Normandy landings

The French are keen to take over Newhaven Port, investing millions of pounds in the ailing harbour, and it's not a bad idea.

No one on this side of the Channel has been prepared to give this vital port the economic shot in the arm it desperately needs.

The French are keen because four out of five passengers on the route between Newhaven and Dieppe are British. They are worth millions of pounds a year to Normandy.

It's not a new idea. After all, for many years the port was jointly run in the days of nationalisation between British and French

Railways.

The advantage for Sussex could be a port providing hundreds more jobs and increased services.

These could include a second boat to carry freight or another ferry providing passenger services all the year round.

Everyone at Newhaven applauds what Hoverspeed has done for the service in supplying a fast ferry to Dieppe.

But the service is seasonal and affected by bad weather. To become truly reliable and competitive with other routes, a second boat is needed and it seems that only the French may be able to do that.

Bottom marks

Maverick MP Peter Bottomley is not supporting Brighton and Hove's bid to become a city.

Instead, the West Worthing Tory MP is backing Shrewsbury because originally he was a Shropshire lad.

Mr Bottomley may not represent Brighton and Hove but he is MP for a town only ten miles away.

What's good for Brighton and Hove could be good for Worthing, too. Mr Bottomley must remember he's a Sussex lad now.

Rickshaw ritual

Many children go to school by car these days. But Amy and Alex Bush sometimes reach their school in Worthing in a rickshaw.

Their dad, Richard, bought it because he runs a shop in the town featuring objects from Thailand.

The two children love the rickshaw and classmates are always asking for rides. It gives a new meaning to the phrase old school Thai.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.