April 24 Combined - Flipbook - Page 23
Write to Editor, Hayling Herald, 64 Elm Grove, Hayling Island PO11 9EF or editor@haylingherald.co.uk
Letters Hayling Herald
Seawall compromise
Dear Editor,
FURTHER to previous articles
in this publication regarding the
ongoing saga that is the Langstone Seawalls campaign, may I
point out – as the instigator of the
Change.Org petition I am aware
that many people are currently
supporting the proposed plan of
a boardwalk to be sited above the
existing path.
This will retain access to the shore
and the views in this iconic place.
As part of the proposed plan, the
entire length of the failing walls –
between the Mill and Wade Lane –
will be repaired and maintained for
the next 25 years, until 2050.
The downside of this plan is that
the paddock will, over the years,
become more water-logged and
Chichester Harbour Conservancy
hope that salt marsh will grow in
that area.
The proposed plan is what we are
told by Havant Borough Council
will happen with completion of the
works this year.
Whilst a complete re-build of the
walls would be the perfect solution
in the eyes of some, I worry that the
argument will keep going round in
circles until the walls fail altogether.
We have made our point: a protest
march, an action weekend, head
counts and two public meetings.
These actions have resulted in a
compromise but I must stress this is
not necessarily the view of everyone
concerned with the Save our Seawalls campaign.
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Tait,
Seawalls.Langstone@gmail.com
‘Council must reject festival plan’
Dear Editor,
I THINK it is outrageous that the Licensing
Committee of Havant Borough Council was
seriously considering an application for a festival (The Kite Surfing Armada) in the Chichester
Avenue car park.
I have known Hayling since 1979 and the Sea
Front has become the second busiest road on the
Island, with densely populated houses and flats
restricted to one side of the road amid care and
residential homes for both the able, elderly and
infirm.
We all desire and think we have paid for the
peace and tranquility of our homes in a lovely
environment with no disturbances late in the
evening. This is particularly important for the
sick and young children.
I have witnessed many proposals over the
years, all of which seem aimed at destroying the
quiet charm of Hayling Island. With the attractive and natural vistas, the Island should be
protected as a rare asset in the county. How is it
that reasonable requests for important things like
more pedestrian crossings, pothole repairs, improved disabled facilities etc can be kicked into
the long grass yet an application to provide drink
and entertainment and God knows what else can
be taken so seriously and speedily? It only creates
distrust in the actions of our council.
Chichester Avenue car park is a relatively small
area between sea and road, abutting the SSSI at
one end and the COPP memorial at the other
with a single building, i.e. toilet facilities, open
from dawn till dusk. It is a well used site as it is
safe and friendly, it gives easy access to the beach.
It offers a range of water sports and is an
uncluttered pleasurable view for all, particularly
those with mobility issues who cannot leave their
car. They park up and get great enjoyment from
being so close to the sea, loving the vistas. It
provides space for children’s games, picnics and
barbecues as well as serving its main purpose as
a car park.
It is very busy, welcoming daytime activities throughout the year, particularly summer
months. This can include religious groups using
the sea for baptismal rituals, small coach parties,
overseas visitors and some car clubs.
This music festival invites too many people to
the seafront until very late at night, it will create traffic and parking chaos, not only cars and
camper vans but lorries laden with deliveries,
food, drink, equipment etc. How will this affect
emergency services vehicles? It can take over an
hour to get to Queen Alexandra Hospital now,
missed hospital appointments and delayed ambulances could cost lives. Surely this is madness!
The hours of darkness present their own problems, most of which involve either alcohol or
drugs.
The random activities of boy racers tearing up
the car park, the fires lighting up the beach with
noisy parties until well past midnight, the camping in tents or cars and vans, the volume of litter
and, perhaps worst of all, the personal unsanitary
leavings arising from the call of nature which we
experienced so badly last July. Does the council
really intend to even consider making this so
much worse?
If granted, this application would have been
forever, wondering which month we would be
subjected to disturbance, noise and possibly
drunken disorder, unable to sleep peacefully
in our beds for up to five consecutive days and
nights.
Some of us will have had at least 14 portable
toilets less than 50 metres from our bedrooms.
Alcohol will always be accompanied by problems and control is never there when needed. We
already know the council cannot ‘police’ such
events and rely on contractors who have no control outside fenced licensed areas.
The residents do try to protect the environment, not just for ourselves but for all the visitors
who come year after year, knowing that the area
will be safe for their children and animals, beneficial to health and wellbeing. The Island is truly
a unique treasure.
Hayling Island is not a commercial resort. Who
profits from such an event? Certainly not the
residents. The council had to reject the license
application and any others that might follow,
surely it’s the least the home owning ratepayers
deserve?
Yours faithfully,
V Styles, Sea Front
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