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Letters to the editor - August 26
THIS week's letters to the editor.
THE NEW York Times printed it word for word and described it as 'the greatest speech since President Lincoln's Gettysburg address'. Nearly 30 years ago, Jimmy Reid's rectorial address at Glasgow University electrified his audience. It was a stunning rejection of alienation in society and a moving affirmation of human worth.
For today, it is a salutary reminder of how far we have yet to go. The interim period since Reid's address has contained episodes that have been bloody and intensely divisive. Baser instincts have deadened the raw humanity in his message.
In the next few years, more that a million people are predicted to join the ranks of the unemployed, currently 2.5m, without any real guarantee of acceptable alternatives.
Reid's comment 'From the very depth of my being, I challenge the right of and man or any group of men, in business or in government, to tell a fellow human being that he or she is expendable' is a sobering reflection on the human cost involved.
On another front, according to the chief officer of the National Housing Federation, 'we are in the midst of an unprecedented housing crisis unparalleled in its breadth and depth'.
Conflicting interest is paralysing response and the young and the less affluent in particular lose out in the continuing wrangle.
We argue about the meaning and intentions behind David Cameron's 'Big Society'. The practice is not new and the question, for instance, is not 'private or public?' Or even whether there are sufficient volunteers capable of doing what is required?
Many years of experience in the voluntary sector in association with other agencies taught me that 'who does what to best effect?' is a more appropriate question.
The answer may derive from complex consideration and vary between circumstances. Making judgements cemented in ideological obsession is a recipe for inferior results and increased costs.
As for a definition of the 'Big Society', Reid's belief that, 'Man is a social being. Real fulfilment for any person lies in service to his fellow men and women' makes powerful sense.
ERIK SHOPLAND
Denne Road, Horsham
I WAS outraged by the front page report in the South Downs edition of the County Times of August 12. It is perhaps one of the most irresponsible pieces of newspaper reporting I have seen in a very long time.
The whole piece was dedicated to the views of Jean Locker and the TVA (Thakeham Village Action) and gave no opportunity for the other side (and by that I don't just mean the developers but those Thakeham residents who actually have no problem with the proposed development) to give their view.
Moreover, your paper chose to print a form in which people could only object to the proposal. Surely it would at least have been fair to everyone concerned to print a form in which your readers could comment either way?
I live in Thakeham and I am not alone in being, in principle, in support of the proposed new housing here. Mrs Locker claims that the development would be 'the death of the village' and that 'the characteristic village atmosphere... would disappear'.
What your readers may not be aware of is that in the area of the 'village' in which the development is proposed, there is already a great deal of dense housing and no perceptible village atmosphere.
As far as I am aware Mrs Locker and her TVA team have not even bothered to gauge the opinions of residents here before speaking with the media and distributing materials to residents which are, in some cases, at best misleading and at worst, outright incorrect.
I hope in future that your paper will take a more responsible stance in reporting matters which affect so many people.
LUCY MCDOWELL
Storrington Road, Thakeham
I WRITE in response to the feature in the August 12 County Times relating to affordable rural housing, and join the National Housing Federation in applauding the efforts of Horsham District Council (HDC) for setting an example towards tackling the shortage of affordable homes in the district.
It is an undisputed fact that the expanding population in the South East, caused by natural increases amongst existing residents, combined with an influx of immigrants and the growing number of smaller households, have resulted in increased competition for housing and associated inflated house prices.
These factors combine to the disadvantage of those on lower incomes, particularly young people and key workers, who cannot compete with inward migrants.
Billingshurst is typical of many communities in that whilst it has experienced expansion over recent years, an outward flow of younger people has, and continues to, occur. This situation is exacerbated as the proportion of older people is rising because the area is attractive to retirees with available income to compete for housing supply.
I would fully concur that the provision of affordable housing within the district must be made a priority if people are to remain and sustain their communities.
However, I would question the current logic of HDC when assessing strategic housing provision of continuing to focus that provision on a limited number of strategic locations within the district.
Although, as we have read over recent weeks, the South East Plan has been revoked and with it the 13,000 new houses imposed upon our district by previous Government, HDC still believes that it needs to build the same or a greater number of houses in the period up to 2026.
These numbers are simply staggering and can be brought into context when it is considered that the number of people living in these new houses will be about 20 per cent more than the entire population of Chichester. This is despite previous statements by HDC that, if it were not for the existence of the South East Plan, the housing numbers needed to be accommodated by the district would be substantially lower.
Furthermore, as was announced in February, HDC is now to focus upon only four strategic sites within the district to accommodate this massive development (West of Ifield, North Horsham, West of Southwater and East of Billingshurst), together with a 'possible new market town' to be constructed in an as yet undisclosed location.
Achieving the Government target of 40 per cent for affordable housing associated with these developments would result in an affordable housing allocation of approximately 5,200 houses. I would argue that this provision will far exceed local demand, leading to a further increase of inward migration.
By concentrating affordable housing in a very limited number of key locations, the problems associated with shortages of affordable housing in the rest of the district are not being addressed. In order to access affordable housing, younger people who are currently living with parents or relatives or are in rented accommodation will be forced to move away from their village and/or area of work in order to buy a home.
Those that have already been forced into this situation will stand little chance of returning as appropriate housing is not available.
This trend is leading to fragmentation of families, with younger generations being forced to move away, meaning that local jobs in smaller settlements cannot be filled and school pupil numbers are beginning to fall to a level that makes the local school vulnerable to closure. Conversely, school places are at a premium in those settlements 'lucky' enough to be selected for large scale development.
As an alternative to the provision of large volumes of affordable housing in a small number of strategic locations, I would endorse the recommendations of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission and the National Housing Federation 'Save Our Villages' Campaign, which support the provision of affordable housing in every settlement in order to meet existing need and to support the retention and viability of existing communities.
ANDREW TULLETT
Daux Avenue, Billingshurst
YOUR article 'Call for local powers to keep out retail giants' (August 19) mentions that we are losing The Fabric Shop and Mabu Leather (which has now gone) from Horsham's Swan Walk. It is a great shame that you did not point out that these shops were thriving businesses which have left Swan Walk to free up more retail space to offer to a larger chain store.
It is bad enough seeing shops and businesses going under because of the recession but to see thriving businesses being told to move out is quite unbelievable and unacceptable. How can Swan Walk justify itsactions? Both these shops have been in Swan Walk for many years.
They have survived the recession and have continued to do well.
If Swan Walk wants to rearrange its units so that it can offer one large unit to a 'chain store', because it has not been able to fill the smaller units left vacant, then surely it has a duty to provide alternative viable units to the retailers it wants to move.
Mabu Leather - a unique business in Horsham - has now gone. The Fabric Shop is still there - though closing down. If they go, we will only have The Cloth Store selling all our fabric and sewing needs and no-one, other than Wilkinsons on a seasonal basis, selling wools and patterns.
Perhaps the real reason the smaller units have not been filled is that the rents and rates are too high, especially for smaller businesses, as mentioned in your article.
We should show our support for the independent stores.
JO BENSON (Mrs)
Kennedy Road, Horsham
REGARDING your article about ragwort, growing up part of a farming family in the heart of Suffolk, I've always been aware of the damaging effect of this terrible weed.
Ragwort caused more heartache, anger and consternation to the people that had any interest in the land than virtually any other pest.
I even remember that the subject came to blows between two neighbouring farmers.
I had to laugh with distain at the various councils' attitudes mentioned in the article. My family and I visited Warnham reserve recently only to be welcomed by an enormous ragwort plant.
The verges are covered with the weed, Southwater park is covered, I've even seen it growing behind the council offices in Horsham.
Let's not pretend that the councils care but are 'powerless', they can't even look after their own patch.
The real issue here is the distended management of the countryside, very few have a vested interest in the upkeep of the land, their livelihoods don't depend on the land.
MIKE PARSONS
Orchard Road, Horsham
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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