Sad for event to become divisive

How many people and organisations, other than the 70 at the annual meeting, out of Littlehampton’s 20,000-plus population have been consulted about the change of date and venue?

The list of reasons for change seems very debatable.

It seems to be to save money – £5,000 for the marquees, 25p per person for the inhabitants of Littlehampton. Do the residents consider this to be good value.

The community centre at Southfields will not be big enough and the marquee at Rosemead allows the show to proceed, whatever the weather.

There is a large army of willing volunteers who already do fund-raising for the show and it is an opportunity for the RNLI, police and any voluntary organisation to be approached on an informal level.

At the first show in 1992, there were 400 entries.

Last year, there were more than 700, a record.

Having the two events run together has been a very successful way of appealing to all members of the community.

September is a well-established time for the event. It is the traditional time of harvest for the horticultural growers.

It avoids clashing with other important events in the area and it allows plenty of time for the judges for the next year to include us in their busy schedule.

What are the powers-that-be trying to do to this special community in their short-term interest? While being aware that change is inevitable, surely it must, in the long run, be for the better.

We’ve lost our hospital, they want to close the Windmill Entertainment Centre and the Tamarisk Centre and move the swimming pool, which is there because the original campaigners fought hard for it to be there.

No doubt the perceptive voters of Littlehampton will take note and turn out in force at the next election, taking the appropriate action, to find people who genuinely represent the interest of our community, rather than those politicians who appear to have more interest in party political cohesion than in caring for the community they are meant to serve.

Margaret Boulton

St Mary’s Close

Littlehampton