Readers' letters

In another great column, Barry Freeman urges everyone to see I Daniel Blake, directed by Ken Loach (LEP, October 24).

Few directors can create work whose subject and emotional impact fills you with a burning anger, making you forget you’re watching a film.

Over the past few years. I have heard many of the stories the film is based on.

Many people applying for social benefits because they are unfit for work meet bureaucratic, by-the-book job centre staff.

They are refused state aid and are forced to look for work, even when doctors have said they were unfit for work.

Blake’s poignant statement, “You’re done for when your self-respect is lost”, says it all.

As Loach said, a movie isn’t a political movement, a party or an article, it adds its voice to public outrage.

Anyone with a conscience, especially job centre jobsworths, has to see Loach’s masterwork.

Royston Jones via email

We need to look for alternative

I cannot comment on fracking as I don’t know enough about it.

However, I can comment on the reason for trying to get an alternative source of fuel to power this country.

Fuel prices are going to rise dramatically within the next decade, and we have to find an alternative, of which fracking is only one.

Do you want to see fuel costing four or five times what it costs now, because it will happen if an alternative supply is not found?

This Government is ploughing billions of pounds into a process taking place at Drax power station in Yorkshire, it is a process to take carbon from coal leaving nice clean gas.

It is called carbon capture and storage and, if successful, will secure a supply of clean gas for many, many years to come.

Also, the technology will be worth billions and billions of pounds, so don’t rabbit on about Jeremy Corbyn taking a public stance against fracking. In fact, ask what his plans are to find us an alternative fuel supply – you can bet he won’t have one.

Bruce Allen via email

Target the 
tax havens

Terrorist organisations could be curtailed if governments dealt decisively with tax havens.

Terrorists use tax havens to move money around the world to buy arms and fund terrorism in this country and elsewhere. Governments could open these secretive jurisdictions to the light of day but their efforts are feeble. They talk tough but their actions show they are not serious.

What is needed is well known and technically not difficult as described by the Tax Justice Network (TJN) and others.

“Britain is the single most important player in the offshore system of tax havens, because of its control and support of a wide network of part-British territories which are major players in the system” (TJN). The problem is that the political will is absent. Our political leaders could just do it. What is holding them back?

Chris Gathercole, address supplied

‘Christian was not so Christian’

I was coming out of a shopping centre recently and was accosted by one of these ‘born- again (so-called) Christians’. I stopped, we exchanged conversation, and then his voice got louder. I had to ask him at least three times to not shout at me. He told me he used to be a Catholic and he went on about what he hated in the Catholic Church and asked what I thought of certain things. He was offensive and upset me so much I was near to tears. I found him anything but Christian. These people should be monitored by whoever is in charge.

Name and address provided

Full house at Middleton

Mention of Middleton Towers prompted me to recall a photograph taken there (LEP Looking Back, October 18). It is circa 1951, and I am the small one.

Mum and Dad had saved up hard for a holiday, so on the first night at the Towers, they were delighted they got full house on the bingo!

I believe at the time bingo was actually known as housey housey.

I was born in Mount Street Hospital and we lived in a building which was known as the Drill Hall.

It was at the rear of the Museum of Lancashire in Stanley Street, but our entrance was on St Mary’s Street and the prison was a naval prison.

Eddie Clegg, Preston

It’s like arguing with Cloughie

The late lamented Brian Clough always said that if a player disagreed with him, he would welcome him into his office, argue the point for 20 minutes or so, then agree Cloughie was right in the first place!

It’s like fracking, Heathrow, and any motorway ever built. Okay, we are always allowed a public consultation and vote, before being completely ignored.

Every night, for ages, the Post has had fracking letters in. Some for, most against, but I reckon short of barricading each site, the public has had it .

I reckon the first edition of the Post without a fracking letter will be a collector’s item, and if there wasn’t a picture of Edwin Booth within, I would frame it!

Allan Fazackerley via email

Crack down on city motorists

I just want to comment on what I saw at the weekend.

I stood at the first bus stop on Fishergate, near the top of the railway station, waiting for the bus. I saw a sign on the lamp post and had read in the LEP about what was going to happen to help congestion on Fishergate. It is also quite plain to see when you reach the top of Butler Street.

I was only there about five minutes before my bus came, but I counted five cars turning right into Fishergate and driving down Corporation Street.

The council needs to install cameras. They also need to fine drivers for not abiding by the rules. If drivers say they didn’t see the sign, they need to go to the optician for glasses. It is plain to see.

Mature Preston Lady