Letters, July 3 2015

Go to Silverstone

Further to the letter in last week’s Mercury regarding the Acle Straight. Mr Marsham is so right. I used to travel the Straight twice a day, the speed limit is 60mph, but there are always drivers who have to tailgate until they can get past. And they go past as if they have rocket fuel in their tank.

It is not the road as some people seem to think – it is the drivers!

There will still be accidents even if it is dualled. It is just inconsiderate drivers who cannot wait. Even when I am just under the speed limit around 58mph they come past like you are standing still.

When there is fog there are still drivers that do not put their lights on, they come out of town and onto the Straight with no lights. These drivers do not consider they need to be seen.

This is what causes accidents not the Acle Straight. It is not a long distance from Great Yarmouth to Acle and does not take long to travel, so why can’t drivers wait to overtake on the dual carriageway from Acle?

Drivers should drive to suit the conditions. If they feel they must drive like a Formula One driver, then go to Silverstone.

ANGIE WOOLSEY

Email

Police must help on village roads

I am a resident of Fleggburgh where there is a 30mph speed limit, like our neighbouring village Filby. So how is it that motorists seem to think it is acceptable to speed through our village most of the time?

Could it be the lack of the Norfolk Constabulary’s presence, unlike Filby which regularly has speed checks. Come on Norfolk Police, give Fleggburgh a turn! And perhaps people will adhere to the 30mph speed limit.

Ms D BANISTER

Main Road,

Fleggburgh

Praise for our NHS services

It was Saturday, June 13 and we had been looking a old photographs, and laughing at the change in hairstyles and fashion, also sharing memories of loved ones who are no longer with us.

As I returned the albums back into the loft, the stepladders buckled.

My sister went into first-aid mode, mum kept compression on my wound to my left leg, my sister called the ambulance service and by the time she had answered the questions, the first ambulance had pulled up.

The crew of three ladies, who kept me still while they put a collar round my neck. I was in-cased in the ladder and the crew thought it was best to have a second crew to assist with moving me.

All the time they told me everything they were doing.

At the James Paget’s A&E department I was taken to resus where the doctor and crew moved me on to a trolley.

I was given pain relief and taken to X-ray, and every procedure was explained to me,

I was sutured up, and my head wound glued, allowed to go home. Monday morning I had my dressings changed at my GP surgery. I had an appointment later that day, and have continued for two weeks and will have to have more care.

So, I would like to thank the three NHS services I have had to use.

DEBRA PIPER

Email

Large tree is an ‘extreme hazard’

With reference to the article in the Mercury stating the concerns of Margaret Foyster and the large tree encroaching onto her property on New Road in Belton. I quite agree with her comment that the council’s decision not to fell the tree is a false economy.

The walkway over the New Road bridge is also an extreme hazard because of large hanging trees to pedestrians, a lot of which are children walking to school. The tree branches hang extremely low.

New Road itself is also becoming a hazard to motorists because of large trees which are not cut back.

Do we have to wait for an accident to occur before anything is done about it?

GLENDA FIELD

Waveney Drive,

Belton

I agree, Straight is inadequate

I would like to compliment Jose O’Mahony on her exposition of the Acle Straight.

Hopefully it will serve as a wake-up call to the opponents who imply this original cart-track adequate to serve a fine town, popular seaside resort and port.

DANIEL KING

Falcon Court,

Great Yarmouth

Are hazel twigs under the road?

Years ago I worked with an old boy from Blofield who worked on the building of the ‘New Road’ [Acle Straight] as he called it. He told me the surface road was all laid on hazel twigs. This, he said, was very costly at the time.

C R MEADOWS

Beck Avenue

Ormesby

Funny and fab musical show

On Saturday, June 28 we went along to watch the Stage Door Theatre present Aladdin and St Trinians. Our granddaughter Mollie has just started drama with this group and appeared as a narrator in Aladdin, her first ever production.

What can I say other than this was funny, fabulous and full of happy children, some as young as three years giving their best and entertaining a large audience which can be very daunting.

The costumes were brilliant and also the singing.

Congratulations to Shelia who runs the group and all her helpers. It was brilliant. The older pupils put on the next show, St Trinians, they also were funny, fabulous and full of cheeky remarks. Once again the costumes, make up and acting was perfect, a credit to their tutors.

We are very much looking forward to future productions.

STEPHANIE AND BEN BURGESS

Gorse Close,

Belton

Seafarers worth a best seller!

At Great Yarmouth Local History and Archaeological Society’s Study Day on June 27, the lead speaker Professor Mark Bailey made the point ‘that 14th century was a watershed in the history of Europe and perhaps its most interesting period. Modern scholarship is revealing new facts and interpretations of the events when England made its first moves towards ‘industrial capitalism’.

Subsequent detail contradicts, in a small way, Charles Yaxley’s letter to the Mercury (26/6/15).

In 1333 Sir John Perebrown was appointed as ‘Admiral of the King’s Fleet for the Scottish War’ but was replaced in the same year by Henry Randolf also of Yarmouth.

John Howard followed in 1335 when John Perebrown, Richard Fastolfe, Thomas De Drayton and Richard Ellys were instructed to send their ships for the King’s service. The post of Admiral of the North passed several times up to 1338 to Sir Walter Manny KG Marshal Tutor to the Black Prince’ but he was very quarrelsome and was replaced by Sir Thomas De Drayton, Burgess of Yarmouth.

John Perebrown was certainly an important man in the history of Yarmouth seafaring but his tenure of the office Admiral of the North as not permanent as Edward III needed to give out titles to keep various parties on his side.

I wonder if we have a local author similar to Hilary Mantell who could write a novel on the changing fortunes of Yarmouth men of the 14th century similar to her recent literary successes?

ANDREW FAKES

Email

‘Overgrown’ tree should be felled

I am writing in response to the article published in the Great Yarmouth Mercury, June 26, and as a resident of Belton, I would like to voice my concerns of the overgrown tree referred to on New road, near the public highway.

As a commuter using New Road on a daily basis I have noted that during the autumn and winter period when we have had strong winds, I have witnessed branches strwen on the public path and road causing obstruction and feel as a safety aspect that this tree should either be cut back or felled for the safety of pedestrians and motorists to avoid a serious accident.

I do hope Mr and Mrs Foyster have success with the council in having this tree attended to, as I can only see it as an avantage to other residents in the village if this tree was felled.

OLIVER DIBDEN

Caledonian Way,

Belton.

Hospice charity funded by shops

In response to Mr Nettleship’s letter printed on June 26, clearly this demonstrates he has not been keeping up-to-date with the tremendous progress made by the charity over the last two years.

Prior to this, whilst negotiations had been taking place with the JPUH, the charity had been allowed to ‘wither on the vine’. Under the new trustee board, steps have been taken to ensure that ECH is now firmly in line with statutory obligations as a charity and as a business.

The charity’s administrative costs are now totally met by the income from our charity shops which generate a surplus. In this context, we would question whether the use of donated funds on professional advisers from 2010 to 2013 was in the best public interest?

In the last two years, ECH has raised almost double the amount to that brought in during the previous five years.

In reference to his CCG comment, however, he is correct:

A lot HAS changed in the last two years which he could have addressed during his tenure as chairman if he had been so inclined.

The CCG has acknowledged that all providers of care will be treated fairly and equally when it comes to commissioning of services.

In conclusion to clarify, two ministers of state have stated that an independent hospice is the most preferable option.

Our land at Sidegate Road is freehold and owned by the charity and so can never be part of any NHS cuts now or in the future.

JENNIFER BEESLEY, ECH chairman,

BRIDGET LOWE, ECH vice-chairman

Email

Paget care was second to none

Having just spent an “enjoyable” Saturday at the James Paget Hospital having an operation, I feel I really must not miss out on this opportunity to thank the staff and let people know that you have to take it as you find it.

While I appreciate all the “horror stories” told to me before I went in, I can only commend the staff who again made it a pleasurable experience for me. This is the second operation I’ve had in six years (the first being a C-section) and I didn’t publicly thank them last time but I have also had, on two previous occasions, had to rush my little boy in with asthma and had exceptional treatment then, for me and him.

The care for both of us then was second to none.

While I of course appreciate that things can and do go wrong, we very rarely hear of the many, many procedures that go perfectly! Thank you James Paget staff!

ANDREA DOWNES

Beccles

Fed up with cat mess in garden!

Please could any readers of the Mercury tell me how I can keep cats from digging in my flower borders everyday.

Each morning I look out the bedroom window and there it is again - my flower boarders dug up overnight by neighbours cats and they have left their little parcels of mess as usual. I am so fed up with this, the time and money spent on plants to make our garden nice to sit in and enjoy being fouled by someone else’s cats. Dogs foul and if caught a fine is dealt out. There should be something like this for cat owners too.

NAME AND ADDRESS WITHHELD

Old buildings are left unloved

How lovely it was to walk along the promenade and see so many people enjoying the seaside in the hot weather we’ve been having.

It’s just a shame that the vista is spoilt by so many unused and unloved buildings. Take the Empire Theatre, which was built in 1908 and takes pride of place on the Golden Mile.

A beautiful old building which was ruined during it’s time as a nightclub and is now full of pigeon mess. It’s also been the victim of flooding multiple times with no one there to look after it.

It’s about time someone stepped in and restored these buildings to their former glory, so that we don’t lose the history and heritage they bring with them!

ELIZABETH LESLEY

Email

Recovering after nasty accident

Heartfelt thanks to Glen, Audrey, Vi, Maggie and medic Lee for their attention after my fall on Monday, June 29 on Middleton Road. After resting, I’m feeling better.

JOYCE WARD

Address withheld