Viva Lewes Issue #134 November 2017

COLUMN
East of Earwig
Mark Bridge gets militant
Photo by Mark Bridge
It was William Lonsdale Watkinson who coined
the phrase 'far better to light the candle than to
curse the darkness' in a sermon just over a century
ago. Yet in a world that's threatened intermittently
with nuclear war, depending on the availability of
the US President's internet connection, it's easy to
feel helpless against injustice. Of course, we can all
prepare for the worst. Action films have told us the
best way to react to unspeakable horror is to keep
calm and carry on, walking unflinchingly through
explosions. And I'm sure I'll find it pretty simple
to substitute rat for free-range chicken in my postapocalyptic
cooking.
But all this metaphorical bunker-building feels a
bit passive. Whilst it's good to have an excuse to
stockpile tinned custard in the cupboard under the
stairs, I doubt I'll have any opportunity to defend
the village of Ringmer against a real attack. Or,
at least, I didn't think I would... until my call-up
papers arrived.
Like many people, I'm a little nervous about the
delivery of any government document. I'm pretty
sure that worming the cat doesn't qualify me for
an MBE, which means a letter bearing the House
of Commons portcullis is probably trouble. And
indeed it is, but not in the way I expect. Local MP
Maria Caulfield has written of her disappointment
that East Sussex County Council is considering the
closure of Ringmer Library, along with six other
local libraries. Her campaigning puts her in conflict
with fellow Conservatives who control the council.
Councillors say the planned closures would save
money, although the inclusion of Ringmer seems
counter-intuitive when the Village Hall building
that contains the library has recently been enlarged
and visitor numbers have increased. In fact, it was
the Chair of ESCC who officially opened the new
library last year.
Figures from ESCC mention a journey of 10
minutes from Ringmer Library to Lewes Library by
bus, which would be absolutely true if there was a
time machine waiting at Lewes Bus Station to save
people from walking to the town's library. They
also suggest the annual cost of running Ringmer
library is around £8,000. That's just a quarter of the
amount their councillors claimed in car travel for
the last financial year. Sure, people from Ringmer
could go into Lewes to use the library. But if that's
the case, why stop there? Why not insist that Ringmerites
could go into Lewes to use the shops, the
schools and the pubs?
Anyone interested can respond to the consultation
online at consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk or, if
you prefer paper, by picking it up from the library.
While you’re there, I’d also recommend borrowing
a book. One day, you may even be able to pick up a
copy of my favourite rodent recipes. I think I'll call
it 'Cooking by Candlelight'.
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