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Readers' letters - July 1
THE LATEST readers' letters.
IT SEEMS to me that if Horsham District Council (HDC) persists with its plan to build 13,000 houses in the district by 2026 it will mean that it has lost touch with reality and will have betrayed the interests of the vast numbers of local residents.
Neither HDC nor the various development firms which appear intent on wrecking this part of Sussex seem to appreciate that there is widespread, virulent antipathy on the part of residents directed against them because of their ambition to destroy large swathes of our countryside.
Recently we have seen an enormous protest from people in Billingshurst, where 3,300 people signed a petition opposing building on green fields around the village and it was salutary that the developer, Barton Willmore, could not attract as much as one vote at a crowded meeting on June 9 in favour of its plan to create a desolate building site to the east of the village.
Surely HDC must realise that the instrument of New Labour's social engineering policy, the South East Plan, is dead.
Does it not know that the plan for a second runway at Gatwick, with the consequent expansion of the airport, is now only the stuff of dreams?
Is it not aware that the coalition government is actively discouraging migration to the South East by excluding new businesses in the region from the National Insurance concession because there is no money for the necessary infrastructure related to new development?
Have the developers not realised that an economic winter is coming and when it arrives in 2011, who will buy their houses then?
The vice-chairman of The Campaign to Protect Rural England (Sussex), Dr Roger Smith, quite rightly said (WSCT, June 24) that the current Horsham District Core Strategy Review should be terminated immediately because of the demise of the South East Plan.
Horsham district's need for housing should be reassessed and the number of houses to be built in our district reduced because the current figure of 13,000 is based on flawed and unrealistic assumptions about economic growth.
HDC needs to answer a simple question in simple language without jargon that everyone can understand. That question is, 'What is the rationale for their need to build 13,000 houses in Horsham district by 2026?'
Tell us and tell us now so we can demolish their argument.
GEORGE W. TRIBE
The Coopers, Itchingfield
WITH a bit of luck, George Osborne's 'tough' Budget might herald the dawn of a new golden age of austerity – on the lines experienced during the immediate post war years.
Just imagine, children would have to eat what's put in front of them without wingeing and not leave the table until they had finished.
They would also have to suffer the indignity of having cod liver oil thrust into them at regular intervals, made bearable by an equal consumption of malt extract. And let's not forget that Friday night dose of California syrup of figs – 'inner cleanliness' was all the rage in those far off days!
On the plus side, youngsters would enjoy a far more adventurous childhood like playing conkers, climbing trees and getting into all kinds of muddy scrapes, proud of their Elastoplast covered knees.
And the kids would be far more healthy, sweets being limited to no more than 12 ounces a month. With the introduction of rationing, obesity and over indulgence would become a thing of the past. What a blessing for the NHS.
Blackouts would once again become the norm – forcing us all to create our own kind of amusement, rather than being slouched in front of the TV or computer. And baths would be limited to one a week with no more than two inches of water please!
Perhaps some form of rigorous National Service could be reintroduced – for both young men and women.
That should help curb weekend binge drinking by both lads and ladettes, thus creating a safer environment for the rest of us.
'Make do and mend' would once again become an austerity clarion call – clothes and shoes would have to last longer and a new market would emerge for the repair of all types of electrical goods.
And it is just possible that that scourge of modern living – the mobile phone – would be ditched in favour of actual personal contact.
Travel by motor car would of course become prohibitive, creating a greater demand for the pedal cycle and more efficient public transport, which can't be bad.
Alas, I don't see my dream coming to fruition however tough the results of the Budget turn out to be.
But a bit of hard graft and austerity really would be good for all of us, wouldn't it?
Oh yes – just one more thing – don't forget to put them lights out!
ROBERT B. WORLEY
Ayshe Court Drive, Horsham
I AM WRITING about the article headlined 'Sewage in Arun tributary traced to care home leaks' in the County Times on June 18.
We were disappointed with the apparent one-sided nature of this article. Some of the points are not accurate.
This was a technical breach and there was no negligence.
The article did not appear balanced particularly in not noticing any of the following comments made in the summing up of this case:
1) 'There is no evidence of any fish deaths or harm to macro invertebrates caused by this offence.'
2) 'The defendants engaged consultants from 1985 to maintain the sewage treatment plant and to advise on its operation. I understand that the defendants followed the advice of their consultants and have paid for maintenance and upgrading of the plant as necessary over the years in an attempt to secure compliance with the consent conditions.'
3) 'When it became clear to the defendants back in October 2008 that the plant was failing its consent despite their best efforts, they immediately engaged other consultants who advised that a new sewage treatment plant would be required to rectify the position.'
4) 'The defendants have now commissioned a new plant for which the Agency granted consent on March 10, 2010. This should be able to deal with the amount of effluent being discharged by the home.'
5) 'Installation of the new plant on site began on April 14, 2010. This is now operational and pending construction of a new drainage system from the home to the new plant, effluent is being over-pumped from the old works to the new one. Therefore, there are no longer any discharges direct from the old system.'
Finally we were not contacted at any stage by your staff or given an opportunity to comment on the content of your article before it was published.
We take issues of the environment very seriously and deeply regret that this incident happened, which has occurred despite our best efforts.
As you will note The Environment Agency accepted that there was no evidence of any fish deaths or harm to macro invertebrates as a result of the discharge.
The court understood that the failure occurred despite the fact that we had employed competent consultants to advise us on the maintenance and operation of the plant and had paid for upgrades and maintenance whenever required.
Our total spend in this area has exceeded 205,000 over three years.
Following advice from our new consultants, we have installed a new sewage treatment plant at the home that will ensure that there will be no future problems.
My partner and I would like you to print this letter to allow us the chance to ensure all the factors in this case are fully understood.
S.N. BOGHANI
Partner
Sussex Health Care
Dorking Road Warnham
IT BEGGARS belief that we read the council will have to make 'tough' decisions over cuts.
Youth projects and day centres are at risk BUT they can buy breakfasts in a campaign to get 'people on their bikes'.
They really need to work out what's essential and what's not and the breakfasts aren't.
It's not justifed so they needn't even try.
Perhaps they could also do away with the self-marketing section.
We pay the council to provide essental services, not to tell us what they are doing and how well they are doing it - we know how to find that out if we so wish.
LINDA GREED
Farhalls Crescent, Horsham
MY PARTNER and I are emotionally exhilarated after attending the excellent production of Les Miserables by Tanbridge House School at the Capitol Theatre in Horsham.
I have seen the West End production three times and Tanbridge House more than met my expectations.
The teamwork between the cast, the orchestra and the staff was professional.
The actors' identification with their roles was far beyond their years.
The choice of the play enabled a great deal of discussion and learning for all who took part as the actors dealt with the highly emotional, social and political issues.
This was also true for the audience. Added to which, several of the performances had touches of real humour and passion.
The hidden orchestra provided a very competent foundation for the whole production with moments of sheer lyrical delight.
There was talent, stagecraft and enthusiasm, but what made it such an enjoyable evening - AND moved my partner and I deeply – was the reality of human experience created by these young people out of the complex and very demanding material of Les Miserables.
JEAN GRAINGER
Shipley Road Southwater
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Weather for Horsham
Thursday 09 February 2012
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