Readers' letters

I have just been reading an extraordinary interview with Prof Cathy Warwick, the President of the Royal College of Midwives, who has recently stated (without consulting her members) that all existing laws preventing abortions being carried out within certain time limits should be swept away.

She has also stated that she will ignore the furore caused by her decision to ride roughshod over the 1967 Abortion Act, as demonstrated against by her grassroot member midwives.

It seems extraordinary that she was ever appointed to this position as president of the RCM when we learn that she is already the chairman of BPAS, the world’s largest abortion provider, surely a blatant conflict of interest?

This must constitute a wilful conspiracy against the whole profession of midwifery.

Who, as a young aspiring midwife, will now ever want to become part of an accelerating ‘Baby Termination Programme’, which she and other members of the Medical Profession give full credence to?

The ‘Glasgow Midwives,’ whose appeal recently failed, were opposed to having to be made responsible for organising abortion procedures.

This will now become even more the ‘standard operating procedure’ within their profession. I hope that someone will soon be organising some widespread public opposition against this latest blatant ‘Baby Murder’ programme by recommending her dismissal.

E J Tilley, Chorley

Look after listed church

I am sure the previous congregation of St Ignatius Church would be most perturbed to learn that there are leaks in the church roof, the sacristy and the living accommodation which have been there for months and have not been repaired, which is totally unbelievable.

Why are the Bishop and the Diocese of Lancaster letting this happen?

This is a Grade 2 listed building and any rain coming in will damage the fabric of the building and, if left, (as it has been) it will cause irreversible damage.

The department for historic buildings at Preston Council now needs to step in before matters get any worse and the beautiful building of St Ignatius is demolished as being unsafe.

Just a thought, perhaps not repairing the church is part of a long-term plan for demolition.

The site must be worth at least £1m.

This is exactly the same amount the Diocese stated it would cost to carry out the repair work.

Concerned Ignatian

Population rises ... but no A&E

Like many people I have made my decision which way to vote in the referendum, and if we leave, this Government has a further four years to get us out of a mess.

But who will lead it?

At the moment I am more concerned about the re-opening of Chorley A&E. If it does not re-open what then?

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has had its say on the referendum.

What would it say about these figures: The Chorley population in 2001 was 41,364.

In 2011, it was 104,155 ... and we have no A&E!

David Hughes via email

Carrying out masters’ orders

How sad to see the British Establishment carrying out the orders of their political masters in Europe, who are totally infected by greed. Vote out. Long live free Britain.

P Ward, Leyland

A motorway jaunt – Part 2

I enjoyed Owen Ruse’s letter about his illicit ride on the M6 (LEP Letters, May 9). Perhaps it is now time to make my confession, let me explain.

We have to go back to December 1, 1958. It’s a Monday evening and I’ve just spent two hours at the Leyland Motors Day continuation school. Leaving the school, I cycled towards Bamber Bridge. It is dry but cold. This is the southern end of the bypass. On arrival, I lifted my bike over a trip wire and commenced the eight and a half mile journey. I rode without lights, it was moonlight.

At the intersection of the A59, I passed a workman’s hut and could hear voices from inside, however I managed to pass by undetected. Phew!

I travelled four miles along to Broughton. This section posed no problems and I was pleased to have done the trip.

Three nights later, I did the reverse trip from Broughton to Bamber Bridge, again in the late evening. The next day was December 5 – my birthday and the day the motorway would officially be opened by the then Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan.

This was Britain’s first motorway and was only two lanes each way, with no speed limit.

The Prime Minister and officials made the first run, using three cars, and then it was opened to the general public.

Leyland Motors had a few truck chassis in the line-up, gaining some free publicity from the newsreel cameras. Not one to be left out, Sharps Commercials had its latest Bond mini car, an MK ‘F’ ready for its motorway trip. Maybe I was the first on a bike?

E.H Simister, Bamber Bridge

Population and the referendum

A key issue in the referendum is keeping the UK as close as we can to zero population growth.

That is a cause espoused by Sir David Attenborough and favoured by those who value the environment, though not, apparently, by the Green Party.

JG Riseley via email

Leaflets are a waste of paper

I have now received two Remain leaflets.

How many more trees are they going to fell to make the paper this rubbish is printed on?

I’m for Out.

Peter Hyde,

Address supplied

Concerns over postal votes

This month’s local elections tempted just 33 per cent of registered voters to make their mark, one must assume that the 67 per cent who didn’t vote are quite content with the way Preston City Council is governed.

What is hidden in these figures, euphemistically referred to as ‘voter turnout,’ is the shocking proportion of postal votes – 63 per cent of the total votes compared to 27 per cent of those who went to vote

at a polling station, (less than nine per cent of registered voters).

There are of course some valid reasons why a voter cannot make it to a polling station on the day and, in such cases, a postal vote is appropriate, however the danger of abuse of the current free for all postal voting system is obvious.

There are few, if any, checks into the validity of postal votes which makes election-rigging simple.

The EU referendum faces the risk of massive postal vote rigging.

Given the position of the Government and those representing the ‘big money’, one can easily predict the way the vote will go, given the present system.

It is difficult to have any faith in an unchecked electoral system where more than 60 per cent are faceless postal votes, the losers will always, and quite rightly, cry foul.

Mike McCarthy, Ribbleton

European Union meddling again

All over the country, the burning question at the moment is whether or not we should stay in the EU.

Obviously I have not a shadow of doubt that we should leave and the evidence continues to mount to back up the Leave campaign complemented by the increasingly unbelievable rhetoric from George Osborne et al.

Meanwhile the meddling in our lives by Brussels continues with the Tobacco Products Directive, which governs the sale and production of e-cigarettes and which has now been implemented by the UK.

This legislation restricts product choice and advertising of vaping devices and is likely to force some smaller British e-cigarette manufacturers to close down with the consequent loss of jobs.

I am pleased that Lord Callanan has filed a motion in the House of Lords calling for the laws to be scrapped and a supporting petition is gaining momentum.

The motion calls for David Cameron ‘to use his influence in Brussels’ to get an opt-out before the referendum.

Unfortunately, when it comes to Brussels, he’s like the boy on the beach getting sand kicked in his eyes.

Evidence shows that vaping has enabled many people to quit smoking, which is far more injurious to health, but what does the EU care?

If they can find something to control, regardless of its merits, they will.

The only answer is to vote Leave on June 23.

Paul Nuttall, UKIP North West MEP and deputy party leader

No gratitude from mother

Sitting in my conservatory with a cold beer on Sunday, watching the starlings feed their young and making a dreadful racket, I realised they were using my pond fountain as a bath.

About 20 to 30 young birds suddenly ramped up the volume to ear-splitting volume. On investigation I discovered one young fledgling almost drowned.

Having fished the bird from the pond and saving its life, I was immediately pecked on the back of my head by mother bird.

That’s gratitude for you.

JW Vintin via email

Will age be the factor in vote?

An awful lot of politics is being banded about, but can you remember what the EU was supposed to be about when we joined?

Quite simply, a ‘Common Market’ for trading advantages.

Now it has stretched to those in Brussels and elsewhere making rules for us to obey.

On a recent caravan holiday it has become apparent that our continental friends are in general agreement that the Common Market WAS a good idea but the continued interference from Brussels is deeply resented.

I get the impression that they are all waiting to see what we do before they also seek changes.

I have a theory that people of a certain age, who remember life before the ‘Common Marker’, will vote ‘Leave’, while those who are younger are more likely to be frightened into voting ‘Stay’.

What age that dividing line will actually be, I’m not sure.

What do readers think?

Graham Archer, Chorley

My ideal type of political party

I heard about the leader of The Green Party standing down and wondered about my ideal political party.

It would believe in a balance of compassion and common sense; a country where we care about animals – wildlife and domestic – as well as humans; where we have a sensible and compassionate approach to immigration depending on space, infrastructure and jobs; where wildife habitat loss is seen as an important green issue; where the NHS and other public services are valued; and where instead of focusing on so-called minority groups, we treat all people with respect and compassion.

Voter via email

Coun Bell doing an excellent job

I had cause to contact Coun Jane Bell concerning an ongoing problem. She greatly impressed me with her impartial advice and help, and gave excellent all-round service. Coun Bell answered my telephone calls, and asked for an update on matters. A straightforward and honest lady with life experience. She’s doing an excellent job. With thanks and appreciation for a job well done, Coun Bell.

Mrs Marguerite Ralphs, Leyland