Time for a change?
RECENTLY you have published letters from Rye and Battle residents expressing dissatisfaction with the services they receive from Rother District Council and, quite naturally, wanting a more effective say in the running of their towns.
We know from past experience that it is extremely unlikely Rother District Council is going to either change its spots or hand over the control in a more democratic way.
I feel the only way we will achieve what we seek is somehow to dissociate ourselves from Rother and pay our taxes to another more sympathetic body who will actually listen to us.
We only have to drive over the district council border into Wealden to find an area that appears to be able to implement an efficient refuse collection service, in general provide adequate and free car parking and does not constantly make a drama of the proper provision of public toilets.
The two towns of Rye and Battle seem to run their own services well. All we lack at present is the right civic partner for the other services.
To move forward we need some answers. Firstly is there enough interest in both towns to seek a new partner into which our substantial tax payments can go and from which we have a reasonable say in how it is spent?
Secondly do any readers know how we could arrange such a transfer to say Wealden although at this point Wealden District Council has not been approached.
Let me present a few points before people make up their minds. There is no practical reason why we need to adjoin the area we are in partnership with.
In the days of the Empire, about a quarter of the world was administered from London and now central government holds power over much of what we do locally.
East Sussex County Council deals with our highways and education so they could just continue.
And to finish up if we did disassociate ourselves from Rother the only time we would financially support the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill is when we choose to visit it.
Up until now Rother District Council has bullied, ignored and taxed us, isn't it time for a change?
Peter Venn
Lower Lake, Battle

Council supportive
IN LAST week's Rye Observer Cllr Comotto, when speaking about the launch of the Winchelsea Speed Watch, stated that Community Speed Watch had been a source of contention between Winchelsea residents and Icklesham Parish Council. This statement is not completely accurate, as well as ambiguous.
It is true that when this matter was first put before the council in October 2005 the resolution seeking endorsement was rejected by the council.
However when it was resubmitted in April 2006 it was agreed the council would support the Speed Watch initiative; the main issue of contention at that time being the use of speed radar guns operated by local residents.
The council was asked by the Winchelsea Speed Watch committee to reaffirm its support in September 2007 and this again was agreed.
The use of radar speed guns operated by local residents was again the main source of concern.
It was also felt that the money requested by the speed watch committee - £2,000 to purchase the radar gun - could be better used to reducing speed in Winchelsea if put towards a permanent vehicle activated speed sign in Monks Walk.
The council has, accordingly, approached East Sussex County Council to discuss the possibility of an appropriate survey.
Cllr Charles Bronsdon
Chairman
Icklesham Parish Council

Recycling worries
I WONDER how many realise we now have a two-tier system for kerbside recycling. There are the privileged few who have been supplied with green wheelie bins, but the majority that have not.
The green bins are emptied we assume for composting and those without are told by Rother that they can leave two black bags out with our black wheelie bins, this obviously goes to landfill.
Who pays for these black bags - we the taxpayer. Hence my comment about a two-tier system.
It is almost 100% certain that at some time we will be charged for our refuse collection, it is already being looked at by at least five councils throughout the country.
My real concern is that since our recycling fiasco started every time a new bulletin is posted on Rother's recycling website the items we are allowed to recycle has been reduced.
Originally we were allowed to recycle foil and plastics as long as they came into the l, 2 and 3 plastics group.
We are now down to only being able to recycle plastic bottles and tin cans.
Rother has provided us with one of the worst recycling schemes in the country.
My nephew lives up north and there is virtually nothing he cannot recycle, either through his kerbside collection or at his local recycling centre.
If the government's rumoured targets are that we should recycle 75% of our household waste in order to lower bills how are the Rother residents going to manage this?
Even the more dedicated recycler would find this impossible with the current pathetic system the council has introduced.
If one was cynically minded it could be thought Rother is deliberately trying to minimise the amount that can be recycled in order to maximise the revenue as soon as they can start charging the tax payer extortionate fees, as well as the outrageous council tax they already charge.
The incompetent way Rother has intoduced this scheme - with a string of broken promises, reducing recycling capability and petty restrictions - makes one wonder about their fitness to run a council.
Residents should remember they will eventually be able to make their feelings known in local elections, unfortunately not this year, but the day of reckoning will eventually come.
When it does they should remember this fiasco and that this scheme has clearly been implemented for the benefit of the council and not the residents.
I believe recycling does have a part to play in our everyday lives but there should a level playing field across the whole of the country.
Perhaps our MP Mr Foster should start asking questions about the shabby way Rother residents have been and are being treated.
Pam Tomsett
Furnace Lane, Beckley

Four-year struggle
I HAVE been following Mr Buckingham's despair over the last four years in dealing with his struggle to protect his home from water running off a recreation field owned by Fairlight Parish Council (Mailbag, Observer May 9).
It is not beyond the capability of our elected neighbours on the commitee of the parish council to activate change.
It is they who were responsible for creating the successful Activate Youth Group clubhouse and skate park - in fact, on the same field that creates the water problem for Mr Buckingham and his neighbours.
It seems to me that the commitee is discriminating between who they help and who they will fob off with 'lip service'.
I am sure that if they reply to this letter (they have not bothered to respond to a previous letter from me) they will offer a lame assurance that much has been done to date.
The fact is that four stressful years on, there is still a problem with water deluge on to Mr Buckingham's property and in real terms Fairlight Parish Council has neglected its responsibility and done nothing.
B Wells
Fairlight

Leading by example
I WAS walking along the cycle path from Rye to Winchelsea when I witnessed a cyclist passing a lady with an Alsatian dog.
The lady put her dog on a short lead (not one of the extendable ones which are ineffective when one needs to control a dog). The dog then sat at her feet by the side of the cycle path whilst the cyclist passed by.
The cyclist smiled at the woman and thanked her for her consideration. The woman smiled back. The dog seemed content. Isn't this how it should be?
The dog came to heel when called. The cyclist could see that the situation was being controlled in a considerate way before he reached the dog owner. It seemed to me the dog, the owner and the cyclist were all happy with the event.
Later, as I returned to Rye and as I approached Rye station, I saw a man making no effort at all to control his brown Labrador. The dog was running around off the lead across the busy roads. What a contrast!
If only the woman with the Alsatian could meet the man with the brown Labrador and teach him how to control his dog!
M. STACEY
Landgate, Rye

Hospital praise
MAY I say thank you very very much for the treatment I've just had in the Assessment Ward at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings.
I collapsed at home on the Tuesday and an ambulance came and took me as my heart was racing.
The ambulance men were very good to me and my wife who gave them all the details.
After tests and an ECG, etc. they found palpitations and atrial flutter. Altogether, they treated me in a first class way.
The staff were top class and really put themselves out to make me as comfortable as possible.
I was discharged on the Friday and, as I said before, thanks to all at the Conquest and also to the good old Observer for letting us have our letters published!
R J ROBINSON
Netherfield Road, Battle

Reunion date
WE are delighted to announce that another reunion of the mid 1940s pupils of Hastings High School for Girls is taking place on Saturday, October 18, 2008, at High Beech Hotel, St Leonards. We look forward to seeing you all again and also to meeting those of you who were unable to make it last time. For further details please contact Freda Rimini (01296 612246) or freda.dias@virgin.net
FREDA RIMINI
Address supplied

Research appeal
AS PART of research into the writing of a book about Australia's most famous World War I soldier John Simpson Kirkpatrick, I would like to contact anyone who knows the whereabouts of Joan Simpson Claridge or family of Mrs Claridge, whose last known address was Warrior Square, St Leonards on Sea, Sussex, as of 1975.
An Englishman born and raised in South Shields, Kirkpatrick is known in Australia as 'Simpson the man with the donkey'.
Simpson landed at Gallipoli with the Australian 3rd Batallion 3rd Field Ambulance Unit. He served there for four weeks working independently of his unit as a donkeyman.
Simpson saved up to 300 Allied lives in acts of selfless courage and sacrifice until he was killed by sniper fire on May 19, 1915.
Statues commemorate Simpson's brave deeds at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine Of Remembrance in Melbourne and in his home town of South Shields.
For any contact or further enquiry you can email me at garryparnell@hotmail.com
GARRY PARNELL
Perth, Western Australia

Don't count your....
IT is true that our Westminster MPs are doing little or nothing to preserve our legal rights and privileges but our UKIP MEPs in Brussels are more than making up for their deficiencies.
Last February, the Lisbon Treaty was ratified in the EU Parliament. This had gone ahead without the consent of the people of Europe.
The British press office hit on the idea that the EU was therefore, 'too chicken for a referendum'.
Our gallant MEPs, therefore, hired three giant chicken suits and persuaded three members of staff to dress up and protest outside the chamber.
The result was that our giant size chickens were causing a media frenzy - Europe's media had surrounded our chickens and were keen to know what was going on.
Nigel Farage was, therefore, able to give a number of on-the-spot TV interviews with the simple message: 'The EU is too chicken to ask the people it claims to represent.'
At that point, the Parliament's Visual Services Unit told the camera crews to stop filming but this attempt at censorship only ceased when the BBC threatened to pull out of the Parliament.
Good for the BBC (and the chickens)
CATHARINE STRAKER (UKIP)
The Old Hop Garden
Peasmarsh

Light infantry pace
I WAS interested to read C R Chizlett's letter last week concerning Tunnel Vision. In his letter he mentions the Light Infantry pace as 120 per minute.
As an ex-Kings Royal rifleman of the Light Infantry I can say that the marching pace is 140 paces per minute - 120 paces being the is the normal pace of regular army units.
Dave Benn
Rye

Private show
THE opening of the Unpopular Culture exhibition at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill on May 10 was a real disappointment for us.
Not because of the exhibition - which was excellent - but because it seemed to be a private event. We went along just after 12 expecting to see the grand opening.
There were only a few people there and we did have a good look at the exhibition.
Afterwards we asked where was the music as promised in the brochure 'join us to celebrate the opening our exhibitions', 'the day will include music and special offers in the restaurant and shop'.
What was happening? Nothing said the lad behind the desk - even though it was a beautiful day and deckchairs were set up near the bandstand (a rare sight).
He said we can't plan for music outside because the electrics might be affected by the weather. How about acoustic music or a brass band (is that bandstand ever used?).
We went away disappointed and wondered why Grayson Perry had not appeared. There was no notice in the foyer about him putting in an appearance and no mention by the staff member. Later in the day around 4pm my sister and I went to the town on an errand.
We decided to have a look in the De La Warr to see if anything was happening. To our amazement a huge crowd of people were coming down the stairs including Grayson Perry resplendent in his frock.
A microphone was set up, people were filming and jumping around taking photographs and. after three speeches by the director of the De La Warr and a couple of women in killer heels. Grayson Perry finally spoke about the exhibition and was funny and informative.
The rent-a-mob, on the whole, did not look like Bexhil residents and when I looked upstairs I saw a sign to the top of the De La Warr saying Private Function.
Was the opening private with invites only? The whole restaurant was reserved only?
It seemed like the people of Bexhill were excluded from this opening - as why were we not told of it when we asked at the desk in the morning?
We were very angry as the De La Warr is supposed to be the People's Palace so why were Bexhill people not told of this high profile opening?
Also a large banner outside would help to advertise the exhibition as driving or walking by one would not notice anything was on there.
Lynne Moore
De La Warr Parade
Bexhill

Hospice thanks
THROUGH your paper I wondered if it would be possible if you could pass on my grateful thanks to Claire Pepper and all daycare staff at St Michael's Hospice, they do a marvellous job, especially taking us to see 'Hello Dolly' last week in Eastbourne.
The outing was a truly memorable one and so well organised.
SUE LAWRENCE
Crowhurst Lane
Bexhill

Incorrect information
AFTER receiving a telephone call from a relative of a Mary Stanford crewman, regarding the incorrect information in recent the 'Winchelsea Report', I was informed that both Michael Alford and myself had read and approved the content about the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House.
I would like it known, that neither I nor Michael Alford was consulted about the said article in any way. If we had seen the article prior to publication, we would have pointed out that the information was totally incorrect.
RICHARD TOLLETT
Rye Harbour

One-sided account
WHEN I saw the front page of last week's Rye Observer I felt that I had to write.
Surely if your newspaper has any scruples you should not have printed the sensationalised one-sided account of the scalding incident in Jempson's coffee shop the week prior.
If you do not have all of the facts how can you present an unbiased account.
I hope when the truth does come out that your paper will be printing an apology to the staff of the coffee shop who were not represented in your story.
Rachel Dorman
Winchelsea Road, Rye

Thanks for support
ROSE Hayward and family would like to express their sincere thanks to all the people who have sent cards, flowers, gifts or goodwill messages after her successful brain operation.
Rose Hayward
Dogs Hill Lane
Winchelsea Beach

Proceeds to campaign funds
ALONGSIDE the picture of a Plant Sale at Peasmarsh in last week's Rye Observer you stated 'Money raised from the event will help pay for the upkeep of the Memorial Hall'. I don't know where this came from !
The event was organised by the local Liberal Democrats, a fact which was clearly stated on all our posters and flyers and in the press release which I sent to you and which you kindly published the previous week.
The Village Voice item related to it may not have carried this information because it was just a reminder about an event which had been advertised in the village. Proceeds will go to campaign funds.
Those pictured were two from Broad Oak, one from Northiam, one from Bexhill and only two from Peasmarsh.
It is important that we get this right as I should not like anyone to think the Liberal Democrats were raising money by false pretences!
JENNIFER ALS
Constituency Agent
Bexhill & Battle Liberal Democrats