Sir - I am sure that I am not alone when I say that I was appalled to read Mr G Harris’s letter in last week’s Bedfordshire on Sunday.
This man quite obviously has no idea about the pain and suffering of people affected by cancer and the importance of charitable events such as Race For Life in raising vast amounts of money to help sufferers and their families.
If he did he would have been more than happy to take a small detour into to town last Sunday or even stop and applaud the thousands of women taking part in this event, of which I was one.
Lets hope he got a large bill from the garage for his overheated car!
Jenny Tryon
Denmark Street, Bedford
‘Ignorant or idiot?’
Sir - On reading the ‘your letters’ page I felt I had to write and ask is Mr G Harris ignorant or just an idiot? I wonder if this man has ever had a family member that has suffered from cancer.
If not, I would like to tell him of the suffering that they and supportive friends and family endure, not just physically but emotionally too.
The wonderful people who gave up their day to run or walk the race for life have done so not only to show support to someone dear to them , may suffer or has suffered from cancer but also to raise money for cancer charities.
I think that everyone there could tell Mr Harris of awful sufferings (far worse than an overheated car engine) and also remind him to thank the lord for his good health.
I hope that in the future neither he nor his loved ones will need the services of the wonderful charities that the Race For Life supports.
Amanda Giddings
Keysoe Road, Thurleigh
Worth the inconvenience
Sir - I write in reply to Mr G Harris’s letter of last week – yes,Mr Harris, it was ‘some kind of women’s race’, a race that nearly 4,200 women,of all ages and abilities, took part in raising £365,000 for Cancer Research UK.
There were also a huge number of people who lined the route spurring the runners and us non-runners on.
Mr Harris should read some of the messages that were written on the backs of those taking part (not numbers as he thinks) – just as I and I’m sure many others did – and then have a really good think about writing a letter such as his. Reading those messages really does make you stop and think and remember why such events are organised all over the country (and why, there and then, you decide to take part in next year’s race).
So, an early note to Mr Harris… there will be another of these so-called ‘nonsense’, some kind of women’s race’ again next year which may have even more people taking part and therefore raising even more money for an exceptional cause – one for which I’m sure most people would not mind a small inconvenience on a Sunday morning.
Elly Murdoch
Goodrich Avenue, Bedford
Check your facts first!
Sir - I am writing in response to the letter from Mr G Harris with reference to being held up in traffic as a result of the Race for Life.How dreadful for him… my heart bleeds!
Perhaps Mr Harris should investigate the facts before writing such a tactless and ignorant letter. Four and a half thousand women (myself included) gave up their time for a couple of hours on a Sunday morning for the sake of Cancer Research.
As cancer will affect one out of three people in the UK, who knows when one of those women may be running in the future with his name on their back? We ran the Race for Life Mr Harris.… perhaps it’s time you got one!
Mrs J Di Giampasquale
Acacia Road, Bedford
Questions need answers
Sir - As a resident of Bedford I can’t help but notice we have been invaded by travellers and their Transit vans.
As the many groups are here in Bedford, I would like to know more about them and have some questions regarding travellers.
What is the correct term for a traveller?
Why are travellers attracted to Bedford?
Can anyone inhabit Bedford’s open areas?
Who picks up the bill for the repairs to kerbs, landscapes and waste collection?
Is this waste classed as ‘fly-tipping’? If so, are the travellers ever convicted and punished?
Do travellers pay council tax?
If travellers did not collect scrap metal what would happen to it?
Do travellers abide by the local recycling regulations?
I notice the same groups come and go and then come back again and again, where do they visit?
How do travellers insure their vehicles if they have no address?
Do travellers follow different laws when it comes to having licence plates on their caravans? I look forward to your help in providing answers to my questions. It is easy to pass by and make assumptions but it would be polite to have the knowledge to understand the culture.
Ben Garvey
Palgrave Road, Bedford
Where do I sign up?
Sir- Could you please advise how one joins the gypsies? I have my own tourer – although this is not as posh as a lot of theirs – and I am presently in the Caravan Club but I can see a lot of benefits in transferring to the gypsies.
Free sites, no problems with booking, park where you like and when you like, no need to dispose of your rubbish, (leave it for someone else to clear up), no need to consider local residents, no need to abide by rules or laws as they only apply to other people, and if you are camping on farmers land there is often the chance of free fruit and vegetables.
At present I could only join as a parttime gypsy but if it works out all right it would ease my worry regarding bills like council tax etc when I retire in a couple of years.
I realise that there may be things that cause problems with my application – I work and pay tax and NHI, my car is taxed, insured and has a current MoT.
I am not claiming any benefits, I am a law abiding citizen who considers other residents, and they may decline membership so that I continue to pay taxes to clear up after them and subsidise their lifestyle.
I realise that the real gypsies may say that my comments only apply to the ‘travellers’ and not the gypsies, so if you have any additional details of how to join the ‘travellers’ that would be useful.
Thanking you in anticipation of your reply.
Name and address supplied
Rugby is our answer
Sir - Things at John Bunyan Upper School are changing fast,with a new emphasis on positive behaviour and achievement for all before the establishment of an academy.
As part of this new beginning, we are trying to establish rugby at Bunyan, with the aim of using it as a medium for change.
Rugby teaches teamwork, establishes self confidence and provides a positive outlet for the energy students at Bunyan possess. Our aim is to develop a rugby ethos which will work hand in hand with the new ethos we are establishing in the school as a whole.
With staff becoming trained to coach rugby, input from Community Rugby Coaching staff and from the RFU Rugby Development team, our aim is to establish rugby for both boys and girls at our school and with the input of our Pathfinder keep these young people playing rugby.
Although it is not our intent to go cap in hand to anyone, we will gratefully receive any help offered be it financial (sponsorship for example), donations of equipment or donations of time and expertise.
In the future, we aim to extend this throughout our area of Bedford, establishing the fair play and respect ethos of rugby in the most difficult and deprived parts of town.
If it can work in the gang-ridden slums of Venezuela (like the well known own Alcatraz Project) then it can work here.
We are going forward at John Bunyan, and rugby is hoping to play a big part of that.
Simon Lindridge
Rugby Pathfinder, John Bunyan School Kathie Road, Bedford
Borough 1 County 0
Sir- Quite recently I had a reason to contact Trading Standards which is in County Hall, to see if a certain tree surgery firm was on their books.
A leaflet through the door prompted the call. A woman answered the phone and said the firm wasn’t one they had heard of.
This woman said ‘we can give you a couple of names and phone numbers’.
One was for home improvements, the other was for an entirely different business.
On contacting Directory Inquiries re the name, I was told it doesn’t exist.
I have never ever found the County Hall staff helpful over the years.
Thumbs down for the County Hall gang, thumbs up for Bedford Borough, a friendly, helpful lot.
Rose Prior
Stanton Road, Kempston
Jewel in town’s crown
Sir- In reply to your article by Steve Lowe on Bedford Riverside, why not make it a ‘year-round’ festival atmosphere and thus ruin one of the last remaining parts of Bedford that still has some charm and peace? Let’s cater to the types who just want amusements, hot-dog stands, loud music, heavy boast traffic etc.
Why not go the whole hog and build a theme park where the bandstand is, or even concrete over the river to provide additional parking? The heart has already been torn out of Bedford over the years, with the Embankment area being one of the few surviving places.
When away, I often meet people who have visited Bedford as tourists, and it is always the Embankment that has left a favourable impression, not the shops, the pedestrianised areas with concrete sculptures, and certainly not the traffic problems and associated noise.
Carol Maxey
Hurst Grove, Bedford
Help us to help others
Sir - We are appealing urgently for all types of stock to satisfy increasing demand as the increase in food, fuel and heating costs affect those on increasingly tight budgets in our community.
Our Age Concern shop in Bedford is seeing increasing demand for good quality clothing, books and household items.
To ensure we can meet this demand we need help.
Customers can help us by having a spring clean and donating any items of clothing they have not worn for some time to us.
Donations into our shop will be sold at the best possible price to raise as much money as possible.
Even unsaleable items have a value to us as we sell them into the rag trade which is extremely buoyant at the moment.
For that reason, when donating please do so to only bona fide charities as some collectors are unlicensed – please ask to see a drivers ID if you are in any doubt.
Money raised in our shop is used to help older people in our community.
Please help us to help vulnerable older people in our community.
For further information, please contact us on 01234 219236
Jane Todd
Manager, Age Concern shop
Have your say on bridge
Sir - The planned demolition of the privately owned Bedford Modern School footbridge across Manton Lane has naturally caused concern for local people.
To enable everyone to hear the facts and to ask questions, as ward councillors, we have arranged a public meeting on Wednesday, August 6 at Bedford Modern School, Manton Lane, Bedford at 7pm.
We would like to invite local residents and anyone with an interest to come along and ask questions of Bedford Modern School representatives and officers from the County Council and Bedfordshire Highways.
As ward councillors we have repeatedly raised our concerns about traffic congestion, safety issues and cars turning into the school.
However, we have received advice that the current bridge is at the end of it life and unsafe and that a new pedestrian crossing is the better and safer option. We would like everyone to hear the explanations, have their say and then form opinions knowing the full facts.
As ward councillors we have raised our concerns.about the gyratory system that is being investigated for the Shakespeare Road and Clapham Road area. The meeting will also provide information and opportunity to ask questions about this too.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Cllrs Colleen Atkins and Ian Nicholls, Labour councillors for Harpur ward
Blunt facts on knife crime
Sir - Only a fortnight ago, Bedfordshire Police announced a ten per cent drop in overall recorded crime and while this is welcome news, the latest crime figures cannot hide some very chilling facts.
Knife crime is a major problem and what many people don’t know is that while it spirals out of control nationally, it is also above the national average right here in Bedfordshire.
The Government published new crime statistics on July 17 which show that there were 316 serious offences last year alone involving knives, with two per cent of all wounding, grievous bodily harm or robberies being committed with a knife – comfortably above the 19 per cent national average.
Borough Conservatives are calling for a series of urgent measures to reduce knife crime.
Anyone convicted of carrying a knife should expect to receive a custodial sentence.
Currently, the Government is planning to let off offenders carrying a knife with a fine in some circumstances.
It should be made easier for police officers to stop suspects and search them for knives and other weapons, and increasing use of mobile knife scanners.
We need more custodial places for young offenders, and increasing support for drugs and education programmes, and tackling the causes of knife crime .
It is appalling that the police can only spend one per cent of their time on the beat fighting crime and families are justifiably worried that the streets and their youngsters are less safe.
We want to see action taken now.
Councillor Tarsem Paul
Conservative Councillor, De Parys Ward
Eco nonsense
Sir- I would like to join the debate over possible use of prime agricultural land for socalled Eco Town schemes.
It is simple plain unadulterated eco nonsense to take top quality agricultural land out of food production and use it to build an eco town. Only a failed Labour Government could promote such ridiculous schemes.
For too long we have poured increasing quantities of concrete over large areas of Bedfordshire agricultural land with disastrous environmental results.
Fortunately, my own council has agreed in future to safeguard grades 1, 2, and 3a agricultural land from unnecessary and irresponsible development. I recommend other planning authorities in the county should follow suit.
Roger Baines
Mid Beds District Council Houghton Conquest, Haynes, Old Warden and Southill Ward
Infantile councillors
Sir - Having attended the meeting at the Swan Hotel concerning local post office closures, I was appalled that certain councillors of the borough used this as both a political and personal platform to attack their fellow councillors.
Labour group leader Cllr Dave Lewis and Cllr Carl Meader spoke about the proposed closure of Springfield Sub Office saying how could this decision have been made given the parking available that was not there at the St Johns Street Branch and went on to list the numerous parking issues of that branch In my view Cllr Lewis was not speaking for the people who elected him. To be quite frank he used words that I would expect to hear in a playground. He could not even get right the proposed sub office to close and talked about Newtown which has been closed for years.
Post office closures are wrong and interestingly I find that the Labour councillors did not attend the meeting on July 19 called by their own MP (who we all know voted in favour of closures) to discuss the situation.
I urge those residents in Kempston who will be affected by the proposed closure of Springfield to sign the petition that Cllr Jas Palmer has started in the hope that we can keep the much valued service.
Unless the public takes a stand we are at the mercy of playground behaviour by those who are trying to score points and not thinking about the vulnerable who will become even more so without our local post offices.
Michele Collins
St Matthews Close, Kempston
Spare us the sermon
Sir - In response to Cllr Dave Hodgson’s letter (BoS July 13) – do we really need the local Liberal Democrat party leader turning the letters page of a local newspaper into a cheap political soapbox rant? The post office is far from the heart of the community and has not been for many years.
The lack of usage is the main reason for the closures, largely thanks to modern communication techniques (telephone, email, Internet, text messages etc).
All these modern methods of communication are also so much more environment friendly and mainly faster than posting letters or driving to the post office.
But then judging by the amount of same-oldstory ‘Focus’ junk mail that the local Liberal Democrats put through our doors so frequently, saving the environment is far from their list of high priorities.
Do they really think that A3 duplex printed sheets of paper to tell us ‘the hard working Liberals’ have got a street sign post replaced is the most environmentally conscious communication method?
Gary Bower
Address supplied
School’s decision to axe bridge
Sir - I would like to put the record straight regarding the county council’s involvement in Bedford Modern School’s (BMS) proposal to demolish its Manton Lane footbridge.
The bridge is wholly owned by Bedford Modern School and, although the structure spans the highway, no part of it is located on highway ground.
BMS approached us some time ago as they had discovered the bridge needed major structural work. They asked for our help to cost options, including upgrading the bridge with ramps or replacing it with a crossing.
I well understand this is a very congested part of Bedford already and feel there are many advantages to having a toucan crossing in place of the bridge. It will be provided with computerised vehicle detection software which should help prevent traffic from queuing and manage congestion over the Clapham Road roundabout. The crossing facility will have the advantage of being available to the wider community as well as the school.
The school has told us that they intend to train teachers, with the help of our road safety team, to enable them to monitor both traffic and pedestrians at peak times and help children cross the road in groups.
I understand the school did not inform its own staff members or parents of these proposed changes until the last day of term, which has caused a number of them to contact me directly, very concerned about what is really an internal Bedford Modern problem.
One issue raised is why vehicles cannot be prevented from turning right into the school.
If this happened, drivers would need to turn at the roundabout and drive up the other side of the road, which our engineers have said would cause a bigger backlog of traffic.
Bedford Modern School is fully funding the cost of the work and say they believe they have considered all options, including retaining the bridge and installing a crossing.
It is their decision and we are just here to offer assistance. I know there is a meeting lined up soon with the headmaster and local councillors to further investigate all options fully before any work starts.
Councillor Tom Wootton
Bedfordshire County Council