Global warming: truths, myths and some hot air

Readers seem to take for granted the earth is warming. It did for much of the 20th century.
But nobody knows what it will do in the 21st, given the major influences are natural and beyond our ability to forecast accurately.
We may well get global warming but we could also get global cooling, which would be a far more serious problem.
The inconvenient fact which is not under dispute is average global temperatures have in fact fallen in the past decade – while carbon dioxide levels continued to rise.
The vaunted computer models have therefore got the first decade of their forecasts completely wrong.
Does any scientist or statistician seriously believe their forecasts will approach anywhere near reality when pushed 100 years out?
And yet on this treacherous base our politicians would like to construct a command economy eagerly adopting the pose of crusader to save the globe and all the grateful voters it contains.
Yes, these are the same people who gave you the Iraq crusade and the Afghanistan crusade, whose estimate of immigration from Eastern Europe was thousands of per cent out and whose economic planning was so brilliant they were able to announce the end of boom and bust.
It is generally accepted increased carbon dioxide is, on balance, likely to have some warming effect, although even this is not strictly proven to the strictest scientific standards, and it could be a significant effect with serious long-term consequences if not dwarfed by natural variations.
Nothing could be more important than the future of our planet. Therefore a huge research effort is needed to improve our understanding of the processes involved and to develop economic renewable energy technologies which are compatible with enhanced health and prosperity in the third world.
At the same time we need to act now to promote energy efficiency and encourage renewable energy use where it can already, with the existing technology, cut pollution without excessive additional cost.
What would be a complete aberration would be to follow the current policy of covering huge areas of our lovely islands with steel monsters which are hideously expensive to run and cannot replace a single conventional power station, since when there is little wind they produce no power.
Domestic and industrial power bills will rocket and energy-intensive industries will flee these shores.
I tremble for the future of our young people, often poorly educated and facing a future where our financial weakness will enforce large public sector job losses while high tax rates, as the country struggles to keep our debt mountain within bounds acceptable to our foreign creditors, will discourage private sector job creation.
Can we really afford to be the world leaders in piling sky-high energy costs on top of all our other problems?
Global warming is the new orthodoxy. The Red Religion is indeed dead and the idealistic young devotees of the Green Religion are delighted that with global warming they have become mainstream.
No politician in or seeking office would dare question the orthodoxy, nor would any corporation, indeed there are already huge commercial and financial interests, particularly in wind energy and carbon trading, who are the beneficiaries.
Young religions have an unfortunate tendency to demonise non-believers. In this case the increasing body of scientists who are appalled at the nonsense which our irresponsible media pour out on the subject are known as the Deniers.
Book and magazine publishers are frightened to publish their books and many newspapers are frightened to publish their letters.
The Chichester Observer should be congratulated for being prepared to present both sides of the case. Academic careers have been placed in jeopardy. However things could be changing. Rational and open debate could yet replace hot air.

David Storey, Oving

I am not sure how to respond to Ben Alexander's rather confused letter last week in which he accused me of missing the point.
He starts by saying it's immaterial whether climate change is caused by human actions or not. Well, if that's the case, then what is the point of all the fuss about CO2 emissions?
Indeed, all the evidence is the increase in atmospheric CO2 has precious little effect on the world's climate. There are even some scientists who believe warming may actually contribute to the rise in CO2!
Mr Alexander states the temperature is rising, and if this is not checked the results will be catastrophic. No, this is untrue. Temperatures reached a peak in 1998, and have been moving generally downwards ever since. Please check the evidence.
Nevertheless, I do agree with him the world must take urgent steps to replace vanishing fossil fuels before the lights go out.
My wife and I recently installed some solar panels on our roof to provide us with free and environmentally-friendly hot water. I'd like a mini nuclear power station to provide the rest of our power, but doubt we would get planning permission.
We may not have enough light to read on winter nights, but at least we'll have hot baths.

Nigel Sitwell, Cleveland Road, Chichester

Mr Honeycutt is right, but perhaps he does not understand the motive of those 'Greens' who are working so hard to terrify us with prophecies of the dire consequences of global warming.
They are the neo-puritans who would deny their fellow men as many of life's pleasures as possible and they are the heirs of Cromwell and his Roundheads who banned theatres, maypoles and mince pies.
The sight of the masses (who they despise) enjoying motoring and low-cost flights to the Costas is particularly hateful to them.
Naturally they ignore the real cause of the pollution of the environment which is over-population and that will only be cured by the ancient remedies of famine, war and disease.

Robert Strong, Regnum Court, North Walls, Chichester

Derek Hunnikin's denialists rant makes sceptics, Lawson and Christopher Booker sound like tree huggers by comparison.
Augie Auer notions on water vapour have been refuted several times. CO2 and water (H2O) vapour have very different properties and respond to heat in different ways. Another Augie myth was man-made CO2 is infinitesmal. Wrong, because CO2 in the atmosphere has increased from 280 parts per million (PPM) to 380 PPM, an increase of 35 per cent above the 1835 ice core levels.
It's surprising Mr Hunnikin didn't include sun spots and volcanoes among the reasons or global warming.
True, the world has been colder and warmer before but not six billion human beings living on it.
I can't see any rational reason why tens of thousands of scientists should set out to deceive taxpayers. Yes, CO2 and H2O make the planet habitable but too much and it turns into Venus.
The balance is remarkably sensitive. If the Earth were just one million miles further or nearer the Sun, life as we know it would not be possible.
Wind is one of numerous renewable energy options. Others include solar, wave and tidal. Britain is one of Europe's windiest areas with a better meteorology than Germany.
Despite this, seven per cent of that country's energy needs comes from wind turbines. There just ain't enough oil and gas to go round, Mr Hunnikin, so what's your solution?
He can put his head in the sand and become the planet's sixth extinction but I prefer survival.

Ray Cobbett, Friends of the Earth, Beach Road, Emsworth



Wartime memories - and the feeling of opulence having tea at Kimbells

I have been most interested in the memories of Chichester in bygone days and would like to add some of my own.
I lived in East Wittering from December 1938 to December 1946 and remember Chichester very well as I went to the High School from 1941 to 1946.
Geerings was the shop in North Street where we had to have our school uniforms made to measure.
Storry's was the music shop where my mother (a gifted pianist) bought all her music, also in North Street.
Kimbells was the dance hall where I and my friends went dancing on Saturday evenings, also in North Street opposite the Assembly Rooms which was a British restaurant during the war, where a lunch cost 1s 6d!
The only library was up the stairs above the market.
Before I went to the High School I attended the Central School in Chapel Street (there isn't even a plaque to show it was there).
No-one will forget the three cinemas, the Odeon in South Street, the Exchange in East Street and the Gaumont at the end of East Street.
Sometimes on a Saturday, my mother would take my sister and me to a film and then we would have tea (a very special treat) at the Lilac Lantern in South Street,
or Eve's Pantry down the bottom of South Street. What memories of a lovely city!

Mrs Anna Bell, Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea

Reading about the old city shops brought back many memories.
Nigel Smeeth was perfectly correct regarding the location of the sites that were so familiar to me.
My mother was friendly with Mrs Bunn (the fruiterer in East Street) and I remember once hearing some interesting details of the anatomy as a small child with big ears!
My memories of David Greig were of the lovely aroma of cheeses, butter and coffee as one entered the doors and seeing the beautiful carved ceiling that disappeared when the shop was 'modernised'.
My mother during the war always went into town each morning to find anything that would supplement our rations – she always queued outside Roger's cake shop in East Street. Everything was very soon sold out and the shop was then closed for the day.
Later my sister worked there for several years as a shop assistant.
My next memory was Fullers' restaurant (above Russell and Bromley, South Street) where my mother worked.
Each Saturday every member of staff was given a large delicious cream cake – mother always cut it into four pieces to be divided between the four members of my family and were eaten by us for our Sunday tea.
I do not remember the Lilac Lantern tea rooms but I remember the Devonia Bakery in South Street. It was, I believe, opened and named by an ex-Devonshire man.
Another memory was the large Shippams shop in South Street where my mother was a frequent customer.
When my husband and I were going on our honeymoon, my mother cut two large wedges of their chicken and ham pie for us to eat on the journey.
At one time Shippams also had a tiny shop in East Street adjoining the Shippams building.
I also have special memories of Kimbells in North Street. I think they came to Chichester after having been bombed in Portsmouth. My sister and I went there every Sunday afternoon for a pot of tea and a plate of fancy cakes – it gave us such a feeling of opulence!

Doreen Sparkes, Ashburnham Close, Chichester

I was one of the original evacuees from Tooting in south-west London, on Friday, September 1, 1939.
To my knowledge three schools at least came to Chichester – Franciscan Road Tooting Elementary School, Streatham County Secondary School for Girls and Henry Thornton School for Boys from Clapham.
I was Hilda Williams in those days and at aged ten, walked (as a school) to Tooting Junction Station and got on the first train to come in. No-one knew where it was going and we were told not to eat our sandwiches in case it went on further.
We arrived at Chichester. I cannot remember the hall where our rations were dished out and our hostesses chose their evacuees.
I enjoyed my life in Chichester. Our secondary school shared the premises of the Girls' County School in South Street, and some of my school days were spent in the Bishop's Palace.
I stayed nearly four years and then came home to an emergency secondary school until my school left the town a little later and returned to London.
I have always loved my memories of Chichester and hope to return on September 1, to wander round the city again.

Hilda Thomson, West Ealing, London



Ugly monoliths have no place in city like ours

The Chichester Society supports the greater part of the council's new Streetscape Plan which includes paving, trees, tree surrounds, bollards and a 'family of street furniture'.
Examples can now be seen at Eastgate, Little London car park and St Martin's. However, there is one proposal where we still urge the council to think again.
Monoliths, as they call the proposed street signage, are wrong, ugly, clash with Chichester's character, conflict in material, shape and design with surrounding buildings, and do not meet the needs of shops and shoppers. This proposal should be withdrawn.
A recent English Heritage report on conservation areas at risk included Chichester as one of these, and cited 'unsympathetic new extras' as one of the dangers to conservation areas. Monoliths are 'unsympathetic new extras'.
Monoliths are, first, general direction signs, although one has to get very close to see what is where, and the sign is not high up so visitors can see it.
Existing finger boards would do their job well if they were properly refurbished, and they are sympathetic to surrounding architecture.
Monoliths are, secondly, intended to hold information on businesses in side streets and, thus, to replace A-boards.
If the latter are to be removed in due course when trading conditions improve, monoliths are unsuitable as the writing cannot be read unless the reader is very close and this defeats the aim of showing the casual passer-by what shops are off the main street.
Traders may feel their information will be lost to the shopper as it struggles to be seen on the monolith among a welter of other information all in small spaces.
To meet the needs of traders and shoppers, we believe the better solution would be to erect large wooden painted boards on the walls of buildings adjacent to the main street.
Where there is no suitable wall, free-standing boards on posts should be set at the end of the side street.
The boards, headed by the city's coat of arms, should list the names and main business of the shops in the side street and should be written by a sign-writer in clear lettering of the size necessary to be read.
The boards would be needed only for side streets like Crane Street or St Martin's where there are shops.

David Laing, vice-chairman, The Chichester Society, Chichester



We'll miss Walter - a true gent and war hero

May I mark the sad passing of Walter Morrison of Bosham with a short tribute.
Walter, a man of great humour, spent most of the second world war locked up in German prisoner-of-war camps after colliding with another bomber in June 1942 on his first operational mission.
He escaped many times from captivity, ending up in Colditz as a persistent nuisance to the Germans.
Once at Colditz, and always liking to be busy, he joined a team building a glider in the roof of the prison from which to fly to freedom, but the war ended and it never flew.
Walter and Lorne Welch escaped from Sagan Prison and attempted to steal a German aircraft, but were caught. This was featured in the film The Great Escape, a film Walter had little regard for as, he once told me, it contained far too many theatrical errors.
He wrote an excellent book titled Flak and Ferrets in which he detailed his life in German captivity.
His regular escaping programme created a great deal of work for prison camp guards and had him noted as a constant troublemaker and he was lucky to not be among the 50 RAF airmen executed on Hitler's orders by the Germans after the mass escape from Sagan.
A lovely and unassuming man I was privileged to know.

Ken Rimell, The Glade, Pagham



Was Westergate the real focus of Hub's attention?

Messrs Hall, Dixon and Penfold really must be very naïve if they think we are taken in by their seemingly altruistic protestations about the results of the Ford eco-town saga, especially now the government has said such a development is both unsustainable and undeliverable.
Apparently they cannot even accept that we all already know the real reason why they invented the Ford Enterprise Hub concept, but one has only to look at the website of the Villages Action Group to see where this all started.
It says: "The Villages Action Group (VAG) was originally formed to fight proposals for large-scale development of greenfield sites around the village of Westergate in 2003 that were being promoted as part of the West Sussex Structure Plan."
In April 2003 a member of the VAG said Ford was a sensible alternative, and in May 2003 the VAG set up a committee with the objective of ensuring the development took place on a brownfield site, such as Ford Airfield.
Subsequently, under the headline Anti-housing campaigners around Aldingbourne have won the first stage of their battle, VAG claimed in June 2003 the West Sussex Structure Plan was about to be amended to widen the area of search to include Ford.
This was then reinforced at the WSCC Strategic Environmental and Public Safety Services Select Committee meeting on June 25, 2003 when, as recorded in the minutes, the then county councillor Harold Hall (representing the Fontwell Division) 'requested that in relation to Ford, the diagrammatic area of representation of the strategic location West of Arun District should clearly indicate that Ford is included and extends to the west from Ford. He argued this would avoid any misinterpretation by the public as to the extent of the search'.
It was therefore something more than a coincidence when councillors Hall, Dixon and Penfold announced to the Joint Downland Committee on October 24, 2004 details of their proposal for what they called the Ford Enterprise Hub.
This, according to them, was an 'Outline planning concept designed to address transport issues in the west of Arun District and related land use issues", and that, as a result: "Ford will attract new business with better-paid jobs, meet housing need for the foreseeable future, solve numerous road traffic problems and provide a new transport hub'.
The concept was based on Cllr Hall's false contention the whole of Ford Airfield was a brownfield site, and he said it 'should come forward in plans for housing before greenfield sites (and) it provides the opportunity to protect the rural character of most villages in the area'.
So do not be taken in by the cries of 'shame' being directed at Arun District Council and those who opposed both the FEH and Ford eco-town development proposals.
The only reason Messrs Hall, Dixon and Penfold jumped on to the Ford eco-town bandwagon was to promote their intention of avoiding development in the Aldingbourne area, and it is good to see the government has now found their proposals to be unacceptable.

Derek Waller, Surrey Wharf, Arundel

I think the majority of people in West Sussex are glad the development at Ford has gone away and now concentration can be channelled into thoughts of providing the needs of housing for people in West Sussex, through the proper planning procedure.
Where the eco-town proposals were accepted by the government, the councils and people wanted them and met the criteria. This was not the case with Ford.
If the development went ahead, the situation on the roads would have been chaotic, with developers' lorries while the development was being built, and afterwards with the extra cars and lorries delivering waste to the incinerators to generate power.
Was it seriously thought the development at Ford would solve the need for affordable housing in the area, taking into account the cost of the houses, the number of affordable houses provided and the fact some families would want to move away from their local area?
There was no definite proposal from the FEH on how they would attract employment to the area and improve the pay of local people and, fortunately, the government department responsible saw the shortcomings of the proposals.
A lost opportunity for whom? Not the people in West Sussex but maybe for the FEH, the farmers involved and the developers.

Richard Brennan, Wooldridge Walk, Climping

When the results came out on TV last Thursday regarding who is getting an eco-town, I could hear the champagne corks popping from Ford. The don't-want-change brigade are at it again.
This county probably has the largest membership of them in the country.
They really need to get a life. This is the 21st century and they are not going to stop progress, even in their little world.
People need homes and, in some cases, even their own children need them.
Is it any wonder the youngsters have no chance with narrow-minded individuals like these?

PG McGovern, Church Lane, South Bersted



An ill-informed, undemocratic process

I do not profess to understand fully the proceedings that operate when an Arun District Council decision is 'called in' by a councillor.
It results in that decision being made subject to scrutiny, whereby ADC calls upon select members to defend their decision.
Suffice to say I was invited to attend a scrutiny meeting last week, where Cllrs Paul Wells and Jim Brooks tried to challenge ADC's officers' decision to withdraw funding to support Hotham Park Heritage Trust in their aims to raise grant funding from external sources.
Such applications usually require a 20 per cent input from the trust when seeking support in excess of £20,000.
The trust's role has changed significantly following the restoration of the park.
The service agreement the trust had with ADC has been cancelled and therefore there is now no need for the trust to receive the full £10,000 annually.
However, it is the trust's opinion it is totally inappropriate to allow £4,000, the amount left after allocation between the ten volunteer groups, to be diverted toward the purchase of a wood chipper and subsequently go to increasing an officer's salary.
Unfortunately the opportunity to put this argument across was completely lost when the two councillors were forced into a position of being unable to respond properly because the time allocated to them was tightly controlled, while allowance for the committee, and their witnesses to speak, appeared to have no time limit.
I appreciate there are procedures that must be followed, but I felt this was one of the most undemocratic meetings I have had the misfortune to attend.
I was expecting to have the opportunity to speak in defence of Hotham Park Heritage Trust but instead had to listen to, among other ill-advised comments, Cllr Graham Tyler completely misinterpreting a comment made by Cllr Brooks, and imply the trust would not wish to continue if we do not receive financial backing from ADC.
How ill-informed and inappropriate when the trust, in addition to assisting with the lottery bid for which we received fulsome thanks, has raised more than £250,000 from external sources and fundraising and we are currently deeply involved in the planning of our 2009 Country Fair.

Rosemary Warren, chairman, Hotham Park Heritage Trust



My town hall parking-ticket nightmare

Having got a parking ticket for exceeding the time allowed outside Bognor Town Hall (by two minutes), I appealed because all the relevant signs were completely covered by scaffolding and safety netting.
I explained this and sent photos taken at the time showing this clearly to the parking company contracted to Arun District Council.
I was amazed to receive a letter rejecting my appeal. It said 'the private parking area signage clearly states the regulations that are in force'.
Clearly I had been sent a completely standard letter without any consideration whatsoever of what I had actually written.
It also said '...(without) new evidence... we will not enter into further communication'.
Ultimately the ADC official responsible for the management of the town hall kindly intervened on my behalf, but I have little doubt without that intervention
I should have had to go to court to plead my case.
I have now officially been told my ticket has been cancelled, but without a word of apology.
While one may deplore the hard-nosed attitude of the company (which pays 'performance bonuses' to its patrol men), they appear to be operating within the law.
However, when legitimate appeals are handled in the high-handed way I experienced, it makes a sick joke the company has had the nerve to name itself Ethical Parking Management.

GA Raven, Middleton-on-Sea



It's a shame – no-one listens to residents any more

Why am I not surprised Tesco has been given the go-ahead to open a new store in Felpham despite overwhelming public opposition?
Is Tesco, as I suspect, going for world domination or is it just trying, with the help of Arun District Council, to drag poor old Bognor further down?
It seems no-one listens to us, the residents, any more.
I guess it is now fait accompli and we can do nothing about it except boycott the store and support the local shopkeepers instead.
As for the main store, we shall no longer be using it but will be doing our main shop at one of their competitors – perhaps a few thousand more residents should do the same.
Asda are now advertising and will deliver to households in Bognor
Regis so it seems like a good idea to investigate that.

Mrs DL Lambert, Dryad Way, Felpham

Anyone who ever believed Tesco would pack up and go away at Middleton, just because nobody wanted it, is extremely naive.
Tesco is far more powerful than any parish, district or county council.
It is the richest retailer in the country, and as such does not have to take no for an answer. People at Pulborough, Haslemere and other towns will be able
to tell you what Tesco wants, Tesco gets.
Bognor and surrounding villages are part of a 'Tesco town'. No other retailer is ever likely to get a look in.

Alan Shawyer, Hazel Road, Bognor Regis

Arun District Council has put itself in this position by not listening to public opinion regarding Asda and Sainsbury's. Tesco needs competition, Bognor needs jobs.
When will ADC listen and remember councillors are employed by the electorate?

D and R Denyer, Steyne Street, Bognor Regis



Councillors are a credit to Aldwick

I AM a relatively-new resident to the parish of Aldwick, a lovely place to live, but have little background information about the area.
I am also a retired Greater London councillor of many years. I was dismayed to read the letter from Richard Ostler who, reading between the lines, has
a 'beef' about Aldwick Parish Council.
I always believe in speaking as I find and since I have had a number of occasions when I needed to visit the parish office, I can only speak with praise for the staff and councillors I have met on my visits there.
Always there has been a councillor on duty to help me and answer my questions honestly, with confidence and politely.
I have had the opportunity of meeting several councillors in the course of my enquiries.
I have also started taking an interest in a number of local public meetings and at a recent meeting of the joint councils I heard the chairman of Aldwick speak of her concerns at the policing (or lack of it) in the parish.
This lady spoke confidently, passionately and with determination on behalf of the residents.
She took no prisoners and left the police representatives present in no doubt how she felt.
Whatever parish councillors get by way of allowances is a paltry sum. The parish of Aldwick has not increased its cost to the tax payer for the past three years.
Yes, Mr Ostler, I too remember the 'old days'.
Those were the days when only the wealthy, titled or influential people made all the decisions, preventing the ordinary person from joining this special club for the elite.
Thankfully this has changed, giving ordinary people a part to play.
Good for Mrs Ostler if she doesn't need the money, but I suspect others do and should not be expected to pay any expenses from their own pocket.
I have nothing but praise for Aldwick Parish Council and its staff and the chairman can have my vote any day, any time – a real champion for the people.

Edwin Haskins, Aldwick



National park funding: we need some answers

The article on the funding of the South Downs National Park exposes once more this government's mendacity and demonstrates yet again the dangers of relying on informal assurances.
Many of us were concerned about development control and were assured, informally of course, that although it would formally and legally reside with the park authority, it would in practice be devolved back to existing local authorities.
Now the interim chief executive tells us 'his first task will be to obtain a legal ruling on what delegation was permissible under the legislation' and that the legal framework 'will be put to the members of the new park authority, who will take their own decision on that issue'.
In other words, the assurances on delegation were, as many of us thought at the time, completely worthless, being made by people who had no authority to give such assurances and did not even know if delegation was legally possible anyway.
The funding situation is as bad. The cost of the park authority is, I understand, expected to be about five times the cost of the Downs board which has done an excellent job here for many years.
Doubling the budget of the Downs board, increasing its scope and powers slightly, would almost certainly have produced a better outcome as well as being a cheaper and simpler solution.
I am confident most of those voting for the national park thought the funding was secure.
Had they known that, like the delegation of development control, the issue had not even been addressed and this was another of the government's unfunded commitments, I doubt they would have voted for it.
Many must now be echoing the sentiments of Joan Vallat in last week's letters column : 'I don't want the national park so why should I pay for it?'
Sadly, the sceptics have been proved right, yet again, and the moral of this story is that when dealing with central government in the 21st century, only written, bankable, unconditional assurances can be relied upon.
How did we drift into a situation where the people we can trust least are those we have elected to government ?

Andrew Moncreiff, UKIP PPC, Chichester, Cherrylands Close, Fernhurst

The report that taxpayers may have to pay for the national park gives an interesting insight into the workings of West Sussex County Council, and in particular that part of it called the Strategic Environmental Services Select Committee.
Cllr Urquhart says she has been battering at the doors of DEFRA on a weekly basis demanding to know where the funding is coming from, and they have told her it will come from the budget for national parks.
Fans of Sir Humphrey Appleby will be astonished at the clarity of this reply.
Cllr Urquhart goes on to say we will get quite substantial funds, but is clearly not happy with the answer she has received, as she is apparently still battering away, and is having to find her way past 'an awful lot of smoke and mirrors'.
The fact other national parks may have to accept reduced budgets is regrettable, but not a problem that should exercise WSCC.
Starting hares in the way the Observer report does only alarms the readership, and provokes letters such as that from Joan Vallat last week.
Ms Vallat may not realise her council tax has already been contributing to the preservation of the Downs through the funding for the South Downs Joint Committee. With the creation of the national park, it will be interesting to see what WSCC does with this money.
The advent of the South Downs National Park provides an opportunity that with a little ingenuity and enthusiasm could be turned to great advantage for the communities that live within its boundaries.
WSCC should be giving a lead in these activities rather than being frightened by shadows.
Finally, may I ask WSCC drops 'strategic' from its vocabulary (it also occurs in their recently-released report on rights of way – a strategic document). Strategy is the art of
war and has nothing to do with environmental services or even rights of way.

John Andre, Woolbeding

Funding isn't so much the elephant in the room but another white elephant raised by those who continue to try to create mischief about the national park.
No budget for operating the National Park Authority can possibly be declared until it has first been agreed as to how the planning responsibilities will be allocated.
As much as we must be vigilant and ensure central government funds the new national park properly, we must also ensure local authorities pull their weight, too.
Some West Sussex County councillors have expressed concern no-one from government has said where the money will be coming from.
Equally the same charge could be levelled at local authorities.
For example, West Sussex County Council hasn't said what it will do when it no longer has to fund the South Downs Joint Committee out of local council tax, once the national park takes over.
Will it continue to invest in conservation or will it claw back the money and use it for something else instead?
Equally, the county council will still be responsible for rights of way and will need to continue to allocate adequate resources so people can get out and enjoy England's newest national park and support the local economy.
So far we've heard nothing about how it plans to do this.

Robin Crane CBE, chairman, South Downs Campaign, Carron Lane, Midhurst



Free snacks and friendship from a dedicated youth team

We have many great sport and other programmes for our youth, so I was delighted and surprised to hear about evening programmes for our youth as well – delighted to hear two 'off-the-street' programmes for youth in Midhurst being discussed but surprised it was without reference to an already-successful programme of which I am aware.
Open Door has been in operation and quite effective for more than two years. It is led by Lorraine Head, a very busy Midhurst merchant, with some 50 to 60 13- to 18-year-old youths participating each Wednesday evening during the colder, winter months and 30 to 40 in the warmer evenings of spring.
A year or so ago I discovered Open Door rents the hall of the Midhurst Methodist Church on Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. Then Lorraine and her regular team of five or six volunteers serve free snacks and friendship: pizza, biscuits, cake and toast, plus tea, chocolate and coffee.
Lorraine's team is made up of local people: Tracie Illman, Farjan Chowdhury, Peter and Angela Clark, Andrew and Susan Guyatt and youth missioner Jonathan Moores.
Open Door is supported by financial donations from interested people. There is music and many games for the students to enjoy: pool, table tennis, computer
games, air hockey, etc, and plenty of chairs and tables on which to sit around and talk.
Open Door has taken a break now for the summer holidays, but plans to start again in mid-September.
I learned Open Door began as the idea of six area 'loyals': Lorraine Head, Lizzy McCann, Julie Carslaw, Tracey Illman and Susan and Andrew Guyatt. A regular core of very pleasant youth seem to enjoy the laid-back, easy style of the programme, judging by their regular participation, very positive behaviour and high food consumption.
I am proud of our youth and this team's commitment to our youth and thought people of the area would enjoy knowing good things are already happening for our youth.
I know much more is needed and will be welcomed.
Anyone interested in volunteering with Open Door may drop by or call Lorraine or Tracey at Violet Designs 01730 810059.

Lloyd Auchard, Midhurst



To the point...

For many years I have mainly enjoyed Keith Newbery's articles in the Observer, but this is the first time I have really decided he has gone too far in his appalling description of those who play tennis, organise tennis, and, most of all, enjoy watching tennis.
It is a game many people throughout the world enjoy and this year were enthralled by the extent of fitness shown by the top players at Wimbledon.
I hope he is prepared to apologise to the British public in West Sussex.
To say they are spoilt and pampered players is sounding very much like sour grapes from a man who is plain jealous he is past it!
Jealousy will get you nowhere and will now have turned you into a grumpy old man people will shun. I feel very sorry for you.
It is a summertime enjoyment and it gives me great pleasure to see the camera shots of the young people really loving the game in front of them.

Mrs Margot Deventer Ransom, Elmer Sands Estate, Middleton-on-Sea

I am a regular reader of Keith Newbery's column in the Observer Magazine and have always considered him to have high principles.
However, last week he let himself down very badly with his disgusting revelations about his experiences with his new nether garments.
I don't think I'm narrow-minded, but I do think he should consider his aims and objectives before he puts pen to paper in the future.
Editorial discretion seems to have been absent on this occasion.

A Benwell, Golf Links Lane, Selsey

Tesco applied for permission to build its store on the understanding free transport would be provided for the residents of Chichester in return for the closing of their local East Street branch.
This was fine at first, and the bus with a low floor ensured easy access was provided.
However, they now have a large double-decker bus. The top half is hardly ever in use as passengers are unable to climb the stairs with heavy shopping bags and walking sticks. What is the point of having a bus people cannot climb on to?

Mrs Brackenbury, Lower Close, Chichester

Regarding the letter by P Hobday about the stolen ornaments. I live in Bosham in a very quiet close where there is normally no trouble at all but I have had three ornaments stolen.
Is it for car-boot sales?

Mr Gatehouse, Cambria Close, Bosham

Macmillan Cancer Support had an extremely successful flag day in Chichester city centre on Saturday, July 18 when £1,637.69 was raised.
Our grateful thanks go to all the collectors who turned out on the day and to the generous members of the public who dipped into their pockets to support this wonderful charity.

Jennifer Fidler, secretary, Chichester committee Macmillan Cancer Support

I want to thank everyone who supported the Help for Heroes charity at Tesco in Fishbourne over the last weekend in June.
We raised £1,434.94 and I am just astonished. We are very pleased with the results.

Gary Brammal, Bognor Regis

I would like to thank all the people who offered their help when I had a seizure in St Peter's on the morning of July 8. I would particularly like to thank the young lady who helped me so much – I'm sorry I didn't catch your name.

Margaret Leppard, Green Lane, Chichester

I thank Mr Hill and to all the staff of Middleton Ward at St Richard's Hospital, for the excellent way Mike, my husband, has been looked after during and after his recent operation.
The wonderful staff of Middleton Ward could not have been more helpful. His recovery, I'm sure, was because of the way he was so well looked after. Well done and thank you for the lovely atmosphere – you were a great help and made Mike's stay in the ward a very helpful time.

Mrs Ros Ticehurst, Blackboy Lane, Fishbourne

The gate collection at Chichester Festival Theatre on behalf of the Chichester and Bognor Regis branch of the MS Society raised a fantastic £856.16. We are extremely grateful to all those concerned.

Caroline Lister, Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS), Chichester and Bognor Regis branch, Main Road, Bosham

The Bognor Regis fundraising branch for the RNLI, would like to thank the people of Bognor Regis and surrounding districts, and our loyal band of collectors, for their support during our recent flag week.
We raised £1,731, which will go towards keeping our crews to continue saving lives.

Jenny Jennings, Norfolk Square, Bognor Regis

On behalf of the Clued up Show committee, I should like to say a big thank-you to everybody who helped to make this a sell-out success.
Thanks to...
* Our very talented performers of all ages who sang, danced, played guitar, piano and trumpet and had talent in shedloads.
* Judges Nick Gibb MP, Carol Wiseman and Miss Katie Osborne, who had such a difficult choice to make.
* The management and staff at Alexandra Theatre, Bognor Regis, who with their experience and expertise gave us a seamless performance.
We are now in negotiation to present another talent show later this year, and would ask all of you very talented people in Bognor Regis to once again come forward because Bognor really does have talent.

Ann Smee, Novice Productions, Babsham Lane, Bersted

In a recent article about the new stamps, the legend of the Lyminster Dragon was mentioned with incorrect details.
The story goes the dragon, who lived in a bottomless pit behind Lyminster Church (now known as Knucker's Hole, Knucker being the Sussex word for dragon) demanded constant offerings and sacrifices of local maidens.
The young blacksmith devised a plan and left poisoned pies for the dragon, who duly ate and met his demise.
To celebrate, the blacksmith went to The Six Bells (a local pub still there today) but unfortunately had not washed his hands (not too hot on personal hygiene in those days) and he, too, was poisoned.
His tombstone bearing the legend can still be seen inside Lyminster Church which, incidentally, is well worth a visit.

Christine Bridger, Colebrook Road, Wick

I wish to reply briefly to Mr Coster's letter of July 2.
This is the second letter he has written personally attacking the sincerity, integrity and, amazingly, the 'educational background' of Richard McMann, Arun's Bognor Regis regeneration coordinator.
All Arun officers are employed to give advice to our elected councillors and, once they have taken decisions, to implement them. That is what I am employed to do, as is Richard.
If Mr Coster has issues with Arun's policies or performance, he should address them to the council and its elected representatives, not direct them at officers.

Ian Sumnall, chief executive, Arun District Council, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton

I refer to the hole in the road no-one wants.
If the council charged a sum for a licence to open up any road, then from the time and date the work started made a charge of £500 a
day all the time the work should be in progress, this money could go towards the new rates for councillors.
This hole would soon get filled in and marks could be awarded to a good standard of finish and payments returned.

CC Glue, Outerwyke Gardens, Felpham

Not having been to Bognor Regis for some time because of illness, I was shocked to see someone had left a bit of scrap scenery from the Christmas panto in the shopping precinct opposite the arcade.
I would have thought a council would have arranged for a refuge department to remove this eyesore. I feel sorry for the residents of Bognor Regis who have to gaze on this thing every time they shop.
It should be removed as quickly as possible before it offends more people and scares off any holiday-makers.

Brian Clear, Swanfield Drive, Chichester

I read of the selfishness of most dog owners who want to let their dogs roam in Hotham Park.
The offending dogs roam and do their business in parts of the park where their owners do not see them and do not clear up the mess.
I walk my two Westies daily in the park on leads and my dogs enjoy a long lead and do their business and we clear up afterwards.
Yesterday my wife and I were walking our dogs and I stepped in three lots of dog poo in long grass, so the owners of those dogs do not see where their dogs do their business.
My view is the park is for use by all walks of life and it's good the mums and children use this park daily. It's unfair the roaming dogs have to spoil it for all of us as this park is not a dog toilet for benefit of a few lazy owners.

Bill Killick, Bognor


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