Readers' Letters - September 24 2009

We need action now to make our roads safer

I read with interest the article in the Observer regarding the problem of traffic through the village of Compton and would like to highlight similar concerns we have in Oving.

Despite the supposedly traffic-calming red areas on the road as you enter the village of Oving, we are still plagued by speeding traffic.

In the early hours of Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago, the young driver of a car lost control as he entered the village at speed.

Apparently the car hit the kerb then bounced along the garden walls of the row of cottages before ending up in my neighbour's garden.

Skid marks along the pavement and damage to the walls clearly marked its progress!

Fortunately, neither the driver nor his passenger were hurt and luckily, because of the time of this incident, nor was anyone else.

However, my neighbour has two small children and I have a three-year-old granddaughter and had this accident happened when any of us

were walking on the pavement, we would have been killed instantly.

The powers-that-be need urgently to look into the problem of speeding traffic through our lovely villages before there is a fatality. Lower speed limits definitely need to be imposed.

May I suggest the re-opening of the old road from Oving to Shopwhyke could offer a part solution in that it may help ease the volume of traffic that passes through Oving especially at peak times.

M Holdaway, High Street, Oving

I was interested to read the story about traffic in Compton.

It is not surprising local people are concerned about the traffic considering the way they are treated by the local authority.

My daughter lives in Forestside, not far from Compton, and she asked me if I would like to attend a meeting about traffic in the local area when I was staying with her recently.

I work at the Department for Transport in London and was interested to hear how things were dealt with locally in West Sussex.

I am unable to remember the name of the man who represented the council's roads, but I do remember how impressed I was that local people did not rise up as a collective body to ridicule the way they were being patronised by the executive.

Compton does have a traffic problem. I would suggest it is not just speed but the size of vehicles which are allowed to use a road which is definitely not fit for such purposes.

John Banbury, Revelstoke Road, Camberwell, London

As a resident of Compton, what is reported in Clare Hawkin's piece is sadly only too true.

The council has in the past maintained there is no speeding problem in this village that has a single narrow carriageway with a Z-bend with adverse camber

at the southern end.

I am told a very recent check, carried out by the highways department, has recorded speeds over 50mph. How that vehicle negotiated through this lane is beyond imagination!

The greatest danger is during school term time when the very small square is crowded with mums, many who jam the place with cars, as they ferry their offspring to the school.

Mothers consider the roadway too dangerous to allow children walk or cycle as there is no footpath for much of its length.

West Sussex Council is aware, as Clare reported, because representations have been made to it for many years now, but still nothing is done. Do people at the council require deaths or injuries to happen before getting off their butts?

As far as reducing the limit to 20mph, West Sussex would only be trailing others, not setting an example.

Why is it individuals never put their heads above the parapet and take a lead, especially when children's safety is at stake?

Come on councillors, do what you are paid for!

John Harmer, Compton

Beware the Euro city guide scam targeting businesses

I would like to warn people who own or run a business to beware of a possible scam involving a book called The European City Guide.

A Spanish company, based in Valencia, sends out a letter asking if the details of the business are correct for inclusion in their city guide.

The unsuspecting recipient duly fills in the form confirming their business details and sends it off, thinking the service is free.

A short time later they receive an invoice for approximately 800 to be paid each year for the next three years.

Failure to pay results in letters threatening court action if the amount is not paid.

I have had a growing number of letters and emails from small businesses, worried they may be taken to court thereby damaging their companies' credit rating.

Anyone who receives a letter from this Spanish company should tear it up and throw it away, but if it has been filled

in and threatening letter follows, they should do the following:

* Seek legal advice

* Do not pay any money

* Report the matter to your local Trading Standards Office

* Write to the company telling them you have taken legal advice and reported them to the Fraud Squad.

It is unlikely the Spanish company would seek redress through the British courts as their offer is dubious at best or fraudulent at worst.

The EU Commission were asked to investigate and they tried to get the Spanish authorities in Valencia to act '“ to no avail.

I must emphasise legal advice is paramount, not only to establish whether you can ignore the threatening letters but to put one's mind at rest.

David Samuel-Camps BA (Hons) Dip PA, Church Lane, Lyminster

Over-55s have a real place in this city too

In his letter of September 17, Mr Arnold refers to flats in Stockbridge Road with permission for elderly people, but wardens do not exist.

There are service flats. These have planning permission for retirement occupation (over 55) but we are independent people, buying our leases and paying for our services, including a management team.

The planning for this having been granted '“ let's be realistic '“ and with most retirement occupiers being more than 55 up to any age, the High School site is conspicuously unsuitable for students.

I agree with the rest of Mr Arnold's letter. Why should we be told we must get used to it because the city needs the students' money? Does it not need ours? We live here all the time and spend our money.

Everything I possess is here. I have nowhere else to go and I live here.

Why should I be told I am of no account and must put up with it for the rest of my life?

Why should I and other retired people be told in this city we cannot expect consideration?

The value of our properties will be reduced when we or our heirs have to sell up.

Miss OJ Wilkins, Stockbridge Road, Chichester

Not shipshape for disabled visitors '“ but improvements are on way

As the debate rages on about the extension to The Ship Hotel being ugly, there is another unattractive issue which needs to be put right.

The Ship Hotel is a no-go area for disabled people who wish to stay or attend a function there.

The new hotel at the post office site will have disabled parking, good access and disability friendly rooms.

West Sussex Association for Disabled People (WSAD) and the Chichester Access Group looks to the owners to make the Ship Hotel fit for Chichester on the inside as

well as the outside.

WSAD is a campaigner for good disability access in West Sussex. If you are both business and disability minded, WSAD is looking for new trustees. Contact us on 01 903 244457.

Roland Higgins, West Sussex Association for Disabled People, St John's Parade, Goring by Sea

* John Chesterman of the Ship Hotel replies: We obviously take our responsibilities to disabled guests very seriously.

While we have the usual ramps for disabled access into the hotel's bar and brasserie, we are very aware of the Ship's existing limitations for wheelchair users needing rest room facilities.

One of the main drivers behind the recent planning application to extend and modernise the hotel is to make sure we do provide a more disabled-friendly hotel.

Notwithstanding this commitment, we are also advised the new extension to the rear will also have to be fully building regulation compliant.

Therefore, as the extension will not be hampered by the physical constraints created by the existing Grade II listed fabric of the main building, we hope to address the concerns raised by WSAD.

As for the extension's attractiveness we continue to work with Chichester District Council to arrive at a suitable design so we can continue to sustain the improvements made at the Ship over the past six months.

To that end I hope we will be able to welcome all guests to a further improved Ship Hotel in 2010-2011.

Penalised for deciding not to have kids

I am keen to discover if there are other young people, like my husband and I, who are constantly penalised by not only the local council but also on a national level because of our decision NOT to have had a baby at the age of 21.

My husband and I first came across this issue with the local council almost two years ago.

We needed housing as we were being turned out of our rented accommodation and returning to our parents wasn't an option because of space.

The local council apparently could not help to house us, nor could they help us with our rent on a private property as... we did not have a baby.

They were helpful, though, and calculated for us how much child benefit we could claim per week if we had one.

I have just completed training as a primary school teacher and work part-time. My husband, who works long hours and supports us both, tried to claim tax credits and found online we would be eligible for a considerable sum.

However, on phoning the helpline we found that tax credits are only paid to those over the age of 24 '“ unless, of course, you have a baby, in which case we could claim tax credits and child benefit.

It isn't that I don't think people should have children at a young age or without being married first. I just want to know why there is no support for those who don't have children.

Why is it that on a local and national level young couples are being penalised for choosing to not have children young?

Are there other couples, who despite doing everything seemingly the right way around are finding themselves, like us, considering that maybe we should have just had that baby at 19 as originally suggested to us?

S Pinnington, Hilltop, Cocking

One carbon rule for Goodwood, and one for us

I see from an article in last week's Observer that West Sussex County Council has signed up to the 10.10 agreement for the reduction of carbon emissions.

Very commendable, but how does it equate such small actions as cycling and using low-energy lightbulbs (measures that many of us already employ) with the petrolheads' jamboree presently assaulting my ears at the Goodwood Revival meeting?

This, along with the Festival of Speed, must give the Earl of March a carbon footprint the size of Australia, so what difference are my efforts going to make?

Not only do the events themselves cause a huge amount of pollution, both noise and carbon, but the amount of traffic engendered by people attending, along with the inconvenience for other people, surely cannot be justified in these days of environmental awareness.

If the county council is serious about carbon emissions, which I fear it's not, then the rules should apply to everyone.

Please, let's no longer have these double standards.

Wendy Hickey, Norwich Road, Chichester

Flouting the law

I recently bought a Highway Code to update on current rules and regulations. It quite clearly states cyclists must not ride on the pavement and that a 500 fine could be enforced.

It is extremely annoying that so many cyclists ignore the above and that dog walkers and other pedestrians are frequently in danger of injury or abuse.

At one time the community police used to apprehend cyclists '“ have they given up?

It seems we are missing out on a substantial form of justifiable revenue each year!

It is unfair that motorists are a constant target for fines and penalties. Cyclists appear to be a law unto themselves.

Stefanie Bacon, Caledonian Road, Chichester

Harbour fears

I have seen on the web harbour safety officer David White's position is under threat. We have watched David in action several times over the years which has made us feel very safe.

My family visit Bracklesham Bay throughout the year. We will certainly reconsider this if a valuable and experienced member of staff is lost.

We consider our safety to be of a high priority when using the beach and while swimming.

Cheryl, David & Family, Horley, Surrey

So safety officer David White is going to be replaced '“ just to save money. What folly. Remember, it's a cruel sea.

Mrs J Vines, Legion Way, Bracklesham Bay

Small is beautiful '“ our only cinema must survive