Uncertainty does little for morale or pupils' security

SIR – I was very disappointed to see that the three-tier education system is once again under threat (T&C, May 1).

I was also outraged by the comments made by the pro-vice
chancellor of Bedfordshire University who does not seem to know what she is talking about. Both my daughter and her husband work in Bedfordshire schools and I know from them that most of what Prof Kate Jacques said is wrong.

Bedfordshire middle schools are secondary deemed – unlike the primary based middle schools that Milton Keynes used to have. At the school where my son-in-law works, the pupils are specialist taught from the day they arrive at nine.

This means they have a specialist maths teacher for maths, a specialist scientist for science and a specialist English teacher for English (they also have specialist teachers for most other subjects). Surely this is better than having a 'jack of all trades' teacher for Years 5 and 6?

It is true that pupils and parents like middle schools, but this is because they are large enough to have specialist teachers but small enough so that every child is known by the headteacher and staff, and every child feels they matter, which is more than can be said for 12 and 13-year-old pupils in 2,000-plus place secondary schools.

As for not being under pressure, now that many middle schools are teaching the whole of Key Stage 3 in Years 7 and 8, the pupils are having to cover three years' work in two, and take their Key Stage 3 Sats in Year 8. This certainly applies the pressure and prepares the students for their GCSE work at upper school.

It also means the pupils now have three clear years to work on their GCSE exams at upper school, so if the standards at Key Stage 4 do not rise, blame the system, not the schools.

Back in 2006 schools were given three years to improve, and in the first couple of years there have been large improvements with many receiving glowing OFSTED reports.

Why not let the schools have the time they were promised and review the results then? All this uncertainty does not help improve either staff morale or the pupils' feelings of security in their learning.

Mrs C Black
The Hornbeams, Kempston

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Closing bowls club would be a disgrace

SIR – Having spoken to my father, I was amazed that the Priory Bowling Club is being considered for closure.

My father and many of his friends spend most of their time enjoying the facilities at this club and have done so for many years. I feel that over a number of years these people have paid time and money into the
community and now in retirement should be enjoying the full use of this excellent facility. Many of the players are in their 60s, 70s, 80s – on a limited budget and restricted to using facilities within walking
distance to their homes.

Removing the Priory Bowling Club without providing an alternative option is an absolute disgrace on behalf of the borough council, members of whom are voted in by the people of Bedford to serve the people of this town.

Barry Simmons
by email

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Closing facility conflicts with council policy

SIR – Gower Keeling is rightly concerned at the threat of closure of Priory Bowling Club (T&C, May 1) and I endorse his comments.

However, it is not apparent from his letter that Priory is not the only bowling green under threat. The green in Southfields Road, Kempston, is also under threat.

Southfields is the only public bowling green in the area south of the river and, while we are not able to claim the history or 'off-green' facilities enjoyed by other clubs, we are just as passionate about the game. Bowls clubs, like Rome, are not built in a day.

Due to continued promotion and the support of Kempston Town Council, Kempston East Bowls Club has seen a welcome increase in membership figures (with some as young as 11 years of age joining us) demonstrating a need to retain this facility for the community.

As far back as 2003 a report before the council executive recommended the closure of a number of leisure facilities, including putting greens, allotments and bowling greens.

I understand the need to control expenditure but this current policy is flawed, discriminatory and in direct conflict with the council's own sports development policy.

So, as your correspondent suggests, perhaps there is a "hidden agenda".
Bowling is a healthy, social leisure activity that can be enjoyed on an equal level by both sexes, of any age and should be encouraged. Greens should be preserved, particularly with the planned expansion of
Kempston and the surrounding area, not destroyed in favour of a project that is open to abuse and will incur installation and maintenance costs.

Derek Edmunds
Address supplied

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Borough may have other use for clubhouse

SIR – Re: my letter about the closure of Priory Bowling Club; this closure is being promulgated, not for the use of the area as community gardens, but, may I suggest, so the borough parks and gardens department can have the use of the present clubhouse as a messroom facility and/or as a meeting place or training facility.

This is why the clubhouse has just been painted at a cost of several thousand pounds, so that it will look good and can be retained, while the garage and messroom nearby have been left with bare wood and peeling paint, as they will no longer be required when the clubhouse changes hands.

The clubhouse is the target and the green closure is a smokescreen to fool the members of the council into making a decision on this
matter they may live to regret.

Gower Keeling
by email

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Least likely candidate for 'nasty party' image

SIR – Tim Caswell (Opinions, May 1) probably could not have chosen a less likely candidate for the outdated "nasty party" image of the
Conservative Party than Coun Brian Dillingham.

Brian has been a councillor – on and off – for more than 30 years – representing the same community of Harpur ward; frequently as the only Conservative party representative. If Brian had been as Mr Caswell
portrays, I think the residents of Harpur would have rumbled this many years ago. In fact, Brian Dillingham is one of the most open, most compassionate and least prejudicial people around, and I encourage Mr Caswell to get to know him better.

Mr Caswell, however, raises an important point regarding the treatment of homeless alcoholics in Bedford, who he rightly says should not be marginalised or subject to abuse. Alcoholism is the big, unspoken illness in our society and the Government's loose policy, for
example on 24-hour licensing hours, has not helped.

There are excellent groups, such as BECHAR which operates the Prebend Street Day Centre, and others, which provide much-needed help, comfort and understanding. I encourage all our councillors to take more effective action, so that the frustration and concern of residents on issues that arise from alcoholism can be addressed.

Richard Fuller
Conservative parliamentary candidate,
Bedford and Kempston

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Strange way of 'getting closer to communities'

SIR – Re: your recent front page story including comments by the Mayor of Bedford that "boundaries don't matter". I disagree. They most certainly do. Why else, at taxpayers' great expense, did the Boundary Commission spend ages reworking the county divisions in 2004, making virtually all the county divisions equal in population number for each councillor?

The borough wards have not been reworked for a far longer time –
leaving glaring inequalities. In some areas, a tiny number of people have one councillor (like Oakley, with 1,899 residents) while elsewhere a councillor will have a massive number to try and represent (Queens Park, 5,580).

Is this what the Mayor meant in his unitary bid when he talked about getting closer to communities? Those in Queens Park will be really
grateful that 5,580 residents have only one councillor and so one vote on council decisions.

But following the large pay rises for senior officers that were rushed in – rather than a time-limited proper retention strategy – and the big promise of huge tax cuts now being conveniently forgotten, what should we expect from this discredited Mayor?

Coun Tom Wootton
Portfolio holder for highways and waste

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Pity supporters who have seen Eagles dive

SIR – What a cop-out by the Eagles chairman; two successive relegations, and now handing responsibilities over to a committee.

Mr David Howell must show leadership; it is now time for positive action by the board, a new manager being the first priority. I am afraid Stuart Bimson was out of his depth.

Incidentally, the manager said he felt sorry for the goalkeeper after the Corby game. I feel sorry for the supporters who have watched the worst side in eight seasons.

L Wilson
Roff Avenue, Bedford

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Time for new chairman to galvanise support

SIR – With relegation now finally confirmed, it is now time for a
complete shake-up of Bedford Town FC. In my letter after the Chesham fiasco I stated it was time for the manager to go, quoting lack of
experience and contacts, but, as with last season, the chairman has done nothing.

It was evident to most supporters after the first few games that a new goalkeeper and centre half were a priority.

Where do we go from here?

First, we disband the FMC, aptly named by supporters the Federation of Master Clowns.

The chairman should not relinquish his responsibilities – appointing a new manager etc should be a board decision.

But it is now time for a new chairman, someone who can appeal to local businessmen and galvanise the supporters.

Martyn Gascoyne
Sudeley Walk,
Bedford

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Act will empower the consumer

SIR – As MP Patrick Hall stated in his column (T&C, April 10), the Consumer Credit Act 2006 will strengthen consumer rights and give more protection from illegal money lenders.

There are many benefits to the Act that I would like to highlight to your readers. The Consumer Credit Act 2006 empowers the consumer to exercise their consumer rights more effectively and gives them the confidence to challenge unfair conduct by lenders.

It allows the courts to decide in the favour of the consumer against unfair credit agreements by giving them the discretion over whether a credit agreement is legally binding and therefore enforceable.

A new unfair relationship test with broader criteria replaces the existing extortionate credit test, making things much easier to understand.

Later this year lenders will be required to provide consumers with regular information about the state of their credit accounts through statements, notices of arrears and notices of defaults.

However, if things are still unsatisfactory, consumers can turn to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which provides a free independent service for settling disputes between consumers and businesses providing financial services, and which will will now provide an Alternative Dispute Resolution for credit disputes. They can be contacted on 0845 080 1800.

Finally, if you need to borrow money, make sure you go to a reputable money lender. Don't be tempted by the quick-fix promises of a loan shark – they are not licensed, use extremely high interest rates and
sometimes intimidation or other means of making people pay back what they have borrowed.

They will also be reluctant to provide any written evidence of what is owed so you will not know when the debt is repaid and could end up paying back more than you initially agreed. If anyone has any information about illegal money lending, they can contact Bedfordshire
Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Paul Marsden
Senior enforcement officer
Bedfordshire County Council
Trading Standards Service

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Rockin' all over the world with the Quo

SIR – Two years ago, with my husband, I managed to go to every Status Quo concert on the UK winter tour, a total of 31 concerts in six weeks.

I met so many people who had stories to tell about their experiences of seeing Status Quo. As a result I am compiling a book of people's memories for a book entitled 'Goin' Quoin' Past And Present'.

I am interested in hearing from anyone who has seen Status Quo from the 1960s right up to the present day, including the band's performance on the second day of the Proms In The Park at Bedford last year. As the band have been performing for more that 40 years now, this would be an ideal opportunity to record all those memories.

All proceeds from the book are going to The Shona Smile Foundation, www.shonassmile.org

I would be very grateful for any contribution readers could send me, either at the address below or by email to yvonnehanvey@aol.com

Yvonne Hanvey
West Lodge
Balmoral Way, Rownhams,
Southampton, SO6 8LU

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Search for Army pals

SIR – I am hoping to trace anyone who served with myself, Brian McCombe, and Mickey Brown in D Company 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment 1956. We spent that year living in tents in Cyprus before being deployed to Suez.

So far we have been able to locate over 60 of our former pals, and reunions are held annually. It would be great to find the remainder of D Company from this time.

Contact Allan Spicer on 01775 680341 or email jmspicer@hotmail.co.uk

Allan Spicer