New homes will bring us misery, not improvement

The appeal by Pye Homes to build nearly 400 homes in Selsey, and the public enquiry which is to be held, will have a huge financial cost, which affects every Chichester council tax payer.

Unfortunately, some people are convinced there will be a new health centre within the development, which means they will not object. But when the PCT will not even fund an NHS dentist in Selsey, why would anyone think they will fund another health centre?

Could it be because one of the buildings in the application can be used as either a convenience store or a health centre? It's simply a box-ticking exercise for planning purposes. There won't be a health centre.

With an increase in population of more than 1,000, sadly, the only thing you can be certain of is a longer wait to see a doctor.

Others are convinced they will 'do something about the road', so they won't bother to object either. What will they do with the road? Have a mass compulsory purchase and knock down several houses to make it straighter, and your journey shorter?

With a possible 500 or 600 extra cars on the road, you can be sure of even longer journey times into Chichester and beyond, for cars and emergency vehicles.

There are many reasons why this development should be refused, not least because we live on a vulnerable peninsula, where in the not-too distant future many houses could go to the sea. We have to accept that to some degree, but where is the sense in building more?

On the one hand we have people trying to come up with solutions to save more than 900 homes in the area. On the other, we have people trying to build nearly 400 more anytown homes.

With the Environment Agency currently planning a managed retreat to the west, surely there should be absolutely no more large-scale development here.

The developers have included the obligatory plans to build sea defences. Unfortunately they happen to be in the area to the north of Selsey, where there may be no threat from the sea for 60 years. Totally pointless, but hey ho, that's another box ticked.

The site would have to be raised by almost 5ft, meaning thousands of lorry loads of goodness knows what being transported in along the already-overcrowded, poorly-maintained B2145, and dumped into fields, in close proximity to where they grow salads for major supermarkets.

Some may claim the development will be good for Selsey, as it will give the residents a bigger say in local issues, and more trade for local shops. Unfortunately, not so.
When Selsey was given town status, it was claimed there would be improvements to the infrastructure, facilities, more grants – you name it, we would be able to get it.

How wrong that has proved to be. What it actually meant was more housing, more housing, more housing.

Selsey has lost, in fairly recent times, at least nine independent shops scattered around the town, a cinema, three hotels, a holiday camp, two nightclubs, a large pub, three or four petrol stations, two NHS dental practices, and more. We have gained, err, a supermarket and a sports hall, or two. Hardly progress, is it?

Pye Homes is trying to sell the land at the moment, so it needs this planning permission.

To raise an objection, or indeed give praise to this development, write to the planning inspectorate (with three copies) – the reference is APP/L3815/A/09/2109495/NWF. You must write before November 18 otherwise your letters will be disregarded. Write to: The Planning Inspectorate, 4/04 Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol. BS1 6PN

You can also comment online using the above reference to www.pcs.planningportal.gov.uk/pcsportal/casesearch.asp

S Shurman, Selsey



Yes, plastic can go in recycling bin – as long as it's a bottle...

In response to Wendy Watkins' letter and her confusion surrounding a food tray.

What plastics can we recycle in West Sussex? The answer is plastic bottles only. Food trays, yoghurt pots, margarine tubs – these types of items cannot be recycled at present, so they should all go into your rubbish bin.

Although Wendy's food tray states it is made from 50 per cent recycled content, that is not an indication the item can be subsequently recycled. It merely means the food tray has been manufactured using recycled plastic.

A large number of plastic bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate – or PET for short – and it is highly likely Wendy's PET food tray is one of the increasing number of food grade recycled plastics that are being produced in the UK from plastic bottles collected for recycling. This is a genuine example of closed loop recycling; manufacturing brand-new products out of used ones.

However, even though the food tray has been partly manufactured using recycled PET bottles, that still doesn't mean it can be recycled. The guaranteed, secure recycling routes for plastics currently extend only to bottles. So if it's plastic, it must be a bottle to go into your recycling bin.

The triangle containing a number is a confusing distraction and was actually introduced by the American Society of Plastics as an identification system, but should not be relied on to decide if the plastic item can be recycled or not.

Speaking to my colleagues at West Sussex County Council, they agree some information on packaging is misleading and confusing. The county council would, of course, like to recycle a wider range of items; however, this is possible only if secure and robust markets exist for the collected materials.

Recycling is about reprocessing materials into products; it's not just about collecting. The advice therefore is to follow the information provided by your local council in its recycling literature to ensure West Sussex continues to provide high-quality materials for the available recycling markets. For the latest information on recycling in the county, visit www.recycleforwestsussex.org

Fiona Bussell, communications manager, Viridor, Ford Materials Recycling Facility, Ford Road, Ford



Muddled thinking by the Festivities?

Some weeks ago I read in the Observer the possibility Chichester might seek or win a competition to be considered a major national centre of culture.

This seemed to me to be a little optimistic seeing that, although we have an internationally-renowned theatre, Goodwood House, the Pallant House Gallery and a magnificent cathedral, we have no freely-available local auditorium with decent seating, good sight lines or acoustics suitable for concerts or large events.

The headline in the Observer detailing the financial plight of the Chichester Festivities indicated the city is struggling to support its arts festival. This surely makes the success of the idea even more unlikely.

Whether last year's loss is due to over-optimistic budgeting or poor programming in the recession, we may never know. But perhaps now is the time to restore the Festivities to its initial format – distinguished performers from outside balanced by greater use of city-based local talent, such as the Chichester Singers, a choral society of high repute who are apparently unwelcome in the 2010 Festivities despite paying their own orchestral and soloist's expenses and thus effectively giving the Festivities a free concert.

I understand this decision has been made on economic rather than artistic grounds. There is surely some muddled thinking around there!

Tim Bastow, Westgate, Chichester



Customer service is far from first class

Thursday, October 29. 12.25pm. Enter post office. Gasp with dismay at the huge queue waiting to be served (about 15 people).

Try to use the automatic stamp machine which is not broken. No result. Blood pressure does not allow continuation.

Join queue. Notice elderly lady in front who is having difficulty standing for any time and has to support herself alternately on the barrier and against the wall.

Eventually served at 12.55pm – no apology for wait. During this waiting time six people had given up and left the building.

When I enquired why, at lunchtime, when there will obviously be more people requiring service, there were only two counters open, the reply was 'we haven't got the hours'.

The post office seems to be its own worst enemy. They want us to use it, but apparently only when we (including the infirm) have half-an-hour to spare for standing in the queue.

This is the main Chichester post office serving the city and surrounding area. As such, hours should not be a consideration – it should be service first and foremost.

Rosemary Marshall, Spitalfields Lane, Chichester



No support for our local shops

As a local resident, I make an active choice to support our local West Wittering shops. They provide a good variety of services and products and are extremely friendly.
One of the things that creates this attraction is the ability to park conveniently for free in the main street and side streets in East Wittering.

The latest parking proposal from Chichester District Council seems to fly in the face of all that they have been elected to do: ie support small businesses and local communities.

In effect, the parking charges will increase the competitive pressure from the major supermarkets on the outskirts of Chichester, where parking is free.

As an alternative to the parking fees in local communities, have the council investigated a parking tax on major supermarkets, based on the number of spaces they make available? This would be easier to administrate, build additional revenue, and would be invisible to the consumer.

Most importantly, it would show support for our local traders and show support for the important role in they play in creating our vibrant local community.

J Pudney, West Wittering



We don't want our area to become a concrete jungle

Tony Dixon and Jan Cosgrove must have their heads in the clouds or live in a different world than the rest of us.

Don't have a go at Nick Gibb, our MP, over social housing or over-development. Or is this just a political stunt?

I say to them, have a look at yourselves before having a go at other people.

Our residents' association is non-political and we have members who support all different political parties (but Nick Gibb our MP has been a great help to us).

Our members do know about social housing and problems with over development as two-thirds of our members live in so-called social housing.

The housing association that runs our estate has a very poor maintenance record since taking over from Arun, and this estate has gone downhill.

There is a long list of complaints from tenants about the estate. Some are dealt with quickly, but others seem to be ignored – as one mother said to me, when you complain to PfP, you are told, well, this is social housing accommodation...

This Housing Association Places for People wants to infill with more houses by taking the garages and grass areas away. Where will the cars go? On to the grass verges, double-parked on the roads?

But our members (241 and rising) are totally against any infill plans, but perhaps Tony and Jan agree with Places for People. The majority of the residents pay for the maintenance on this estate, which includes landscaping. So where does this money go?

If Jan Cosgrove and Tony Dixon had their way, Bognor and all the surrounding areas would be like a concrete jungle and have housing developments and infilling all the way to Chichester.

I remember the 1960s when I left the forces and we lived and worked in London. I travelled all over the British Isles and have seen how families lived in social and slum housing.

One of the reasons for the bad housing was bad landlords and over-development, and not enough employment.

I am not against social or new housing, but this must be undertaken and tempered with commonsense.

We do need more employment opportunities to allow people in our area to have jobs and live and enjoy the open space areas and allow any housing development to expand at a sensible rate.

You must take into account the local environment – this includes our agricultural land (which we need) plus the green areas on all the existing estates, to allow breathing spaces. We do not want a concrete jungle like the blocks of flats or infill of houses on small areas, neither use all of our fields for housing – although perhaps Tony Dixon, Jan Cosgrove, developers and Arun would not agree with me.

I stress, we are not a political party. We are just a residents' association which banded together to keep our estate open and maintained correctly without any infill of more houses, and to keep the community spirit alive and to work together.

John Bass, founder, Willowhale Farm Residents' Association


Tony Dixon (Observer letters, last week) is quite right to associate poor health and social ills with poor housing; any sociology textbook will confirm. Shelter is one of the basic human needs. Food is another.

Readers will be aware the world's population is growing fast, but food production is not.

Naturally, overseas producers will be directing their outputs to the growing wealth of the Far East, not to lacklustre Europe. Recognising and reacting to this trend by refusing to concrete over prime English agricultural land IS attempting to safeguard our grandchildren's future!

Do not government agencies, housing associations and the like exist to provide low-cost housing, but are doubtless starved of funds to implement their brief?

Bring pressure to bear on your local MP to question the chancellor over expenditure by the Department for Transport, through its Highways Agency, for 'improved
access' over the A27, viz:

* Traffic lights at the foot of 'Hospital Hill', Arundel, for pedestrians to board a bus twice a day;

* A 'dual-use' bridge at the Whyke roundabout to assist Chichester High School pupils cycling or walking from and to home.

Okay, I accept this will make the homeless safer walking between their day centre and St Joseph's night refuge, but are they really at risk now?

And okay, you'll get only a few dwellings by diverting the funds, but every little helps, while taxpayers will be spared two of the constant reminders of their money wasted.

Don Lambert, Cardinals Drive, Pagham


I am afraid Tony Dixon has grabbed the wrong end of the stick if he thinks I do not understand the problems associated with poor-quality housing.

If he had read my letter thoroughly, he might have noticed I pointed out the need for the community infrastructure to grow alongside large-scale housing development.
Even so, whether one understands the implications of a housing shortage or not does not alter the basic problem – where to build. Where to build not only houses, but schools commercial/industrial properties, health facilities, recreational facilities, etc.

The big issue is where? On high-grade agricultural land, thus depriving the population of locally grown food, causing bigger carbon footprints via transportation and adverse effects on the nation's balance of payments?

Yes, of course we need to accommodate future generations. Today's children are tomorrow's adults – tomorrow's parents who will be crying out for the same facilities as the parents of today. In 30 years' time even more of our valuable environment will be required for even bigger concrete jungles.

So, Mr Dixon and Mr Cosgrove, state your case – where will we build?

I will again finish with the sentiment expressed in my previous letter – I for one am still looking for the answer.

Geoffrey King, Oaktree Close, Pagham



Serious about regeneration? Then saving cinema is a must

We have to save the Picturedrome. This is one of the few striking pieces of architecture left in our town and one of the only leisure amenities local to us. Can you imagine this being turned into a carpet warehouse or flea market? It does not bear thinking about.

With all the proposed new housing in the Bognor area, we will have extra demands on the current leisure facilities and the loss of the cinema will be felt hard.
If the council is serious about regenerating Bognor, then saving the existing facilities is a must.

I think this will be a good indicator as to whether the council is paying lip service to regeneration or if there is a chance regeneration will eventually happen. Cllr Nash informed me 'regeneration was not just about buildings' and I agree – it is about community. Well, here is a chance to do something for the community.

Maybe it is time to look at the way New Park Cinema is organised and see if this cannot be used as a role model.

I regularly go to the New Park where a lot of the films are aimed at an older audience and the whole ambience welcomes us older souls. Then they have special showings for mums and babies in the mornings and recently they have an agreement with Chichester university to encourage students to use New Park.

They still show blockbusters but they also show a lot of films the mainstream cinemas don't and I am sure if we analyse the demographics of Bognor (God's waiting room) we will find the New Park model fits like a glove.

Peter Davey, Fernhurst Gardens, Bognor Regis


Bognor Regis Town Council buying the Picturedrome would be a great move forward.

I go there. Where else can you send your child with £2.50 to see a blockbuster film?

With the price of a ticket at Chichester, plus the cost of getting there, people should be up in arms, and not be prepared to let our cinema go.

I had my house valued over a year ago and I would love to get 25 per cent more today. The council should let them sweat with a new price. With no planning permission for flats, plus the loss of rent from the cafe, who would want to buy it, especially if repairs are needed? Offer £400,000, but that's today – if they hang out too long in the hope for more, the offer would be reduced.

This situation is like the people who complain their local shop is closing. Did they use it? Once it's gone, it's gone for ever.

Mr TJA Hicks, Bognor Regis



Changes are needed to Remembrance Day ceremony

The Remembrance Day ceremony at the Bognor Regis war memorial this year was marred by a cold wind and rain.

It was therefore all the more regrettable that what was programmed as Words of Remembrance and Benediction was excessively long, exacerbated by being unintelligible to the majority on parade because of the inadequacy of the public address system.

It is recommended that, for future occasions, the address at the Whitehall Cenotaph be taken as an example of a concise and adequate oration, perfectly suited to the occasion. If it was good enough for Her Majesty, it would surely be good enough for her Bognor Regis subjects.

The Bognor Regis example was even more regrettable because of the presence on parade of so many children, who stood shivering so long listening to what they could not understand, some even having to be escorted from the parade.

This is no way to encourage the younger generation to continue its support in forthcoming years.

In my Wolf Cub days before the second world war, we had a well-attended short ceremony by the village war memorial, followed by a service in the village church.

This procedure used to be the case at Bognor Regis, and I remember the service being held in the Regis Centre.

The second world war ended on August 14, 1945.

I would support the celebration of Remembrance Day being transferred to August when the weather, even if wet and windy, would be more encouraging of support from the general public, especially the very young and very old, both susceptible to the effects of prolonged exposure to inclement weather conditions of the type experienced during autumn and winter.

M Ayling, Elizabeth Avenue, Rose Green, Bognor Regis



Sign that youngsters have lost it

What I have just seen on the windows of a major supermarket in Chichester really shows a great many young people have lost it.

They are sick. Their behaviour has now gone past the prank stage to utter vandalism.

The notice in question reads: We will not sell flour, eggs, tomatoes or tins of paint to anyone under the age of 16 years during the period of Halloween and Guy Fawkes
.
The reason why these young people are like this is lack of parental control.

And even when they are in trouble, we get the state-employed do-gooders to get them off with all sorts of fragile excuses.

Many governments over the past few years have tried to cut this down, all to no avail.

As they have all this energy to spend, I have the answer – and that is bring back national service.

It should include male and female, as they are as bad as one another.

Some military discipline would most certainly teach them to have respect for other people's property and well-being.

PG McGovern, Church Lane, South Bersted



Regis and proud of it

What is the matter with our people in charge? The good old King gave this town 'Regis' to pull it up from a basic town and smugglers' den. We should be proud of it.

Get with it, you lot, put it in bold on the road signs so people can see we are not just an ordinary resort.

Reg Buckmaster, Buckland Drive, Nyetimber


I am absolutely upset with the county, trying to take the Regis from Bognor. I just hope people will object to this, as enough people take the mickey out of Bognor already. I certainly believe we should keep the Regis in large letters and be proud.

MJ Shoebridge, The Millers, Yapton, Arundel


Having read the letters in last week's Observer, it is apparent the restoration of our civic pride is now urgently needed.

May I make a practical suggestion. I propose we remove that dreadful statue from the centre of the town and make a gift of it to Butlins Southcoast World (before they become too posh to accept it, that is) replacing it with a statue of George V.

This would afford to our town the dignity it deserves, and help to ensure the survival of our Royal suffix.

Maurice Thomas, Hook Lane, Bognor Regis



Paying to park isn't the right answer – it will hit locals and tourism

I have listened to Paul Over and his reasoning to bring in parking fees to Chichester district free car parks.

I have some sympathy as Chichester District Council is duty bound to increase its revenue to maintain our services. Costs go up each year as we are all aware but central budgets, from whichever party is in power, are continually cut.

So what are they to do but expect each department within the council to find ways of increasing their budget, by either cuts (which none of us want) or increasing revenue.

In West Sussex we have the misfortune to find if Labour are in power we will get no extra money because whatever they do they will never gain power here.

Yet if the Conservatives are in power they won't give us extra either, because they have no need to persuade us to vote for them – whatever they do they will retain power in West Sussex.

Hence our decreasing funds.

Here in Petworth we have particular needs, as do each of the towns and parishes no doubt. We have the need to preserve the free parking to support our businesses.

We also have a need to stop long-term parking in the top end of our car park, nearest to the shops.

Ten years ago we were on the brink of setting up disc parking in this part of the car park. That would have allowed two hours' free parking, or paying if people wanted longer. The bottom end and the Sylvia Beaufoy would have remained free. This would have stopped the long-term parkers in the very spaces needed by shoppers.

This scheme is not now felt to be able to raise enough revenue so although addressing one of Petworth's needs, it is likely to be turned down.

We could perhaps support this scheme and increase revenue by suggesting we pay on-street fees between say 9am and 5pm, in line with many towns.

Chichester district councillors have always had a thing about our free parking, seemingly because they do not enjoy such benefits.

But Cicestrians need to remember we do not enjoy all the facilities, paid for by CDC, which they have on their doorstep (yet we pay the same rates) and for which we have to travel.

I put it to them: would they swim or use the gym for example, on a regular basis two or three times a week which some do, if they had over an hour's round trip, especially working people who have to travel home and then out again? I doubt it.

I am appalled at the apparent 'gagging' of our Chichester district councillors. Are the rest afraid of losing the vote and not being able to charge? Is this a dictatorship?
CDC must think again, not just use the easiest targets.

Other towns have learnt their lesson and abolished their car-parking fees to find it has rejuvenated their commerce, for example Chester and Ely.

Paul, fight for us. Tell your colleagues the way forward is not wholesale charging.

Judy Howard, Petworth town councillor and former district councillor, North Mead, Petworth


Having read the two-page article in the Midhurst and Petworth Observer with Paul Over, I have two questions to ask:

* You state car parking will raise £150,000 per year. How did you come by that figure? It is probably the most important figure in the question of parking charges. Could you be wrong? We have just had the figure thrown at us. Do we have to accept that you are right, and what if it is less? Cars can be parked elsewhere as you will probably find out.

* Secondly, the 68 per cent of people who responded to the question of car parking and felt the users of car parks should pay. Are they all pedestrians or are some car users?

It is no good throwing a figure at us without further analysis of that figure.

I won't go into the question of one-hour free parking. How is that going to work? All right on paper – but !!

Mrs BA Bennett, Heathfield Park, Midhurst


On behalf of the Cowdray Heritage Trust, we wish to express our complete opposition to the proposed imposition of parking charges for Midhurst.

Now in our third year of operation, we have seen a satisfying increase in the number of visitors to the site, but we fear that should we lose free parking in the North Street facility, we will see a severe fall.

In the extreme case, this might even call into question the viability of this nationally-important visitor attraction.

This facility has already made very valuable contributions to the local community, not only via traditional education, but also by gathering together a body of faithful volunteers, who both assist visitors on site and who are making important contributions to exploring the history of this fascinating site.

The Cowdray visit is of two hours' minimum duration, so the charges would definitely affect our visitors.

People often stay on to picnic, school parties stay between three and four hours, and special events can last all day.

The pressure of the parking ticket running out does not lend itself to a stress-free day out.

The parking charge, however small, is not in line with standard heritage industry practice – you would not expect to pay to park at a National Trust property – and thus will act as a barrier to visitors.

At the time of the conservation project, the Trust was told by CDC and MTC we could not have our own car or coach park on site and must encourage visitors into the town. Obligingly we agreed, and our visitors now have to park in North Street and therefore have to go back into Midhurst, plus we encourage them to do so with special offers with the town's traders.

Should this proposal be implemented, we may have to consider establishing our own car park on site.

This would effectively cut the link with the town, betraying our original mandate, and would cause severe losses to the town's traders.

However, the Trust does not own any land at Cowdray Park, and has no funds available to buy, rent or create a car park on site.

Heritage lottery funding is not available for car parks. Even if we could rent a piece of land, would Chichester District Council give the planning consent to park cars on what is currently a beautiful naturally green site?

Dr Andrew R Guyatt, Bridget Howard, Judy Fowler, trustees, Cowdray Heritage Trust, Midhurst



To the point...

Simon Cowell is gutless on X Factor. I thought the rules are, in the event of a sing-off, the judges decide who stays.

Louis Walsh, I would suggest, should now should be called Looney Squelch. He must be looney not to realise the name Jedward is more like Deadwood.

He asked the audience not to boo last week because he said they were nice boys. So they might be, but Looney, you are supposed to be judging on performance only.

Lucy – stay as sweet as you are. Don't let the mentors (or should I say TORmentors) get you down and just remember you are too talented to be on that rubbish show anyway. You have certainly got a future.

Reg Stamp, Grafton Road, Selsey


I would like to respond to the letter from Douglas Wood last week. I was always under the impression fuel consumption was governed by excessive accelerating, braking, driving too fast for the gear, etc, and that the final cruising speed makes little difference.

I travel regularly from Chichester to Arundel and am one of one those people who travel at 70mph.

However, I have a green light on my dashboard that comes on when I am driving economically. This is always on at speeds of 70mph and goes out only when accelerating quickly.

I therefore presume that as long as I reach my cruising speed with careful accelerating, then I am still conserving fuel, whether it be 70mph or 60mph.

If I am wrong, could someone please clarify.

Kim Bull, Velyn Avenue, Chichester


On Saturday evening, Dreams Come True charity was at the heart of a fantastic event – Night of a 1000 Guys at Fontwell Park.

Nearly 3,000 people witnessed a wonderful fireworks display and the burning of many guys on a huge bonfire – a truly spectacular sight!

We may not have burned anywhere near 1,000 guys, but the guys that were brought along by members of the public were amazing to behold – such imagination!

We are very grateful to everyone who came along on the night and for the many donations we received from so many local families. I would also like to say a big thank you to all our staff and volunteers who worked so hard alongside the most helpful and professional team at Fontwell Park Racecourse, as well as to the lovely Katie Green who did a fantastic job yet again representing our charity and lighting the bonfire.

However, it has to be said the Observer have given our Dream Children fantastic support through all their local newspapers in the run-up to this event – their coverage has been most enjoyable to read and has been most effective.

Of course, this very special night was all about bringing joy to children who are terminally or very seriously ill. Although we are based in Midhurst, this is what we do every day for children all over the UK. We have fulfilled nearly 4,500 dreams since 1988.

So, may I finally make a plea to readers? How would you like to join the Dream Team and volunteer for us? Helping to make dreams come true is extremely rewarding and enjoyable work and you would be most welcome. My telephone number is 01730 815000. Thank you.

Adrian Atkinson, head of fundraising, Dreams Come True, Midhurst


Am I alone to be somewhat concerned at the absence of male teachers in our county primary schools?

I observed that among the 50 delightful school photographs recently published in the Observer Magazine, there were only three adult males.

I wonder if this gender imbalance may eventually result in the emasculation of an entire generation of young boys. Should I be concerned?

Thomas Cladpole, Balls Cross Road, Petworth


As if things aren't bad enough already, have our planners gone mad or are they really trying to cause gridlock around Bognor?

Firstly, the council (West Sussex, I suggest) has had contractors spend weeks installing traffic lights at a pedestrian crossing in Hotham Way when there is a perfectly good subway not more than 30 metres away.

Then, and even worse, there is the start on the Bersted Site 6 housing with no sign of progress on the by-pass. This is surely Arun's remit.

While the access to this site from Chichester Road may be sensible once the by-pass is built, it is a ridiculous proposition with the current road layout.

We may have money to waste but the true cost will be in the time we spend in traffic queues and the pollution caused.

Peter Stace, Felpham


I often wonder if the significance of Remembrance Sunday means a great deal to many people in today's secular society. It would appear this is just another day to have a firework party, and not a day for quiet reflection on the sacrifices others have made.

Charles James, Ruislip Gardens, Aldwick


I would like to say the money has been well spent on the new pedestrian crossing shortly due to open on Hotham Way.

Unfortunately, I can see nothing but grief ahead...

I travel this road frequently, having children at Felpham Community College, and am regularly overtaken by people going faster than the legal limit of 30mph. They then have to verge into one lane.

What on earth is going to happen when a pedestrian wants to cross and the lights go to amber and red, and they stop suddenly?

Was the subway not safer all round? I am sure I am not the only person to have concerns about this accident waiting to happen.

Hannah Jones, Bognor Regis


Meningitis UK would like to say a huge thank you to everyone from the West Sussex area who took part in our Bay to Bognor Walk in October, which stretched 323 miles from Morecambe Bay to Bognor Regis.

More than 100 people, many who have experienced the devastation of meningitis first hand, took part at various stages over 15 days and helped raise a staggering £45,000.

This included bucket collections of £3,336 on the last day from Havant to Bognor Regis.

I walked the entire route and was extremely grateful to everyone who supported us, either by taking part, making a donation or by sponsoring a friend or colleague.

A special thank you goes to Ray and Jackie Finch for organising such a warm welcome in Bognor Regis, where the Bournemouth Carnival Band greeted
walkers before we all enjoyed refreshments at the RAFA Club.

All money raised on the walk will go towards our Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, which aims to raise £7m to fund lifesaving research into developing a vaccine against Meningitis B – the most common form of meningitis in the UK for which there is currently no vaccine.

The number '4' signifies the devastating fact meningitis can kill in under four hours.

Without the continued support from members of the public and volunteers, we would not be able to continue our vital work, which will hopefully save thousands of lives in the future.

It's not too late to make a donation to the walk and readers can do so by contacting us on 0117 373 7373 or visiting www.meningitisuk.org. Alternatively, they can make a donation by visiting www.justgiving.com/muk-autumn-walk

Steve Dayman, chief executive, Meningitis UK


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