Letters: ‘Unfair’ to blame our local MPs for pensioner fuel allowance cut

Our readers from across the borough give their weekly take on the biggest issues impacting Gedling and beyond.

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We are being ‘unfair’ on our local MPs who are taking blame for pensioner winter fuel allowance cut

Sir,

I really think it is unfair to blame our two new Labour MPs for the winter fuel allowance being stopped for pensioners.

I do not agree with the move – but it comes from the top and not Mr Payne or Ms Welsh. They had no choice but to vote for it or the Prime Minister said they would lose the whip.

If you had just started a new job, would you want to lose it? You have to do what your bosses do when employed and at least at the beginning. You can always resign later.

I think the comments that I have seen on social media about our new MPs should be redirected towards Starmer and Reeves and not our local MPs.

They probably did not want this but had very little choice because of their leaders.

D Jones,
Gedling

Add tax on drive-thru takeaway users to pay for environmental damage caused

Sir,

I am getting a bit fed up with drive-thru takeaways causing litter and traffic jams.

I generally shop at Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield once a week. Rarely can I just drive in and park/shop. This is due to the queue for the countless drive-thrus.

My last visit was a nightmare because the queue extended outside the retail park and on to the public road, disrupting traffic. It took about 5 minutes to enter and park.

The amount of litter left by users on our roadsides from products sold at these outlets is a disgrace. Just drive down Colwick Loop Road towards Burton Joyce and see for yourself.

I think Gedling Borough Council should create a local environmental tax, for all drive-thru takeaways, of say £2 per order, regardless if it is for a cup of coffee, chicken burger or a family meal. This tax should be ringfenced for environmental projects only, to try to alleviate the wasted fuel and damage done to the environment while queueing and pay for recycling of litter.

A very disgruntled JH,
Colwick

Anti-social behaviour at parks was not such a problem in my day

Sir,

I can’t believe what has happened to the places we used to go locally as kids. I remember years ago, the park rangers, or ‘parkies’ as we affectionately knew them, kept an eye on us and how many of us heard the phrase ‘parkie’s coming’?

I’m fairly sure this sort of anti-social behaviour we see today at parks never took place back in my day as we came from an era before computer games and satellite television.

We loved the parks, it was where we could go and play. My mum used to let us off the leash on our bikes, or skateboards which was the fad in the early 70s, and we never used to go home until tea time.

I cringe at memories of me walking round parks in Arnold with my bog-standard skateboard and my crash helmet and pads on, but we had fun and we were safe, to an extent. I don’t think the same can be said for today’s youngsters.

I just wonder if any consideration should be given to reintroducing dedicated park keepers? This would free up police who patrol parks to actually patrol the streets, as we all want.

I want my grandchildren to enjoy the parks as we did when we were young and not face the threat of being robbed or beaten up.

Richard Jewell
Arnold

Why will my little lounge fire bother anyone?

Sir,

An open fire is a must as far as I’m concerned. I wouldn’t have a house without one.

The emissions percentage for the UK is 2% – Yes 2%! Children of the future are unlikely to suffer as they no longer go out to play. They eat rubbish, get fat, don’t exercise, don’t walk to school, and are ferried around in polluting vehicles everywhere. Most of which, emit more than a smokeless coal burning open fire -which now costs just under £700 per tonne.

On one side of Gedling it’s smokeless, towards Lambley etc it isn’t. If you are so concerned about the very few houses that can afford to buy coal for their pleasure of a fire in their home, firstly target, India, China, USA, Asia, Germany  and many other countries that use fossil fuels.

Power stations in the UK still use coal. China is planning to build 10 more power stations using coal.

I think my little lounge fire won’t bother anyone, including children.  Go into any establishment with a real fire and it’s the most talked about feature. Almost everyone wishes they still had one.

I’ve worked since the age of 11. I’m now 68. Surely I’m entitled to have some firm of home comfort before I die? How many children do you see working? None. Because parents pay.

When they start choking due to bad health and hard work, let me know.  Until then, let me relax with my expensive fire for the hard work I’ve put in with no handouts from the DHSS, until I pass.

Anthony Dodsley,
via email

Leave pensioners alone

Sir,

I agree with Janet whole heartedly,  I worked from 16 until I was 64 paid all my Taxes and NI, never claimed any benefits so why should I now pay Taxes , NI and Fuel Allowance has now gone.

This is typical of any government when trying to get into parliament not saying exactly what they will put up. 

So leave us pensioners alone

Name and address supplied

Mindfulness should be taught in our schools

Sir,

I watched a very interesting piece recently on the BBC Breakfast show about introducing mindfulness into the education curriculum.

Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP) CEO, Emily Slater thinks we should be getting children, parents or carers and education providers on board to help with teaching mindfulness in schools. It would be good to learn mental health management from an early age.

It’s not just useful for children, but us all as its about learning about ourselves.

I feel very passionate about this and think that Emily Slater was talking a lot of sense on the programme.

Vicky Arnall,
via email

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