Rotary collection
THE street collection made by members of the Rotary Club of Battle in December raised £575.
This is more than we have ever raised before in this way and, with the proceeds from our club's 'Bacon Baps' stall on Abbey Green, means that the ever generous people of Battle and District contributed a total of £800 towards Rotary good causes in the run-up to Christmas.
The result is all the more remarkable given the problems people are facing at a time of economic recession.
On behalf of all our club members I would like to thank most sincerely all who gave.
I can promise that the money will be well spent.
TOM TAGOE
President
Rotary Club of Battle

Poor condition
HAVING recently had occasion to use the Post Office in Rye, I was disgusted with the condition of the interior, it was drab and dirty. Surely the staff must be demoralised for having to endure such working conditions?
JANET MEARS
Hiham Road
Winchelsea

A Christian presence
I HAVE read the correspondence about the troubles over Robertsbridge Post Office with interest. I spent 15 years of my childhood, mainly in the 1950s in Hastings and most holidays I visited many of the small towns and villages in the countryside. I remember Robertsbridge then as a village with a better range of services than many. Mr Griffin's letter is the most forward looking of those sent, in these changed times for the lessons that must be digested and the action that must be taken.
This is, of course, a point of significance for all communities, many threatened by loss of facilities in the name of efficiency and ease of administration.
There is another important aspect of this problem. The loss of any Christian witness in villages and small towns seems to be accepted now and, although there has been much, too often arid, discussion about the reasons for this loss, most reaction by the Churches has been negative rather than positive.
The Chapel in Robertsbridge, Bethel Strict Baptist in the High Street, of the group, to which I belong, closed some years ago, but Chapels of all denominations are closing and parishes being joined together.
Villages and small towns, however, need a true and vital Christian presence and other Strict Baptist Chapels in the area are praying the Lord will bless their witness to his free and sovereign grace.
JONATHAN MORGAN
Hilders Cliff
Rye

Reduce parking fees
SINCE moving to Battle some 20 plus years ago, the subject of adequate and inexpensive car parking for local residents, has been a constant subject of discussion. But instead of improving, the situation has gradually deteriorated.
For example, the parking at Mount Street was free, now it is 80p per hour, and keeps going up. Then, all Rother car parks in the town were free till 10am, no such luck now. Then, parking was free for English Heritage members, now it costs £1, even for five minutes.
Then, one could park (short stay only) on the Abbey Green for 20p and the road in front of the Post Office was free. Now that's all gone.
Then, the town and most of its residents were prosperous and vacant shops were quickly re-occupied, but not now; businesses are struggling, shops are closing and remain empty. Empty shops make the town look less attractive to visitors, so other shops will close - even our local Post Office could be in danger.
Something needs to be done, and done quickly, to encourage local residents to shop locally.
To start with, Rother should reduce their parking charges and reintroduce free parking before 10am, and English Heritage should allow free parking for their members, particularly during the off-season period.
Unfortunately, if past experience is anything to go by, neither of these suggestions will be given any consideration by the powers that be at Rother District Council or English Heritage.
JOHN HILL
Glengorse
Battle

Root of the problem
OUR rulers in Brussels have once again forced on Britain legislation to ban certain pesticides. While we don't want any pesticides to cause mal effects, I am confident that our British chemical analysts are quite capable of testing and initiating a ban if a pesticide was found to be dangerous to humans.
Carrots grown in the UK will be severely hit by this legislation resulting in lower crop yields; indeed, many farmers may find it uneconomical to attempt to grow them with the prospect of pest damage likely. Carrot prices will rise.
Carrots are highly nutritious and, being relatively inexpensive, can be part of a staple diet in times of financial difficulties especially for poorer families. Carrots have been particularly life-saving to several of our rescued horses and ponies that have been near death's door from neglect and emaciation. Added to their basic feed carrots are not only enjoyed by the animals but, in the raw state provide roughage, vitamin A, minerals that significantly contribute to bringing them back to good health.
Do you think that our rulers in Brussels give a fig for abused animals or struggling families on low incomes? I don't think so. There are many political parties, movements and groups that don't want Britain to be ruled by Brussels, (UKIP, TPA, GV, BNP, CEP, ED, etc) but unless there is greater unity between them to find common ground Britain will continue to drift into becoming a minor State within a doomed EU Empire. What carrot can we use to get these disparate groups to talk to each other?
TONY SMITH
Brownbread Horse Rescue, Ashburnham

More space needed
THE pavement via Hilders Cliff to the Landgate Arch narrows at the Arch to, I would estimate, less than three feet. Today, turning into the Arch, I stopped to allow a young woman with a pram cross over to the Tower Street pavement. It occurred to me at that moment that, had I been travelling at a speed which local rally drivers favour through the Arch, she and her child would have be in danger. With this in mind allied to the damage caused by lorries too large for the entrance, it struck me that either a widening of the pavement or a traffic calming hump would cheaply and swiftly remove the possibility of an accident. The pavement is ridiculously narrow at that point and only the slimmest can walk through the Arch without the possibilty of bouncing into the path of an oncoming vehicle, especially of the larger makes. Possibly one of the larger Area Councillors would offer to stand there for a reasonable period of time on a busy day to prove me wrong.
PETER MARSH
Udimore Road, Rye.