated pursuit of non-existent Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.

Compare this with the resignation of the then Foreign Secretary Robin Cook. This war has cost billions in money and countless lives while our reputation in the Arab world is that of a USA poodle.

3. Our net contributions to EU have been increased by some £2bn a year and more promised. Leave aside the argument of whether we should be in EU at all, what possible argument can be advanced for the UK tax payers paying a disproportionately large sum to fund an EU bureaucracy that is so corrupt that it has failed audit for 12, or is it 13, successive years, and is larger than the British Army?

4. Over the 11 years of this government we have nearly exhausted our gas reserves, a premium fuel frittered in the most basic use to generate power.
No preparation has been made for the post UK gas era - not a single nuclear power station built and the nuclear power stations run almost to their lives' end.
We now stand as hostage to fortune of French nuclear power and Russian gas. Similarly have we been prodigal with our oil and without preparation for the post UK oil era. Contrast the position in Norway.

5. We have taxed automotive fuels to the highest level in Europe- foolishly as this is massively inflationary because almost everything we buy or sell has to be hauled many times. Also foolish because it gives our continental competitors an advantage; they come over here contributing nothing to our exchequer carrying sometimes as much as 1,500 litres fuel while out road hauliers on the continent have to pay massive road tolls.

6. Our personal freedoms have been seriously eroded. Foreign arrest warrants whereby an act committed in EU and not being a crime in the UK can lead to arrest by foreign police within the UK. Habeas Corpus has been stood on its head and one may now, under the guise of anti-terrorist laws, be detained for a long period without charge.

7. On personal integrity I cannot overlook the signing of the Lisbon Treaty - a clear breach of the manifesto undertakings.

8. While the present financial crisis cannot be attributed to Gordon Brown we have gone into it much more poorly placed than many. We had failed to legislate to limit personal borrowing- at one time I was getting an average of 1 credit card offer a week. Banks were allowed to lend up to 125% or more of the value of property - hardly rocket science to see the foolishness of this. Contrast the position in Canada.

I am minded to counter Mr Foster's ill-considered eulogy of Gordon Brown's performance and respect for his experience by Napoleon's comment on a donkey. The donkey was, Napoleon pointed out, with him throughout all his campaigns but despite that experience remained a donkey.
If you think this is a harsh judgement consider the fact that Sterling has declined by about 25% against both US$ and Euro. That is the judgement of the market.
C R DENT,
Peasmarsh

Fencing fury
THE path beside River Tillingham in Rye is much used by people who enjoy this quiet natural backwater in the town. I imagine many will have been horrified by the three blocks of 5ft-high chainlink fencing, and plantings of shrubs and trees, that have appeared on the river bank in Tillingham Avenue, virtually overnight. Ian Rushforth, the Parks Officer of Rother District Council, tells me that the shrubs are hawthorn, blackthorn and holly, alongside silver birch, alder, oak and spindle tree.
These shrubs will grow broad and tall, completely blocking the view of the river, with its ducks and moorhens, from the path.
They will form hedges that are out of keeping with the river bank, and ruin the vista along the bank - lovely in the moonlight as well as in daytime.
Rother District Council Parks and Gardens Department has already killed off the cow parsley that used to flower along the river bank in the spring, and cut back brambles along the drainage ditch that supported butterflies such as the speckled wood, and provided shelter for birds: this planting is yet another step in the slow suburbanisation of a formerly unspoilt area. I hope it is not too late for the bank to be restored to its former state.
VIVIEN DONALD,
Tillingham Avenue, Rye

Road doubts
THIS week has seen two substantial decisions in transport planning matters. In a referendum held in Manchester there was a resounding vote against congestion charging.
Removing the conceived tax threat of a congestion charge will also remove the funding for any improvement to the public transport system in and around Manchester and with it the knock on for every other city in this country.
Is this again a result of the selfish and unthinking motorist who value their 'freedom' to travel where and when they like at minimal cost?
With the prospect of funding through the congestion charge, public transport improvements would have been begun before the charge was implemented.
Here in East Sussex the County Council have backed the Hastings to Bexhill link road, a road scheme currently projected to cost £100 million in actual money and with a substantial cost to the environment.
I have no doubt in my mind that both Bexhill and Hastings need economic regeneration but I have great doubts that a road which is projected to bring a reduction of five minutes to a journey time of 20 minutes will achieve that.
In our current very worrying economic situation the prospect of more jobs, even those to be created in the building of the scheme, is very appealing.
We should however remember that the money to needed to build it will not just be found hanging on a tree waiting to be gathered in.
It is taxpayers' money and is this how we wish it to be spent?
MARY VARRALL
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson

Need for land
THE present allocation within the Local Development Framework is for a maximum of 15 dwellings between the present and the year 2026.
Included in this number are six units in Darvel Down that already have planning consent.
Not withstanding the present financial difficulties, there remains the problem of providing land for future social and private housing needs.
There are within Netherfield, areas of land outside the present development boundary, that could be suitable for inclusion within the Local Development Framework, however unless residents are prepared to voice their views by 30th January 2009, the present allocation of 15 units is likely to be the maximum number permitted up until 2026.
Whether residents are for, or against the inclusion of more dwellings, an opportunity has been offered by Rother District Council planning staff to hold a public consultation meeting in January 2009.
It is proposed to circulate a letter about holding a public meeting to residents within the area bound by Netherfield Church and Darwell Hill to establish if there is sufficient interest.
If anyone outside this area is interested, please contact the writer on 01424 838651.
JOHN BORYER
Secretary to DDARA.