Put new supermarket on Woolworths' site THE report on Tesco coming to Rye missed three key issues which are very important and which the people of Rye should consider before deciding whether they support the arrival of a large new Tesco. 1. It is almost certainly Sainsbury which has emerged as the late bidder. We know this because they have signed options to purchase several private houses on the edge of the site Tesco are trying to acquire. 2. Jempson/Budgens higher prices are related to its small size, but it has planning permission to expand and will then bring down its prices. In addition its forced contractually to buy Budgens products for only another few years and will then be able to revert to being a superb, competitively priced, high-quality independent supermarket, one of the best in the land, like its Peasmarsh equivalent. 3. Finally, I personally do not agree with Jempson family decision to close on Sunday, but it is their right to do so and I admire them for sticking to their values. If the people of Rye want a supermarket open on Sundays, it would surely be sensible to allow Tesco or Sainsbury or the Co-op to open a small supermarket on the site that used to be occupied by Woolworth. Then there would be a retail magnet for our faltering High Street, and a Sunday supermarket, and a bit of price competition with Jempson without crushing them, as will inevitably happen if Tesco or Sainsbury are allowed to open with a massive site. The friends of Rye Library can moan that the Woolworth site is reserved for a new library - planning permission has been granted - but the decision can be reversed, and frankly it was an absurd idea to move the library onto a crowded high street with a narrow pavement and no parking nor pedestrian areas. The upstairs of the new library site would be reserved for offices and be of no value to the public, and the whole plan is a serious waste of public money. Far better to let the old Woolworth be a supermarket, and find another site for Rye library. The library has been waiting decades for a new site. It can wait a few more years with no inconvenience to anyone. I will be campaigning to prevent Rye Library moving to the old Woolworth building and invite anyone who agrees with me to get in touch on nickrosen@gmail.com NICK ROSEN Winchelsea Beach Let the town vote on a new Tesco AS I don't live in Rye I probably shouldn't be writing this letter, but I have always loved Rye and thought it a very special town and the thought of yet another Tesco store (another blot on the landscape) spoiling it really upsets me. Does Rye really need another supermarket, they already have Budgens, and Jempsons is not too far away, and if the locals want to travel just a few miles they can visit Morrisons or that really ugly monstrosity which is a Tesco superstore out at Church Wood Drive, St.Leonards, which was a huge white elephant for months as nobody enjoyed being in the building as it has all the personality of an airport waiting area. I noticed that East Sussex County Council rather likes the idea of a Tesco supermarket which in itself is quite scary as their record of making right decisions for the local people has always been extremely poor to say the least. What, I ask myself, is in it for them? Could not the land be used for something for the community, especially the younger ones? What about a cinema? Rye always had a cinema which was situated where the police station is now. There must be something far more useful to the people of Rye than yet another supermarket, why not let the town vote? ANN BELL Castle Down Terrace, Hastings Fantastic support for Beatles Day THANK you to all the people that came to Beatles Day 11 on Sunday and helped to raise an amazing 15,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support which will help local people living with cancer. A really good time was had by everyone and the atmosphere was the best ever. Beatles Day is now attracting fans from far and wide, one family coming from York. This year's total was boosted by a huge raffle. Congratulations to Mrs McLeay, a local lady who won the first prize, a 37" television. The huge amount raised would not be possible if all the people involved did not give their time freely I cannot name everybody here but a huge thank you to all our sponsors, people that donated raffle prizes, musicians, stagehands, volunteers and of course the Beatles Day organizing committee, well done to everyone. 2011 will be Macmillan Cancer Supports 100th birthday. Will it be possible to surpass this year's success? I hope so. DOREEN UPWOOD Chairman Beatles Day organizing committee Save the date for school reunion TO ALL 1940s Hastings High School pupils - we are delighted to announce that a reunion of the 1940s pupils of Hastings High School for Girls is taking place at The Cooden Beach Hotel on Saturday April 24. We look forward to seeing you all again and also to meeting those of you who were unable to make it last time. For further details please contact Freda Rimini on 01296 612246 or email freda.dias@virgin.net. FREDA RIMINI Buckinghamshire Future planners should look to Lydd YOUR report (April 9) that a Shepway district councillor is leading an initiative to brand Romney Marsh as a Green Tourism destination seems at odds with her council's decision last month to approve the expansion of Lydd airport to increase passenger traffic from 4,000 to 500,000 per annum! This decision was made against the advice of their own council officers, their ecological consultants and Natural England (the Government's nature conservation advisor). Does Shepway see not see the inconsistency here? LYNNE JENKINS Guestling Wartime evacuation memories wanted I AM seeking information for a book about pregnant women and mothers with young children evacuated during World War Two. Do any of your readers have memories they could share? If so, would they please write to me at Sue MacArthur, The Church House, St. John Street, Bridlington, E. Yorks. YO16 7JS. SUE MACARTHUR Bridlington E. Yorks Watching Foyle's War on television brings back memories of Russians at Little Common WATCHING Foyle's War brought back memories of when the Russian prisoners of war came to Little Common in August-September 1944 if my memory serves me right. They were accommodated in the schools in Collington Lane, every day they were taken out to work a lot on local farms. They were paid a small wage for this work and as they settled down they were allowed out into the village in the evenings, some spoke a little English and we young lads 15,16,17 years old would talk to them. They were intrigued by the fact we had bikes and the lamps on the bikes. In Godfreys cycle shop these lamps were on display and with their money they could by a lamp, but they asked where did you get the permit for the lamp, you don't need a permit, then you need a permit for the bulb, no, aha then you need permit for the battery, no we said you don't need any permit just money 2/6 for the lamp and 11 pence for the battery. On Saturday after they had finished work we took the first of them in to buy the lamps, they were like children and in the evenings they used to switch lights off in the schools and go around with their lamps. We had the same problem when they bought their first bikes they thought they had to have permits if not for one part then for another. They all knew what would happen to them if they were returned to Russia, if they were lucky they would be sent to the Gulags but most would be shot. First because they had allowed themselves to be taken prisoner and secondly they had worked on the Atlantic Wall. When the news came that they were being sent home they confined to the schools and armed guards replaced the stick guards who had been there before. Several committed suicide although this was kept very quiet and then one day they were gone. Not a very proud day for England. KEN ISTED Woodsgate Avenue Bexhill-on-Sea What happened to the swine flu fears? WHATEVER happened to the global pandemic of swine 'flu? IAIN KERR Windmill Lane, Icklesham.