Readers' letters - February 22

The north and south divide
Food banks are still used throughout the country  yet millions of pounds are being spent on unnecessary projects says a readerFood banks are still used throughout the country  yet millions of pounds are being spent on unnecessary projects says a reader
Food banks are still used throughout the country  yet millions of pounds are being spent on unnecessary projects says a reader

Putting aside whichever political party you support, you expect the party in power to act fairly in its decision making, in the interests of all of its people and country as a whole.

Unfortunately, with the present Government, this appears not to have been the case, and the gaps between the communities at large have begun to widen even further.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

While funding for vital help in the north cannot be found, money on a huge scale can be found for the benefit of London and the south.

Whilst the north is having to make cuts in assistance in care, affecting homeless people, the elderly and the infirm, a bottomless pit of money is being found for unnecessary ventures.

For example, some £60m of taxpayers’ money is being used to build an unnecessary garden bridge across the Thames, which I understand was first planned as a tribute to Princess Diana.

Has London not enough bridges?

This project in total will cost £100m.

Then there is the Northern Powerhouse diversion created to make us northerners believe we are getting more of a say. Surely money to be spent on projects such as these could be spent more wisely.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Does this Government not realise we still have food banks throughout the country?

I can give many more examples of the North-South divide, but will concentrate on the funding by Government in my locality.

Lancashire County Council Government funding has been arbitrarily cut year on year.

This has meant job losses, essential services being cut or withdrawn and the catastrophic cuts hitting the needy. In addition to these losses, a big rise in council tax is required to meet the shortfall.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I only hope that this Government realises that we in the north want to be treated equally and on a level playing field with other parts of the country.

T. E. Rawcliffe, address supplied

Library is a hub for community

I want to add my concerns to the closure of Lancashire libraries.

I live in Tarleton and we are threatened with imminent closure of our library.

It is our ‘life line’ , we have no community centre, or any other centres for residents to join in community life.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our staff work tirelessly to provide group activities, including craft, creative writing and Scrabble. There are also toddler groups, activities for schoolchildren during the summer holidays, and computer learning.

It is a meeting place for all ages.

The elderly need the stimulation and help when they are suddenly faced with loneliness.

My group have five widowed ladies, who say they would be devastated if our library closes.

Tarleton Academy does not have a library. Pupils need a place of research, for their school projects.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Very young children develop reading skills visiting a library.

We have two large housing developments ongoing with young families, are they to be deprived too?

Learning to read and develop is not just parents’ responsibility but the Government’s too.

Tarleton serves the public from surrounding areas with no library facilities, so it is depriving a large population of the right to enjoy an inexpensive hobby, and no means of transport to surrounding districts.

Francis Hendrix is right (LEP Letters February 18).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lancashire has a brilliant history of libraries, higher education, and pupils to be proud of.

We must not sit back, our future generations of learning cannot be stunted in this way.

Pat Northall, Tarleton

Bus service needs revamp

I have read the article in today’s paper, and although I am disappointed that they are cutting bus services, I agree it has to be done (LEP February 19).

I have lived in an number of suburbs within Preston and, apart from the normal rush hour periods, the numbers of bums on seats is drastically reduced.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Indeed, on many occasions, there have only been five or six passengers, and cannot be cost- effective.

On some routes, you have three buses covering the area, for example, Ingol and Ribbleton.

The bus timetable does require adjusting. Do we need a bus every six to eight minutes?

What happened to the little Zippy buses? Surely they are more cost-effective?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I will miss the Asda bus 88a and c, but could that not be changed to a 30/45 minute service?

The bus service is a necessity in a number of areas, but does it need to run so frequently?

Mick Wareing snr via email

Anyone heard of slippery elm?

I have just read an article on the plant comfrey, or as I knew it, nipbone or knitbone.

It took me back to the mid-1940s, falling down the slope of the sand pit in Aqueduct Street, Preston (remember that?), and hobbling home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On seeing my swollen ankle, Grandma Swan produced a large bowl of hot water, and, with some dried leaves, made this soup and plunged my foot in.

Knitbone. Whatever it did, it worked.

She later dosed my Uncle Fred with something called slippery elm! Not a clue what it was but I believe it fixed his ailing digestive system. Anyone heard of it ?

I reckon we are missing something these days, because an awful lot of these potions seemed to work.

Allan Fazackerley via email

Cloth superior to plastic bags

I am out and about doing my shopping most days. I still see customers buying a plastic carrier in store to carry their products home.

Why don’t they buy a cloth one? They are far stronger, last years and look nice.

David Treacher, address supplied