Your letters - June 5

Greg's not all bad

I AM very concerned about what is happening to our Government at this time of financial crisis.

I am, to say the very least disappointed in the way some MPs have "milked the system" and I have to say I am bewildered that some really ridiculous claims have been made ie cleaning moats, large screen TVs and other such silly things.

The thing that is even more bewildering is that the claims were allowed in the first place, so the person in charge should be made to come forward and explain why they allowed these to go through.

All that having been said we have to look at this problem logically, there are a great number of very hardworking MPs that do a really good job and they will lose their jobs through no fault of their own which is unfair '“ so instead of everyone rushing for blood, think again because it is your future your playing with by either not voting or voting for a little known party etc (I appreciate we are all angry about the situation, I am totally with you there).

On the subject of our MP Mr Barker '“ as an MP my husband and I have found him to be a hardworking person and keen to help the people and organisations of Bexhill and surrounding areas. Also we have found him to be honest and forthright and we believe his explanation about his expenses, we look forward to seeing them when they are published or available online to read.

MPs have come and gone in this area and he in our opinion is the best and most hard working we have known.

The newspapers are dragging this whole thing out by drip-feeding information every day.

They should be more responsible considering the situation our country is in financially and the Government. Labour, Conservative and Liberals all realise how important it is to sort this mess out quickly and we have to let them do it.

Mr Cameron has already brought his MPs into line awaiting the Government's new proposals, so let's give them a chance to sort this mess out, as I am sure it will be.

Local elections are coming up soon and we will be using our votes.

B GEBBIE

Old Mill Park

Bexhill

Tories will keep him

I SEE that several of your recent correspondents have been having a pop at Bexhill councillor Brian Kentfield and the Bexhill Conservatives both for adopting Greg Barker in the first place and then for continuing to support him after the full range of his antic transgressions became to public attention.

This is probably a little unfair, at least as far as the adoption process was concerned. Whatever Bexhill people might think, the constituency ranges a little beyond their town limits and the local party draws its membership accordingly. And as in most such cases there is a considerable range of types and backgrounds in the mix. At the risk of sounding a tad elitist, the Bexhill Conservatives are mainly of lower middle class origin and often in trade; whereas the Battle/Rye contingent have much higher social standing and lurk behind duck-filled moats, reeking muskily of "old money".

At the time of candidate selection, the Bexhillians did not, on the whole, take to Barker, regarding him as a grubby little counter-jumper, but he was heavily backed by the jodhpur-and-cord set from the rural fringes and they carried the day. At first sight this may seem odd but at that time Barker was married '“ apparently happily '“ to a charming girl with impeccable local connections (viz the duck-filled moats).

Barker himself has rather hairy heels, hailing from a car-dealing West Sussex family, and made his own big bucks '“ surprisingly quickly '“ in "business" and Russia. He seemed to know all the "right" people and, although obviously on the make, offered a truly remarkable level of self regard. Most old families boast at least one such member, often as founding father, but usually (unlike Barker) they have the sense to make sure that their escapades remain below the radar for a respectable period of time '“ say a 100 years '“ and they make absolutely sure, come Hell or high water, that they stay married to the "right" filly.

Now, of course, the case is somewhat altered. Barker, with a few more moons under his belt and apparently basking in the glow of Cameronian sunlight, feels more secure as incumbent and therefore less dependent on the old toffs of the country. He will also assume that voter apathy will soon resume in his favour.

Meanwhile (for the present at least) poor old Councillor Kentfield and Co in Bexhill are squeezed between the moated toffs in Rother and Flash Harry at Westminster and feel they have little option but (in the immortal words of Tammy Wynette) to stand by their man. But watch this space.

TH COBBETT

London Road

Battle

Get out and vote

POLITICS has been described as "the art of the possible".

In recent weeks we have learnt how some of our professional politicians have behaved in achieving what they have found to be possible.

However, there are many positive possibilities in politics that we can all pursue, and, as we have seen, we can no longer afford to let politics be an activity for a small elite group of professionals.

Fundamental to our political democracy is the right to vote. We can hardly complain when things go wrong if we choose not to participate in electing the very people who are responsible for governing us, whether in national or local elections.

If there is one thing that we can do to influence decisions made by government, which affect every aspect of our lives, it is to exercise our right to vote.

PETER WEBB

Glenleigh Park Road

Bexhill

Fees are ridiculous

THE cabinet of Rother District Council has approved the fees to be paid to the new architect in charge of the Next Wave scheme .

I find it utterly inconceivable that a responsible body should approve a specific sum of 496,200 plus VAT of 86,835 in payment of fees for designs that have not yet been submitted. This is to be paid to the new architect to oversee the money to be spent on the modernising of the seafront.

The calculation of this payment is presumably based on a faulty and misconceived concept plan which was extravagantly costed out at a total of 4,700,000 and submitted by another architect.

What architect can possibly be worth 496,200 to do this work? Human nature being what it is this Cabinet decision gives the architect carte blanche to do what he likes with our money.

There are vital questions to be answered:

n Who in the council will brief the new architect by writing out a formal list of items which must be included and pointing out quite clearly:-

That this is an Edwardian town which appeals to the public for historic and aesthetic reasons

That this is largely a maintenance and general improvement program rather than a wholesale architectural project

That the remit of the new project manager presumably includes responsibility for overseeing the cost of the works.

n How is the arrangement with CABE (The Commission for the Built Environment) being involved in the process? Does the council not realise that by abasing itself before this bureaucratic quango it is losing any control over the design and extent of the work on the seafront? Does it not realise that by careful attention to design detail costings it can save more than the 1m offered by CABE?

n Have the councillors read the letters from Messrs Hamilton and Seabrook in the Observer of May 15? These letters sum up the Bexhill position very succinctly and indicate that some radical re-assessments must be made urgently by councillors and council officers.

B STREAT

Cantelupe Road

Bexhill

Come for a dog walk

I AM arranging a sponsored dog walk (with or without dog) in aid of Dogs for the Disabled on Sunday June 14 starting at 10.30am from the Cooden Beach Hotel, Bexhill.

We will be walking from the Hotel to Galley Hill and then back again which is approximately 10km. This is a level walk suitable for all abilities.

The object of this walk is to raise funds for Dogs for the Disabled so please come along and join us! If you are unable to participate in the walk then come and support us anyway, and give us a friendly wave as we pass by and also maybe put a few coins into our collecting tins.

Entry forms can be obtained from me at Donaldson Dunstall Solicitors, 48 Parkhurst Road, Bexhill on Sea (01424 216329) or by email to [email protected]. If you are under 14 you are very welcome to take part but you should bring an adult with you.

A local partnership, Monica and her dog Erin, will also be there to say hello. These assistance dogs are absolutely fantastic and they can help out in so many ways, making life easier for their disabled owners. So please come along and support us! Every pound raised will be gratefully received by this deserving charity.

JANE STRICKLAND

St Leonards

Thanks to you all

THROUGH your letters page, I would like to pass on the sincere thanks and gratitude from our family to all the staff at Lindsay Hall EMI Nursing Home in Dorset Road, Bexhill for the continuing care given to my father, Gordon Scotcher of Glenleigh Park Road, until his recent passing.

My dear dad had several respite visits over the last few years to Lindsay Hall during his illness with Parkinson's Disease.

We were always extremely happy and comfortable with the level of care and kindness shown to him and the immediate family by all the staff concerned. Leaving a loved one in care was a very strenuous decision to make, but a necessary one to enable my mother (herself in her late 70s and his 24/7 carer for many years) to take a rest from a very exhausting and demanding position.

We had arranged care for my dad in another local EMI home before he first went to Lindsay Hall '“ but they did not come even close to the experience of the staff at Lindsay Hall.

When my Father was admitted to the Conquest Hospital in September 2008, after one month the local health authority made arrangements for him to go into Continuing Care.

We were pleased and relieved to have been able to find a place within Lindsay Hall for this care, knowing that he would be in a place in which he was comfortable and well looked after.

From senior management to the kitchen and laundry staff, each and every one of them showed 100 per cent compassion, care and faultless nursing '“ we could not have asked for better care and are totally indebted to them all.

We would like to mention the wonderful Lynn, Mary, Breeda, Simon, Lenny, Laurie, Victoria, John & John (both on night staff), Liana, Julie, Angie, Sophia, Holly, Natalie, Louise (night staff), Sue, Joy, Fran, Sue (from Morocco), Jenny, Nathan and everyone else I am sorry I have missed.

The understanding and love that everyone showed not only to my dad who suffered this cruel and debilitating disease '“ but also in particular to my mum and to all the family sitting by watching our loved one pass '“ was outstanding. Nothing was ever too much trouble for the staff '“ we were fed and watered by the staff to keep us going and during the last two weeks of Dad's life we were even given the added comfort of being able to stay with him all night until he passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the kindness and compassion you showed to us all, for the beautiful flowers and to Holly and Sophia for attending the funeral.Many thanks again '“ we are forever grateful '“ we miss you all.

LEANNE SCOTCHER

Battle Road

St Leonards

Parking not problem before

REGARDING the Herbrand Walk issue '“ Mr Hall stated that he had to implement clamping because the council would not allow him to install bollards.

On the basis that Mr Hall has owned the piece of land in question for some time before the jet-ski application is he sure that sour grapes have not entered the equation?

I say that because, as far as I know, parking on that stretch of beach has not been a problem before now.

Also, he stated that he had instructed the clamping firm not to clamp visitors who park their vehicles simply to look at the sea (and presumably walk/sit on the beach) '“ with this in mind, is he willing to instruct the company to reimburse all of those unfortunate people who were clamped last (bank holiday) weekend?

He clearly stated that the clamps were to deter 'travellers' '“ the people, and vehicles, pictured on your front page did not look as if they were part of that community to me!

M J CHRISTIE

Reginald Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

Venomous attack unjustified