Readers' letters - September 9

Weeds good for wildlife
Wildflowers brighten up the landscape  not all weeds are bad says a readerWildflowers brighten up the landscape  not all weeds are bad says a reader
Wildflowers brighten up the landscape  not all weeds are bad says a reader

Despite many complaints, the weedkiller ban in Morecambe is good for the environment.

The weeds provide food and shelter for insects and birds and look more attractive green and flowering than as dead stalks.

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All grass verges look better too, without those horrible, brown edges left by weedkillers.

And as the Morecambe project, Weed your Street, demonstrated, some DIY will dispose of those that really are in the way.

A new strategy needs to be employed.

In most places, the supposed weeds are good.

Other wildflowers should be introduced and allowed to spread, seeding themselves in crevices and among gravel so making our streets more colourful and wildlife friendly.

An additional economy would be to mow grass less often.

All grassed areas do not need to be bowling green short.

For instance, on Westgate, Morecambe, some of the grass could be given just one mowing in September.

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This would allow meadow flowers to grow, so we could enjoy buttercups, red clover and dog daisies when the daffodils are over. Morecambe could be advertised as the weedkiller-free, wildflower-friendly resort.

Judith Thompson, Morecambe

No premium for reservation

I refer to Fred Hodson’s correspondence (LEP Letters, August 31).

Firstly, there is NO premium charge for reserving a seat on a train. It is free!

Secondly it is perfectly acceptable to sit on a reserved seat. Some of the reservations may have been from, say, Leeds to Newcastle, but the reservation ticket will have been put on the seat at Kings Cross.

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Thus Mr and Mrs Corbyn could have sat on those seats from London to Leeds.

Meanwhile his aides, or even himself or his wife, could have looked round these reserved seats to find a better alternative.

Thus, perversely, Jeremy Corbyn was actually NOT following the rules to occupy reserved seats. He was merely showing his ignorance or laziness of how the rules operate.

Indeed, one can even, if available, change one’s reserved seat – again at no charge.

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In these days of smart phones, this can even be done as late as walking along the platform for one’s train.

Even those people with little experience of using trains can choose the exact seat that they want.

Oh, and this comes from the current Leader of the Opposition who wants to renationalise the railways. Well, this is typical of many MPs, they make decisions about things that they know little, if anything, about.

It really also begs the question as to why did Jeremy Corbyn or his aides not book and reserve seats on the train?

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He and they knew he had an appointment up in Newcastle, so why not book and reserve seats?

Laziness or ignorance again, perhaps?

Thus I must conclude that to show Jeremy Corbyn looking at the actual reservation tickets on the seats would not have made for good publicity, whereas sitting on the floor moaning would have greater impact to get his misplaced point across about overcrowded trains.

Only later would it be revealed that this ‘greater impact’ was of his and his aides’ ignorance – and now that of Fred Hodson – of how trains run.

That, by the way, includes the fact that most trains these days have CCTV on them.

Thus JC was found out.

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It then begs the question as to why one would ever consider voting for someone who doesn’t even understand the basics of living in the UK and who may be – hopefully not though – be running this country in a few years’ time.

Neil Swindlehurst,

Walmer Bridge

Proud of town’s art project

A huge ‘well done!’ to John Swift, Alistair Sheret and Rupert Swarbrick, the visionary minds behind Create Longridge. Despite torrential rain, the event was hugely enjoyable, bringing a buzz to the streets of Longridge, and it was inspirational to see so many artists doggedly continuing despite the weather.

Peering into shop windows one might have previously simply passed by and looking for completed works by many of the competing artists, brought a whole new level of interest for Longridge visitors. The sheer hard work of all involved has certainly borne fruit. Take a look at the exhibition in Longridge Gallery, listen to the favourable comments, watch this little town on BBC’s Inside Out programme and be proud! Bigger and better next year?

Jan Porter, address supplied

BBC letting standards slip

It was an excellent article by Aasma Day recently about the misuse of language (LEP, August 28). Little wonder considering the influence of the BBC, where standards have plummeted.

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Some BBCisms uttered frequently are: Guys [for male and female]; Draw rup a plan, Draw ra line under, and many others with a mysterious r inserted; different to instead of different from; a criteria [singular instead of plural]; silly phrases such as “eat your heart out”; and weather forecast ones –wintry old weather, dreary old day. You would think there would be someone among the faceless ones in the BBC sensitive enough to standards to cut out the sloppiness.

Cleveleys Clever Clogs via email

Practise what you preach

How ironic. I just heard the Bishop of Blackburn say on Radio Lancashire, as part of the Northern Bishops Crossroads, that the church needs to become more relevant to people’s lives otherwise it will become marginalised. He says it at the very time Penwortham St Mary’s Church is about to demolish its church hall, built as a community facility and a means of outreach, and withdraw from the centre of the community to the extreme margins of the parish.

Coun David Bird , vice chairman Penwortham Neighbourhood Forum

South Ribble Borough Council

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