Beware - fraudsters also at work on city's streets

Further to the report of prostitutes at work on the city streets, I think people should be aware there are also fraudsters on the lookout for potential victims.
One sunny afternoon, not so long ago, my elderly mother, when sitting on a bench by the cathedral, was approached by a woman who asked her for some money to pay for her taxi fare so she could get back to her child she had left with the grandmother that morning.
The phrase 'a likely story' comes to mind.
Fortunately my mother knew she had no change and only one note so she didn't open her purse.
Another day and it could be a different story, and as my mother ages she becomes more vulnerable.
Worryingly there are a lot of gullible little old ladies in Chichester and I would like to think there was some way of protecting them from such scams.

Mrs Anne Norfolk, Shopwyke, Chichester

I refer to 'I never thought I'd see prostitutes patrolling the city'.
You quote your unnamed 56-year-old man as follows: "You rarely see any beggars in Chichester apart from the Big Issue sellers."
Actually, I have repeatedly been approached by beggars in Chichester.
None of them were selling the Big Issue.
Those people selling this worthwhile publication are disadvantaged individuals commendably trying to reshape lives.
They would be justifiably incensed by this anonymous statement which you chose to publish. They are certainly not beggars. (Then again, are prostitutes?)

Colin and Jane Turton, Williams Road, Bosham



Sacrificing trees would send out wrong message

It is devoutly to be wished that certain councillors in Chichester get over their desire to fell trees outside the cathedral.
Two main streets in the city centre are already pedestrianised and the other two restricted to traffic.
The value of trees to our future survival would be hard to overstate.
They are the ultimate expression of the sustainability that local councils are always talking about.
Sacrificing the row fringing the cathedral to create a piazza-style square is entirely the wrong message to send out at a time when global warming tops the world agenda.
Who cares whether the cathedral is partly screened by trees? In my view it adds to the intimacy of the place.
If certain architects spend their time wandering around Italian town squares, that's their business.
But why should we have their visions visited upon us.
Chichester is quintessentially an English city with perhaps a slightly French flavour.
Most city/town centre 'improvements' in this country are, inevitably, disasters which Chichester so far has mercifully avoided.

Ray Cobbett, Friends of the Earth, Beach Road, Emsworth



Protect the innocent people

There is one problem with your report: innocent people could be unfairly targetted.
By not naming the correct person, this report could cause people to imagine a subject, based on past reports and memories, and then cause him unnecessary stress by invading his space and property.
So, yes, this person should be identied, or else this report should never have been allowed to become public in order to protect those who are not involved, have had problems in the past but may now be reformed characters.

Louise Russell, Chichester

I am strongly in agreement with the mothers of children who feel worried for them.
The man put on the sex offenders' register should be named. His own children are at risk from him anyway.
He brings shame on his family but that is part of his punishment. Why should anyone suffer? It doesn't make sense.

Mrs J Williams, Salthill Road, Chichester



Heart paracute payments

I wish to pass on my sincere thanks to the residents and visitors to Chichester who donated £1,710.37p to the Parachute Regiment Association Charity.
Their generosity was in no doubt due to the recent publicity of the latest casualty figures in Afghanistan, in particular those of 2 Para.

Murray Smith, secretary, Parachute Regiment Association Charity, Chichester branch



How dare you? 'Ghetto' claims just outrageous

In response to Phil Waller's letter printed (Observer, August 7), I wish on behalf of committee and residents of the Manor Park Residents' Association to completely refute his remarks regarding the Selsey Gate development.
He has made assumptions about our development without doing the necessary research or speaking to people who live in Fidler Close, Millington Drive, Robinson Close or Petts Close.
The residents' association, formed in 2006, has more than 100 members and has achieved its initial aim of building a vibrant community by holding various social events and supporting the Doorstep Group, who look after the park.
While we appreciate Mr Waller's concern about the number of houses and percentage of social housing in any new development, there are strong reasons for objecting, such as the current road infrastructure etc.
But to use our estate as an example to the planners for turning down any new development is just outrageous.
It might even be he has confused the Selsey Gate development with another as we have only two 'for sale' boards on display and our development is spacious with neat and well-landscaped properties.
How dare he refer to it as a 'ghetto'.

Kairen Kellard, Chairman, Manor Park Residents' Association, Millington Drive, Selsey

I refer to Phil Waller's letter headed 'Housing development could destroy Selsey'.
Most people will agree that Selsey would not benefit from a further housing development of 300 homes, including a high percentage of social housing, for the reasons he sets out so strongly in his letter.
However, most residents of Selsey Gate 1 (as Mr Waller refers to the completed development of Pye homes) must be mystified by his derogatory description of this development and wonder whether he was wandering around the correct estate.
He says council planners should view the state of this development with its 'for sale' boards and residents desperate but unable to leave.
Anyone who would like to take up
Mr Waller's suggestion will find at the time of writing two 'for sale' boards and one 'sold' board, unless I have missed one hidden away somewhere.
If anyone is 'desperate' to sell, they are no more desperate here than in any other area in Selsey, taking into account the state of the market.
Anyone will see for themselves
that houses and gardens are neat and well-kept, with most householders having made an effort to make this development attractive.
The residents have formed their own residents' association and a lot of people have given their time to make this development and the surrounding parkland an attractive and pleasant environment to live.
Before Mr Waller makes any more disparaging remarks about this development and uses words such as 'ghetto' as a tool to put a stop to further development, he should first get his facts straight.
He will find that the residents of Selsey Gate 1 will rise to his battle cry, but for the reasons of common-sense and not because we are unhappy
living here.

Chris Read, Selsey Gate



To the point

Your correspondent David Miles describes the four advertised posts of Toy Library co-ordinator as 'non jobs' and asks for his council tax to be spent 'more wisely'. (Observer, August 7)
Nothing is more important than giving small children the right opportunities to develop and learn, and for under-fives, one vital way of achieving this is through play activities. These posts will be based within the network of West Sussex Children and Family Centres.
Here, parents and carers experience top-quality early-years activities and resources, helping them understand the vital importance of play to their child's future.
There is solid evidence that the first two or three years of life are vitally important for the developing child – and the adult they will later become.
These centres provide the ideal environment for a child's social and emotional development, communication and language skills.
There is also clear evidence that the most effective time to help children is during the first three years of life.
A six-year study has shown a high-quality pre-school experience is directly related to the way children learn and behave later in life.
Toy Libraries, although not part of the Library Service, perform the same function as book and CD libraries.
For those who cannot afford their own collection of toys, this means a significant saving in difficult times.
Children and Family Centres are part of the Early Childhood Service.
The money to pay for these professionally-qualified Toy Library co-ordinators comes from an external grant and is part of a national programme. Far from living in an ivory tower, our feet are planted firmly in the real world.
The Toy Library co-ordinator posts are an invaluable service for more than 42,000 under-fives in West Sussex.
Incidentally the 36 centres currently operating in West Sussex will grow to more than 50 in just two years.

Marilyn Barton, Head of Early Childhood Service



After sitting down last Friday to read the Observer, I was delighted to see a picture of my son and daughter-in-law at Glorious Goodwood.
I went on to read the letter underneath and I was very upset at how an ignorant reader could be so rude about people they don't know.
My son, wearing his top hat and suit (pictured below), is living proof he is recovering from a major kidney transplant last year which nearly lost him his life.
I donated one of my kidneys to him which was a long ongoing process and I couldn't be any prouder to see him dressed up and having a good time with his wife.
As for hanging around bars instead of the paddock, she got it wrong. Some people don't drink, others can't.
Life is too short and it's a shame Sally Marsh is so concerned about what other people look like on special days out to write in with her opinions.
So I send my sympathy to her and say 'live life' because you never know what's around the corner.

Jennifer Huband, Park Road, Yapton

I was disgusted by the photos you used to illustrate the letter by Sally Marsh (Observer, August 14) concerning the poor taste in dress at Glorious Goodwood.
How dare your self-styled fashion police publicly humiliate members of the public in this fashion? Are we all to be wary of your paparazzi every time we step out of the house?
Perhaps you could use the power of the press more constructively by publicly humiliating drunk-drivers, yobs and burglars rather than people who come down to spend money in our (faltering) local economy – after all, it's up to Goodwood to enforce its dress code.

Ken Brown, Oaks Restaurant, Walberton



Can't you save your cutting and clearing for the winter?

I am writing in response to the letter headed Madness Down By The Canal. (Observer, August 14)
Firstly may I thank you and your fellow trustees and volunteers for your hard work and fortitude in restoring the canal.
You have made it habitable not only for my colleagues but also for a vast variety of flora and fauna.
It is through the hard work and diligence of many conservationists and restoration bodies such as yourselves that many threatened UK species have made a good recovery.
I will, though, remind you that habitat loss in the past 30 years and escaped mink have seen our population decline by 90 per cent.
Hence the reason for the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, part 1; and the increased protection which was introduced on April 6.
May I respectfully suggest you and your colleagues carry out the cutting and clearing that is necessary, during the winter months, when the breeding seasons of many threatened species has ceased.
This would also allow you humans to take your holidays during the summer months while we water voles are busy raising our young families.
It may be helpful for you to contact such bodies as the Environment Agency or the Sussex Wildlife Trust for help in drawing up a long-term habitat management plan.
Now I'm off down to that friendly pub by the canal basin to find Toad, Badger and Mole, and please don't be too hard on decision-makers – they're only human after all!

'Ratty' alias, Mike Hall, County Councillor Chichester North



Co-ordinators have a key role to play for children

Your correspondent David Miles describes the four advertised posts of Toy Library co-ordinator as 'non jobs' and asks for his council tax to be spent 'more wisely'.
Nothing is more important than giving small children the right opportunities to develop and learn, and for under-fives, one vital way of achieving this is through play activities.
These posts will be based within the network of West Sussex Children and Family Centres. Here, parents and carers experience top-quality early-years activities and resources, helping them understand the importance of play to their child's future.
There is solid evidence that the first two or three years of life are vitally important for the developing child – and the adult they will later become.
These centres provide the ideal environment for a child's social and emotional development, communication and language skills.
There is also clear evidence that the most effective time to help children is during the first three years of life.
A six-year study has shown a high-quality pre-school experience is directly related to the way children learn and behave later in life.
Toy Libraries, although not part of the Library Service, perform the same function as book and CD libraries.
For those who cannot afford their own collection of toys, this means a significant saving in difficult times.
Children and Family Centres are part of the Early Childhood Service.
The money to pay for these professionally-qualified Toy Library co-ordinators comes from an external grant and is part of a national programme.
Far from living in an ivory tower, our feet are planted firmly in the real world.
The co-ordinator posts are an invaluable service for more than 42,000 under-fives in West Sussex. Incidentally the 36 centres currently operating in West Sussex will grow to more than 50 in just two years.

Marilyn Barton, Head of Early Childhood Service



Now's the time for a big rethink on town's future

The lead article in a recent Observer (July 24) concerned the serious shortage of low-cost housing in the Rother Valley and the improbability on current trends of ever meeting future needs.
It asked whether rented and shared-equity housing should be reserved for local people and key workers.
Clearly the local authority understandably wishes to prioritise local needs, but should beware of imposing restrictions which have the effect of creating 21st-century 'tied cottages'.
Where this has been tried, they often prove as unpopular now as they were last century and the schemes are a disappointment.
The situation is not unique to this area.
The recent parliamentary study led by Mathew Taylor (a Lib Dem) concluded that unless planning restrictions were eased, English villages and village life were in danger of terminal decline.
The Rother Valley is one of the most sparsely-populated areas of England and surely can find room to house the 400 to 500 local families to which the article refers.
There has recently been concern over local schools but this has as much to do with deteriorating demographics, as a static population becomes more elderly, than with failures of the schools themselves.
There is demand for more shops, cinemas, better buses, youth facilities, etc, yet any suggestion of new housing on the scale necessary to sustain these tends to be resisted.
The Rother Valley, like other similar areas, can either seek regeneration to provide a balanced self-sustaining community secure for the long term,
or it can try to hold the line against change.
The construction of the new academy is the most significant development for many years and provides an opportunity to rethink the future shape of the town.
Unless the age profile of the local population changes, we may well find that in 20 years' time, falling rolls and therefore frozen investment will again lead to question marks being raised as to the school's viability.
A solution to the related crises of housing and limited facilities facing much of rural England is to open more land for development.
Houses are needed which are attractive and accessible to all sections of the community, not just ghettos for the wealthy elderly, plus a few small starter homes for local childless couples.
Affordable family-sized homes both for purchase and rent are in short supply.
Well-planned extensions to existing communities would take up only a tiny proportion of local countryside while revitalising the communities to which they were attached.
More houses would help place a cap on prices and give more people the chance to own their own house.
We build fewer houses than our European neighbours and their average size is smaller. Is our need less?
If David Cameron wishes to support family life as he says, he must support the opportunity for those families to have access to decent housing, even
if this means taking on the entrenched opposition of his natural supporters in the local authorities, dominated as they are by the well-housed and the well-off.
Let us hope he is up to the challenge.

Gerry Scott, St Johns Close, Midhurst



Now we've got a chance to object to new store

Thank-you to councillors Parfoot and Farrell for drawing the matter of Tesco Express to everyone's attention again.
We live within half-a-mile of the proposed site of the convenience store and we certainly were not given a questionnaire to complete by Tesco.
Had we received one we would have expressed in no uncertain terms our objections to such a proposal.
The councillors' letter has now given us the opportunity to do so.
I agree with all the other sentiments expressed in other readers' letters regarding putting a Tesco store on this very busy junction, and also with those letters expressing similar concerns regarding further residential building work.
As has been said many times before, this area is becoming increasingly busier with traffic and if a halt to further development is not soon called, we will suffer total gridlock.
When will the authorities listen to the wishes of local residents?
I think many of us would have welcomed the introduction of Asda on the out-of-town site selected, but that seems to have been blocked for the foreseeable future. I wonder by whom?
Could it be the same organisation which wants to introduce traffic lights at the exit from its premises onto the A29 at Shripney, and who wants to cause further chaos to the east of the town? Need I say more?

Mrs DL Lambert, Dryad Way, Felpham



Why it pays for us to shop locally

In reply to P Elson's letter in last week's Observer (August 14).
Does the writer not realise Tesco Express prices are not necessarily the same as their larger stores.
Also, have they tried the local Co-op where prices seem to me quite reasonable, Limmer Lane post office have some good deals also I have found, as with the shops in Felpham village?
The problems caused by the entry and exit to a store at this site would be quite serious, especially at school times, as it already has its problems now with the very few vehicles using the garage at present.
Perhaps if P Elson and others likewise supported the local stores more they would be able to bring their prices down, or perhaps they would prefer to see a monopoly steamroller the local stores and therefore the villages' (Middleton, Felpham) heart out of existence.

A Hannam, Felpham Way, Bognor Regis



We'll roll out the red carpet next time...

My thanks and appreciation to the editor for publishing the Michael Winner article in the Bognor Regis Observer.
Had I known of Mr Winner's pending visit, as director of the End of the Pier International Film Festival, I would have ensured he was collected by a helicopter, met with a limousine (champagne of course) and taken to lunch in the best restaurant in town, after all this is what he is used to.
During his visit I could have enlightened him regarding the international film festival held in the town for the past five years, and also of the Rox music festival that took place recently.
Maybe I could have touched upon the Birdman rally that has been happening in the town for nearly three decades.
Coupled with background history and maybe, just maybe he would have had a more sympathetic view of the town.
Particularly when I told him about the numerous people who work so hard to 'put Bognor on the map', which of course is exactly what Mr Winner has so admirably done.
It so happens I have Mr Winner's direct email and I have in the past invited him down to the film festival – emails that he did not care to reply to.
Maybe I didn't add sufficient noughts to the figure?
What does grieve me, however, is Mr Winner's pomposity regarding his choice of places to stay in the Caribbean, and how much it costs – more than £2,000 per night – which is around the costs of one of our film workshops which are aimed at some of the more socially-deprived young people who live in and around
our town.
Indeed, for what he spends in a week abroad, plus his private jet, is around what it has cost, in hard cash terms, to run the film festival each year…
What can we do with such arrogance, I ask myself?
Well, maybe I will consider a retrospective screening of Mr Winner's claim to fame – Death Wish and its sequels, and maybe we can pay him a few thousand quid to come down once again to Bognor Regis and take part in a question-and-answer session.
I think I will email him now…

Bryan Gartside, director, End of the Pier International Film Festival



In reply to Michael Winner's visit to Bognor Regis.
Did Michael Winner think he was visiting St Tropez when he came to Bognor Regis because that is the kind of places he is accustomed to?
We know the town needs some regeneration, as do many towns today, but money is one of our problems and we have had to wait our turn.
Perhaps if he had had time to look into what our town does have in its favour and find out more about what we have to offer he may have been more enamoured.
In the past we have had several royals visit or stay here and if it was good enough for them then it should have been good enough for Michael 'Whinger'.
Perhaps he could become a 'Silent Millionaire' and donate some money to Bognor Regis, enabling us to regenerate our town to his standards, not forgetting his own heli-pad.

Councillor Eileen Anderson, Wessex Avenue, Aldwick

With reference to the 'assasination' of Bognor Regis by Michael Winner, the gloating about his riches aside, there was more than a familiar ring to his views.
Yes, the pier is a rusting embarrassment when it has the potential to be the focal point of the seafront, and as for there being little to do, he hits the nail squarely on the head.
Arun District and Bognor Town Councils need to take a large slice of the blame, what with the Lottery money for the regeneration of Hotham Park being spent on some turf and plants, the obsession with pointless sculptures in the main precinct and the lack of forward thinking when it comes to attracting businesses to the area.

Mark Taylor, Nelson Road, Bognor Regis



Thanks for making Rox 2008 such a hit

Rox 2008 was one of our most successful festivals to date so we'd just like to acknowledge those who helped make it happen.
A massive thank-you to all of our corporate, small business and individual sponsors, especially Butlins, NJS Scaffolding and Chichester University for making sure Rox 2008 got up and running!
Thanks, too, to Bognor Town Council for supporting the only remaining large annual event in the town (Charlie – what you and all the guys from Town Force do is greatly appreciated).
Special thanks also to all of the Rox back-stage crew, sound, lighting, the Fringe and volunteers for their tireless work before, during and after the weekend – we couldn't do it without you!
Thanks to all at Wasted Media for developing the website and sorting out all the last-minute changes leading up to the festival – luckily you have a good understanding of how we operate.
Likewise, our thanks go to all the bands and performers who appeared on both stages over the weekend – we hope you enjoyed the gig as much as we did.
A big thank-you to Neil Ainsby for providing quality link work on stage between the bands for the whole weekend and to Mark Ringwood for your help on Sunday, not forgetting Luke and Martin Brown for keeping the musical sounds going before each band.
Thank-you to Kevin, Jacquie and the staff at the Royal Norfolk Hotel for being so accommodating (no pun intended).
We're really looking forward to working with you again in 2009.
Thanks to SB Security for keeping the event safe and secure for everyone and also to the police for their diligence and friendliness – we look forward to developing our relationship for 2009.
Our thanks also go to Blackburn Trailers and Oval Raceway for your support and also to Felpham School for some fantastic artwork displays which everyone really loved.
Thanks to the Observer and Spirit FM for your help in promoting the event and for the coverage (especially Milly Luxford for going out on a limb and successfully presenting her first-ever outside broadcast on Saturday and effervescent assistance on stage).
Last but not least, thank you to each and every one of you who turned up in your thousands and supported the event, even when the rain came down for a couple of hours you were still there.
It's great to see the whole community coming together as you did and having a great time.
It's you that make all the hard work and moments of extreme frustration worthwhile. – see you in 2009!.
Sorry if we've overlooked anybody, you're all equally important to us!

Steve, Terry and all the crew, Rox 2008



To the point

The page-seven headline 'Tackling pavement cyclists top priority' (Observer, July 31) made welcome reading, but there is little evidence of it's implementation.
A couple of days before reading that headline, standing waiting to cross the road at the traffic lights in front of the Rose Green Roman Catholic church, there was a not polite, but aggressive, cry of 'Excuse me' from one of two young lad cyclists approaching from behind on the footpath.
On pointing out to them they should not be cycling on the footpath, I received an earful of abuse which, if I had used it at their age, would have elicited a thick ear on the spot, and a hiding from my father when he inevitably found out.
Also, in Rose Green, cyclists of all ages circumvent the one-way system by riding on the footpath.
On August 1, around midday, I took the opportunity to read my newspaper in my parked car outside the hairdresser's parlour in Longford Road while my wife was inside.
During that time, at least 30 cyclists rode past on the footpath with scant regard for the safety or convenience of the others.
Although those cyclists were in aggressive and flagrant breach of the law, I must confess I would not like a child of mine to cycle on the highway in Longford Road, congested as it is, being the main access to the town centre, with buses, HGV, and, often, impatient car and van drivers jockeying for position.
In such roads as Longford, there is no room for a dedicated cycle lane, and cyclists run the risk of either being run down or nabbed for breaking the law.
It is therefore preferable to permit child cyclists to use the footpath in certain areas, but they would need to be educated it is a privilege and they must do so in a polite and considerate manner, failure to do so resulting in confiscation of their bycycles.

M Ayling, Elizabeth Avenue, Rose Green

I have just read your article about people cycling on the pavements.
Every day there are cyclists riding really fast along our pavements.
They have no regard for the many people exiting driveways and are abusive if you have a near miss.
Parents with children are also a risk to car users as mums chat merrily away to each other while walking to and from South Bersted school.
The children on bikes are often a long way in front of them and have no concept of cars exiting driveways.
My son and I have had so many near misses because of the careless, unobservant nature of these cyclists.
I feel it is a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt.
What happened to cycling proficiency tests or teaching by parents how to ride safely on the roads?

Bridget Mcgrory, Orchard Way, Bognor Regis

Last week, when walking along a lane by Slindon Woods, I was concerned to see two separate piles of rubbish that had been
fly-tipped.
Since fly-tipping was also mentioned in Panorama recently which featured Bill Bryson, the journalist, I felt this was topical enough to write to you about.
It does not leave a nice feeling that any minute now one might come across more like this, completely spoiling the countryside – a real blot on the landscape.
It is so sad that it is done by people who can't be bothered to do the right thing and use the amenity tips.

Jan Elford, Fontwell

I am a mother with a young family and understand how expensive and sometimes challenging it is keeping our young ones entertained during the summer holidays.
So I just wanted to let other parents know about the children's holiday club which is running from Tuesday, August 26 to Friday, August 29, from 10am to midday.
It's wonderful because as well as being a free event the children are sure to have a great time.
There are plenty of activites going on to keep them busy including games, quizzes, craft, cooking, Bible stories, sport and lots more.
The age range is five to 11, infant and junior school age. This is all happening at Aldwick Free Baptist Church, Gossamer Lane Aldwick. It's entitled Seaside Rock!

Mrs Sue Applin, Sea Way, Pagham