Readers' letters

In an article published in the Lancashire Evening Post regarding parking violations (LEP October 15), a Lancashire Police spokesman said: “We only deal with cars which are causing an unnecessary obstruction or are in a dangerous position.

“Everything else is dealt with by the council.”

The rule of thumb, explained the spokesman, was: “If you can get a double buggy through then it’s not causing an obstruction.”

This photograph of the footpath on Oliver’s Place was taken at 9am on a weekday (pictured).

Can you please explain how the ‘rule of thumb – double buggy’ applies in this circumstance?

At the furthest point in this picture a pedestrian is unable to pass without using the roadside of the offending car.

This is very dangerous as the view from the road is severely restricted due to the double parking of cars around the area.

The situation in this area is getting worse and it will continue to worsen as we approach the Christmas period with more temporary staff working at Royal Mail, JTF, CPC and other businesses.

I assume that it is the case of ‘not my problem’ but if there is a serious accident in the area which can be attributed to the parking issue, who will hold their hand up then?

I live nearby and have a seven-year-old daughter. There are many young children on the estate and we ‘run the gauntlet’ every morning and every evening.

Ian Fisher, Fulwood

Come on, let’s get money back

Another anti-fracking diatribe in your readers’ column today about the perceived affront to democracy, so let’s have some simple truths (LEP October 14).

Lancashire has a population of approximately 1,470,000.

The fracking nimby whinge mob claim some 18,000 signed a petition against fracking so, put simply enough for even them to understand, approximately 1,452,000 Lancashire residents did not oppose fracking.

This letter, written as one of the 98.5 per cent of residents who have not expressed opposition to fracking, requests that the legal costs incurred by LCC (that’s you and me as tax payers) be recovered from the spineless vote-grubbing county councillors who, by voting against the professional advice from their officers, are now in law liable to be surcharged for those costs.

This country needs a secure gas supply so to read that nine lorries passing through the village daily for a couple of years is a major problem for village residents defies belief and, with it, went all sympathy tor the villagers, who will, I fully accept, have some short-term disruption.

Other readers and local news viewers will have noticed, perhaps even been amused by, the sight and sound of the monster tractor driving past making far more noise than a modern lorry.

Come on LCC, let’s get our money back.

After all, you spend your time telling us you are stony broke.

Utterly fed up LCC council tax payer

Menace of Halloween

It seems to me that Halloween is a menace, and has become more so in recent years (American influence perhaps?)

I certainly have no recollections of kids and adults making such an issue of it when I was a youngster.

Above all, it’s not just restricted to one night, pumpkins have been on sale since mid-September.

And it’s not just Halloween I hate, bonfire night is another. Remember, remember I could well do without.

And in this respect I know I speak for those with pets who have a terrible time with dogs that don’t understand all the loud bangs. These start well before November 5 (and after) too.

Neil Kendall, address supplied

Opposition was from outsiders

When it comes to putting the ‘great fracking debate’ in perspective – may I refer your readers to a recent article in The Times?

Correspondent Matt Ridley commented: “In the case of shale gas, nearly a decade after it first started applying to do so, Cuadrilla is to be allowed to drill a single well in Fylde, in Lancashire, under strict environmental conditions, using a technique – horizontal drilling and fracking – that has been tested more than a million times in America with very few environmental problems.

“In that decade, America has used this technique to smash the oil price, transform its economy and cut its carbon emissions. We’ve spent the decade in a futile attempt to placate a handful of implacable green fanatics.

“It’s tempting to blame Nimbyism. But in Lancashire, the problem is the opposite. The inundating of local councillors came not from locals but from outsiders. According to council officers, of 13,448 objections received, fewer than one in ten were actual letters (as opposed to forms thrust in front of people by pressure groups) and fewer than one in seven came from Fylde. So just 2.9 per cent of the adult population of Fylde objected to shale gas drilling. Remember that next time the BBC starts bleating about ‘fierce local opposition’”. Couldn’t agree more!

J Standing via email

Bear: A million thanks to Scouts

This is Scout Community Week and I’m super proud of the difference 2nd Walton-Le-Dale Scout group is making in its local community. This year 2nd Walton-Le-Dale Scout Group has chosen to focus on dementia. Thanks to Scouting’s award-winning campaign, A Million Hands, Scouts have spent time learning about the issue, finding out about the people it affects and taking meaningful action to improve their quality of life in Preston.

I would also like to recognise the volunteers at 2nd Walton-Le-Dale Scout group for their dedication each week to giving Scouts the chance to have fun and take part in life-changing opportunities through the A Million Hands project. A Million Hands is celebrating its one year anniversary this October. During this special week, I would just like to say ‘A Million Thanks’ to these incredible Scouts. They really are shining lights in their community.

Bear Grylls, Chief Scout