Your letters - April 30, 2010

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It's quality that counts when shopping

Firstly I do not live in Rye.

Your correspondent Nick Rosen writes that to move Rye library to the old Woolworth's site in the High Street is an unsuitable move owing to the width of the road etc, why does he think that is suitable for a supermarket? Completely illogical.

Secondly, he says that Budgens/Jempsons prices are higher than the 'big four' - yes they are, but their fresh produce, meat, fish, vegetables and so on are far better quality and locally sourced. I shop in the Battle branch of Budgens so I do know what I am talking about.

Thirdly, is it really necessary to have a supermarket that is open on a Sunday when they are all open early and close late on the remaining six days.

I fully support Jempsons for not opening on Sundays as I'm sure their staff do as well.

Lynn Scoones

Balcombe Green,Sedlescombe

Link road answers beg more questions

Surprisingly none of the election candidates nor the Rye Observer have mentioned the Rother District Council's SHLAA Land Assessment document (see http://www.rother.gov.uk/SHLAA) covering each and every Village and Town, published last month.

This includes feasible Site Plans to meet Rother's target of some 1627 new houses commencing in 2012 including "affordable" dwellings.

These clearly identified areas were obtained by Rother DC requesting land owners and developers to suggest suitable green field or other sites and number of potential builds thereon (probably minimum as developments somehow seem to grow once approval is given!) which Rother's Planning officers have assessed and considered suitable for inclusion even in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and with problems to overcome such as, services including drainage and highway traffic/access let alone schooling and loss of agricultural activities.

No sites with less than six houses were included. The "feasible sites" in the document will now be considered by Rother DC for public consultation in September for final inclusion in their Core Strategy.

The 1627 still to be built are laid down by central Government which the Tories at the time said were excessive but nothing seems to have been said of late.

It is understood that the Hastings to Bexhill Link Road would allow access for some 900 houses to be built on non-green land, but already it seems Liberal Democrats are against this vital link road which is so important for the area.