Editorial

Willingdon Neighbourhood Watch regularly receives communications from residents via emails, telephone calls, and the occasional letter, and with reference to the recent article on “ BBC South East Today” regarding a Sussex resident who has been waiting 6 months for a disability Blue Badge from ESCC, we are publishing the following from residents.

March 22, 2025 I hit a pothole. It was 70 cms long, 46 cms wide & 9 cms deep, it burst a tyre. The total cost to me was £310. I wrote to East Sussex Highways- Balfour Beatty - sent pictures, receipts & my statement. On May 30 finally received a reply from them. The gist of it was it was inspected on March 10, 2025 - no actionable defects found, even though that area of road has been in a terrible state for over a year. 4 days after this incident that particular pothole was filled in.! So, they won't reimburse me the £310. Absolutely shameful of ESCC. I'm a pensioner & can't afford to lose that type of money. I bet their managers get a nice big salary. ESCC should hang their heads in shame!!!!!

This 83-year-old has been waiting 9 months for a blue badge, and even though ESCC have some of my medical history, including severe lung problems and the use of inhalers, they sent me a letter recently refusing me a Blue badge, stating I do not qualify. I AM DEVASTATED !!!!!

Useless highways department led by an overpaid highways Director who couldn't run a "you know what" in a brewery. Keep reporting road defects, and they try to deny that any defects exist. I suggest we withhold the portion of council tax that goes to them for fraudulently taking the money and not delivering event the most basic Repairs that the taxpayers have paid for. Also call for their resignation, supported by a no confidence motion .

It should also be added that one of the above residents contacted our ESCC Councilor, and received very little support from them.

A wee history lesson for those residents who do not know anything about WNW, and community Speed watch , however, many residents will remember the formation of Willingdon Neigbourhood Watch in 1982, and it was the very first watch formed in the South of England out of 180,000 around the UK today.

For many years WNW survived on grants from the Parish Council of around £300 a year all of which went straight back into our community via hundreds of free door chains being fitted by us, and also many free solar security lights also fitted by us for vulnerable residents, usually via recommendations from our past PCSO's.

The very last grant WNW applied for came with strings attached, WNW had to find half the grant from elsewhere, something unprecedented in the history of grant application before or since, so that was the very last grant we applied for from the Parish council,

Fast forward several decades to 2012, when a few of us received training in the use of Speed guns/cameras, and for several years we had to go to Hailsham Police Station to sign out a speed gun, use it then sign it back in at Hailsham the following day.

Then in 2015 a one off grant became available for us to purchase a £1500 Genesis directional speed gun from Unipar services of Tunbridge Wells, which even today is regarded as one of the best on the market, we were to share our community speed gun with Polegate speed watch, however , at the time Polegate did not form a speed watch group.

Unfortunately, 10 years on our speed gun now needs a £285 service, and we have been advised by Unipar that once serviced it she be good for another 10 years. Last year we applied via form filling for a grant from Sussex Police funds, they never even bothered to get back to us, then we applied for a grant from our PCC, they turned us down, even Sussex Police Speed Watch unit run by Steve O'Connell will not help us ,and keep on stating that our speed gun is privately owned, and therefore not liable for a grant. We have told Steve O'Connell so many times how the funding came about for our community speed gun, yet he still chooses to turn a deaf ear!  At the time of writing  our speed gun although accurate in speed measurement has it's power cable held together via tape, once the power cable breaks then that will be the end of Willingdon Community Speed Watch.

Here ends the wee history lesson.....Ray Ingram

Dear Ray,

We are thrilled to share the exciting news that you have been selected as a finalist for the Special Recognition Award in the Neighbourhood Watch Network’s Volunteer Recognition Awards 2025!

Your nomination stood out among many inspiring entries and is now in the hands of our panel of judges. This achievement is a wonderful recognition of your outstanding dedication, hard work, and the positive difference you make in your community.

Winners for each of our five award categories will be notified in September, and we will be inviting them to join us for a special celebration event in October to honour the incredible contributions of volunteers like you.

We want to thank you sincerely for all that you do—you are an essential part of the Neighbourhood Watch community, and we’re so pleased to see your efforts recognised in this way.

With warmest congratulations,

Alys Davies

Very recently, Willingdon Community Speedwatch registered 9 vehicles traveling along Seven Sisters Road at over 40mph on this 30mph road. All vehicle details have been sent to Sussex Police to be dealt with by them.