600 protest after poor Rother jubilee show

Linda Stevens was so incensed the town was not painted in a blaze of bunting, bands and fireworks she collected nearly 600 signatures in 13 days for a protest petition about the town's apparent apathy.

Mrs Stevens, of Birk Dale, is sending the petition today to Rother council leader, Graham Gubby, with a copy to Bexhill and Rother MP Greg Barker.

She says those signing it "wish to make their disappointment known at the absence of arrangements" to celebrate the event in the town.

The petition says: "There was no bunting, flags, or fireworks laid on by those of you who plan such events for our town. You had a golden opportunity to unite the people of Bexhill. How could you let such a memorable occasion go by uncelebrated?"

Mrs Stevens added: "Visitors told me they had gone to events in Battle, Eastbourne and Ninfield. It was so embarrassing when strangers asked me in the street where our celebrations were.

"We should be trying to bring people into the town for the sake of our traders and for unity and goodwill."

But Coun Gubby said it was not the council's place to spend taxpayers' money on celebrations of which half the population may not approve, preferring the cash more wisely spent on better services to benefit everyone.

He said: "It would have been nice if everyone had joined in and made an effort, with which the council would have been glad to help and advise. The jubilee was a good opportunity for everyone to unite and put on a celebration. But this is a town of individuals and you cannot expect the local authority to take everything on.

"We work in partnership to help groups of people achieve what they are trying to do. It is no longer solely the council's responsibility.

The jubilee highlighted the need for those who live and work and enjoy recreation in the town to pull together and lift Bexhill out of the doldrums."