Firstly I would like to thank you for publishing my letter (LETTERS TO EDITOR: The Scarecrow Festival is about everybody getting into the spirit of things) regarding the scarecrow festival in your paper as it restores my faith in freedom of speech and the fact that everyone’s opinion counts.
I have just read the response from Lin Clark (founder of PVP) which I found a little disappointing to say the least as she seems to take offence to someone having an opinion or a point of view.
To claim that the PVP invented the wheel well sorry stone age man claimed that one years ago as did the residents of Pevensey Bay knew how to enjoy themselves long before the PVP decided that we were doing it all wrong.
I am not as Lin Clark would suggest a serial complainer (having ever only complained once) and to suggest I do something for the community rather than complain about those that do….
Just because I don’t go around shouting about how good I am doesn’t mean I don’t contribute to society! I just do it in my own way and take satisfaction from knowing that I made a difference to someone or something.
I don’t need the adulation that the PVP obviously craves.
I’m sure that the PVP started out with some good intentions and some good ideas (allbeit other peoples) and I am referring to scarecrow festivals which have been going on for hundreds of years around the country long before the PVP came up with the idea.
What the PVP failed to pick up from my letter is the fact that people from the Bay already know what they want and how to have fun doing it and didn’t need the PVP changing this to suit what they wanted to happen.
To slate local businesses in the process that’s not very community minded as most businesses would struggle with the sudden influx of 200 people.
To say the choir complained that there was no electricity!
They sang and we heard them, they didn’t need electricity and if they did surely the PVP who were organising the whole event should have thought of that.
The people that simply turned up as Lin puts it and simply had no idea of the costs would have gladly put some money in a collection box to ensure that costs were met and thus prolonging the life of the event for years to come but again no effort made on that one either just moaning about costs.
You say Sharnfold welcomed us and did so much to ensure the evening was a success and I’m sure it was, but I am also sure they didn’t do it out the goodness of their heart (please correct me if I am wrong) but they would have made a profit just like the Aqua Bar did and it would be nice to know how much they contributed from their profit on the night.
The scarecrows that were left behind the ones that you said “shame on you “ for not putting in Castle Drive, who knew?
Where was the announcement or instructions or the offer of help to those people who couldn’t manage to get theirs there.
…And to say put them on the main road, I saw two at the traffic lights in Coast Road in October still waiting, you say we wanted them on the main roads. Who’s we?
The residents wanted them in their gardens so people could see they had made one which encourages conversations between neighbours and friends which in turn creates the community spirit that is so good in the Bay.
To say that I am out to spoil the event by complaining and as you put it “shall be ignored” for just asking the question Why?
You say don’t expect things to be done for you and we need to do it for ourselves, well we do things for ourselves and others.
There are many events that raise a lot of money for charities going on in the Bay and supporting local businesses in the process, The Castle Inn being a prime example the amount of events run over the year and the thousands of pounds raised for St Wilfrid’s is just one, all with no input from the PVP.
As self-appointed leader and founder of the PVP maybe you should ask the people of Pevensey Bay rather than a select few self-appointed individuals making the decisions and inflicting them on everyone else.
Where is the representation of the young people within the PVP or the opportunity for people to join the PVP rather than be just a helper.
This country is a democratic one and the peoples opinions are the ones that count not a select few of self-appointed people deciding what the people want, that’s a dictatorship.
Whatever next from the PVP you’ll be designing your own flag soon and making everyone fly it on their shops! Oh hang on you’ve already done that.
My advice to the PVP and Lin Clark is to stop and listen to the people that you so need to make this work to actively engage the whole spectrum of the community and to work as one together for the good of the villages and the businesses in them.
Yours Sincerely
Mr. Lee
