Your letters - November 27

Plans are unsuitable

Copy of letter sent to Derek Stevens, chief executive of Rother District Council:

I was both amazed and dismayed when I saw the report on the contest designs for the proposed new-look Bexhill seafront in the local Observer recently, and I now wish to explain my views.

I was amazed at the designs printed in the paper, which do not appear to meet the obvious needs of a seafront position.

Shelters are just that: they should provide a comfortable haven for people who want or need to shelter from summer sun, showers of rain or even biting winds and yet see the sea and beach.

None of the pictures shown appears to do that: they are very modernistic in design '“ granted, two of them try to depict the waves of the sea, but they do not protect from the elements.

Two of them, at least, would turn into wind-tunnels and would amplify the effect of our strong on-shore winds and cause accidents.

I wonder whether the judges have ever visited the town on a windy day? If so, they will know exactly what I mean! A translucent or transparent roof will not protect from the sun nor will what appears to be a large drainpipe allow a clear view of the sea from a comfortable seat.

I am dismayed that a well-known architect could even consider choosing such unsuitable plans as those depicted in the Observer, as they are manifestly wrong for the site.

If our money is to be spent on modernising the seafront, at least make certain that our needs are met. Perhaps it would be better to employ more staff to care for the shelters '“ and public loos '“ keeping them clean and minimising vandalism, rather than to go mad spending some 4-5million on way-out buildings that do not meet our needs, enhance the look of the town or encourage visitors to the area, all so important for our future.

I am not against updating the facilities we offer, but they do need to do their job properly and enhance the look of the area, fitting in not only with the surrounding buildings but contrasting happily with the Victorian shelters the other side of the De La Warr Pavilion.

I trust you will note and consider carefully what I have written.

Edna Moore

Cowdray Park Road

Bexhill

Not fit for purpose

WE urge the council to recognise the overwhelming public rejection of all the shortlisted submissions on the grounds that they are totally inappropriate for their setting and, in the case of the shelters, are simply not fit for purpose.

RDC has no legal obligation to commission the winning design and its obligations under the terms of the competition cease with the declaration of the "winner".

The council has a golden opportunity to demonstrate its declared commitment to consultative local government by terminating the competition at the winning stage and reflecting the wishes of the people of Bexhill in revised traditional designs.

To pursue the present course condemns the council to yet more disrespect and ridicule at a time when it needs to build bridges with a deeply resentful public.

It has a golden opportunity here '“ but does it have the wit to take advantage of it?

John and Sheila Lee

Southcourt Avenue

Bexhill-on-Sea

Please don't proceed!

Copy of letter to Derek Stevens, chief executive of Rother District Council

Dear Mr Stevens,

Please, please, please do not proceed with any of the totally inappropriate designs for seafront shelters shown in the Bexhill Observer.

We have lived in Bexhill for many years and feel our seafront is too valuable to be desecrated by such outlandish designs. If there is money to be spent, use it for reinstalling Edwardian-style shelters, which would be more in keeping with the rest of the seafront.

We already have inappropriate developments such as the oppressive new blocks of flats in Sackville Road and the ridiculous balls in Devonshire Square so please, if you have any influence, do not allow any more outrageous additions to our town.

ps: A swimming pool in the town would benefit young and old alike.

ANN BOWLES

Dorset Road South

Welcome, Disneyland!

I've always wanted to go to Disneyland! But now the Next Wave proposal is going to bring Disneyland to Bexhill.

Looking at the architectural drawings I am sure that if they are built they will bring in lots of tourists to the town because they will want to come and laugh their socks off at the stupidity of turning our beautiful Edwardian seafront into a Mickey Mouse area with these designs.

If these monstrosities are built and are illuminated at night what a wonderful area it will be for the vandals and ne'er-do-wells to gather.

They will not only have shelters, but lighted shelters. So wake up Bexhill, let's retain but improve what we already have, and don't let these mindless wonders on the council destroy our town.

Peter Morgan

Harewood Close

It's a waste of money

Our shelters along the seafront are well designed, look good, and give excellent protection against strong winds and heavy rain.

All they need is some maintenance. Why waste our money by destroying them and replacing them with inferior shelters?

It seems odd that, at a time of financial crisis, the council intends to spend in this way and on needless excavations at the Colonnade.

Is the council expecting to be able to avoid staff redundancies?

Hopefully, basic maintenance will still be possible and not just on the seafront. For example, the benches in Cantelupe Road are down to bare wood and crying out for a coat of varnish.

J M I Lewis

De La Warr Parade

Let's avoid pastiche

There seems to be some confusion among Bexhill's golden oldies about the new shelters intended for West Parade.

This is not De La Warr Parade with its existing three Edwardian-style shelters backed by some Edwardian terraces.

On West Parade, apart from six houses with Dutch-style gables facing the Metropole green and Oceania which has pretensions, there are no buildings that remotely resemble Edwardian houses. Queens Court is 1950s prefab utilitarian, Alderton Court, though it looks 1930s, is actually 1960s and Clock Tower Court must be later still, while the W Indies are mid-1970s.

Most of the letters to the Observer seem to be extremely negative, not to say Luddite, and advocate throwing the baby out with the bathwater, while Mr Hodson clearly doesn't understand how architectural competitions work.

Architects wouldn't waste their time on detailed designs when they have a less than one per cent chance of success unless the prizes were numerous and much larger than Rother could afford.

Whilst many of the designs seem a bit fanciful or even ridiculous, designs A and F appear worth further consideration and possible development.

These two have the potential to give as much protection from the elements as the existing shelters and may look a great deal better than the existing post-war tat.

I certainly wouldn't want new shelters that are a pastiche of Edwardian.

G Lawson

Maple Avenue

Why not start again?

I must congratulate the Observer on its coverage of the great debate going on about the Next Wave. It is singularly one-sided because the proponents of the scheme are apparently determined to go ahead despite the serious doubts and concerns of your correspondents.

How can we convince our councillors and the officers of the district council that they are going about it in the wrong way?

Why do they think that it is necessary to impose on our town the ideas and concepts of London-based architects when it leads to a fanciful approach involving a disgraceful waste of money and no obvious benefit to the town and district?

In particular, we are amazed and staggered that a handful of councillors and officers can so act when the majority of Rother Conservative councillors represent out-of-town wards.

It seems that these councillors are unwilling to challenge this small group. Do they think that it is right and proper to spend precious capital on unnecessary plans when there is so much that needs doing across the whole district?

There will be elections in two years, when we can have our say, but the danger is that the damage will be done by that time.

It is not too late to start again '“ pay off the architects for work done, think through the possibilities, make a list of the ways that we can spend some of our reserves on practical, useful and financially rewarding plays. Above all, forget about Cabe, who only want to glorify themselves and a few young architects.

Please can we stop this Gadarene rush and start again.

Basil R Streat

Cantelupe Road

Wholly laughable

Before moving to Bexhill some 12 years ago we had lived in Battle for many years, and from there our preferred town to visit was Bexhill.

It was a pleasant town with its own particular character, the Pavilion a popular attraction, plenty of shows, a glass screen around the terrace providing shelter from the winds allowing rows of deckchairs for people to listen to music from a small bandstand, or sometimes for dancing.

That has now all been swept away, leaving a blank windswept terrace, and a sort of bandstand inspired by a distorted postcard. Since then, there have been many other attempts to change the town character, and unfortunately some have happened. Only five years ago, proposals were considered to do away with the crazy golf and putting areas and construct there a large block of flats, shops and offices. Luckily, that did not proceed, but instead we have now the two huge blocks at the bottom of Sackville Road, dwarfing all other local property.

As for the proposed "shelters", these are really laughable.

The way things are going, I can visualise in future the town hall square possibly being regarded as an "old fashioned" roundabout and replaced with a nice pink desert surrounded by concrete balls, and perhaps with one of these exciting new shelters in the middle, saving future expensive competitions.

Recently, a contributor suggested enhancing the Edwardian character rather than destroying it, returning Bexhill again to be a town to be visited, and I and many others would be all for that.There are many necessary things required in Bexhill before spending money this way.

I have sent an email to chiefexecutive @rother.gov.uk objecting to all of the shelter designs on the grounds of (a) unfit for purpose and (b) not in keeping with the local area.

Len Dexter

Cooden Drive

Late night shopping is there to draw visitors

Once again we are opening for late- night shopping on December 4 from 4pm to 8pm.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of apathy among some retailers, caf owners, hairdressers, estate agents, etc, who habitually think it is not for them.

It is for everyone who has a business in the town and in order to help each other we need to pull together to make it an event that residents from Bexhill and surrounding towns will want to visit.

It is not about how much money will be taken on the night, it is the PR the town receives which encourages these visitors to return at a later date and then spend their money.

Father Christmas will be in his grotto in Sackville Road and for a small charge the children can have their photographs taken with him.

Many businesses will be providing freebies, including coffee and mince pies at Bexhill Caring Community, sweets at H&H Confectionery, as well as many special offers on the night.

Curves will be holding a work-out competition to test your fitness.

Sackville Road traders are holding a Spot The Stranger competition and the winner will receive a voucher to be spent in one of the shops in the road.

Bexhill 100 Classic Cars will be cruising around the town along with Bexhill Wheelers, street entertainers, carol singers, barrel organs, etc.

To all businesses in the town, pull out the stops and provide a reason for people to shop in your establishment and in Bexhill.

If, however, you feel you can't open on the night, please decorate your windows and leave your lights on '“ it helps the rest of us and doesn't make the town look as though we are closed for business. Stay open and you might just enjoy the atmosphere!

To all shoppers, please support this event, see what Bexhill has to offer through the independent businesses we have in the town and bring your friends.

Looking forward to seeing you all on December 4 from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Margaret von Speyr

Sackville Road

There are double standards here, surely

It was with some interest that I read in the Observer dated November 13 of our MP Greg Barker's robust support for the No Campaign against the proposed possible landfill site at Ashdown Brickworks.

Mr Barker states: "There's a huge amount at stake" and is of the opinion that the value of homes in the area, the health of residents and the environment passed on to the next generation will all be affected.

I totally agree. However, how does Mr Barker square this view with his wholehearted support for the proposed 100 million-plus bypass of Bexhill, which will carve its concrete route through a very scenic valley and ruin forever the last open beautiful countryside between Bexhill and St Leonards.?

The bypass, if built, is to be followed by hundred of houses and numerous factories on existing farmland, no doubt lowering the value of present homes, generating even more carbon dioxide and little concern is being shown to local farmers and other families being forced to sell up and move. Mr Barker '“ double standards I suggest,

Bryan Hubble

Abbey View

This site is totally unsuitable for landfill use

As a new resident of Bexhill, I write to register my objection to the selection of the Ashdown Brickworks site off Turkey Road as the preferred option for a future landfill waste disposal site.

On many grounds, this is a totally unsuitable site for landfill waste disposal, which should not have been considered, let alone selected, as the preferred option.

The use of this site for major landfill waste disposal would seriously damage the nearby nature conservation sites, including a site of special scientific interest, greatly increase the rat and scavenging seagull populations, risk polluting waterways and contaminating public water supplies, and devalue residential properties in the vicinity.

Its harmful effect on tourism, of great importance to the commercial life of Bexhill, and on the health of the population close to such a site, including the new 1,600- pupil Bexhill High School (less than 700 metres from it) should make this proposal a non-starter.

The noise pollution, smells and vermin created by such a major waste disposal site would destroy the recreational amenity of the area, including the High Woods Golf Club.

Much greater emphasis on recycling waste would obviate the need for large landfill sites.

Other countries in Europe can do it... why can't we?

Dr Alan Whitehead

Grenada Close, Little Common

Let's have British rule for Brits

NOW that the Lisbon Treaty (aka EU Constitution) has received all 27 EU signatures we in East Sussex, England (sorry, I should say "South East Region", as the word, "England" is not part of the EU Federal State), will shortly by imposed upon by an unelected EU president.

Yes, you, East Sussex residents, won't even have the razzmatazz of the likes of a USA presidential election, where everyone has a vote.

Unelected EU bureaucrats, acquiesced, indeed supported by the Lib/Lab/Con will allow the European Union to "appoint", yes, appoint, without election, a person to preside over us.

The man promoted by many, including our unelected Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, was Tony Blair, the man who took us to an illegal war and presided over the sale of Britain's gold reserves at one of the lowest prices. Many of the EU states see Blair as the embarrassment for what he is and dropped him from the shortlist.

David Milliband has been muted as representing us as the proposed EU Foreign Minister. Well, here is another man who avoids answering the question. Have you noticed how none of the incumbent ministers are able to give a straightforward "yes" or "no" when being interviewed?

Well, following the allowances fiasco, if elected, I intend to make ministers give a yes or no answer and not pussy-foot around with words sitting on the fence.

We need an honest government that answers to questions clearly and decisively.

Indeed, we need a British government that represents British people; not a government that is ruled by continental powers that includes those that we defeated in the last two world wars. I am for British rule by British people, not continental powers. Please join me.

Tony Smith

PPC UK Independence Party

Brownbread Stud

Ashburnham, Battle

Well done, you helpful pupils

WELL done to the pupils of Charters Ancaster Preparatory and Nursery School for finding and sending a handbell for the Don McMath Foundation School in the Gambia.

My husband and I sponsor two children.

He knew Don, whose widow Ann (who lives in Bexhill) he named the school after, and we visited the school four years ago for the official opening.

It was an amazing and moving experience; the children and parents are so appreciative but also do a lot to help themselves.

If you would like to find out more or sponsor a child the website is www.donmcmath.org or I can tell you about it on 01424 893344 (daytime).

Hazel Hanley

Egerton Road

A truly great show

Through the pages of the Observer I wish to thank the combined Blods, young and older, for the most amazing production of Likes Of Us at the De La Warr Theatre.

The pure enthusiasm of the cast was electric. They acted with joy and danced their socks off. I never wanted it to end: some of it was hilariously funny, making us truly laugh.

I felt privileged to see it, especially as my granddaughter Hannah was in the cast.

Thank you very much indeed Blods for a thoroughly, wonderfully entertaining evening.

I cannot wait for Easter 2010 and your next production.

YVONNE LIGHTFOOT ST JOHN

Bexhill