Bank Closure disappointment
Dear Editor,
Firstly, May we congratulate your newspaper on reporting the local issues that would otherwise go unnoticed or ignored.
Regarding the closure of the banks in Bexhill. It is/has already created a toxic environment apart from the crime mentioned in your paper there are the issues of stress and anxiety being placed on bank users.
It is absurd that people now have to travel to Eastbourne to do their banking. The average age in Bexhill must be far higher than the national average.
The banks have no consideration for the fact that a lot of people in Bexhill do not, or will not, move to online banking, they are frightened of the consequences.
Also, there is a large number who do not use computers/mobile phones. We do not understand why “banking hubs” have not happened. Are the banks deliberately trying to upset their customers?
It would be interesting for you to talk to Nationwide and see how many people have moved to their branch in Bexhill from those that have closed down.
What with the banks and now fuel allowance. It seems the pensioner doesn’t matter anymore. Mike Webb
Dear Editor,
Reading of the closure of Lloyds Bank, following that of Barclays and NatWest, brings into question the current TV ad campaign by Barclays, (about starting its customers’ financial awareness at a young age), which has “in branch” as one of the options for those customers who wish to discuss matters with their bank.
How does this sit with the number of branches it has closed in many towns across the country?
Bexhill now has three fairly sizeable buildings — all of which, presumably, have large vaults — to be occupied. Let’s hope some modicum of creativity is exercised when it comes to the approval of any future plans for these ex-banks! M Chawner
Dear Editor,
It is very sad to see so many shops, and the banks, closing in Bexhill.
When I went to the post office the queue was outside the door. Being mostly elderly in Bexhill, some cannot stand for long.It is going to be very hard on the ones who do not have a smartphone or computer.
We are being left behind. A lot will not be able to afford Broadband when they take our Landlines away. Some don’t have mobiles.
The way things are going there won’t be any jobs. They want us to use self-tills.
We will have no contact with people. There will be more mental illness. I am a fit 78 year old, not looking forward to the future. Mrs Jane Cridland
Ed: I share your frustration and something must be done as, in my opinion, more people are moving away from online banking and social media due to ongoing scams and clickbait. To be able to walk into a bank and sort out any personal issues with your account is extremely important. Even if it is just to see a friendly face behind the counter — that can mean so much. It was announced that Hailsham is to receive a Banking Hub in the near future, as any more closures, would result in the loss of a bank-owned ATM. Maybe Bexhill is on a very long list of towns to get one of these facilities.
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MAKE IT POSITIVE
Dear Editor,
I write in response to the article from the Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism “Update”.
As a past member of the Chamber, (now retired), I was deeply shocked to read such negative news about our town. Whilst recognising that Bexhill does indeed have serious problems (which are getting worse and worse). Isn’t the job of the Chamber to help and promote businesses and encourage tourism? Such negative comments made publicly will surely do the opposite.
If the “full force of the law” is not being felt in Bexhill, then surely the Chamber, the Town Council, local Rother councillors, local County councillors and our new MP should be working to do something about it — together.
Many people in the town volunteer to litter pick, etc. but will they now just give up thinking that it is a lost cause, along with anyone even vaguely thinking about coming here?
Let’s hope that the next article from the Chamber will be positive and tell us their plans to improve matters, and not merely highlight the issues. After all, their website states that “Bexhill Chamber works closely with its retail and hospitality members to maintain and improve our unique town centre offer”.
Otherwise, its negativity will have stirred no one into taking positive action to improve all that is damaging to their members and the town generally. Dru Tramaseur
Ed: Bexhill News is here to raise any issue the town has and needs addressing. The first step is to raise these issues, which will hopefully trigger the powers that be to come together to fix them. The Chamber’s President, Howard Martin, this month talks about the benefits of a Business Improvement District (BID), which I hope will be useful information on how other towns are tackling these important issues.
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ARE WE REALLY SAFE?
Dear Editor,
I am here to give my personal opinion regarding the latest article stated on page 20 (Headline: “Where’s the full force in Bexhill”).
I’m only 22. Bexhill means so much to me as a person, counting my lucky stars to be born in such a lovely little town.
But now, I can’t even set foot in the streets at night, frightened something will happen. The love I had for it is disintegrating, due to councillors failing to address the overall plague of criminality gnawing away at it.
I am fuming, ashamed and heartbroken.
Vital lifelines for the elderly dying, services carved to the bone, roads more blotchy and unstable.
I am not proud of our town unless someone has the backbone, we can nip the problems in the bud. Otherwise, our county will be left to the mercy of more chaos. Why should we, many retirees and ex-Londoners live our lives in fear and not peace? Danielle Hicks
Ed: I’m so sorry to read your letter, Danielle. We must remember that Bexhill, and Rother, in general, have a very low crime rate. It can be easy to read all the scary and crime-ridden headlines and feel sad about the town we live in. Bexhill is full of some incredible, friendly groups, clubs and venues, which we also highlight in this newspaper.
POOR PARKING & PREPOSTEROUS PAYMENT PROCESSORS
Dear Editor,
Following on from your article about health workers and the car park in Beeching Road, I’d like to highlight the failings of the new parking regime in Bexhill generally.
As a seaside town we have events with thousands of visitors but the on-street parking in the town has been compromised such that there are less than 300 all-day parking spaces (on the seafront exclusively).
These are necessarily used by shop owners, workers and volunteers, leaving limited numbers for visitors. The four-hour limit on much of the parking space is pointless and negative, witness Egerton and Brockley Roads which are now sparsely used. Visitors don’t want to come to the seaside for just four hours.
On a separate matter, the exclusive parking for RingGo smartphone payment is being accepted elsewhere in England, notably in Brighton, as discriminatory. I have no problem with having to pay for parking but, like most people I have spoken to, use a credit/debit card, and not the smartphone system with its indefensible surcharge.
Has Rother District Council just accepted this imposition from the county and will there be any improvements to these two problems? Steve Hall
BLACKFRIARS DEVELOPMENT
Dear Editor,
It is wonderful news to hear that affordable homes are back in this impressive, and I hope, influential development.
Congratulations to Rother DC Housing Company Ltd, and all those who have made this possible. Julia Dance
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