Your letters - April 9, 2010

Apology to Michael Foster, MP

I regret that my letter published in last week's edition of the Rye Observer contained serious errors of fact concerning Mr Michael Foster MP for which I apologise.

The information on which I based my letter contained errors which I am pleased to correct. Mr Foster did not support the Government's actions in Iraq and indeed resigned his role of PPS to the Attorney General at the time of the conflict. Mr Foster did not vote with the Government on the issue of replacing Trident but voted against the Government. I acknowledge that these particular actions show a strong degree of independence.

I accept that my comment concerning his role as a Minister of the Crown was misplaced and that he is indeed a full member of the Government in his unpaid role of Minister for Equalities.

John D.Elston

Brightling Road,

Robertsbridge

The Observer apologises to Mr Foster for untrue claims set out in the letter which were damaging to his reputation. It is accepted that Mr Foster is a Minister of the Crown and the claims in last week's letter that his job 'does not rank as minister' was mistaken, as was the assertion that his contribution as an MP were the subject of 'various myths'.

Mr Elston's letter was based on information on TheyWorkForYou.com. While the letter accurately stated Mr Foster had voted against Trident it was misinterpreted, Mr Foster voted against the Government on this issue.

TheyWorkForYou.com says it bases its views on voting record lines on a number of different votes in Parliament bundled together including Mr Foster's vote for a second UN resolution before the conflict, leading to their claim he "voted moderately for the war" - a position at odds with Mr Foster's stance.

I am grateful to the Observer and Mr Elston, a member of the Conservative Party, in acknowledging the errors contained within Mr Elston's letter published in last week's Rye Observer. I regret the publication of such letters, from supporters of other parties, seeking to undermine my integrity.

It will be noted that none of my supporters have sought to attack the character or integrity of the other candidate and I have asked that they respect that restraint. I hope therefore that this is an end to such letters and that the remainder of this campaign will be fought on issues.

Michael Foster DL MP

Rye Scouts busy building new hut

In the Rye Observer of March 26 you had a picture of volunteers who had picked up rubbish at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. They were 1st Rye Scout Group members.

The 1st Rye Scouts are very active and take part in many community events, as well as Scouting. The Scouts have also been raising money for a new Scout hut. The old Scout hut does not meet their growing needs, is in poor condition and is not in a safe position. Land has been offered for use by Rother District Council for a new building. Updated drawings have been completed and a new planning application made to update the planning permission granted in 2004.

Half the project money has been raised thanks to one large anonymous legacy donation together with other amounts including from Rotary and Lions and Scouts fund raising. There is a promise from Rye Town Council of some funds, applications for other funding continue to be made but further contributions are needed.

If you would like information on the new Scout hut leave a message for the voluntary project manager on 01797 223574.

Derek Bayntun

Point Hill

Rye

Candidate points to his local links

In response to Jennifer Als letter (Rye & Battle Observer 26th March) in which she cascades headlong down the chasm of making "extraordinary, mind-boggling statements" of pure unfounded speculation.

I speak as the person from Ashburnham who has chosen to stand in the Parliamentary Election in the constituency of Hastings and Rye. Her unfounded supposition is that, because I don't live there, then I shouldn't represent them.

Well, I can assure the writer and readers that not only do I have a flat in St Leonards, a significant business property in Hastings but also a house and a boat in Rye.

Furthermore I have injected thousands of pounds into the commerce and regeneration of Hastings, have supported charities there, indeed am a prospective Trustee of a Hastings Charity as well as a member of the Winkle Club.

I have had a boat in Rye since 1975 and am on the Committee there so spend much time in the Rye area and in the beautiful town where I try to give as much help as I can in the annual Rye Maritime Festival.

Tony Smith

Parliamentary Candidate,

UK Independence Party, Hastings and Rye

Don't spend our 100m on link road

TWO letters in last week's Battle Observer criticized the building of the Bexhill – Hastings Link Road, which would cost nearly 100m of our money.

New roads always attract more traffic – the last thing we want in these times of global warming which will be far more of an issue by the time the road is destined to be completed.

A tenth of this sum would enable public transport to be updated (the rolling stock between the two town is nearly new) and four trains per hour to be run along the route where most of the road traffic runs.

We must stop the county council spending our money on this scheme.

Join the Hastings Alliance (HAL), the organisation set up to put an end to this madness. Look on the HAL website for the names of the chairman, secretary and other members for details.

John Griffin

Saxonwood Road

Battle

Were you a Guide or Brownie?

What has become apparent, is this Centenary year, is that it probably means a lot more to those of us with fond memories of our own time in the movement than to the present girls!

With that in mind, there has been the thought that we should reconsider the idea of having a Trefoil Guild within the Robertsbridge District, which covers Etchingham, Hurst Green and Burwash as well. The idea was mooted a couple of years ago, but for various reasons, never got off the ground.

In the meantime, Battle District has 'pipped us to the post', and having attended their inaugural meeting on January 20 we would now like to find out how much interest there is in the Robertsbridge District for a Trefoil Guild. Would there be a sufficient number for us to have our own, alongside the Battle one, or should we consider a combined one, with offers of transport over to Battle? They meet over lunch (from 12.30 – 2.30pm), on the third Wednesday of the month. Other Trefoil groups within our Guiding Division tend to have evening meetings.

If you would have any interest in such a group, we would very much like to know, and with this in mind, we are inviting you to join us for tea at the Robertsbridge Guide Hut on Saturday April 17 at 3pm

Trefoil Guild is NOT a group merely for 'Golden Oldies', anyone over 18 who has been a member of the Movement, or indeed, anyone who wishes they had been, is welcome. It is up to each individual Guild to organise the type of meeting they'd like to have, so we'd be open to any suggestions.

Please let me know us know if you would be interested. Unlike committing to being a uniformed Guider or even a Unit Helper, there need be no regular commitment, merely the interest to get together with a group of like-minded ladies with an interest in Guiding, when it suits.

Please give Barbara Thomas a ring on 01580 819 330, or e-mail me [email protected], indicating your interest, so that we know how many to cater for.

Barbara Thomas,

Oxenbridge Lane,

Etchingham

Don't slate chief exec

There seems to be a general mood criticising the trust for paying the departing chief executive her contractual rights.

However, it should be remembered that many believe that the trust was fortunate to gain such a chief executive at a difficult time for the trust. To be chief executive of a Trust employing about 5,000 people sounds like a major responsibility that would normally attract a salary of this amount (175,000) and many would regard this as about right for such a responsible job.

The fact is that the chief executive was on a one year rolling contract, meaning she could be asked to leave at any time with one years notice and no pay off after working out her notice. How many current hospital staff would be prepared to accept a contract with a maximum job security of no more than one year?

Most hospital staff in the public sector would not be happy with this particular condition of employment.

It seems quite possible for instance that the trust board may have decided that at this particular moment it could benefit from a new chief executive with links to Brighton, ready to take forward a new strategy for the next five difficult years after the election, rather than asking Kim Hodgson to work out her notice. There are two sides to every argument and even if this view is not fashionable or popular, this side needs to more fairly stated to maintain balance.

Dr John Lethbridge

Consultant

Conquest Hospital