Readers' letters - July 27

The closure of Chorley’s central Post Office is imminent. How on earth it is going to fit into the local branch of WH Smiths is beyond me.

I’m sure I am not alone when I say that I have queued for ages before hearing that call, “go to counter number one, please”, or which other number becomes available.

They can’t even provide a decent service in the present location, so they certainly won’t be able to in the new one!

No car parking within reasonable distance is going to present further complications. The Flat Iron car park means a walk of around 200 yards, depending if and where you can find a spot.

With parcels to carry, has anyone given a thought to those who may have limited abilities?

It makes absolutely no sense at all to now say, “we will ask the council to give consideration to a suitable drop-off point”.

In a pedestrian area?

They must be joking.

This is just one of the important decisions which should have been foreseen by those responsible.

A total disaster, in my opinion!

Graham Archer, Chorley

Proposals are unnecessary

While everyone has sympathy with those trying to get on the housing ladder, the scheme proposed for 95 new homes on a field off Goosnargh Lane, Goosnargh, by Seddon Homes and Contour Homes – who organised a consultation event last week – fails to impress on a number of points.

The plans laid emphasis on affordable housing, with 24 units for private sale.

A minimum of 20 per cent of the houses to be built on the Whittingham Hospital site are earmarked, I understand, for affordable housing.

As this site is now split into four phases, of which only one is taken up, why do Seddon Homes not take up one of the other two?

If the demand is there, then sales should be no problem?

It is doubtful there is a need in the villages of Goosnargh and Whittingham for so many affordable houses, especially when you consider there are 4,000 plus houses being built within a four-mile radius, of which, one presumes, Preston Council has required the 20 per cent quota?

This will make available more than 800 affordable houses.

The council’s 2012 report indicated the need in 2009 for the Preston area was 397.

The fact it is proposed on green belt land in an area already showing the stresses and strains of a lack of school places, car pollution and congestion – as pointed out by many mothers who attended the consultation – should be grounds for dismissing any planning permission sought.

Apart from anything else, I do not believe the scheme complies with Preston Council’s criteria regarding ‘pepper pot’ planning, nor with its guidance on rural exceptions, which states: “Clear independent evidence of an identified local need for affordable housing is a prerequisite to considering whether allowing some market housing would facilitate the provision of affordable housing.” The hospital site covers this area’s needs adequately. The green belt proposals are totally unnecessary.

James Hide, Goosnargh

Keep this great parks service

Preston City Council celebrates getting the Green Flag award for green spaces (LEP June 21). Coun Robert Boswell is rightly delighted. How long before this is also contracted out to a private company, as is the Highways grass cutting? PCC workmen, doing a fantastic job cutting hedges, tell me they fear the Labour Cabinet wants to do away with this department. They do great work and achieve great results. We need to keep this workforce and I hope the rest of the council agrees with me.

Coun Christine Abram, Lea Ward

End road chaos at Dover now

The chaos on the roads leading to the Port of Dover, causing misery to thousands of motorists beginning their annual holiday exodus to France, is likely to last all summer unless action is taken.

The official cause, extra security checks introduced by the French at their border posts within the port, following the continued terrorist attacks in France, is understandable.

However, it appears that, despite this being an exceptionally busy time of the year, the check-points were seriously understaffed, leading to claims of “payback time” by the French for our Brexit vote.

While the president of the Calais area regional council, Xavier Bertrand, has said the queues are “unacceptable,” he has also stated “that Brexit must have consequences”.

I’m sure that the French government won’t want to harm its tourist industry, therefore it needs to take action to end this senseless situation as a matter of urgency, proving it is not an act of punishment for the UK’s Brexit.

Philip Griffiths, North West President, UKIP (UK Independence Party)

Boiling lobsters is very cruel

Shame on you LEP for featuring a recipe involving plunging a live lobster in boiling water (LEP July 25).

Can you imagine the agony for this creature?

This is condoning animal cruelty, reported with horror in the press, when it happens to dogs, cats and pigs in China.

The chef John Riding, of Mellor’s Grill at Stanley House hotel at Mellor, tells us to ‘enjoy’ after this sickening killing.

CAT, Preston

First challenge – demote Wayne

England manager Sam Allardyce says his new job will be the “greatest challenge” of his career. Yes, and so will England winning a game!

The first ‘challenge’ for him is to demote Wayne Rooney as England captain.

He (Rooney) has failed in his England duty to win anything.

Even Jose Mourinho is considering selling him as he is now past his sell-by date – and too old!

Darryl Ashton, Blackpool