Breastfeeding ban is political correctness gone mad
Sir - What would the non-PC ‘pub landlord’ Al Murray have said about your front page article in last week’s Bedfordshire on Sunday ‘Cafe apologises for error as mums breastfeed in protest’? “Good English mums raising good, healthy, well-balanced English Kids”, probably.
You might have to make the most of it while you can Mums.
Unless we do something about it, in a few years time when our little island is crushed into global political correctness by a dictating minority, breastfeeding in public will be made illegal.
Most people from this area will know that 70 years ago many brave young ladies flew out as spies from Tempsford airfield to defend our freedom against the will of a dictator and were caught, tortured and executed. Let us not forget their sacrifice.
Phil Austin Highbury Grove, Clapham
School under performing
Sir - As a former chair of governors of Beauchamp Middle School in Brickhill, I was very disappointed to hear that following a recent OFSTED inspection it had been placed in ‘special measures.’ Throughout my involvement with the school – which incidentally I also attended as a pupil when it was called Parkwood Middle – I was always impressed with the professionalism of the staff, the inspiring leadership of the head teacher and the commitment of parents to achieve the best outcomes for their children.
However, following a ‘satisfactory’ outcome by inspectors in 2008, I decided to stand down from this position so that the school could move forward from what was in my view at least, a very disappointing outcome as to the school’s performance.
If I was still the chair of governors at the School, I would use the opportunity of this most recent judgement by OFSTED to consider my position and reflect as to my future role.
The clear under performance of this school within the borough is a timely reminder as to the valuable opportunities provided by the coalition Government’s ambitions for more schools to achieve academy status and release themselves from the shackles of local authority meddling and interference.
It is deeply regrettable that at a time when the borough council is opposing plans to establish the borough’s very first free school, it is responsible for a school under its own remit to fall into the status of ‘special measures.’ I wonder on what basis it is that our political masters at Borough Hall are so fearful as to more parents exercising greater choice as to their children’s future?
Andrew McConnell Conservative Borough Councillor for Brickhill, 2002 - 2009
Relocate sorting offices
Sir - Laudable as the new ‘Jowett Sidings’ may be (BoS November 6) as a ‘phase 1’ of land use and rail access in and around the borough areas, perhaps a phase 2 suggestion could be that the postal sorting offices at Ford End Road are relocated to a new rail-served area at the back of Sainsbury’s/Cut Throat Lane.
This, with new purpose dual for mail service, other freight users and also, for salt and grit to be brought in and stockpiled for use by rail, is ideally located at the base of the A6 (North) and rural road network.
For Central Beds, what about a similar stockpile and reception siding at Forders Sidings on the Marston Vale Railway for A421 corridors and surrounding villages? This could coincide not with any incinerator, but a regional recycling plant, brought in and taken out by rail.
Surely such a facility would use derelict land better and create loads of sustainable jobs and cut pollution near and far? Likewise, reinstating a bus stop outside NatWest Bank in the High Street, would help boost footfall and spend to that area and spread opportunity for all.
Richard Pill St Michael’s Road, Bedford
New bus route is no good
Sir - I am writing to you about the new bus route. We used to be able to get to Aldi at Church Lane shops in Goldington which was great because as pensioners we could take our shopping trolley and get the whole week’s shopping (we are disabled and can’t carry much).
The new route is no good to any of us. The route in question is the number seven. It stops the whole of ‘our side’ of the shops allowing us to get there and back without a car, which we don’t all have.
It would have made more sense to turn the bus round at Putnoe Street roundabout not Church Lane/ Norse Road roundabout.
We are pensioners don’t we deserve to be able to shop locally? I am sure there are a lot of people with the same problem and I have also sent this letter to the bus company.
Can you help us get our bus back please? Nobody seems to care about the elderly and disabled anymore.
Vallerie McCabe Lewes Gardens, Bedford
Encourage recycling
Sir – My wife emailed Bedford Borough Council to request some more orange recycling bags for all our recyclable waste. Nothing unusual, you might think.
Well it transpires that we have had too many orange bags this year and now need to pay for them if we want more.
At a time when the Government is encouraging the populous to recycle, Bedford borough is implying that we have recycled to often (or perhaps too much).
Perhaps the Borough thinks it is cheaper to put recycling in the normal bin and “store it in landfill” for eternity rather than provide us with some new orange bags.
I thought writing to bring this to your attention might prompt the borough into a more pragmatic stance.
John Barrow Prinknash Road, Bedford
Warren Farm objections
Sir - With reference to the proposed Warren Farm development in Ampthill, I understand there is to be a consultation exercise to be held at Ampthill Town Council Offices, Dunstable Street, on November 18, from 1-7pm, and Redborne School, on November 19, from 10am- 3.30pm. Those of us who live in Ampthill know what a disaster any further development will be for ALL the citizens here – and don’t forget the proposed 500 houses on the north side of Flitwick either.
May I suggest we turn out in force at one or other of these venues and let them know in no uncertain terms the strength of our feelings.
Some matters which are relevant before there is any consideration of building more houses are: Expansion of Redborne School and lower schools, parking at Flitwick station for the commuters, safety (Ampthill was built for horse and cart, not heavy traffic), gridlock (comes at 8am or when Waitrose is busy), parking (Waitrose is limited to two hours and is not big enough even now), catering for old people, leisure facilities for both youth and adults, increased traffic in Flitwick Road (near the school), Oliver Street and health centre facilities.
There are many more but as proposed at present, it is just not on.
F Morris Fallowfield, Ampthill
Restore beauty spot
Sir - So now we learn that the excavation work under the Long holme Way bridge over the River Great Ouse and the construction of a road behind the boating lake in Bedford is associated with a pet project – the Hydro-electric plant on the Embankment! When will the councillors or the mayor’s advisors put a handbrake on his irresponsible acts? In pursuit of this absurd project in the name of the environment he is destroying one of Bedford’s beauty spots enjoyed by dog walkers and families for generations. How many more surprises will there be attached to this project? The mayor should now give us absolute transparency around the payback of this folly, and commit to restoring this spot back to its original state.
Charles Allen The Embankment, Bedford
What a load of Balls
Sir - I have to agree with Mr Raine’s letter to the BoS on November 6.
I do not know who Mr Ball is, or the relevance of his diary.
But his comments about the Covanta waste incinerator were insensitive to the concerns of many residents.
If Mr Ball is a resident of Stewartby or the surrounding area, then he is entitled to his opinion, however, if he is not, then it simply sounded like he was blowing raspberries. Not very dignified.
Andrew Shenton Bedford Road,
Bedford The ‘alternative’ to cuts
Sir - A few weeks ago, I wrote to your paper about the ‘Disastrous Cuts’ being imposed on Bedford Borough Council by the ConDem Government.
Since then a number of people have asked me about the ‘alternative’.
The Government say it needs to tackle the deficit; or is it the debt? Both terms are used interchangeably.
Debt is not an unusual thing for individuals or for governments.
Indeed the debt under Labour was not particularly high, and no higher than under the previous Conservative Governments. What dramatically increased the debt was the banking crisis. However, the current national debt is nothing compared to that after World War II when it was five times higher than it is now. And yet we built the welfare state and two million council houses.
So there are always choices; always alternatives.
The deficit is something else.
Every business knows that the only way to deal with a deficit is either to cut costs or increase income. But as every ‘successful’ business knows, you can’t cut your way to growth.
Ireland is a prime example. The underlying cause of the sovereign debt crisis for all countries is a lack of confidence in economic growth.
So the alternative is not to cut the purchasing power of the 99 per cent but to increase income by:- Closing the gap on tax avoidance and evasion - £120 billion a year Introducing a financial transaction tax - £30 billion a year Scraping Trident - £100 billion An empty properties tax - £5 billion a year And the list goes on.
These income generating measures will leave wealth in the hands of the 99 per cent thus helping to maintain economic growth which is ultimately the only way to eliminate the deficit.
Richard Baker Newnham Avenue, Bedford
