Your letters - February 19

The waste debate

A RECENTLY published survey of waste disposal sites in the Sussex area shows several possible areas east of Lewes and only one in Rother-Bexhill; the clay pit left by industrial activity along Turkey Road.

Facts: all human activity creates some degree of waste. We can, with our current technology, recycle increasing percentages of the waste we all create, but so far not all of it.

Should we incinerate the remaining waste we reduce the quantity we would need to bury. The heat generated by the incineration can provide us with a useful source of energy but the process will create more CO2 and so contribute towards the greenhouse gas problems.

Should we decide to bury what is left after our first efforts to recycle, then some will decompose over time, a long time; and we hand on the problem to future generations. However, research may find a way of disposing of that waste without creating other problems. We should, I believe, concentrate our efforts in reducing the scale of the problem we are handing on.

To simply be against the use of the Turkey Road site to bury our problem, is ducking the issue. In effect BALI is saying that they do not want the facility, any facility, here; let someone else have it; and in any case where is here? There is, or there will be very quickly, an organisation ready to oppose the transhipment of our waste to their doorstep. We have, in this area, only one site left. So is it not possible to accept responsibility for our waste and seek to mitigate the quantity, the disruption and the timescale of the disposal solution.

I am suspicious of those that are simply "against". The waste is going to go somewhere and BALI promotes itself as representing Bexhill. Should a decision be made that the present site between Bexhill and St Leonards be continued and the countryside park scrapped, would they be so keen to strongly oppose that solution? Of course, a hole to take the waste or an incinerator would have to be built first so possibly there is time for BALI (west) to become BALI (east) as well.

NEVILLE WRIGHT

Buckholt Avenue

Bexhill

Beachfront plan

As certain people are still unsure of my plans and intentions for my beach at Herbrand Walk, I would like to offer the following explanations:

Re: schools. As the beach is under used during term time weekdays, my idea is to offer the schools and local youth organisations use of the kayaks and facilities for free.

I'm hoping they will enjoy it and come back with their friends and families at weekends, evenings and holidays and hire one of my kayaks.

Initially I contacted six schools to get a response regarding kayaking, two private and four local council schools. The two private schools have already agreed to take up my offer. The local schools have yet to respond, probably not being able to until the result of my planning is known.

Ifobjectors think that this isdeceitful,then they'reentitled totheir opinion.

Re: parking for beach hut users. Perhaps objectors should take a trip down to Herbrand Walk and see the parking arrangements for the 54 beach huts already there. Most of the current ownerspark on the double yellow lines and theones with parking spaceshave to reverse back out onto the carriageway. If all the current hut owners turned up at once it would become a bottleneck and single lane traffic.

The idea of putting cycle racks at the beach is that local schools and residents will be able to cycle to the beach, secure their cycles and enjoy the facilities, therefore reducing road traffic. The schools will not be turning up in 54 seat coaches but in minibuses. A hardstanding area next to the toilets and lifeguard hut is being set aside for two minibuses and eight disabled parking spaces.

Re: beach maintenance. I have lived in Bexhill for the last four years paying BandE council tax. From the Cooden Beach Hotel to the fishing huts to the west, the beach to the mean high water mark is all privately owned.

Perhaps the current beach hut owners along Herbrand Walk (many of whom do not even live in Bexhill) would also like to contribute some more towards the sea defence maintenance. At present the rates payable by them are about 44 per year.

As I've said before, I have no problem in contributing towards the ongoing maintenance of the sea defences.

STEVE HALL

Collington Avenue

Bexhill

Armed Forces parade

IN reply to the letter from John Ellis, your readers may be interested to learn that the Bexhill-on-Sea and District Veterans' Association is currently organising an Armed Forces Day Parade to be held in Egerton Park on Saturday June 26 from 10.30am to 5pm.

The day will commence with a parade consisting of local veterans' assocations, serving members of the Armed Forces, TA units, local cadets and members of the Guides and Scouts amongst others yet to confirm. The parade will be followed by a short drumhead service after which the salute will be taken by the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, before the parade disbands.

Throughout the afternoon, stallholders will be present around the area of the park, consisting of local charities, support groups, retailers and craftsmen, the day being an ideal 'shop window' for these organisations and businesses to advertise their services. Alongside these, there will be plenty of activities to keep the children amused. Refreshments and snacks will be available throughout the day and various events, including a tug-of-war, will be held in a central arena to entertain members of the public, and music will be provided throughout the day by the Royal British Legion Band, Little Common.

Entry to the park will be free, however we are collecting valuable funds for our nominated charity Help For Heroes, and it is hoped that visitors will make a generous donation in the collection buckets provided. This will be the first time that such an event has been held in the town and we hope that the day will be well supported by the people of Bexhill-on-Sea and surrounding areas.

Although this event is not on such a large scale as the one suggested by John, it is hoped that the Bexhill Armed Forces Day Parade will put Bexhill well and truly on the local map at least and that the event will be a great success and become an annnual event in the town.

Anyone interested in providing a stall during the event should contact me for further details call 01424 220917 or e-mail [email protected]

STUART MARFLEET

Branch secretary

Bexhill-on-Sea and District Veterans Association

Lack of democracy

I WAS interested to read in last week's Observer that two separate readers' letters mentioned the word democracy (lack of) when referring to Rother District Council. This word appears to be missing from RDC councillors' vocabulary.

A previous Observer article concerning opposition to the granting of licences for open air functions on the Polgrove, reported that the RDC head of amenities was "aware of the opposition" but she did not add "but as usual we will ignore the overwhelming opinions of our ratepayers and proceed with our own agenda irrespectively".

The proposed desecration of our beloved seafront and Colonnade is a prime example of the RDC attitude to any opposition to their plans.

Councillors beware at the next local elections.

E KNIGHT

Hastings Road

Bexhill

Help for Heroes

ON behalf of myself and staff I wish belatedly to thank all the very kind and generous people who contrbuted to our Help for Heroes evening at the Christmas late opening in Bexhill.

We have only just recieved confirmation from the charity organisers that the total raised was 1,000.