Your letters - June 11, 2010

Let's look again at voting system

Thank you to Barry Jones (letters 4th June), for highlighting the issues that would need to be addressed before any change is made to our electoral system.

I agree it is essential to explain to the British people exactly how any proposed system would work. Furthermore to have legitimacy, the people would need to approve the change by way of a referendum - anything else would be unconstitutional, or it would be if we had a constitution!

As Barry points out there are several different forms of proportional representation, but what they all have in common is delivering a more representative democracy.

In practice this means that every vote cast will be counted toward the final election result, such that a party that polls 30% nationally will end up with 30% of the seats in Parliament....now you can't say fairer than that!

Clive Bishop

Asten Fields, Battle.

Shocked by new Rye houses on Cliff

Those tall house blocks being built up on Cadborough Cliff just to get a view of Rye are likely to ruin many people's livelihoods at the town's expense.

I was shocked to hear about it.

I am very surprised at the lack of forethought from the council for being so slack.

Richard Horner

Magdala House, Ferry Road, Rye.

Broad Oak Festival thanks

We would like to thank everyone who donated gifts, made donations, or who bought tickets at our tombola and raffle stall, which was in aid of St Michael's Hospice.

The event, held at Broad Oak, Brede, raised a total of 315, which will be going to the hospice.

Our main raffle prize, a bottle of single malt whisky, has kindly been re-donated by the winner to St Michael's Hopsice for a future raffle.

Once again, thak you to all for your generosity

Doreen Rapson

and Denise Brace

Broad Oak.

None the wiser after 'sandles' scandal

There are few sections of your excellent newspaper that I studiously avoid - mainly the sport pages, and tub-thumping letters from your correspondant (sic - Ed) in Beckley.

Film reviews do not normally grab my attention, but today you succeeded. I had to read the Film of the Week article to discover what the "Sandles"

in the headline meant.

I'm none the wiser, but the film might be worth a look!

Michael Boyd

Iden.

'Hall will always be unwanted by us'

I'm sorry if my letters about the history of the infamous new church (not village) hall in Udimore are boring Peter Marshall ( Observer 28/5).

The shell of the thing is up now. We have to accept that. But Peter gives the impression that I am the only Udimorean against this blemish on the features of our beautiful village. I have a list of 94 signatures against it, available for inspection, almost double the 52 that Douglas Haines managed in favour of it when he was wooing the District Council, (which ignored my own list) for their 50,000 grant.

If Peter had been paying attention he would have realised that my target has switched from the hall itself to Carl Maynard, leader of the District Council, who has persistently refused (perhaps in fear of egg on his face) to answer questions about this benevolence with 50,000 of our money, which, I maintain, was against all his own rules, too.

I think Peter is a relative newcomer to Udimore, and may not be aware of the full story. Nor perhaps does he feel the soreness of the injustice experienced by those of us who have been around from Day One, (and three decades before that). It would take a whole page to tell it, but it all began with the arrogant decision by the then rector, backed by the sycophantic Parish Council of Mrs Hacking (with the honourable exception of John Owen) to disregard the massive village vote against a Pear Orchard Hall.

It is difficult to accept the attitude of those who say, 'I have been against them and their secretive trickery all along but now we have the hall, let's make the most of it.'

For most of us, the hall will always be tainted by a pile of 'iffy' money. As one villager said, "It is a monument to wrongness".

Please don't misunderstand me. I like Peter Marshall. He's a nice chap. But then, so am I when I'm not bullied by petty officials.

Tony Bridgland

The Old Post House, Udimore.

Council should take interest in airport

Shortly after his inauguration I wrote to our new Mayor to ask if he (and by extension) the town council would be requesting of our new member of parliament, that she request that the secretary of state calls in the the granted planning application to enlarge Lydd airport.

Having after a two week period not had a reply from "his worship" I called in at the town hall to enquire as to the fate of said letter, our esteemed town clerk with a mild case of incomprehension or memory of it, but was sure it had been passed to the mayor, on my reminding him of the content, he did impart the information that he did not feel the council was particularly bothered with the issue of the airports expansion.

Now for sure the airport is over the border in Kent, with what must be at least 3/4 miles for a healthy crow, and is not in the Rye domain, yet this propsal if it goes ahead will I would argue directly affect us in Rye much to our detriment.

We are surrounded by sites of special scientific interest and nature reserves, the planners opposed the expansion as did English nature the governments own advisers the RSPB,even country life magazine, yet our mayor cant be bothered to reply to my letter.

Remember how quick we were to object to the wind farm ( probably not), perhaps his failure to reply is symptomatic of how pointless and moribund the council is, dressing up is fine, but as Rye crumbles is that fiddle music I hear emanating from the town hall?

Brian Champion

20 Cooper Rd, Rye

Gymkhanas put the fun in fundraising

Sunday June 6 saw the second gymkhana held in aid of the Kipling Carriage Driving For The Disabled and unlike our first event held in May the weather was kind to us and we were able to bask in sunshine and not the torrential rain experienced back in May. The event was well supported and with eager ponies and riders the gymkhana got off to a flying start firstly with the lead rein classes and I must add that their mums and dads done them all proud as they lead them up and down the course in the various games with on lookers cheering each and every competitor on. The open classes which followed were open to anyone who was a confident rider and had competitors from thirteen up to a mum and dad. Each class was fought gallantly but fun was the order of the day as was safety so when the day drew to an end everyone went home tired and of course proudly wearing the rosettes they had won.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for supporting this event as they do raise much needed funds for Kipling but also it brings back the fun I remember my girls having with their ponies and the riding skills they learnt at these gymkhanas. These sort of events proved to be invaluable as they grew older and their riding progressed. Gymkhanas have sadly become a thing of the past but I am hoping to put the fun back in riding. Last but not least I would not only like to thank all the people who helped me stage this event but also the Pestalozzi for allowing us to hold these events within their ground and to a number of local firms who have kindly sponsored classes and rosettes these being Wilmoths, The Plough Inn Westfield, Jack in the Box, The Tack Room and Colin Hills Caring for Homes

Margaret Grimes

Telham Lane, Battle

More police needed for Rye events

Careful re-reading of the article on page 2 of the Observer for 4 June 2010, about an "events organiser" for Rye, has caused my concern to be somewhat abated. Even so, may I point out that while one group of people are being positive in trying to promote the Town's interests, others are pulling the rug out from their feet.

As Pevsner pointed out, Rye is one of the few genuine hill towns in England. At one stage it was an island, connected to the surrounding land by a causeway; in other words, on a par with Mount St Michael in Cornwall, or Mont St Michel in France.

Being the only safe haven for coastal vessels between Folkestone and Newhaven, it has always been "on the map"; literally, for centuries. Its natural economic hinterland has always been eastwards towards the marshes – Denge, Walland, and Romney. They, and the Town, are sui generis and are worth protecting for their own sake. Many of Rye's financial and social problems stem from the damnable business of distant bureaucrats treating Rye and the marshes as being "just another" part of Sussex or Kent.

Now re-read the article. If the events planned are as up-market as they appear to be, then the initiative will be very welcome in many quarters, since not all events are. Some people may enjoy the gaudy vulgarity of the Fair recently on the Salts – each to his own – but who, in the Town, benefits from it? Having some idea of the fee that the Fair pays to Rother District Council, I will leave it to a Rye Town Councillor to put the figure in the public domain.

Events need to be policed. Commonwealth countries do not exchange ambassadors; the equivalent rank is High Commissioner, and a High Commissioner was in Rye recently on a semi-official visit that was widely reported on television in the country he represents. Sussex police could not spare even a PCSO to supervise the parking when he arrived in the Town. Fortunately His Excellency was a gentleman who appeared not to notice the disgraceful lack of police presence, and the well-educated ladies and gentlemen of Rye around him carried it all off with aplomb; but it was still a disgrace.

Positive people in Rye are fighting for proper policing of the Town. That means having the nine custody cells at Rye police station available as and when required. On the one hand we have people promoting the Town, while others, including pro-Rother Rye Town councillors, are actively involved in running the Town's essential services down.

Rye needs more police officers on duty, more PCSO's on patrol, and more staff on duty in the police station, especially at weekends, and especially during "events". Anti-social and other criminal types who are arrested in Rye should be locked up in the custody cells here, not carted off to Hastings; and isn't it time a visiting Magistrate came back here to dispense justice?

I wish all those people fighting for Rye well. Some "events" will enhance the Town's reputation (for good restaurants, hotels, architecture, a library, historic churches etc etc); but without adequate policing and the support that goes with it their efforts will be in vain.

Royston Godwin

Eagle House, Landgate, Rye.

Club footed the bill for fly-tipping

It was reported in a story a few weeks ago that Westfield football Club had a Fly-tipping incident back in April and that the Westfield Parish Council paid for the clean-up.

Westfield FC would like to point out that Wesfield Parish Council did not pay for the clean-up. Westfield FC would like to clarify and make it clear that the Football Club paid for the Skip and removal of the rubble & waste heartlessly left by Low-life's who have no consciences at all.

Mrs G Jordan

Westfield FC Secretary