Readers' letters - July 19

Split ticketing is the way to go or should I say travel (LEP July 18)?

While many examples were shown in your article about high rail fares, in terms of proportions, none comes anywhere near the following, which was for a particular train on a particular day and was on peak:

Wigan North Western to Carlisle: £24

Carlisle to Glasgow Central: £16

Total: £40

But

Wigan North Western to Glasgow Central (and this is for the same train, same day, same time, even the same seat): £122!

Yes, THREE TIMES as much as compared to the split ticket.

Okay, so the one earlier train was £33 for the journey while the one following was £34, both of which would have cost less than the split ticket and also both on peak, but it does beg the question as to what was so special about this particular example to warrant such a disparity in fare?

Answers please, Virgin, because, er, fair it isn’t.

Neil Swindlehurst, Walmer Bridge

Not convinced of ‘pleasures’

I must reply to the letter from Mr Nelson on the EU Referendum (LEP July 7). Mr Nelson says we can all enjoy the ‘pleasures’ of multiculturalism. Mr Nelson, what precisely are the ‘pleasures’?

I don’t allude to the wonderful immigrants who work in our NHS, as without them, the NHS would collapse. This is not a pleasure of multiculturalism, it’s a benefit and I am truly thankful to them for being here. But don’t forget the majority are doing it because it pays a far better salary that they would get in their country of origin. Yes, it’s nice to be able to have foreign food at our disposal, but apart from those ‘pleasures,’ what others are there?

What I don’t consider a pleasure is my daughter not being able to get her children into the school of her choice, a mere half mile away, because it’s overcrowded.

Last year, her doctor’s surgery, which is close to where she lives, has had to transfer her to another surgery a few miles away due to the high level of new patients, of whom many are immigrants.

That isn’t a ‘pleasure’.

Mr Nelson, the country voted to leave the EU in a democratic vote, so get used to it. Britain is now free from the corrupt shackles of the EU and can now have its own laws, control its borders and so on. The EU needed Britain more than we needed it.

One last point, in the years since John Major signed us up to the Lisbon Treaty, the financial accounts of the EU have never been accepted by the auditors and accountants of the EU.

That fact alone must tell you it was in this country’s best interests to leave the corrupt EU!

These reasons are why I and many others voted Out.

GF Redskerne, Clayton Brooke

The majority voted Out

I can’t get over the Remain campaigners continuing to shout out their opposition regarding the result of the Referendum. The majority of people in this country voted Out –that’s it finished.

As for all the foreign nationals in the UK, there is no threat to their jobs whatsoever.

Let’s just get on and arrange our future and, just to let the worry-warts know, this is a list of the countries which have so far signalled they would like to open talks with the UK over a trade deal: the US, China, India, the EFTA nations (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Australia and New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, Ghana and… Germany!

The latter had been told by its industrialists it had better strike a free trade deal with the UK after Brexit, or else. Not surprising as Germany exports over £55bn to the UK and only imports £10bn from us (figures from HM Revenue & Customs).

Cliff Fazackerley via email

Journey over if libraries close

In view of the large number of Lancashire libraries earmarked for closure, I find it ironic that County Coun Marcus Johnstone, who has sanctioned these closures, was promoting the ‘Journey to Help Children’s Reading’ (LEP July 12).

This is run by all Lancashire Libraries annually in the summer. Your article said he stated “this is a great way to encourage children to keep reading and learning throughout their summer holidays.”

After the autumn, when many libraries are closed, how will children, and everyone else, have access to events, books, online access, scanners, printers and future holiday schemes locally?

Please rethink your actions and the impact you will have on future generations, Marcus Johnstone.

A family of users of Lancashire Libraries via email

Lost lives will be remembered

The Royal British Legion (RBL) branch in Lostock Hall is running a coach to the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, on August 21 to witness the opening and dedication of a new memorial in honour of those killed in the Cyprus emergency.

The conflict, between 1956 and 1959, claimed the lives of 371 British troops during the conflict against EOKA, a Cypriot-Greek guerrilla organisation which fought against British rule. The servicemen who lost their lives were mainly National Servicemen and all were buried in Cyprus. Yet there has never been a memorial to these brave lads until now.

The Lostock Hall branch is organising this trip and we would like as many people connected with the conflict to join us. The memorial is carved out of rock transported from the Mediterranean island this year. Contact me on 01772 745839 or michael

[email protected]

Michael F Turner, Lostock Hall Royal British Legion

An excellent role model

Congratulations to Julie Bell on receiving a British Citizen Award. Julie was my boss when I worked for the library service. She is an excellent role model for aspiring young and not so young women. A well deserved award.

Christine Barker via email