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This week's letters - June 4
THIS week's letters.
SO WILL the recent election result and the new style of government herald a bright new dawn for the people of Horsham?
Having voted for change as Francis Maude urged them to do on his campaign posters, will residents of the constituency be bowled over by a whirlwind of exciting initiatives that represent empowerment of local communities?
Not if the comments from local politicians reported in last week's County Times are anything to go by.
Under a headline announcing 'Pressure fears for jobs and services' we have Horsham District Council leader Robert Nye bleating on once again about cuts but claiming that he will prioritise spending to take account of 'our communities' needs and aspirations'.
That was the same claim made at the recent budget and council meetings when we saw the priorities of the less well off in our communities for affordable housing and affordable child care dismissed by local Tories.
Unpopular policies such as the pedestrianisation of Horsham's East Street, the increase in parking charges and the future plans for the Old Town Hall show scant regard for the empowerment of communities or of their needs and aspirations.
But what of the Tories' new best friends the Liberal Democrats, any signs of renewed hope there?
Not really. Their new group leader is the old group leader who stood down two years ago because, he says, he came to the conclusion that it was almost impossible to make a difference.
But in the new style of government he now feels that there is an opportunity to work with the Tories to reach 'passionate, positive, consensus'.
And this is the party that for years has claimed that it was the only real alternative to the Tories in Horsham.
They have persuaded many people to vote tactically to ensure a strong opposition, but the reality is it seems that they never felt they could achieve anything.
Perhaps they would have more influence if they could reach passionate, positive consensus with some of their own councillors and could persuade them to vote more consistently on party lines in the council chamber, or if they could find a few more councillors who were able to spend a little more time living in the district.
It hardly seems appropriate to give up the role of opposition when there is so much that the ruling group has failed to address, particularly for the most vulnerable.
By giving up opposition the Lib Dems have demonstrated that they are not the alternative to the Tories in Horsham but that their new message is 'vote Liberal, get Tory'.
Let's hope that when it comes to the local elections the Liberal Democrats will be a bit more honest about their own position and encourage voters to vote Labour if they want a party that will stand up to the Tories.
CAROL HAYTON
Horsham Labour Party
Clarence Road, Horsham
AND AGAIN... I could hardly believe what I saw on May 26, when I took someone to the laundrette in Swindon Road, Horsham.
It was 9.20am and I helped her into the shop with her bags and ten minutes later returned to my car. A penalty notice had been placed on my windscreen.
I had forgotten in that short time to place my Blue Badge on the dashboard. There was very little traffic about at the time and the car was not causing any obstruction.
Two similar incidents illustrate the level of triviality to which the enforcement authority has sunk.
A few months ago, I parked my car at the top of the Causeway, placed my Blue Badge on the dashboard and returned within 20 minutes.
A penalty charge had been fixed to the windscreen – this time the reason given was that I had neglected to adjust the time on the Blue Badge clock!
The other incident occurred outside my own house! It is in a quiet road and it was a quiet Saturday afternoon.
I had just returned from holiday and was unloading my luggage. When I returned to the car to put it in the drive, I noticed that another penalty charge had been placed on the windscreen.
The traffic warden was nowhere to be seen. Do they run away fast or hide behind a tree and watch the reaction of the hapless motorist?
To describe these shenanigans as a source of irritation to someone who has driven, accident-free, for 65 years and is a member of the IAM, would be a gross understatement.
If I had committed a full blown parking offence, such as obstructing or endangering other drivers or pedestrians or blocking another vehicle, a fine could be absolutely justified.
I consider such petty offences as outlined above – so minor as to be inconsequential. And utterly trivial.
To fine someone 70 with the option of a reduction if paid sooner is quite outrageous.
In my book, it reads legalised theft? I hope that Horsham District Council, which has the power to withdraw such charges, might squirm with discomfort at this - 'Fiat justicia ruat coelum' ('May justice be done though the heavens fall').
MARY RADFORD
Three Acres
Horsham
IN RESPONSE to the letter from councillors Christine Costin and Sheila Van Den Bergh (May 28), I am never again coming to shop in Horsham.
We had not been in to Horsham to shop for some time and felt we really must go again, which we duly did.
I am disabled and we therefore went to a parking space for the disabled in the car park.
We were dismayed to discover that I had to pay to park in the disabled space. Nowhere else have I ever been charged to park in a disabled space.
Why should I come to Horsham to shop and have to pay to park, when I can go to shop in Chichester, which is equally distant, and not have to pay for disabled parking?
We may be talking about 4 or 5 only, but quite apart from the principle of the thing, to some of us elderly disabled this is quite a lot of money.
I imagine that a number of other towns in the vicinity will benefit from disabled shoppers at Horsham's expense.
VERA WOOLF (Mrs)
Monkmead Copse
West Chiltington
I REFER to the letter from Christine Costin and Sheila Van Den Bergh encouraging local traders and Horsham District Council to take account of the needs of older people.
I would like to reinforce this sentiment. The UK is going through an enormous demographic transition. The first 'baby boomers' born after the Second World War are now drawing their pensions and the number of people over state pension Age is overtaking the number of children.
This demographic shift is something we all need to come to terms with, not least by making sure that our towns and public spaces work for us.
And as Ms Costin and Ms Van Den Bergh point out, design that meets our needs as we get older, invariably also helps everyone else. This is real inclusivity.
PHILIPPA ALDRICH
The Future Perfect Company
Winner, Best New Business, West Sussex County Times Business Awards
Goldthorpe Industrial Estate, Goldthorpe, Rotherham
WE WOULD like to say a very big thank you to all our customers for their support and nominations - without you we would not have won our award in the County Times Business Awards 2010.
Thank you also to the County Times and everyone who sponsored and organised a lovely evening for the awards ceremony in the beautiful setting of Christ's Hospital.
ANN and VINCE CASSAR
Town and Country Weigh
East Street, Horsham
GOING to A&E or a visit to the dentist seems much less stressful than a visit to the Horsham tip.
I know I'm not alone in this relatively new epidemic 'Tip Man Phobia'. As I drive there I feel the impending doom of being treated and spoken to with less regard than my load.
I now feel that I must warn your readers of an even newer phenomenon 'Security Tip Man'.
He will let you drive into Horsham tip and start to unload and just as the nerves have settled and palms dried he pounces with an onslaught of rules and regulations. Then he will start a more stringent search of your load than a drug mule would receive at Gatwick Airport.
Then to cap it all your car make and model and number plate are written down, then ST Man asks for your personal details.
Should you have the front to refuse you will be told you will be processed.
You are now living in fear of some kind of processor, where will it end? Help ME and other sufferers!
Although I have tried my best to keep this as light-hearted as possible please can someone or some sign make it clear to us in what capacity I am actually allowed to use my local tip?
Lastly please could someone explain to the recycling operatives that if we were really that bad we wouldn't be there in the first place.
GRANT LAING
Coneyhurst, Billingshurst
REGARDING the article about two van-loads of litter being picked up in an area of Horsham, I had a walk on May 24 in my lunch break behind St Mary's Church in Horsham, just over the bridge that connects to the cricket ground, and was appalled by the amount of rubbish left by a tiny full up bin.
This was due to lack of services to empty the bin and not people 'littering'. Maybe we should concentrate on emptying bins so those that want to use them can, rather than wasting money in areas where people like to live in their own filth.
While we are on the subject of litter, could you explain why refuse collection staff that spill waste all over the road when collecting bins feel that they should not clean up the mess they have caused?
Surely they are supplied with a broom on board the vans to allow them to sweep up after themselves?
ANDREW WEST
North Street, Horsham
WHO ON earth gave the order to purchase the new very expensive side tipping bin wagons?
The vehicles concerned are a joke. They cause stress to the operators.
The majority of the public are not in favour of them.
Our streets and roads are not suited for these side-loading machines.
The back-loading machines are perfect for our roads and streets.
Council tax money should be spent wisely. Get rid of them!
JOHN C. PORRITT
Innes Road, Horsham
ON BEHALF of the branch, we wish to say thank you very much to the people of Horsham and the surrounding area for your generous donations, totalling 477.01, collected recently in Horsham town.
It is essential that we continue to receive these donations, as it enables us to carry out the valuable work of helping those suffering with dementia and their carers in the local area.
Thank you again for supporting us.
CAROLE GLOVER
Services administrator, Central Sussex Branch, The Alzheimer's Society
Brighton Road, Crawley
IT WAS nice to see the article about Andy and Ann Potter in the County Times on May 28.
I have known Ann for a number of years and she truly is a champion person when it comes to foster and respite care.
She is very active in the disability social scene and always manages to attend the various activities I organise and give the people in her care a full, engaged and varied life.
More power to her and people like her.
NICK JENKINS
Community development officer - arts, Horsham District Council
North Street, Horsham
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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