I spy a rival curmudgeon on the horizon! Sean Reepman
wrote a very entertaining letter to the Sussex Express suggesting the Castle
site as ripe for development. I had suggested that too as the ideal site for
our much needed multi-storey car park with cars neatly hidden in the mound.
But perhaps Mr. Reepman was joking!
However, news that the much-loved car parking scheme is to be extended by two
years on a lead-members’ say so is no joke at all. In fact in my opinion
this is an abuse of power. Surely any decision to extend the contract should
be debated by all three councils (town, district and county) or thrown open
to a local referendum. I truly believe anything else is undemocratic. Do wake
up and fight as Eastbourne has fought. There, of course, the local newspaper
played a prominent part in the "No" campaign. Here, I believe it does
not lead debate.
Graeme Coles is now safely ensconced at Dean's Place in Alfriston. Somewhat
lacklustre in the past, it will surely respond to his attention to
detail and concern for his guests.
One local resident is so upset by the planning department's attitude to developments
at Graeme's former work place that he has enlisted the aid of a local ward councillor
to question the District's handling of the situation.
It seems that the Council's official complaints procedure may be invoked, culminating
in a complaint to the local government ombudsman.
But do remember that while one may not like any business owner's way of
running his business, it is his business and will rise or fall by how he
interprets his customers' wishes.
Don't laugh. The ombudsman has lately been highly critical of some other councils'
decisions and has forced reviews of policy. Notably in Congleton, Cheshire,
where a draconian wheeliebin campaign has been forced back to the drawing board.
Marching in protest highlights local causes, but the more long-winded complaints
procedure does work too.
