Apology needed
WELL done Observer for publishing Mr Elston's letter. That is the Press doing its job. Well done also to Mr Elston for giving the time and effort he has to a very important matter for our village, which was getting away rather underreported.
We were among the 600 who signed up months back, encouraging David in his efforts to preserve our Post Office, and we were very relieved that common sense eventually prevailed.
We hope now that all recrimination and whingeing will cease, so that he can get on with facing the challenge of running the of the business in the teeth of the current slump.
The one honourable thing left to do now is for the various authorities who were so discouraging to David and who came within a whisker of losing us our post office, to apologise to him for the much harder time he will now have selling his house than many months ago ago, when it all could perfectly well have gone ahead.
PAN AND PHIL UNDERHILL
Glenleigh Walk
Robertsbridge

Know your duties
MAY I, through the columns of your newspaper, express my support for the views of Mr Elton in your edition of December 19.
At the same time remind councillors that they are elected to voice the opinions and interests of their electorate and not to pursue their own prejudices or passively endorse the policies of government officers who may have their own agenda.
In this instance seemingly directed by our masters in Brussels.
W.C. FAULKENER
Fair Lane
Robertsbridge

Spare a thought
I THINK I can guess at the thinking behind the recession-beating front page of the Observer this week (December 12). I'm very pleased that we seem to be beating some of the current gloom. However, please spare a thought for the staff of Woolworth's, hard-working and always courteous, who are facing redundancy.
I feel they should all be invited up to the Town Hall to be thanked by our Mayor and other people who have a hand in the running of Rye. How about it everyone?
JANE FRASER HAY
Udimore

Forgive me
REGARDING your letter in Anger Against Jim Hollands and Rye's Own magazine (12.12.08) I wish to say that it was not the editor who has altered the words 'For our Time is a very shadow that passeth away'. I did the artwork and it was entirely my own idea, which I submitted for the Campaign for a Democratic Rye Group's new website: www.cdrg.co.uk
I would also like to say that over the now many years that I've lived in Rye, I have always loved our old church building on the pinnacle of the town, and especially the Jacks - our Quarter Boys; I have a framed photo of them in my house.
If anyone is interested I have a Shire Publication on Church Clocks and there is a lovely photo of the cartouche and golden Quarter Boys, plus the internal workings, and a number of other church clocks too.
So please Name and Address supplied, I think you should re-direct your anger - well, most of it - on my poor but unbowed head.
'For who would bear the whips and scorns of time' - Hamlet 3.
S KING
Udimore Road
Rye

Unfair on Woolies
I READ with interest the letter from an objector re the headlines from the December 19 Rye and Battle Observer. The headline being Rye's shops defy credit crunch.
Not only was this somewhat insensitive after what is about to happen to the staff from Woolworths, it was my belief it was done to hoodwink us readers.
It showed a sunny afternoon in Rye, a basket of flowers in bloom, so this obviously not a recent picture, the people in the high street were in spring/summer clothing, obviously to verify the head line, but my main objection was that the picture meant to show us how busy Rye High street currently is, was actually taken about seven years ago. The lady outside of Boots is my daughter in law, and the blonde child in the buggy is my one year old grand daughter.
Yesterday the blonde child in the buggy celebrated her eighth birthday. Come on Rye and Battle Observer, your readers are not fools !
CAROL JONES
Woodberry Cottage
Beckley

We understand the picture used on the front page of the December 19 edition was in fact a stock picture of Rye High Street. It was however only used for illustrative purposes only; this is fairly common practice in the newspaper industry. With regard to the sensitivity of the story, we are of course aware of the sad demise of Woolworths in the High Street and the subsequent distress this will cause many local people. However, we feel that it would be unfair to ignore the success of other traders in the town due to this closure. As far as we are concerned, if there is a positive story about local traders beating the recesssion, then we feel readers should know about this too.


Unjustified attack
I DO not wish to re-open the Robertsbridge Post Office row, that matter is now finished as far as the Parish Council is concerned, but I must address the ill-informed and unjustified attack made by your correspondent Mr Elsdon (Battle Observer 19/12/08) on the integrity and professionalism of our Clerk, who works diligently for the good of this Parish.
The position of Clerk is not one of simply being there to take Minutes or answer the telephone etc. The Parish Clerk is appointed by the Parish Council and is the Proper Officer of the Council and she is empowered to act on behalf of the Council. She has a responsibility to operate and implement the adopted policies, to offer professional and legal advice to the Council and her duties include representing the Council when dealing with the public, other statutory bodies and the media and that includes correcting wrong information put out about the Council. The Council can also legally delegate decision making to the Clerk. It is not a matter of our Clerk "…taking on a role far beyond the writ of a parish clerk" – this is the lawfully recognised position of a clerk in all parishes!
The comments regarding the Clerk's statement relating to a swimming pool application were taken out of context by a reporter attending a public meeting of the parish council where the Clerk was advising the Council about the relevant planning policies.
Mr Elsdon's comment about whether the Parish Council represents the whole community is unworthy of him and was I understand dealt with by the Clerk at the hearing. The Parish Council is elected to represent the best interests of the whole parish and not just those who shout loudest or generate the most letters; if we get it wrong then we are accountable at the election. In the meantime, if an individual or group believes that the Parish Council as a body, or an individual councillor or the Clerk has behaved unfairly or irresponsibly or exceeded their authority, then we have a complaints procedure by which these problems can be dealt with in an open and transparent manner, based on facts, rather than by smear and innuendo.
DAVID ALLEN
Chairman, Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council
Lodge Farm House, Brightling Road Robertsbridge.

A cop out
FOR the first time in many years we saw something that seems to be a thing of the past a policeman on a bike who even stopped to speak, not rushing to put pen to paper.
Dan Bevan reminds me of Rye town 1960's policing (just like Stan Shepherd) did all those years ago by getting out on the streets and talking to the community.
Sadly once again this man has become the victim of what seems to be a crime never committed.
After gaining the knowledge of the town's layout and mixing with most of the population living in Rye, we the community will once again lose out on this short-sighted move by Rother Police.
Whilst we all lose out in Rye our neighbouring villages gain. I suppose that's a FAIR COP!
RODNEY BOOTH
Rye

Where's money coming from?
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

Suburban spoil
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

You interested?
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 January 30 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