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This week's letters - May 28
THE latest letters from our readers.
Social housing
With reference to the proposed, new neighbourhood of Kilnwood Vale.
I note that phase one of the project is to be for 300 homes; with 20 per cent being affordable housing, (presumably the other 80 per cent will be unaffordable housing!)
There must be a huge amount of money swilling around from the sale of `social (council)housing` over the years. I understand that central government will not allow councils access to this money. They should!
Ideally, I would like the new estate to be 100 per cent social housing, and kept that way. However, if the new estate has to be built by developers, where profit, not social need, is the priority, then I would urge the council to increase the social housing content to nearer 50 per cent .
I have lived in Crawley long enough to remember when it was a socialist town, with a socialist council, whose priority was social need, rather than just profitability.
I wish that we could return to that outlook.
Trevor Wilkinson, Tilgate
Mayor's thanks
A new mayor was sworn in on Friday night at the Full Council meeting. He will be a great asset for Crawley and I wish him well In my hand over, I omitted to thank someone and would like to make amends now. TS Cossack have been very supportive to me over the months, as have many other groups.
On Friday a team of Cadets from TS Cossack arrived to watch the proceedings and one of them had the honour of escorting me into the chamber.
Thank you Cossack and thank you Junior Cadet Burrett. Your help was greatly appreciated. Well done.
Thank you to all those who have helped over the year. I know the new mayor will have a fabulous year. I know he too can rely on everyone's support and encouragement. Best wishes to the Worshipful Mayor of Crawley, Cllr Lee Burke.
Cllr Brenda Burgess, Crawley Borough Council
Moral courage
Thank you to Malcolm Willis, headteacher at Pound Hill Junior School, for having the moral courage to speak out, regarding the Government's SATS tests for our children ("Head teacher explains decision to boycott primary SATS tests").
He it was who also courageously spoke out 11 years ago, regarding the axing of hot school meals.
To those many headteachers who have remained silent ... your silence is regarded as consent.
Richard W Symonds, MCIPD founder member SCRAM Campaign for Hot School Meals and Playing Fields, Ifield
Pubs
at risk
THE CHANGE of name of the Green Dragon pub in Horsham to The Olive Branch is, I'm afraid, one of the latest moves of this brewer in 'offending' the population of West Sussex and in particular members of the ever-growing Campaign for Real Ale.
When this brewery took over the King and Barnes brewery their beers did not, and still do not, sit well with the majority of pubgoers in this area.
I have noted the comments of Dr Annabelle Hughes and echo every sentiment she has raised. David Hoare (H&W) states: "We're changing it completely. We're going to make it more of a, though I hate the word, 'gastro pub'."
In CAMRA's experience it appears that this is H&W's policy throughout its tied estate. A very good local example is the refurbishment of The Black Swan, a gastro pub at Pease Pottage. This was at the expense and ultimate closure of the local community pub, The Grapes nearby.
The Grapes was closed because it was alleged to be unviable and the proposed redevelopment by H&W for housing was ultimately dismissed by the planning authorities even after appeal. At this time The Black Swan was in Yellow Pages as a restaurant and The Grapes as a pub!
H&W did, at the time of the takeover, rename the James King back to the original name, being The Black Swan. With the Green Dragon they have given it a name that has no roots in Horsham. We see this action as 'twisting the knife' and certainly not an 'Olive Branch'.
We also question H&W's wish to open an Italian restaurant. At my count we currently have five such restaurants in Horsham. Surely H&W should be ensuring that the Green Dragon be refurbished, but retaining most of its heritage and certainly the position that it has as a community pub.
We are losing the community spirit and the government is aware of this! We really do need to ensure that communities are preserved; the traditional local pub being the hub in most cases.
Changing the pub to a 'gastro pub' loses the 'locals' as the clientle is drawn from further afield. We are losing far too many pubs for a number of reasons and this is further compounded by 'gastro pubs'.
Currently, there are 11 H&W pubs that are closed that we are aware of. It would appear that any pub not up for housing development will be refurbished, but if the pub has a decent kitchen it will be turned into a 'gastro pub'.
REX GIBBONS
Campaign for Real Ale, North Sussex Branch (CAMRA)
Crawley Road, Horsham
Visitor appeal
SHOPPING expectations for people who visit Horsham should be high; the town is exceptionally well placed to win plenty of dedicated fans.
Town councillors and councillors from neighbouring villages are keen that everyone should enjoy their individual experiences of Horsham town. The County Times has been a keen supporter of local businesses and shopping locally.
The town is set to encourage plenty more visitors - with The Rising Universe acting as another magnet - but what we do need to concentrate on making a visit to Horsham enjoyable for everyone.
For instance, as people grow older they usually become a little less mobile and everything takes more time. They will notice potholes, cracked paving and litter because such things not only look awful but they also they become hazards.
For a while now we have been urging local traders and Horsham District Council to find ways of strengthening the town's welcome as a pleasant user friendly environment. Not everyone is fit and agile enough to enjoy the town experience without the need of 'breathing space' and not everyone wants to spend all their time in one of the town's wonderful restaurants.
Better public seating would be a helpful beginning. Whether it is pregnant mums with young families, older people who need to take things more steadily or people with limited mobility there are those who need to take more 'breathers' than others.
To this end we have been urging Swan Walk management to look more closely at changing the awkward new benches that have been provided in the precinct, but so far with no affect.
More promising is the fact that the council is looking at producing a 'map' of public seating to assist those who need 'those little breaks' when they move from one part of town to another. Individual shops are also being encouraged to think about providing a chair or two when they can. Keeping people happy should be good for trade because a relaxed shopper is less likely to give up and go home early.
For lots of people Horsham town is accessible through the Shop Mobility scheme that loans buggies and wheelchairs. It is a fantastic service that needs to run smoothly and efficiently. Recently there has been a blip in the system because vehicles were all being serviced at the same time leaving none available for hire.
Something like this must be sorted out so that regular users can depend on their transportation. Being able to get around town independently using shop mobility is a valued and liberating experience for many people.
We are proud of Horsham and want the town to have a prosperous future so we would appreciate your paper's support in making an even safer and friendlier town that caters for all needs. The town should to be able to offer visitors of every age and aptitude a welcome to remember.
This is a destination that has so much to recommend it, from historic buildings to memorable sculptures so Horsham town must make the most of itself by freshening-up its welcome and perfecting an atmosphere that will make everyone want to come back time and time again.
CHRISTINE COSTIN
(LDem) district councillor for Trafalgar
SHEILA VAN DEN BERGH
(Con) district councillor for Billingshurst and Shipley
Park House, North Street, Horsham
Garden glory
I WOULD like to express my gratitude to the Loder family, which has built up Leonardslee Gardens at Lower Beeding to the national treasure that it is today.
The fact that this unique place of outstanding beauty is closing its doors for the final time on June 30, has been publicised in a way that hardly anyone is not aware of this.
When I visited Leonardslee Gardens for the first time in 2001, it felt like I had stepped into paradise. There is magic in this place that cannot be described in words.
I visited again recently to say 'goodbye', and luckily the sun was there as well to shine its light on the marvellous colours these beautiful plants have produced.
Walking for the final time along the paths of this paradise, I felt an enormous gratitude towards the Loder family and what they have created.
While writing this, I literally sit here with a glass of sparkling wine. I raise my glass and propose a toast to the Loder family: 'A huge thank you from me and hundreds of thousands of people from far and wide, whom you have given so much pleasure by creating this garden and keeping it open to the public for all those years.'
Little is known of who has bought Leonardslee Gardens, nor is it our business to ask why such a unique place is soon to be closed.
However, I do believe that the Loders wouldn't have sold it to the new owner/s, if he/they wouldn't care about maintaining at least a bit of this paradise, if even just for them – the new owner/s – to enjoy such a heavenly place.
STEFANIE PARNELL
Vera's Walk, Storrington
Music platform
FOLLOWING on from the County Times' coverage of the setting up of Horsham Performers' Platform (March 26), I am pleased to say that the response from amateur musicians wishing to take part has been overwhelming.
The organising committee had originally planned to hold the festival on Saturday June 12 but we have now had to find an extra day (June 11) to accommodate the entrants and have had to turn many more away.
This fantastic response demonstrates the desire from within the community for a platform for amateur musicians to be able to perform and furthermore, gain advice from a distinguished professional.
It is my hope, as chair, to see this small fledgling festival flourish into an annual event which can encompass all the art forms but in order to see this happen we are going to need ongoing support, both morally and financially.
We would be pleased to hear from any readers or businesses who can offer of their time, skills or sponsorship to help this promising event take a big step forward for 2011.
If anybody can offer any help please email us at the addresses below.
Kay Tucker (chair): kay_tucker@o2.co.uk
Rachel Ellis (secretary): rago@gotadsl.co.uk
KAY TUCKER
Nelson Road, Horsham
Robust attitude
WHILE I confess to being somewhat envious of the robust attitude adopted by Billingshurst Parish Council, I was saddened to read in the County Times of May 14 that they are planing to 'build a case' for placing the major housing development in Southwater as opposed to in Billingshurst.
Keep Southwater Green, while of course fighting Southwater's corner, has always maintained that large scale housing development anywhere in the rural area around Horsham was entirely wrong and needed to be opposed. The residents of these areas need to stand together in opposition rather than indulge in fighting among themselves.
If, as seems very likely, the new Coalition Government scraps the South East Strategic Plan in the near future and returns decision making on housing development to the local areas, then a golden opportunity will present itself to the great majority of the people who feel this development is wrong.
Horsham District Council will have to justify publicly, and to the people who elect it, why it feels we need such housing numbers. It will NOT then be able to hide behind central government.
I would remind all district councillors that if they follow policies which their electorate do not want they will have to answer directly to them at the next local elections.
Dr IAN THWAITES
Secretary, Keep Southwater Green
Marlpost Road, Southwater
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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