Readers' letters - Friday, November 25

We are sure, like us, you have been perplexed by Lower Lane, Longridge, being closed for weeks to enable the main sewer to be connected drains work to connect to the Taylor Wimpey Tootle Green development.

WPI Civil Engineering has confirmed that the situation will get worse as Dilworth Lane will be reduced to one lane for at least a week, with Lower Lane remaining closed to avoid three-way traffic lights.

The long-standing issue of flooding at pinch points, such as the entrance to the development and at the junction with Lower Lane, as a result of overflowing drains, still appears not to have been rectified despite weeks of work.

Taylor Wimpey has – whilst making all the right noises, to all the right people – as yet failed to deliver on its promises of fencing, screening and extended garden works to the residents most affected by their work. Do these residents have to wait six years until they follow through on these promises?

The proposed build of 30 houses per year looks unlikely to be achieved based on the current position.

Putting this in context, we believe Taylor Wimpey has only completed on one property with five reserved (this includes two part-exchanges) – not the surge in demand we were led to believe for these unwanted houses that will blight our landscape forever!

Work at the much publicised former Whittingham Hospital – another Taylor Wimpey site – has now stalled and I’m intrigued to know how many other new builds remain unsold and indeed whether any more building will take place in the near future.

The supply has outstripped any demand, as we predicted and argued about with planners and elected councillors.

How many other properties of similar price brackets are also for sale and creating even more supply and, finally, how many more applications are yet to be heard?

Some may be more relevant to the needs of the town, starter homes and retirement bungalows for example, not the three/four-bed family houses that yield the most profit.

It appears the Save Longridge campaigners, whilst failing to stop the tide of unwanted new homes from being granted permission by RVBC planners and councillors, were correct in their arguments of over supply, no demand and unsuitable terrain.

We suggest the current situation be investigated and made known to the public.

The team Save Longridge, Longridge

Luxury prison treatment

The other morning I was sitting on a park bench next to a homeless man.

I started a conversation by asking him how he ended up that way.

He said: “Until last week I still had it all. I had plenty to eat, my clothes were washed and pressed, I had a roof over my head, I had TV and internet and went to the gym, the pool and the library.

“I was working on my MBA online. I had no bills and no debt.

“There was 24-hour room service available, and a newsagents with all the daily newspapers to enjoy.

“Life was so much fun. I even had full medical coverage.”

I felt so sorry for him, so I asked: “What happened? Drugs? Divorce?”

“Oh no, nothing like that,” he said. “I just got out of prison.”

Darryl Ashton, Blackpool

Elite wants to dilute revolution

On June 23, the people of the UK – including large majorities in working class areas of England and Wales –voted to leave the EU.

We must not allow the ‘liberal elite’, who have lived very well off the EU gravy train, to dilute the revolution.

Long live free Britain.

P Ward, Leyland

Don’t be a slave of Black Friday

It was reported that just eight per cent of products marketed as mega deals today, Black Friday (and Cyber Monday), are actually cheaper than can be found elsewhere at other times of the year. So don’t fall for this marketing trap and keep your wallet firmly closed. Avoid even looking at deals online and instead bask in the self-righteousness of someone who has chosen not to be a slave to this corporate feeding frenzy. After all, we have another one of those just around the corner called Christmas.

Julie via email