Our readers from across the borough give their weekly take on the biggest issues impacting Gedling and beyond.
Join the debate by sending your letter to letters@gedlingeye.co.uk . Please put ‘Letters’ in the subject line.
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Some letters refer to past correspondence which can be found by clicking HERE. Join the debate by email.
Names and addresses will be withheld by request but must be included in the email. We reserve the right to edit letters.
Potholes a ‘green dream’
I would like to commend Nottinghamshire County Council for finding a way of getting us all out of our cars and clearing the borough roads of traffic – potholes.
It must be part of some kind of loony green policy to keep roads so bad that cars become a thing of the past. I would not be shocked if NCC’s head of transport policy was… a Ms Greta Thunberg. The state of the roads must be a dream for environmentalists.
But seriously, this state of affairs is now having a direct effect on my driving ability because I am finding myself constantly looking ahead at the road surface rather than maintaining on overall view of everything in front of me.
It is also becoming almost impossible to drive in a straight line as a result of having to avoid potholes and it is just a matter of time before I get stopped by the police for driving in what must look like a manner of being in charge of a vehicle whilst under the influence.
The recent announcement made by the government to direct the money saved from the cancellation of parts of HS2 into the road fund to repair potholes and running into billions gave some hope but don’t hold your breath.
I think we will be very fortunate to see any of this cash within the next two years by which time I will be on a second set of wheels and goodness knows how many sets of tyres.
Peter Moffatt,
Arnold
Lack of flooding responsibility ‘makes blood boil’
It is a disgrace that the councils, Highways Agency and Severn-Trent Water all escape punishment for flooding.
The drains on roadsides are all blocked before any rain and are an absolute disgrace. No wonder there are floods. Who cleans them? Nobody!
When was the River Trent last dredged? When I was a boy this happened regularly and Now I know why – to stop the floods/
A number of roads locally not been tendered to regarding drain clearance, hedge cutting or removal of flood waste.
Any flood damage should be the responsibility of the local councils and the Highways Agency and residents should be compensated in full if they are impacted.
It makes my blood boil the injustice and sheer incompetence of our councils who claim bankruptcy and hardship but still get paid fat cat bonuses.
Name and address
withheld by request
Use public transport if don’t want to pay road tax
All vehicles cause wear and tear on the roads therefore this stupid system of road-tax free motoring has to stop.
If people don’t want to pay towards the upkeep of the roads then use public transport. the road tax collected should be ringfenced and used to maintain the roads and help towards modernisation.
Whoever thought tax free cars was a good idea was a complete fool.
Robert Sheppard,
Address withheld
Transform mean streets into clean streets
The state of streets in Carlton are a disgrace.
As well as rough surfaces, uneven pavements and trip hazards in the form of potholes, there is the matter of cleanliness.
Perhaps a ‘name and shame’ approach or a league table would help to concentrate minds – a bit like they do with rivers!
Back in the day it wasn’t unusual to see shopkeepers sweeping and swilling the stretch in front of their own premises. Is this commendable practice still widespread?
It would help in transforming the mean streets into the clean streets.
Having said that, I have spotted volunteers before tidying up flower beds and sweeping streets in Netherfield on a freezing cold day to spruce things up, so thank you to them for helping to redress the balance.
D Reed,
Carlton
Time to put our country first
WITH the Ukraine Russia conflict, the horrendous problems in Israel and Gaza and now the Houthis trying to stop trade through the Red Sea and Suez Canal backed by Iran isn’t it time the people who run this country took their heads out from the sand and realised what most of us can see already?
It’s called reality.
The time has come to put the safety and security of our country and its people above all else. Firstly we need to become more self-sufficient, never mind that the various climate change factions will clutch their comfort blankets. We are sitting on many years worth of gas and coal to provide energy that it not at risk of global disruption.
We have an excellent farming industry, both arable and livestock, which could provide the majority of our needs if they were only allowed to get on with it, and also paid sensible prices for their produce by the big supermarkets rather than being cut to the bone to appease shareholders.
And finally, let’s make things easier and more cost effective to kick start the manufacturing industry in this country. What a waste having nearly all our everyday items made on the other side of the world.
