Letters: Closure of A&E will put lives in danger

When Chorley & South Ribble Hospital’s A&E was temporary closed some time ago, we saw the queue of ambulances outside Royal Preston Hospital waiting to off-load patients.

In my opinion, the same will happen again, and whilst an ambulance is in a queue, it is not on the road to help save lives elsewhere.

It has also been reported that other hospitals have also had queues of ambulances –in Wigan, Blackburn and as far as Bolton – because of the knock-on effect when Chorley A&E was closed.

This must be putting lives in danger.

I do hope that the people who will be making these decisions will put lives first.

Derek Barton

Press officer North West Regional Pensioners’ Association (NWRPA)

roads

Cycling peril on resurfaced road

Re: Resurfacing on Preston Road, Longridge. I was wondering if anyone else was experiencing problems with the ‘new’ surface?

I’d also like to thank drivers for their patience as cyclists are faced with a great mound of gravel at either side of the road.

(P.s Dear Audi driver, albeit you think I’m a long way into the road, I am cycling as far over to the edge as the gravel will allow).

I sent the below email to the county council regarding the resurfacing.

They have confirmed they are reviewing the report.

“May I request a clean-up of the surplus gravel?

“As a cyclist, I am forced to ride at least six inches further into the traffic as, all along the route, there is a continuous mound of gravel which has been thrown to each side by the traffic and is precarious to ride on.

“The street sweepers are brilliant. I ride as close as I can to the kerb, and clean sides of the roads are excellent as tyres can be prone to sharp debris.

“I’m uncertain as to why the road was resurfaced. It wasn’t that bad, and, as it is now, the road is a nightmare and I dread cycling on it.”

Andrew Potter

via email

event

Superb Tattoo

On Bank Holiday Monday, I watched the BBC Scotland highlights of the 2018 Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo.

It was superb in every way. The commentator was first class, the colours, timing, discipline, skill, bravery, co-ordination, synchronisation and enthusiasm of all those taking part was a joy to see.

There were folk from Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, America, Switzerland, Oman (pictured), Mexico, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bohemia – all very happy and enjoying themselves, with no hint of any trouble.

Music, even more than sport, unites people.

This can be seen, for example, at the wonderful concerts put on by the Dutch band leader Andre Rieu.

This was a good news story from start to finish – how I wish we had more!

David Quarrie

Address supplied

US POLITICS

Kindred spirit?

Donald Trump regards tax fraud by his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, as something to be dismissed, because it took place 12 years ago.

If that sort of reasoning had prevailed in 1930s Chicago, Al Capone would never have served time in Alcatraz.

Perhaps President Trump would have recognized a kindred spirit?

Denis Lee

Ashton

society

Care crisis is being ignored

Can anyone understand why the Conservatives used so much time to legislate for statutory foreign aid payments of billions – when they have continued to ignore the crisis in care of the elderly, incapacitated by medical conditions of dementia/Alzheimer’s?

Recent reports suggest council bosses have taken possession of nearly 5,000 homes to pay their owners’ care home fees in the past two years alone.

Instead of making proper national provision, instead we got the 2015 Care Act with ‘deferred payment agreements’ that seize the hard-won assets of the elderly and inheritance of their families.

DS Boyes via email