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This week's letters - June 10
THE latest letters from our readers.
Sympathise with concerns
I USE Handcross Hill frequently so I sympathise with Dr Morris' concerns, but I feel sure the NHS saves far more lives with 100 million than this road upgrade will. Besides, the alternatives below offer improved safety at a fraction of that cost.
l Both carriageways: Reduce the speed limit to 50mph between Handcross Services and the Warninglid bridge. And enforce it! Cost: eight big road signs plus reminders but no pretty red tarmac - 15K?
l Close the access from the Slaugham/Staplefield road. Cost: a few road signs, four concrete lane dividers and a length of crash barrier - 20K?Southbound carriageway: Close the exit to the Slaugham/Staplefield road. Cost: a few road signs and a length of crash barrier - 15K?
l Northbound carriageway: From the Slaugham exit to where the carriageway becomes three lanes again, ban goods vehicles from the overtaking lane and ban bicycles entirely. Presumably the weighbridge enforcement measures would detect violators. Cost: eight road signs - 10K?
Total cost I would expect should not exceed 60K, but even allowing 100K the road could be made safer at 0.1% of the cost of the full upgrade. This is a fraction of the interest cost the Government would have to pay in the first year alone on the 100million it would have to borrow to do the full upgrade.
Let's get real about the deficit and value for money, shall we?
Tim Major
Brew House
Ansty
Is current form really democratic?
IS democracy dead? Recent events in Burgess Hill led us to ask the question is our form of local government really democratic if we define this terminology as acting for the people and taking a majority view from the people.
Our local councils procedure appears to be consult all the people least affected by developments and proceed. When the people most affected find out what is going on they ignore the majority view.
The Oakmeeds development is a typical example of this process in the local community you will find little or no support for the scheme but somehow its being pushed through.
The Abbotsford site opposite the golf course on the outskirts of Burgess Hill is the dream venue for the new school and has minimal usage, so why is the site not being used.
The answer is we don't know. The decision was made on an educational basis with no consideration for traffic management and the long term needs of the community.
I have attended a variety of meetings on this subject and it is difficult to find anybody who actually supports this scheme. This worrying trend of dismissing the popular view must stop as the majority view is the cornerstone of our society.
The last move by West Sussex Council was to call in the adjudicator who apparently has the power to make decisions and cannot be challenged or be liable for those decisions. This obviously new concept can only relate to the principles involved - planning must take into account all relevant factors.
I respectfully urge all parties involved in the project to get round the table and negotiate an acceptable solution which will benefit us all in the short and long term. The Oakmeeds site is used by the community as a footpath and for recreation – this would be a sad loss to the town.
D W Hinkley Chanctonbury Road, Burgess Hill
Beware of cold callers
I WOULD like to warn people that a company are cold calling people telling them that they are ringing on behalf of Dyson and offering to service your Dyson cleaner.
My mother got caught by this company and it was only after having paid for a service and a filter, she was also told she needed a new hose because it had suddenly got a hole in it, but luckily she knew that the hose was covered by warranty.
She contacted Dyson, who told her that they do not cold call or contract out work.
I wonder how many other people might have been caught by this firm. She told a friend who told a friend and actually both of these ladies have had a call from the company, yet neither of these ladies own a Dyson.
I have done some checking and this company does not advertise in telephone directories, so how do they get any legitimate business?
I wonder how many other people have paid for services believing that they are Dyson, because Dyson inform us that if anyone other than them touch the machine it invalidates the warranty.
Allison Chitty
Robert Court, Haywards Heath
Street collection for research aid
THE Mid Sussex Branch of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research are holding a street collection and 50th birthday celebrations of the charity on Saturday, June 12, in the Orchards Shopping Centre, Haywards Heath.
There will be a marquee with tables selling cakes and small gifts.
We are also holding a raffle and look forward to seeing all those busy shoppers! Once again thank you all for your continued support.
Susan Wrench
(Publicity)
Folders Close
Burgess Hill
Expressing my warmest thanks
ON Saturday, May 29, I returned from shopping at Sainsbury's in Haywards Heath and found I had lost my handbag. Very worried, I went straight back to the store and, to my great relief, the bag had been found in the car park and handed in.
I would like to express my warmest thanks to the kind person who bothered to return to the store with my bag. I hope he or she will read this letter.
Alison Chapman,
The Hollow, Lindfield
Animals suffer and die in heat
WITH the recent bout of hot weather, we should be reminded that animals suffer and die when temperatures soar. Dogs die very quickly in hot cars and they should not be left inside them even for short periods.
Other animals suffer, too. Rabbits must not be left in a hutch in the glaring sun or inside a sweltering garage or shed. They need a cool, shady place where the air circulates, and where they are able to move freely. A hot rabbit can be kept cool by applying cold water gently to his ears.
Should your rabbit become listless, or start breathing hard through an open mouth or go limp, get him to a vet immediately. Rabbits must also be checked daily throughout summer months for signs of flystrike.
Smaller animals, like hamsters, rats and gerbils, can be kept cool by opening windows and closing curtains, using a fan (but not pointing it directly at them), refreshing water and providing a frozen water bottle, wrapped in a towel so that it cannot be chewed.
Kate Fowler,
Head of Campaigns, Animal Aid, The Old Chapel, Bradford Street, Tonbridge, Kent
London Road school reunion
A REUNION for those who left London Road school in 1970 is to be held in July. Past pupils Kevin Orpin and Roderick Weale have tracked down many of their old school friends and hope there are more who will join them when they read of the event in the Mid Sussex Times.
Pupils, many of whom will have met in 1970, will now be 50-51 years of age and there is a great deal to catch up on.
The reunion will be held on July 3rd in the Club House at Burgess Hill Football Club, Leylands Road. Staring at 2pm.
If you left London Road in 1970 and would like to attend please contact Kevin on 07748415998 kolo717@hotmail.co.uk or Rod on pdgrodweale@btinternet.com
Rod Weale
Garden Close, Shamley Green, Surrey
Take on the challenge
We at World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) are writing to appeal to people in the local area to take on the challenge of a 10k run and help raise money for charity.
We have a few places left in this year's British 10k London Run, taking place on July 11.
The 10k race passes many of London's famous sites, including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the London Eye.
We have just 20 guaranteed places left in the British 10K London Run. If you would like to take part, all we ask is that our runners raise a minimum of 200 for our cancer prevention research and education programmes.
If any of your readers have their own place but would like to take on the challenge of running for a charity too, they are very welcome to join our team!
For more information, please email us at events@wcrf.org or call 0207 343 4200, and hurry, the places will run out fast!
Natalie Tarrant
Events Manager
World Cancer Research Fund
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Weather for Haywards Heath
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North west
