Readers' letters - March 23

Preston & South Ribble Trades Council is proud of the award-winning 21-mile Guild Wheel, a walking/cycle route, with its high specifications for safety, environmental enhancement and its health benefits.

There is deep concern that these high standards are being significantly jeopardised by several new road and building developments along the Guild Wheel route.

It is used by many members of the public, their families and friends because of its safety and scenic qualities. It also passes many places of interest.

Most use it for leisure and health and many to commute to work. It not only helps people to keep fit, but also helps reduce congestion and pollution.

Lancashire and Preston councillors are urged to instruct officers to design and implement solutions to remove the current planned motor traffic dangers, to preserve and, where possible, enhance the predominant features of the Guild Wheel, that it is off-road, on segregated cycle paths or very quiet roads.

It is not acceptable that new developments and their access roads are turning parts of the Guild Wheel into busy roads with cyclists and pedestrians thrown together with heavy traffic, including lorries.

This Trades Council requests that the overdue meeting between leaders of the councils and representatives of the GW Users Group is urgently convened to do all possible to resolve the current and planned dangers to the award winning and popular Guild Wheel, so that it safely serves future generations and Preston Guilds to come.

Derek Barton, Preston & South Ribble Trades Council Communications Officer

Traffic will be horrendous

In your article, you reported that the Watling Street Road mosque leaders had applied to change the capacity from 145 to 315 – more than double –­ before it is even opened (LEP March 3)! The reason given was because some rooms are not now required as they now have the premises across the road for teaching.

That may be so but, if they need 315 now, then surely that was the case two or three years back when the approval was given.

There seems to be a history of changing plans as they go along.

I and others predict (again) that the traffic problem will be horrendous (I hope not!)

Cassidy & Ashton say it will be an infrequent problem, just like Christmas once a year. This is a complete distortion, just look at every Friday to begin with.

The car park is also obviously inadequate (almost as much grassy area as parking bays).

E. Channel, Fulwood

Will we destroy natural world?

I wonder what sort of planet my godchildren will inherit.

I wonder if, as adults, they will be as privileged as me to live in a natural world with elephants and rhinos, lions and tigers. Or will humans have turned the planet – including its rich rainforests – into a concrete wasteland of houses and roads? Will we have finally killed off our planet’s endangered species to extinction because of our lust for ivory, our greed for money and our ignorance and apathy of the situation facing the world?

For example, Prince William has recently said we have only five to ten years to save rhinos from extinction.

Personally I believe that while we remain the planet’s most arrogant, violent animal to other animals, we will remain so to our fellow humans too. I think the minute we start to care about things which really matter – compassion rather than money or power – we’ll begin to live in a world we will all – humans and animals – want to live in. If you care about the natural world, please visit www.wwf.org.uk

Jane, Lancashire

Preserving our sign language

Last week was Sign Language Week, it ended on Sunday, March 20.

I have been brought up knowing people who are deaf and communicate in sign language.

It is not only deaf people but hearing people too who have learnt the language in order to communicate with their deaf friends. Most have taken the full course to become a qualified interpreter.

The public may not know about this special week because the deaf community is a silent minority.

Sign language has been around for hundreds of years, and the British Deaf Association is celebrating its 126 years serving the deaf community in the UK.

The BDA has recently archived all the old cine films that show deaf people partaking in social and sport activities, communicating in sign language.

Gone are the days that deaf people used to have welfare officers, they now get together to fight for access to services and against discrimination. We want sign language to be preserved for future generations.

Tom Finney supported the deaf centre on St Paul’s Road, Preston, and Willie Cunningham was the referee during a charity football between deaf ladies and deaf men.

Deaf people appreciate the public showing their interest to help, they also appreciate helpful shop assistants and the NHS. We asked for support in the past, we are getting it slowly which we are grateful.

Len Hodson,

Lancashire Deaf Rights Group

Trip for World War veterans

Between Sunday, June 19, and Friday, June 24, I will be leading a group from the north of England to visit Germany and Poland to commemorate the end of the Second World War, 71 years ago.

We will fly with Flybe direct to Berlin. We will visit Berlin, Potsdam (where Churchill, Truman and Stalin signed the Potsdam Agreement), Stalag Luft III of ‘The Great Escape’ fame (Camp and Museum), Dresden, Colditz Castle, Weimar and Buchenwald.

For details, contact me on 01368 866826, 07710 270840 or by email on [email protected]. You can also write to me at 5 Fellside Terrace, Knock, Appleby­in­Westmorland, Cumbria CA16 6DH.

David Raw, Appleby-in-Westmorland