New primary school was the easy option
I AM writing to add my support to all those who feel the new primary school should be situated on the empty Lower School Site.
This site would provide much more space for the new school and would, I think importantly, separate the primary school aged children from the older secondary school children.
Access seems to be the main issue, however, access to the proposed site is terrible.
I can only imagine the chaos every morning and afternoon during term time as hundreds of people try to get to the sports centre car park and Thomas Peacocke Community College with the crossing gates down and The Grove being effectively single lane because of parked cars. Thursdays will be particularly bad with extra market day traffic.
Surely there must be someone at Rother who has the guts to say no and the power to negotiate for adequate access to be made possible at the Lower School Site.
All parents in Rye must be totally disillusioned - their children's education and future is at stake and it all seems to boil down to money.
I sympathise with any parent of children currently at Tilling Green or Freda Gardham and with all the staff at those schools - morale must be at an all time low.
Those in charge of this whole project really should think about the people involved and stop going for the easy option every time.
DIANE NUNN
Playden

Answers, please
WHY do we never get any comment from East Sussex County Council about their plans for the lower school site in Rye? If they have sold out to Tesco why don't they come clean and say so?
How did Tesco manage to buy The Queen Adelaide pub and from whom? Why didnt the county council buy it?
It's all a bit of mystery why a site where a school used to stand has been passed over for a green field site. Access isnt the only reason as it appears to be an issue on the new site as well.
We all know that Tesco's motivation is profit, could it be that our county council is also down at the trough as the Tilling Green site and the large parcel of land that is behind Freda Gardham suddenly becomes redundant as well.
Where are the school playing fields to be? Perhaps the old school site could be used for a recreation space, it certainly should be used for the schoolchildren of this town in some way. Can we know what the plans are for all these educational sites?
GILLIAN CLARKE
Peasmarsh

You chose to live in this busy area
I READ with interest the column in last week's Rye Observer by David Wright concerning once again the noise in Landgate.
I cannot understand what his letter is all about; there has and always will be noise (especially late at night) in an area with public amenities.
Within this area that David Wright refers to there are the following outlets: a public house, a Chinese take-away, kebab take-away, restaurant and a private club.
But we must not forget the footpath that the late night club partygoers use outside of his house.
He has chosen to live right in the middle of this area and now he is trying to share his own personal problems with the community.
In the past years this club had regular entertainment and the neighbours were quite aware that they were living near or, in his case, next door to a club?
With the new no smoking law just round the corner, perhaps customers will prefer to drink and eat on the streets. Maybe he will then have something to shout about.
Mr R K BOOTH
New Road, Rye

I HAVE lived in Rye all of my 58 years. I have been a member of the Royal British Legion and its successor for close on 40 years. I have, on occasions, served on the committee but have mostly been a club member.
Up until about 12 years ago, the place was packed to the roof every weekend with live acts appearing regularly. There were never any complaints about the noise.
On Saturday, May 19, a birthday party was in progress when, at 9.30pm a telephone call was taken by a member of staff. The complainant demanded that the music be turned down.
A committee member went outside and stood for approximately 15 minutes and found that the music from the club could just be heard but was easily drowned by the music coming from the fairground.
The man making the complaint breezed into town a few years ago and bought a property in close proximity to two pubs, a restaurant and two takeaways.
Nobody in their right mind would choose to live in that spot if they value peace and quiet so much.
Take Rye for what it is or don't move here.
Mr T JAMES
Kings Avenue, Rye

WHAT sort of person would buy a property that is attached to a Social Club, has two busy pubs (one with a 2am licence) within 30 yards, and has two take-aways opposite, and then expect everybody to be as quiet as mice while in the vicinity. A Bedlam escapee? A masochist? Nope, it's one of Rye's newly-elected councillors one David Wright. The arrogance astounds me.
JIM GILBERT
Kings Avenue, Rye

Why do Camber car parks shut at 8pm?
THANKS for giving me the best laugh of the year so far (and following Rother District Council's pathetic recycle bins fiasco the competition's pretty hot for that feat).
I refer to the feature on Camber Sands ('Camber keen to promote all-year round image', Observer, June 22).
I work in London all week and moved down to East Sussex in order to escape the gripping excitement of living there too.
What better relaxation could there be than a long walk on a summer's evening on the sandy beach at Camber; experience big sky, fill my lungs with fresh, sea air and let my mind and body recover from the noise and micro-pollutants infused by the daily office grind at Euston.
Just one small problem. Camber shuts at 8pm.
It might have escaped, as most things logical appear to, East Sussex County Council's attention that Camber Sands is not exactly easy to get to by public transport (yawn).
Drive there by car in the time leading up to the 8pm curfew and all you'll experience is being leered at by drunks at the seedy bars that line the road, to be followed by jeers as you are forced to turn round and drive past them in the opposite direction minutes later upon finding all the car parks shut.
As your 'advarticle' said 'Life in Camber does not stop when the sun goes down . . .'; all I can assume is that this statement refers to people that live there, because anyone else thinking of taking the time and trouble to make a journey to see the sun go down will find that it will have gone up again before they find anywhere to park legally.
Gary James
Northiam

Statement at odds with election promise
I AM writing to comment on the report printed in last week's Battle Observer advocating parking concessions for Battle town councillors when carrying out official council duties, which was proposed by Cllr David Hussey and supported by seven town council members at the monthly meeting.
What I found most surprising and confusing was the response offered by newly-elected Rother district councillor Kevin Dixon, in which he warned, and I quote "That if Rother District Council gave passes to Battle councillors it could open the floodgates." He went on to say, "If they give it to Battle, they'll have to give to every other parish council."
Councillor Dixon, as a Rother district councillor, already enjoys free parking when on official duty in all Rother-owned car parks throughout the district.
This statement appears to me to be at odds with the promise that he made in the Lib/Dems election address 'Fair deal for Battle residents using Rother car parks, with free parking available for the first hour (or two)' which was printed and delivered to all Battle residents only a few weeks ago.
Surely the same criteria would apply that if you give a free hour or two parking to Battle residents you would then in Cllr Dixon's own words 'open the floodgates to extend the same concessions to all residents throughout Rother, something which he doesn't seem to be keen on extending to all Rother's hard-working local elected town or parish councillors!
I would assume the loss of revenue to Rother District Council resulting from the 'free one or two hours' for residents would then have to be recouped from all Council Tax payers living within Rother instead of the motorist using the particular car park. I dread to think what effect that the free hours would have on the environment and the congestion in and around the area during the free period!!
Bob White
Coronation Gardens, Battle

Pleased with store
BY the number of local people we see in Budgens-Jempsons we hope we must be part of the silent majority who are pleased to see Jempsons moving to Rye.
There are always two sides to any problem and we were very surprised to read that Rye Town Council is getting involved to the extent of considering boycotting a locally owned business
Being a near neighbour we are looking forward to the future development and improvement of the Rye store.
BILL SOUTHERDEN
EVELYN SOUTHERDEN
J M ADDY & PATRICK WARING
Ferry Road, Rye

Moorhurst fire
WITH regard to the fire at Moorhurst, Westfield, reported in last weeks' editions of the Observer, the owners of the home would like to thank East Sussex Fire Brigade for their expert and efficient assistance at the blaze, without which the damage would have been far more extensive than is the case.
As correctly reported in the Observer (but sadly less accurately elsewhere) the building was empty at the time of the fire and thankfully there were no casualties at all.
Had we not taken the decision to close the home some months ago, then it could have been a very different outcome.
A full forensic investigation into the reason for the fire was carried out last Friday (June 22) and the cause was confirmed as a lightning strike to the roof of the north wing.
John A Stedman
Director

Bullfighting plea
I HAVE a simple and vital request for you, indeed it is a cry from my heart, and many others, all over the world.
Please, I urge you - do not go to bullfights or support the running of the bulls should you be visiting Spain in your holidays.
This is not entertainment it is evil and cruel and brought about by people who are ignorant and arrogant.
The two worse combinations of human activities on this earth, indeed any entertainment anywhere using animals is totally unacceptable for anyone with a heart and a conscience for doing right.
Please do hear this cry from the heart and indeed the cries of the animals.
ANNE TURNER
Parkwood, Iden

Praise for clear-up
I WOULD like to thank Rother District Council's environmental department for the speedy and efficient way in which they dealt with clearing the fly tipping in North Lane, Guestling, recently.
They collected several bags and a large quantity of glass within a few days of my call.
While it would be great if nobody was lazy, mean or selfish and didn't therefore dump their unwanted rubbish willy nilly across the countryside, some do and I suspect the problem will become more widespread.
In the meantime, you do have recourse to your local council. Use them! Rother won't know the tipping is happening unless the public inform them, so get on the telephone, report the problem and help to keep our environment clean.
Better still, keep an eye out for those who dump the stuff and report them too. After all, it's your Council Tax they are spending when the clear-up squads swing into action!
Bernardine Fiddimore
Doleham Hill,
Guestling

Moving problem indefensible
YES local MEP Caroline Lucas failed to do her homework on the Link Road scheme - but others seem equally remiss.
The road bears direct comparison in function with the Combe Haven section of the rejected Western Bypass and its Bexhill Northern Approach Road.
In Bexhill traffic from all directions would converge on the access exit to the road increasing congestion and pollution.
The position with Hastings is clear. The Secetary of State, local councils and the Multi-Modal Study consultants concluded it was not practical or desirable to construct a Western Link in isolation; it would simply transfer the problems from the A259 at Glyne Gap (-33%) to the Ridge (+33%), Three Oaks to the Ridge (+79%).
The Secretary of State described the Ridge as an already heavily used local road with little possibility of improving it to take additional traffic.
Moving the problem here from an area where it could be substantially reduced by the use of alternatives would seem indefensible.
Traffic induced by the Link (14%) and much longer journeys increase Co2 emissions. I could find nothing in the document to support Mr Wilkins' statement that the government has backed the Link Road plan specifically because it will massively regenerate central Hastings but did note the Access to Hastings consultants drew attention to the risk that investment on the edge of Bexhill could have an adverse effect on those wards in central Hastings which currently experience the worse deprivation.
Mr Wilkins states the road was painstakingly designed to miss that Site of Special Scientific Interest yet the documents state where the scheme crosses the Watermill and Powdermill valleys the route would sever the SSSI from floodplain grassland and fen.
This would fragment populations and affect size and sustainability of species using these habitats within the SSSI.
Maintaining the existing habitats is considered to be of High National Importance.
The road completely severs the Combe Haven valley from the wider area to the north destroying the existing ground and surface water system, preventing the movement and genetic interaction between many species.
Surely a scheme which brings some short term relief to Glyne Gap by moving the problem to central Bexhill, the Hastings Ridge and other areas at huge financial and environmental cost needs to be subjected to thorough examination at a Public Enquiry.
Mr A M CHANTLER
Chowns Hill, Guestling

New school decision baffling
FOUR things truly baffle me over the Love Lane primary school site (Rye Observer, June 22). Rye's housing needs and population is growing, so why build a much smaller primary school than that which exists?
And why build it on a green-field site when, with careful planning, it is entirely possible to build a new school on the New Road site, then demolish the old and still leave ample room for expansion and playing fields? New Labour vowed to end building on playing fields.
As there will now be at least seven 30ft school buses and many more cars negotiating Cinque Ports Street, Rope Walk, The Grove and Love Lane, simultaneously, how do they propose managing this extra traffic without declaring Rye an urban clearway?
And why is the democratically-elected MP for Rye unable to secure the democratic wishes of his constituents through the democratically elected district and county councils against the planning diktats of an unelected Euro-regional Government Office of the South East (GOSE) whose whole purpose is to implement the unelected EU Commission's Euro-regional planning policies, regardless?
Does Mr Foster MP believe in democracy or not?
BARRY M. JONES
Bixley Lane, Beckley


Meat and milk available in Rye
ALL that way to Tesco at Hastings just for a joint of meat and a pint of milk to avoid shopping at Budgens? I would like to remind Mary J. (letters June 22) that Rye has an excellent butcher, who, surprisingly, sells joints of meat (and milk). Had she gone there, she would have saved time, petrol costs, wear and tear on her car, and made a contribution towards a reduction in global warming.
Mrs A DAWKINS
Fairfield, Romney Marsh