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Letters, Thursday, May 1, 2008
Readers write to the Times & Citizen and Bedford Today.
Authority should be ashamed of extortionate cemetery charges
SIR – We are writing to state how appalled and disgusted we are at what people are charged when they have lost loved ones, whether it be young people or the elderly.
Our father passed away in October; he had been a taxpayer all his life, fought for his country and lost many a good friend.
Yet, after paying for his funeral, and for the plot at Kempston
cemetery to place his ashes, the authority (Kempston Burials Joint Committee, Kempston Town Council) wants to charge us a further 100 to put four screws in a wall to hold a plaque 9x4.5inches and, not only that, wants to charge a further 75 to allow us to place a six-inch square black granite vase next to where our father's ashes lie. The authority really should be ashamed that its charges apply not only to the young people of Kempston parish but also pensioners. Times are hard enough paying bills, taxes etc, without having to pay extortionate charges to do the decent thing for passed loved ones.
Stewart and Charlotte Sneddon
King Street, Kempston
****
Key losers not Tories but people of Bedford
SIR – Not for the first time, the Mayor appears to have got his facts wrong.
His comments at the end of your front page article last week entitled 'Tories protest over election boundaries' claim that "all
councillors agreed" to the use of borough ward boundaries.
What absolute nonsense. This issue is massively important for the electorate and this inaccuracy must be cleared up.
The only thing "all councillors" agreed to was the overall number of councillors for the new authority. That's all. This view is shared by the other political groups who also told us the Mayor had not consulted them.
Incidentally, at the last meeting of the Implementation Executive, my brother – Coun Robert Rigby – asked who took the decision to use borough ward boundaries and when was this decision taken. The answers he received were at best irrelevant, at worst evasive.
The Mayor seems fixated by the politics of the issue. The key losers here are not Conservatives but the people of Bedford borough who, in areas like Queens Park, will be massively under-represented.
The Mayor once stated that he would stand for three things as Mayor – two of these were for "openness and transparency in local
government" and "being accountable to the electors".
Let him now be accountable, let him now be open and transparent. Can the Mayor confirm to the public whether the Government asked him for his views on whether county divisions or borough ward boundaries should be used for the 2009 elections to Bedford unitary authority? If so, when and whom did he consult on this?
Coun Roger Rigby
(Con, Bromham)
****
Time for talking to end and action to start
SIR – It is with deep regret that I am writing to voice my concerns at the latest wave of unauthorised traveller encampments in the borough.
We have already seen parts of Kingsbrook and Wootton affected in recent weeks, causing a great deal of distress to local residents and
leaving behind a significant amount of rubbish on the site.
I believe this is likely to be the first of many such incidents over the coming weeks and months unless action is taken and soon.
The council has recently adopted a new 'policy on unauthorised
traveller encampments', something Conservatives welcomed at the time. However, I believe the time has come for the talking to end and for the action to start. Conservatives were successful in proposing 40,000 in the 2008/9 budget to protect our parks and open spaces from illegal
traveller encampments. I want to see this spent soon.
More recently, Conservatives also called on the Mayor to provide an interim transit site for travellers as a way of diverting illegal
encampments away from children's play areas, parks and sports fields and on to an allocated parcel of land. I am still waiting to see action on this front.
I do hope action is taken soon to prevent the wave of illegal traveller encampments that blighted the borough last summer.
Coun Nigel Sparrow
(Con, Clapham)
****
Important to keep these memories alive
SIR – I was pleased to see your article on Mrs Lawson-Johnston (T&C, April 24). Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, Barbara McDermott's passing did not get much notice by the press. I did talk to her local paper, and I emailed the Liverpool papers which used a bit of what I sent, however the world seems more concerned with celebrity escapades than a remarkable woman like Barbara.
I have done research and published numerous articles on the Lusitania over the years.
Recently I came across several passports for Mrs Lawson-Johnston's family, including her father's, which he had aboard the Lusitania, and her mother's, which was issued right after the sinking.
There were several survivors who settled in the Bedford area, including Cyril Wicking-Smith who eventually became mayor. An article I did can be found at www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/item/4554/
I feel it's very important to keep the memories of these ships and the people who sailed aboard them alive. I am a trustee with the Titanic
International Society and we publish a quarterly journal which ensures this and also a convention we are holding this May.
Again, thank you for the excellent article.
Mike Poirier
www.titanicinternationalsociety.org
****
Bowled over by club's generosity
SIR – On behalf of Marlins Special Needs Water Activities Club, I would like to thank Elstow Ladies Shortmat Bowling Club for their kind generosity.
They recently held a day of fundraising activities on Sunday, April 20, and raised 400 for Marlins. This was very much appreciated and will go a long way towards helping us continue with our swimming sessions and other activities.
For more information on Marlins Special Needs Water Activities Club, please contact chairman Beryl Mclennan on 01234 351988 or email marlins.swimclub@ntlworld.com
Paul Taylor, treasurer,
by email
****
Start working to get Bedford moving
SIR – I was interested to read Coun Attenborough's comment about
election ward boundaries (T&C, April 24).
Is this the same Coun Attenborough who led the borough campaign for unitary status?
Was she not the councillor responsible for the unitary bid? You would have thought that when she was negotiating with the Government minister she would have raised the issue.
Quite frankly, it's too little, too late. This is another attempt of
crocodile tears from Coun Attenborough. Wake up, the decision has been made. My advice to her would be get on with the job you were elected to do, and start working the Mayor to get Bedford moving.
Eileen Rodriguez
Bromham Road, Biddenham
****
Such comments belong in the political gutter
SIR – As the prospect of having Richard Fuller (Conservative) as our Member of Parliament looms larger, I was reminded last week of the
comments of the ex-chairman of his party, Theresa May, who said that for many people the Tory party was seen as, "the nasty party".
Some people think that David Cameron, the only cyclist who has a chauffeur to carry his helmet, has changed all that. I have never met any of them but some journalists and the opinion polls suggest that some people believe him. Then I read in your paper last week that Alderman and borough councillor Brian Dillingham has described homeless alcoholics as "mobile stink bombs" at a council committee meeting.
Such comments belong in Germany in 1933 and to the political gutter but have no place in a sensible debate on making our parks safer during which, according to your report, councillors from all parties had serious and sensible proposals to make.
As a believer in free speech, I recognise that Brian Dillingham has a right to despise the most marginalised people in our society and hope that the Committee On Standards In Public Life won't waste our money reprimanding him. I also look forward to Mr Fuller distancing himself from Dillingham and reassuring us that he has not let the cat out of the bag by saying in public what the local nasty party still thinks in private.
Tim Caswell
Brereton Road, Bedford
****
Comments drag down important debate
SIR – Congratulations to Coun Myrtle Stewardson on her efforts to have children's play areas declared alcohol-free zones (T&C, April 24).
There is no good reason for anyone to ever be drinking alcohol in
children's play areas, which must be kept safe for young children to use. Residents should not have to suffer alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour in local play areas.
Sadly, the Conservative councillor for Harpur ward drags the level of debate down, and in doing so he reveals the Tories' true colours. To refer to people less fortunate than himself as "mobile stink bombs" is at best unhelpful and, at worst, offensive. More than anything, it shows that the Tories really are still the nasty party.
Coun Michael Headley
Lib Dem group leader
Bedford Borough Council
****
Strike action sends out wrong message
SIR – 'Join here' is the opening paragraph of the NUT website; me, I'd rather give that a miss.
As a hard-working mother of two young school-age children, I do not go on strike. Many parents work as long, if not longer hours, many for less pay.
The teachers' strike was excessive and unreasonable. While I realise teachers have the right to voice their opinions, I ask myself, what message is this sending to my children? And, also, do they have no concept of the working environment that most parents face, because not all of us can take a day off when we need to. This may cost some an additional day's holiday or the stress of furtively trying to find a
childminder for the day or even calling in sick. All this does not bode well for the sake of the economy or the mental health of the parent.
Joanne Turner
by email
****
Once club has gone it will be lost forever
SIR – I wish to express my concern at the report on the possible closure of the Bedford Priory Bowls Club, because a review says there are too many for the present needs of the town.
This is a snapshot in time view; if one looks at the current residential developments going on within one mile of this green, which will accommodate 2-3,000 people, these residents will also need recreation facilities in time.
When this town centre green has gone, it will never be replaced. These proposals need to be examined by a committee with wider horizons and a little more vision, following the example of the forefathers of the town when they built the Embankment and this club, which are the town's heritage.
I am a member of this club and have a vested interest. I am also retired and no longer have the stamina to play competitive golf or cricket. Are my ageing colleagues and I to be pushed aside to provide a community garden which no-one has requested or proved a need?
Is this little acre we have occupied for close on 100 years so important to the parks and gardens that we are in the way of some hidden agenda?
This council has too short a life to be considering closing this green, it should be left to the new unitary authority, which no doubt will have a bigger budget and policies that will reach much further into the future than this one.
Gower Keeling
by email
****
English band should have led parade
SIR – How lovely it was to see so many youngsters taking part in the St George's Day parade through Bedford (April 20), with so many proud parents supporting them.
As we were celebrating St George's Day, why were they being led by a Scottish Pipe band, playing highland music?
I know marching bands are in short supply, and this band was good, but on this occasion, on our saint's day, could we not have had an English band with English music?
Name and address supplied
****
Piece on Del was music to my ears
SIR – A big thank you for the piece on Del Bromham in Thursday's Go! section of the paper (T&C, April 24).
Sometimes this music promotion lark can get you down a bit (apathy, lack of audience, losing money etc), but at other times it can provide an incredible buzz. Today is now one of the 'other times' – thanks in no small part to your article.
Rob Vernon
by email
****
Arthritis funds
SIR – Collections in aid of Arc, Arthritis Research Campaign, at Tesco, Riverfield Drive, Goldington, on April 4 and 5 raised 1,141.43, and 869.56 was raised on April 11 and 12 at the Cardington Road store.
There were no expenses.
Marian Goddard
Hon secretary
Bedford branch
****
Marie Curie appeal
SIR – I am writing on behalf of Marie Curie Cancer Care to thank everyone in Bedford, Cranfield, Kempston and Flitwick for their generous
support of the Marie Curie Cancer Care Great Daffodil Appeal, which is supported by Yellow Pages, through collections held in March.
Your support raised an amazing 6,873.65 for the local Marie Curie nurses.
D Greenwood
Community fundraiser
Beds and Bucks
****
Council tax is unfair
SIR – Since council tax is based on the price of property, now that the value of homes is going down, can we expect a reduction in our council tax?
A review is badly needed to make council tax fairer for all, particularly senior citizens.
P Begley
Gloucester Road,
Bedford
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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