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Letters, Thursday, March 6, 2008
Readers write to the Times & Citizen and Bedford Today.
Application will bring 130 jobs to science park
SIR – Your article 'Bending flawed planning laws' (T&C, Feb 28) gave an
inaccurate impression about our application to enhance facilities at
Colworth Science Park. The facts of this application are simple, and we think your readers deserve to know them.
Two of the world's leading business schools have made the historic
decision to take space at Colworth Science Park for a minimum of ten years, bringing a welcome boost to Bedfordshire as a location for research and high-value job creation. These institutions, not Colworth
Science Park, have applied for funding from the East of England
Development Agency to help cover the cost of accessing space at the
science park, giving them proximity to research facilities and resident
companies.
In response to this fantastic opportunity, we submitted a one-off planning application which will bring over 130 jobs to the park. It has the support of Bedford's Chamber of Commerce, the Bedford and Luton
Economic Development Partnership, Renaissance Bedford and English
Heritage, and has been recommended for approval by the borough
council's planning officer and the county council's highways authority.
Independent experts have also confirmed it will have an insignificant impact on the traffic flow through Sharnbrook High Street – approximately one car every two minutes in the morning peak.
We remain committed to constructive public dialogue on the future of Colworth Science Park and to this great opportunity for Bedfordshire.
Sally Ann Forsyth
Director, Colworth Science Park
****
Should we give young drivers a break?
SIR – I am writing in response to the article about the boy racers (T&C, Feb 28).
I want to point out that what some residents said is not correct, for example, "young drivers have started meeting at Bedford's Rope Walk retail park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights". The truth is that they only go there on Sunday nights. Another fact that is incorrect is they stay as late as 2am. They actually only stay until 11pm. Ok, they sometimes do start as early as 8pm, but to be honest they are not that disturbing. Also, their music is not as bad as these residents make out.
Noise pollution is a concern for everyone. However, from my two
visits to these meetings I have looked very closely at their behaviour.
There was no alcohol. There was no drugs. There was no violence.
Should we give these young drivers a break?
Katherine O'Rourke (aged 14)
Kingsbrook Road, Bedford
****
We would actually be converting to four tiers
SIR – Can someone tell me whereabouts in the country this "alleged" two-tier system, that Bedfordshire is proposing to copy, actually exists?
Most of the country exists on a four-tier system, albeit it has two tiers at primary level and two tiers at secondary level.
For a lot of the country the primary level is still split into both infant and junior schools (sometimes on a combined, but segregated site – sometimes on different sites).
Equally, the secondary level is split up into secondary schools, followed by a separate sixth form college.
Based on what actually exists, the question is whether Bedfordshire
should abolish its straightforward three-tier system and spend lots of
unnecessary monies converting the schools to a four-tier system?
John J Burness
Farsands, Oakley
****
Two-tier education is no new school of thought
SIR – Here we go again, as if a two- tier education system was a new idea. The committee responsible for education should stop trying to
reinvent the wheel and just get on with raising standards of teaching and facilities.
Teachers should stop trying to look like their pupils; their status and power should be restored, and some parents need to learn respect for those who teach their children.
I remember the Shirley Williams debacle of the early 1970s when the three-tier system was introduced, and the complaint was that primary
education would be extended to the age of 13 years.
That's precisely what happened in my children's case and we had to take them out of the new 'middle' school and put them into private education at great cost to my wife and I, but I don't regret it.
You can change the name of the system overnight, but it takes years to change the head of a school to a new way of teaching. In our case, the head of the primary school could not become a middle school head overnight, it is impossible and the children suffer for it too.
Last time I tried to fight against the change by lobbying councillors, some of them became quite nasty and vindictive. Now we have a new
committee, what makes them think they are so right this time? What is wrong with the system that was put in place at such great cost 30 years ago? Was Shirley Williams actually wrong after all?
It was within the last decade that some bright spark said that pupils responded better to being taught behind desks in rows facing the teacher and to start the day with some mental arithmetic exercises to get their brains in gear. That worked well 70 years ago, so I suggest that the so-called committee do the latter each morning; they might then come up with a sensible solution to whatever they think the problem is.
Roger C White
by email
****
Profit before the needs of local people
SIR – On its 'Talk to Mid Beds' website, the district council states that the sites which are currently the subject of the public consultation for new housing and employment are "not the council's preferred sites or sites that the council has chosen".
It says these sites have been submitted for consideration by developers and landowners. Surely this is a shocking admission? We have elected councillors to serve the needs and the good of their local
communities, not to satisfy the desires and the wallets of developers.
It is widely accepted that many of the housing failures and
abominations of the last 50 years have been brought about by
developer-led developments. I urge all your readers who care about
preserving the character and the integrity of local communities to tell the council not to listen to developer-led proposals which inevitably
overlook local needs in the pursuit of profit.
Jerry Fitch
The Coppins, Ampthill
****
Village hall gets well-earned 32,000 facelift
SIR – I should like to extend a big thank you from the residents of
Steppingley to WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd) landfill communities fund, formerly responsible for landfill tax credit scheme, which recently awarded our village hall a grant to the tune of 32,000 for structural repairs and a well-earned facelift. This was also made possible by the financial support of Mid Beds Council and Steppingley Parish Council whom we must also thank as well. The hall is a part of village life and without the support we have received it would have been a two-bed semi a long time ago.
Thanks to all those who helped. Party on.
Jim Farnsworth
Chairman, Steppingley Village Association
****
Excellent care from hospital staff
SIR – My mother was admitted to Bedford Hospital on November 5, 2007, and passed away there on January 5, 2008. I am writing to say my mother received excellent care and devotion while on Shuttleworth ward and for eight weeks in Russell ward from all the doctors and staff.
My wife and I were with my mother when she passed away and the
compassion given to us by the staff on that morning was most comforting.
Ernie Wall
Manton Heights, Bedford
****
Benefits of a Lib Dem budget overlooked
SIR – The borough Conservative group leader is an enthusiastic
cheerleader for the Mayor's budget (T&C, Feb 28).
The Liberal Democrat budget proposals which she happily dismisses would have achieved real improvements to roads, footpaths, trees, street cleaning and many other areas of real concern to local residents. And all this at no extra cost to taxpayers, instead simply using a small amount of the council's excessive reserves.
If the Conservative group leader seeks real evidence of a high-taxing party, she need look no further than just across the river to County Hall. The Tory county council is now the second-highest taxing county
authority in the whole country. At the same time, only 43 per cent of
residents are satisfied with the services they get for this.
And if she feels so strongly about the budget, why could she only get 60 per cent of her group to come and support it at the meeting?
Coun David Sawyer
Lib Dem deputy group leader
Bedford Borough Council
****
Some of us embrace the European project
SIR – In reference to Mr Adkin's letter (T&C, Feb 28), please let it be known that some people in Britain embrace the European project and dismiss the irrelevant and sometimes factually questionable arguments
presented by Mr Adkin.
Suspending just for a moment the anti-European sentiment apparently ingrained in – but poorly thought out by – much of the British population, let us consider for a moment the advantages of the European project.
What would Mr Adkin prefer: the continuation of centuries of war
tearing this continent apart, or friends united in peace and similarity rather than divided in difference and animosity?
A collection of independent countries struggling to adapt to changing world economic situation, or an economic powerhouse – already unmatched anywhere else in the world – creating stability and trade whilst still valuing the high quality of life valued by individuals?
A culture hostile towards the values of diversity and acceptance, or a modern society which accepts and welcomes people, wherever they
originate, as valuable contributions to the rich tapestry of humanity and acknowledges the movement of peoples as a necessity in the global village.
The EU does not aim to destroy centuries of British history and
heritage – it would be hard-pressed to do so. Indeed, what motive would it have to do so?
Instead, it actively enhances the unique qualities of all the European states. By collaborating and integrating we can only become stronger: economically, socially and on the world stage.
There is little point blinking ourselves to the rest of the world's affairs or in continuing to act the part of America's puppy dog. The
European way to exert change in the world is to lead by example, rather than blowing up countries until they agree.
The European Union is by no means perfect, much work remains to be done. I quite agree with Mr Adkin that the EU needs to improve its democratic practices. Active engagement of the population would go a long way towards achieving this. Furthermore, with a model that at least attempts proportional representation, it's closer to the aim than our own outdated and ancient system.
You might say my view is tarnished by youth; my lack of cynicism idealistic and unrealistic. But someone has to be a little utopian and starry-eyed. I urge Bedford to espouse the entire EU concept, the long-term benefits for the future benefits of a united Europe are so much greater than the disadvantages of change faced by today's Europe.
After all, if we all thought change was an insult to our history, we wouldn't come far from the front door of our caves.
Mr Paul W Coles (aged 18)
Sharnbrook Upper School
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