Your Letters - September 15

Maggots shock

AS I put my two black bins out in readiness for the rubbish collection day, I noticed small white things inside. On closer scrutiny I realised that they were tiny maggots. My rubbish was all well wrapped in bags within black sacks with the lid tightly down, but because the weather has been quite humid the past two weeks the rubbish smelt terrible.

I have never before seen maggots in my rubbish bin. This would not happen if the rubbish was collected weekly. A fortnight is too long, especially in warm weather, to leave food rotting.

Other countries do not leave their rubbish rotting for weeks. In hot countries it is collected daily. I am fortunate that I do not have to store my bins outside my front door as do many of my neighbours. This is a public health hazard. There are already rats that come regularly to our garden and to those of my neighbours.

Also, I would like to know why a recycling scheme has been started before the facilities to accommodate it have been put in place. We were told that when we received our green garden bin we would be able to put thin cardboard in as well. Now we are told no cardboard is allowed. The facilities at Little Common for cardboard have been taken away because too many people were using them. Surely these facilities should have been increased rather than withdrawn. What kind of thinking is this? Are Rother serious about recycling? I and many other people cannot afford the time or petrol to either queue at Pebsham for two hours or drive a 24 mile round trip to Mountfield to get rid of cardboard that we used to be able to fit into our bins when we had a weekly collection. Apart from the effect on the environment of all the extra vehicles visiting the tip what do those without cars do? Hastings have a sack collection for cardboard, why can't we? Also, why, when in other areas they have wheelie bins or large sacks for recycling plastic and cans are we in Rother forced to put two weeks recycling in a small black box which is inadequate for the shape of many items.

I have no objection to recycling but please give the residents of Rother the proper facilities and the convenience to do the job properly.

G AMMOUN

Amherst Road.

A disgrace

I THOUGHT that I should just add my comments on what a disgrace the new system of rubbish collection is in Rother. The council never answers the phone on the helpline when you call for assistance and for the first time in 20 years since we moved to Bexhill we have experienced maggots in our dustbin. We have always recycled as much rubbish as we can quite often my car used to resemble a dust cart with all the cans, paper and bottles in it heading for the recycling bins. That is I must say a thing of the past as I now refuse to use my car for doing this job.

The new system just does not work, the ordinary bin is too small for a reasonable sized family of four's rubbish over a two week period despite all the possible recycling being done, and also where is the mythical green garden bin I don't believe they exist.

The refuse men also have the wonderful habit of just dumping the bin where they see fit as against the very strict instructions given to us as to how and where our bins should be left and at what time.

The whole system together with the reduction in access to the council tip at Pebsham is going to lead in the long run to more fly tipping I am sure.

I am quite convinced that the change to the various bins and twice weekly collection has nothing to do with being greener and increasing recycling but in Rother Council being able to cut costs at the expense of its rate payers.

I D STUBBS

Portfield Close.

Village bins

I HATE to say "I told you" so but .back in mid August I wrote expressing my frustration and anger at the non emptying of the cardboard recycling bins at Little Common.

I said then that the council did not take recycling "seriously" now we hear that they are to withdraw this facility,

I think the only aspect of recycling that interests them is "can we make any money out of it". While in the "told you so" vein someone is going to get seriously injured or even killed if something is not done to curb the speeding traffic in Woodsgate Park, we even have buses "flying"up and down at the moment....yes I know, I am definitely turning into "a grumpy old man" and I'm only 57. Thanks for letting me "let off steam" on your pages.

R.E.Wilks

Woodsgate Park.

Achievers 1

AMONG the many facets of the Mayoral year are the numerous opportunities that one has to participate in ceremonies commemorating the wealth of talent evident in our town. Such was the case last week when I had the privilege of attending the Bexhill Achievers Awards ceremony, when the outstanding achievements of so many of our citizens, irrespective of age, was demonstrated. In an age when the misdeeds of a small minority of people receives such media prominence, it was enchanting to hear Observer editor Peter Lindsey describe Bexhill as an amazing place.

In the context of achievements I cannot let this occasion pass without congratulating Sandra Melvin, chairman of Bexhill in Bloom, and all her colleagues in yet again receiving rewards in their welcome attempts to enhance the beauty of our town.

Pity about the roundabout!

Well done to you all.

PAUL LENDON (Cllr)

Town Mayor.

Achievers 2

CONGRATULATIONS to all involved with the Bexhill Achiever Awards. What a heartwarming evening with so many stories of courage in all its forms and service to the community.

On behalf of the Society of Bexhill Museums Ltd I would like to thank all who nominated the museum for the Best Leisure/Tourist Attraction Award. A real boost to our members now that we have closed ready for the redevelopment works to start next month.

I would also take this opportunity to thank the directors of Bexhill Museums Trading Ltd for sponsoring the Gill Hamilton Young Person of the Year Award. The two finalists fully deserved their recognition and it must have set the judges a hard task deciding on the winner.

JOHN BETTS

Head of Fundraising

Society of Bexhill Museums Ltd.

Clamp puzzle

FURTHER to the letter in this week's Observer (September 7) regarding the small car park at Glyne Gap, also the following article on the car clamping on same site. I wrote to you and had printed a letter on the same subject, in which I asked why was council land given over to a private company and was some payment received also what safeguard's had been put in place so that access to the car park and use of the beach would not change.

It is over a year since I wrote, RDC gave no response and it seems that the problem has not gone away. Will RDC or someone through your newspaper please tell the people of Bexhill for what reasons the transfer took place and who gained any benefit from it, certainly not the users of the beach.

R. ALLDER

Ridgewood Gardens.

Forum form

LAST week I was able to attend both the Rother District Cabinet meeting and the Bexhill Town Forum. I was interested to note that at the Cabinet meeting rural councillors felt that they were unable to commit on matters which they felt only affect the town and that at the Forum meeting, several slips of the tongue almost said 'Town Council'.

I read with interest the comments in your newspaper on the matter of the lights for Bexhill. However had there been a Town Council, the matter would surely already have received considerable attention, and attention from a larger number of councillors who were more supportive.

Reliance on district councillors to represent the town's interests is clearly insufficient for the future well being of Bexhill. It is currently reliant on well meaning and often effective voluntary bodies to pursue local causes. But, bodies which can only influence opinion and decisions but not ultimately take the decisions. A Town Council would be more able to concentrate on the matters which need a local decision.

Liberal Democrats believe decisions should be made at the level nearest to the issue in question. Local Liberal Democrats are organising a petition for a Town Council for Bexhill and we are receiving cross party support. Indeed a future council, as is the case with most parish councils across the district could be non-political.

Next time you are approached by a person with a petition, consider taking part. This could be the first stage in a future decision as to whether or not Bexhill has schemes, such as Christmas lights, for the greater benefit of the community and to ensure Bexhill continues to maintain its character and vibrancy.

MARY VARRALL

Liberal Democrat

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bexhill and Battle.

Helpful staff

IN the past I have criticised various art events and the general running of the De La Warr Pavilion. However, I have recently been visiting the cafe at the Pavilion and must congratulate the staff there, and generally in the building, for their helpfulness and their cheerful attitude. They take a personal interest in the regular customers and make everybody feel at home. I must say to them "Well done!"

By the way, they also do a generous pot of tea for 1.20p so you can sit up there and enjoy the fabulous view for very little.

My opinion of the poor quality of the so called "art works" still stands though, unfortunately.

JACKIE BIALESKA

Bexhill.

Pavilion views

ACCORDING to a report in the Observer Cllr M. D. Ensor in addressing the Bexhill Town Forum said the De La Warr Pavilion Working Group needed to ensure it had the views of the public. To this end 3000 copies of a questionnaire were being sent to households selected on a random basis. It would be interesting to know who made the random selection. Did 50% of the questionnaires go to Bexhill residents whilst the other half went to the residents in Battle, Rye and the rural areas? And I do hope as Bexhill has been consulted via the Town Forum all town and parish councils too have been asked for their views on funding for the De La Warr.

Of course the trick is in the wording of the questions. Asked if the questionnaire would appear on the Rother website Cllr Ensor said he saw no reason why not. I haven't tracked it down yet on the Rother site.

Given that the "Love Rother Love Recycling" campaign used the same method of assessing resident's views one has to question the sanity of Rother District Council. I doubt that a majority of residents if asked directly would have voted for a fortnightly collection of household waste whilst not objecting to such a timescale for tins and paper.

It was interesting too to read in the Observer report that a Bexhill hotelier supported by a publisher of a booklet about Bexhill appealed for the opinions of visitors to be taken into account. This against a background that Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism are unable to adopt the Christmas street lighting - something that other areas including Battle take on board!

More and more I am led to the opinion the De La Warr should be a charge on Bexhill residents.

J E GOLDSWORTHY

Glengorse

Battle

Proms upset

I HAVE been going to the Battle Proms for many years, taking a picnic tea and looking forward to the aircraft aerobatics followed by some lovely music. All this was as usual this year with one very large exception.

The family and I always arrive at the Abbey around 4pm, giving us loads of time to enjoy our picnic and be very settled when the concert finally begins. But this year ...!

We arrived as usual to be told we couldn't get in till 5.30pm! Lots of people obviously do as we do re. mid afternoon arrival, so a large number of folk, us included, ended up queueing in the road at the side of the Abbey for a good one and a half hours. We were all sure that the time "doors" opened was meant to be 2.30pm. It was in the paper at that time, and was also printed on our tickets, so what happened?

There were many dispirited people in that queue I can tell you. Also - no small programmes and a conductor who never said a word. I feel it was a good job we are a musical family and between us could name every piece that was played. The aeroplane was, as always, fantastic, the orchestra very good and Lesley Garrett was in great voice but oh - the rest of it - what a shambles.

PAT GIBBONS

The Gorseway

Sofa so good

I HAVE every sympathy with Mrs Swatridge (Letters, Observer, September 7), who has had a sofa and an armchair dumped near to her property. Unfortunately, I think I know why the council have resisted all requests to move these items. Apparently they have a strict policy of never taking suites from strangers.

TIM MATTHEWS

Harcourt Street

Luton.

Confused tree

EVEN my apple tree is confused by this summer's weather. Do any other readers have apple blossom right next to the apples on their tree?

ANGELA BULA (Mrs)

Wickham Avenue.

Festive lights

THOSE who observed the cabinet meeting on Monday saw Rother at its worst.

Leaving aside the item which put 45,000 back into the reserves instead of making a cost of living increase to the Citizens Advice Bureaux over the next three years, there was the important annual issue of the Christmas lights in the town, and who pays for what.

The money for the lights comes from the Bexhill precept, that is: money set aside for town projects. This is the money which would be used by a Town Council, if we had one.