Woefully inadequate
IT is a well known fact that the Rye Post Office provision, when it is open, is woefully inadequate, a matter which I brought to the attention to Michael Foster, MP who agrees with me.
He is in fact taking up the matter with the network Change Manager of Post Office Ltd and the Post Office Minister, Pat McFadden.
Apparently they are well aware of the provisions and capacity problems and failing a solution to the problem at the Rye Post Office consideration would be given to reopening a facility at Tilling Green.
Reading the report in the press that Peter Mandleson, the government's Business Secretary, is to promote a "People's Bank" using the existing branches of the Post Office, which would offer a range of financial banking services including the offer of loans and debit cards, one would have to wonder how many tills would be open and how long would the queues be in the only Post Office in town?
If this latest initiative goes ahead it makes the need for the Tilling Green Post Office to be reopened an even greater necessity.
CLLR GRANVILLE BANTICK Udimore Road, Rye

A fine alternative
YOU have recently drawn attention to the poor quality of service at Rye Post Office and, in particular, to the sudden and unannounced closure of the office for a period in January.
By contrast, many of your readers may be unaware that a short journey to Winchelsea High Street will offer them a small, friendly post office in refurbished premises, with attentive and professional service, and without queues or parking problems.
Even its recently extended opening hours are convenient: 9am to 5pm every weekday and 9am to 12:30pm on Saturdays.
I appreciate that this may not be of great comfort to those without access to their own transport. However, I believe many residents of nearby villages, particularly Icklesham, who may not know about the extended opening hours at Winchelsea, could benefit from using this valuable local asset.
MARTIN OWEN
Castle Street
Winchelsea

A better future
IT is likely that the majority of those affected by M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) will not know that there is to be a Judicial Review of the NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) guidelines for the treatment of M.E. in the High Court on February 11 and 12. Perhaps most of these don't know the extent to which these guidelines impact on their illness and prognosis. It's not their fault.
They haven't been sufficiently well communicated and there wasn't the breadth of consultation there ought to have been in the first place.
In brief, the guidelines recommend a monopoly of treatment by two management techniques, one of which, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), has no lasting benefit, without relapse, for M.E. sufferers and the other, Graded Exercise Treatment (GET), which makes a majority worse after it, some irrecoverably so, in wheelchairs or housebound.
The reason that the case has been brought is that no one has listened to concerned members of the M.E.Community at earlier possible opportunities.
There are some remarkable similarities between the ways in which lawyers and research scientists conduct their business: Just as it is the job of the prosecution, starting with the presumption of innocence until proved guilty, to make a watertight case, calling independent witnesses, "beyond reasonable doubt" and present it before an objective jury before judgment; so the researcher must prove the hypothesis they have posited, with robust experimental design, valid and reliable statistics, logical conclusions and carry their peers with them.
This has not been done.
The experimental design was weak, the statistics questionable and conducted subjectively, even incestuously, by the very people whose own jobs depend on the outcome.
In the end, after the guidelines have been forced through, M.E. sufferers are remaining ill, not returning to work or school and a normal social life.
Every M.E. support group in the UK, without exception, has issued a statement declaring some degree of concern about these guidelines, best summed up by the commonly agreed, "unfit for purpose".
This organisation goes furthest: the network of clinics, which was set up to provide these treatments had no scientific or moral authority to be established in the first place. Treatments should be suspended, GPs should not refer and M.E. sufferers should decline, as the guidelines allow for, pending further research, since it is better to have no treatment at all than one which does you no good or may do harm.
Whatever is the outcome of any judicial process, it is the determination of this organisation to carry out a thorough programme of research to, first, work towards a definitive diagnostic test in order to establish M.E. as a discrete neurological illness before suggesting safe, appropriate treatment. That is the correct procedure and order of working.
So, if you are someone with skills to help design and conduct, or a person with M.E. willing to be part of such a research programme, or a flat-out M.E. sufferer who needs representation equally desperately, get in touch with us and we'll pull together.
You shouldn't feel guilty if you cannot go, nor should you risk relapsing by trying but if you are able to attend at any time during the two-day hearing, it would swell the public gallery and do nothing but good for the M.E. community. Details including location, transport, accommodation, provision for disability access etc. are at www.nicemecourt.co.uk or e-mail contact@nicemecourt.co.uk
So, go to them for a better result today and come to us to help shape a better future for M.E
DR JOHN H GREENSMITH
ME Free For All. org
drjohngreensmith@mefreeforall.org

Prisoners of war
THIS year marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of war in 1939. Amongst the commemorations I hope that the many thousands of British and Commonwealth prisoners of war are not forgotten.
They served their country too, and often suffered greatly, both during their imprisonment and during the terrible 'death marches' that so many of them had to endure during the worst of the winter early in 1945.
An old friend, Charles, now 91, was imprisoned at Stalag VIIIB at Lamsdorf in Poland. Inspired by Charles' experiences I have set up a website to make sure that his story, and those of his fellow prisoners, are not forgotten.
There has been a great response but I am sure that there are more former prisoners of Stalag VIIIB or their relatives who might be able to contribute to the project. Any readers who would like to get in touch can contact me at PO Box 292, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2WY, tel. 01843 862190, email pgwbaker@hotmail.co.uk The website address is www.freewebs.com/lamsdorf.
I was pleased to be able to take Charles back to Poland to visit the site of Stalag VIIIB where there is now an excellent museum and much to see. I am planning another trip in May this year to commemorate this anniversary year and will be happy to send details to anyone wishing to join this special pilgrimage.
PHILIP BAKER
By email

Government follies
I WONDER how many of your readers realise how disgracefully disingenuous is the Rother DC's document 'Local Development Framework - Core Strategy'?
It cynically postures as a consultation document, when in fact consultation is expressly barred by what are called "Strategic Parameters" which include the most important issue of all namely, the amount of future housing development.
Rother will of course, as planning authority, receive most of the blame for the development envisaged including, in the case of Battle the destruction of its irreplaceable charm and character. Let us be clear. Via the S.E. Regional Plan Battle is being forced by the Labour government to accept a growth of 450-500 new houses in the period to which the document relates.
An increase of this magnitude in the size of the town, with the accompanying population explosion and extra traffic, is quite absurd and is condemned by Battle town council as unsustainable - (see report, Observer Jan 23).
There is no one to blame for this vandalism other than the government.
It is claimed in the Rother document that, in carrying out the massive housing growth, with all the associated infrastructure needs, it will be a planning objective to maintain the essential physical form, character and setting of the town. That is manifestly impossible and it is totally dishonest to pretend otherwise.
It also refers to the replacement of Martins Oak Surgery as a key infrastructure requirement. The majority of people in Battle are well satisfied with the service provided by the existing surgery and with its central location.
Were they consulted before it became a "requirement" or is this a diktat of the PCT?
Of course, a need will arise in any community for some change, improvement and development but such matters need to be implemented on a scale which recognises and respects aesthetic considerations and, in particular, the wishes of the local population.
But today, using the local authority as a "front" the government is imposing on Battle a grotesque demand for new housing, a demand which has its genesis in the scandal of uncontrolled immigration and tax and other policies which have discouraged the "family" unit.
The price of these follies by the government will now be paid by us and the citizens of other towns and villages in terms of environmental loss and diminution in the quality of life.
P R BELCHAMBER
Whatlington Road
Battle

Exploding with rage
LAST Monday January 26 there was a hurriedly convened meeting of the Rye Town Council, ostensibly to respond to the District Council's "Consultation on the Strategy Directions" document to guide future development in the District.
Councillor Mary Smith was most obviously the only Councillor who had studied the document for she produced a long and detailed list of proposals for the District Planning Dept to consider when dealing with Rye. I do compliment Councillor Mary Smith for the work and time she spent on this subject and for the clarity of her presentation.
As the meeting progressed I came to the conclusion that the rest of the Councillors were ignorant of the subject as not one of them made a sensible or constructive comment, indeed one got the impression that most of the Councillors did not know how to vote on the various proposals put forward, so it is three cheers for Councillor Mary Smith for the good job she has done for the town.
A change of subject. This afternoon I was somewhat amused when I saw the headline "Former Mayor Disrespected".
The Rye Town Council's policy is to invite the public to ask questions at the start of council meetings. There is no rule, no regulation or law that requires a question to be put in a manner approved by the Mayor.
When I tried to put a question, the Mayor aggresively interrupted, when I tried to continue with my question the Mayor exploded with rage, jumping up and down like a demented dervish shouting and banging away with the gavel until it was broken, whereupon he calmed down and I received an answer to my question.
GEORGE SHACKLETON
Udimore Road
Rye

Stop moaning
HERE we go again! Parents moaning because the child minder - sorry, school has been closed. They have had to look after their own children for two days! Most people had problems getting to work on these two days, so why do they assume that teachers are somehow able to make the journey into school?
Or do parents believe that teachers are all put away in a cupboard at the end of the day? Teachers often have a long drive or train journey to school and can't make it into work in snow any better than the rest of us. So why not have some fun with your kids, you may just enjoy it, and they certainly will.
C. ROBINSON
Station Road, Northiam

The edge of reason
I WAS aghast at the picture on page 12, Observer of January 30, obviously posed, of a chap using the ancient wood shaping tool called an 'adze'. The 'business' cutting edge is as sharp as a razor. The last place one would have one's leg would be in front of the blade ready to be chopped into if the tool glanced off.
Many years ago these tools were used to shape and point river piles at Scotts Float.
The men always stood astride the work to avoid injury. They didn't need Health and Safety to tell them! They could put a finish on a job as if it had been planed.
I'm sure Melvyn Smith in the lower photo knows better!
JIM PILCHER
Creek End
East Guldeford