Readers' letters: Elections are more important than ever

However, in current times these elections are even more important than ever.

County council level especially is the most powerful way that the voice of we, the people, can be heard.

I have just registered for a postal vote for the first time ever.

The Government says we will be able to vote in person in the county council elections in May. But forecasting how things will be then is tricky, as we know. I hope all will be well, but I know I definitely want to vote.

One reason is that I do not think that the Westminster Government knows, or cares, very much about the North West. It lumps all of the North West together in a land referred to as “the North” with as much understanding (or possibly less) than it has of Westeros.

I urge everyone to be ready to vote in the county council elections in May.

The people of Lancashire need voices in County Hall which are not influenced by a Government whose priorities lie elsewhere, usually London and the south.

Challenges to Lancashire homes lie ahead: flooding is an increasing problem and new planning laws will have a big impact. Agriculture is under threat from future trade arrangements, just as fishing has found to its cost.

These sit alongside our local concerns about our health service, care for the elderly, our schools, the state of our roads, employment and support for families and business.

The single spectacular success in the pandemic is the vaccine programme.

Why?

Because it is based on an established network of local knowledge and expertise.

Imagine if Test and Trace had been allowed to use local Public Health and Primary Health Care personnel to make contact and slow down the virus.

Multi-millions spent in communities for lasting good, not wasted on the (abandoned) “world-beating app” which never left the Isle of Wight, or given to just one company: SERCO and its £1,000 a day consultants.

When we get a chance to show how we feel about life in Lancashire, let’s remember that strong, Lancashire focused voices need to be heard and vote.

Elizabeth Warner

Preston

Magnificent staff at RPH

In 1992, I had a shock. I was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism and the Royal Preston Hospital was my home for two weeks. It was where I was given the treatment that saved my life.

Imagine my surprise –shock – when two weeks ago I was again being threatened with a pulmonary embolism, this time in my right lung.

A paramedic crew were called and duly arrived.

They treated me at home and took me to RPH for further treatment and, after going through triage and other preliminaries, I was taken to SDEC department where the staff welcomed me and treated me with utmost compassion.

An X-Ray and a scan quickly followed, with further treatment and advice given by consummate professionals.

Now here I am at home, warm and warned to go slowly for the next few weeks.

I have deliberately not mentioned the names of those doctors, nurses and other staff who dealt with me. They were all magnificent.

Wherever I went in the hospital there was understanding and kindness; so once more RPH worked and used their expertise to save me whilst other parts of the hospital were fighting to save lives from the pandemic.

It surely is time to say that the ambulance service and hospital staff are a credit to the nation.

I never cease to wonder at the way in which RPH continues to function in such a splendid manner.

Gerard Parke-Hatton

via email

Rich get richer during crisis

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, is said to be “concerned” about the economy.

So he should be, what with rising unemployment, rising prices, falling wages and the self-inflicted damage being done by Brexit. However, these issues are superficial compared with what is really going on.

Recent research by the International Labour Organisation shows that because of the coronavirus crisis, total earnings of the world’s workers during 2020 fell by $3.7 trillion.

Research by Oxfam shows that during the same period, the wealth of the world’s billionaires increased by $3.9 trillion.

There is a scene in the Laurel and Hardy film, Way out West, in which Stan and Ollie walk into a bar. and Stan orders some drinks.

The barman takes his money and rings up “No Sale” on the till.

“That till isn’t working properly” says Stan.

The barman glares at him and says “It’s working fine for me.”

No doubt the significance of this scene as an analogy of the economy would be lost on Mr Sunak.

John Prance, Penwortham

Steady decline

As it’s tipping down, a thought for the day.

Have readers also watched the steady decline in many terraced residential streets where householder after householder now leave their bins out on the pavement all week long?

On the introduction of the wheelie bins, we were clearly told that we must return our bins back to the confines of our premises. But nobody cares anymore including – it seems – those who are meant to protect our street scene.

“Lost Standards”

Name and address supplied