Readers' letters - April 14

The results of the hygiene scores at local food outlets following inspection, and revealed in the LEP, were quite enlightening and, in many respects, reassuring (LEP April 5).

The Environmental Health officers are clearly making an impact with 650 establishments being awarded the full five star rating, but my concern lies with those with a very low score who required major improvements.

Despite the fact that it is many years ago since I had a kebab on my way home from the pub, I am sure we all agree that food hygiene is absolutely vital.

Since the introduction of the local authority scheme, I have always maintained that it should be mandatory that, whatever the score, it should be displayed in a prominent position to alert potential customers of the possible dangers that lurk within.

This situation does not exist at the moment.

I would go one step further in an effort to improve standards and, apart from imposing a fine, I would give the health officials the authority to close under-performing outlets considered to be a danger to public health with immediate effect.

These would remain closed until standards of cleanliness have improved following reinspection.

Jim Oldcorn, Great Harwood

Dismay at Mr Bloom’s visit

I recently visited St George’s Shopping Centre with two three-year-olds, excited to be seeing Mr Bloom.

It was advertised for 1.30pm and we arrived before 1pm to absolute chaos.

Most of the audience was made up of hundreds of pre-school children, which also meant parents and grandparents with buggies and prams.

The area designated was too small and children were already sat down, some with adults blocking the view for other small children.

Security staff were moving people so the shoppers could get through and it was, all in all, a mess.

After giving up downstairs, we joined friends upstairs.

The toddlers were able to sit on the floor and watch through the railings.

As more families arrived, the crush got worse and some adults were oblivious to other people’s small children.

After half an hour, nothing had happened and the music 
was not even child-friendly.

At 1.30pm, a DJ arrived and promptly announced to the crowd that there were 370 car park spaces below the shopping centre.

News to me.

Another 15 minutes of nothing, again the music was not appropriate to the age group.

The DJ returned to announce that there were certain shops in the centre, had he not noticed the age group he was talking 
to?

At 2pm, there was the arrival of Mr Bloom.

He was wonderful and the children loved him.

Unfortunately, by then, some had begun to leave as the wait had been too long for them.

When you tell a toddler they are going to see Mr Bloom, they presume it is imminent and not an hour later.

I bumped into a friend afterwards and asked if she had enjoyed Mr Bloom.

“No, we could not get near and my four-year-old couldn’t see, so very disappointed and we came especially.”

Last year it was Peppa Pig and again it was chaos, so no lesson learnt.

A member of security said: “We didn’t know he was this popular.”

Mention anyone on Cbeebies and you have a guaranteed hit.

Whilst I welcome this sort of event coming to Preston, unfortunately St George’s Centre is just not suitable for hundreds of small children.

Chris Abram

Cottam

MPs and smoke and mirrors

Smoke and mirrors again. Here we go again, our wonderful politicians fooling the masses with their believable honesty. I know that I write on behalf of others, when I say that I am not interested in the earnings and tax returns of our politicians, nor the wealthy of our fair land.

What we want to know is the whereabouts of the enormous amount of undeclared and hidden wealth that they still keep hidden from us.

It’s no good at all telling us what we already know about their taxed earnings, that is simply trying to fool the ignorant.

Oliver Cromwell must be turning in his ‘grave’ at the destruction of our English democracy with the undisputed right to freedom of speech!

When did our politicians go wrong, and more importantly, how and why did we let them?

Pro Democratic Lancashire Lad

What a great season for PNE

Now we are mathematically safe, I would like to say what a great two seasons we have had.

Firstly, we won promotion at Wembley and, secondly, this season is looking likely to secure a top half finish. We have bragging rights over massive clubs such as Bolton and Blackburn.

I am 99 per cent sure most fans would have been over the moon with avoiding relegation. But it is onwards and upwards from here.

I would also like to say what a great player the late Alan Spavin was, he was a product of our youth system. I wonder what happened to the North End fan who ran onto the pitch in the final game of the 1970/71 season, when we beat Rotherham 3-0 at Deepdale, and kissed Alan Spavin?

Yours in Football, Big Dave

Could you help SSAFA charity?

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, is the oldest national military charity in the UK. We have been providing support for troops, veterans and their families for over 130 years.

SSAFA is in real need of more volunteers in Lancashire. We would like to hear from any readers interested in joining SSAFA’s volunteer ranks. Visit www.ssafa.org.uk/newrecruits for more information or to apply.

Sue Pillar, SSAFA Director

of Volunteer Operations