Sir
As a Pevensey resident of nigh on 30 years, I do have sympathy with the proprietor of the Castle Cottage Tea Rooms, and indeed all businesses seeking to survive in the village. The Editor’s response reference examining the Aims and indeed devolved rights, be them charitable or managerial alongside the Articles of Association of local organisations and relevant Deeds in conjunction with elected MP Huw Merriman would be a useful process.
Pevensey seems to have several unelected and unaccountable bodies shaping village life and managing, without scrutiny or account, alarmingly large swathes of the locale. A glance at the Charities Commission returns reveals they are incredibly wealthy to boot.
With local businesses reliant on tourism and central government controls becoming ever tighter on local Council budgets – and as a Tourism officer in a neighbouring Council – I should know, these organisations should be promoting and supporting the village as a whole be it pub, castle, walk or event and not simply involved in their own environs.
Pevensey and Pevensey Bay businesses and organisations have a proven enthusiasm for designing and delivering events to increase footfall, awareness and income generation and one would hope that Huw Merriman working with all involved could lay the foundations of a workable Tourism and Economic strategy for the area. Quite frankly Pevensey these days is about as welcoming as King Harold was to William the Conqueror.
Yours faithfully
Jayne Howard
Pevensey
