Letters, May 11, 2018

The other night, May 3, while checking the red button news from the BBC, one of the items for the county of Dorset was about the completion of a new quay at Poole Harbour.

It cost £10m and was for the handling of cruise liners, this in addition to a busy commercial port, and the ferry port serving France, Spain and the Channel islands.

No such amount will be spent on our own harbour, and this may be one of the reasons why the operators of the ferry service due to come here, may find it difficult to “sell” Great Yarmouth as a destination.

Like John Cooper, I want the best for the harbour and ultimately the town, which has lost its original ferry service to Europe.

How many jobs relied on the ferry? And many people in Holland worked on this service?

I have in the past used the DFDS services to Denmark, Germany and Sweden, these are all defunct, as is the services to Belgium from Kent. There are no ferry services to Belgium from south of the Humber.

Are those in the towns that relied on these services, happy at the loss of their jobs goods and services and could the logistics of moving freight be made easier for them using the port of Great Yarmouth.

If the Dutch operator of the proposed ferry service is hanging fire because of Brexit, may I suggest that the town, county council and/or the region’s MPs get together with those in other countries who might be able to suggest an alternative.

GARY HELYER

Nelson Road Central,

Great Yarmouth

People cause litter, not councillors

Prevention is better than a cure and that is certainly the case with litter. One of your recent correspondents blames our councillors for the problem!

It is not they who are at fault; it is up to each and everyone of us not to drop litter, not to drop cigarette butts, to clear up after our dogs who make a mess and to not drop gum on the pavements and streets.

If you go to Singapore there are heavy fines and penalties for these crimes and the streets are spotless.

There are several groups who do regular litter picking around the town. The Civic Society of Great Yarmouth is one of these and the society will be part of a national campaign to clean the country’s roads and streets between May 11 and 13.

It would be marvellous if a few people in each road would organise a litter pick of their neighbourhood and perhaps repeat this on a regular basis. It could become a social event. Hopefully this will demonstrate the importance of not dropping litter etc. so that this blight on the town becomes a thing of the past.

HUGH STURZAKER

Email

Number 2 connects to the seafront

I write in response to C Hopkins’ letter in the Mercury, May 4, regarding the open top service provided by First in Great Yarmouth during the summer months.

I am afraid I must disagree with him on the matter of the route he suggested. With the open top operating to and from the rail station, it was timed to connect with the trains, but on many times during the summer of 2016, it was late due to the fact it was often held up in traffic, therefore probably missing the trains it was meant to connect with.

Also it seems that operating the service 1B from the rail station through to Hemsby was far more beneficial to holidaymakers who wanted to get the camps in the north of the borough.

It must be pointed out to people that by purchasing a Great Yarmouth day ticket, brilliant value at £4.30, passengers can access all the amenities of the seafront by using service 2, every 10 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday and every 20 minutes all day Sunday. It terminates at the Pleasure Beach and then they can connect to seafront service 3 which potters up and down the Prom right through the summer.

By doing these journeys you are able to get on and off buses as often as you wish to visit the attractions on the seafront instead of just watching them pass by on an around town tour.

It was also noticed in the Mercury that Norfolk County Council is looking to move the service number 2 bus stop in Market Gates, Great Yarmouth to possibly accommodate more taxis.

ENTUA strongly protests at this possible move as Market Gates is the major bus interchange for the town and we feel ALL bus services should be accommodated there. Two large taxi ranks are located nearby in Theatre Plain and on Market Road, both of which are only a short walk away.

ENTUA’s idea is for a simple bus bay to be marked on the road close to the Troll Cart pub, with a solid yellow line and a sign saying “No parking except local buses”. There would still be room for taxis to park at either end of the marked bay without interfering with passengers boarding their bus.

As long as private motorists are stopped from parking in this area, as some do at present, ENTUA feels this would easily solve the problem.

STEVE HEWITT

East Norfolk Transport Users Association

Rejection of hospice plan is disgusting

I am writing re the funding of the hospice article on April 20.

I think it’s disgusting that the CCG will not provide palliative care beds at the James Paget University Hospital. I have personally experienced the service provided by the JPH first hand.

My husband being terminally ill, was a patient, and he passed away at the JPH in December 2017. I totally agree with the comments of Hugh Sturzaker and Willy Notcutts. I would have preferred to have had my husband at home but he needed medical attention which could not be administered at home. Without going into any details about my family`s experience all I will say is that we really need designated beds and staff to look after terminally ill patients at the JPH.

ANN GREEN

Email

Give things away, don’t fly-tip them

How I agree with the letter last week regarding fly-tipping wood which someone would probably be so grateful for.

I am always amazed when we go to Caister recycling centre to see what some people throw away. I know staff do sort some things and put out for sale but there is so much tipped.

Nowadays there are so many sites where you can give things away, some on Facebook, Gumtree, plus Norfolk Freegle, which I tend to use. I have given many things away that I no longer need but are still okay and people have been very grateful for, including some surprising ones such as a toilet and basin, pond liner, carpet off-cuts, cobbles and as the old saying goes “One man’s meat is another’s poison.”

Surely this is a better idea plus saves you petrol and time driving to Caister as they collect it.

Just think, could someone make use of it, before you tip it.

Name and Address withheld

Meadow adorned with doggy do-do

Here in Gorleston we have a beautiful walk created at Bluebell Meadow enjoyed by walkers with children who impress upon them to “look but don’t touch”. It’s all very impressive.

But the worry of not the children, it is the uncaring dog walkers who in their love of beauty adorn the shrubbery with their bags of doggy do-do.

They take home the view but not the deposits!

Do we, as them, blame the council because of the lack of bins or vent our spleen on this beautiful sight? Think. Who has to pay?

JACK DYE

Gonville Road, Gorleston

Immigration policy not fit for purpose

I read Brandon Lewis’s column (4 May 4) with my customary interest and can only surmise he wrote this before Sajid Javid was appointed Home Secretary.

This was a canny move by Theresa May who was finally and at last beginning to appreciate the indignation of the British people in regard to the horrendous Windrush scandal. The new Home Secretary has ditched the “Hostile Environment” mantra for a fairer and humane

compliant one.

The Labour Party was completely justified in bringing up this invidious matter, which has caused so much distress to British citizens who fell foul of the intractable operational procedures of this department, which were really only implementing the consummate

hard line approach instigated by the Government and its Ministers.

It beggars belief that the people caught up in this cruel and callous scenario, to satisfy the draconian rules had to produce four pieces of documentary evidence for each year they claimed to have lived in Britain.

This impossibly and out of reach bar would flaw each and every

one of us and it made it impossible for them to comply, thus losing many of their inherent rights.

As Mr Lewis states there has to be a policy to outlaw criminal Immigrants but there cannot be a ‘catch all’ situation where other men, women and children get caught up in this immigration mania which ultimately and knowingly led to this scandal.

I have hope now that in Sajid Javid, an authentic personification of a successful immigration system, which gave him and his family a real chance to succeed in this country, will indeed change this hostile immigration policy and not continually negate the positives. This country has always reaped the benefits of immigration but now it seems we must be made to see only the negatives, which is

wrong and counter productive.

The immigration policy is now not fit for purpose and needs a complete overhaul because contrary to what Mr Lewis and the Prime Minister thinks, most fair-minded people are not completely obsessed with this matter and it is not the subject of every conversation held in this country at any given time of the night or day.

JUDITH A DANIELS

Winifred Road,

Cobholm

Massive thanks for your support

Liz, Peter, Julie and Steven, organisers of Martham Scarecrow festival, would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported the event over the weekend.

It was great to see so many people in the village.

To the residents, organisations and businesses in the village, thank you all.

The entries of scarecrows etc were excellent, well done everyone.

JULIE BEALES

Email

A hospice is needed on JPH site

I fully support any action needed to make the CCG see that a 10-bed hospice is needed in this area and the unused site at the James Paget Hospital is the perfect place for it to be.

The CCG say they would rather not have hospices for the terminally ill but to make other arrangements for them to live out their lives, but what if they do not have any relatives, or if they do, the relatives live far away and cannot visit all that often.

I am reminded of my grandmother who died in a ward in a hospital 10 years ago. She was alone. She had been placed in a side room on her own because staff knew she was dying - as did she. But she was so lonely and had no-one to talk to when her health allowed her to.

She had to rely on nurses popping their heads around the door to check on her and do tests. It was heartless.

Some people will say this doesn’t happen anymore, but it does, not necessarily around here.

People need peace and quiet, warmth and comfort, reassurance and care if, and when, they know their time is coming to an end. They also need understanding.

My understanding is a hospice would be the best place.

I cannot understand the rival hospice bidder saying it should have all the money so far raised for the JPH site proposed building. If it too was refused CCG support, then how could the people around here raise £10m a year to run it - for I understand that is what it would cost.

Name and Address withheld

Thanks for your election support

I would like to thank all the residents of the Magdalen Ward who voted for me in the May 3 local elections. It is a great privilege to represent everybody in the ward.

Cllr TREVOR WAINWRIGHT

Magdalen Ward

It has been my honour to be elected as your Conservative councillor for Caister North at the recent election. I would not have been selected if it wasn’t for those Caister residents who turned out to vote for me on polling day. I am very grateful to each and every one of you who took the time to vote and I will look forward to helping and representing you at council. I can’t get everything done all of the time but will do my level best to make sure you are represented to the utmost of my ability to resolve your issues and concerns. It was also my privilege to have met many of you during my campaign. There is still work to be done and you are most welcome to contact me. My contact details will be available on the Great Yarmouth Borough Council website shortly. Thank you once more.

Cllr GRAHAM CARPENTER

Caister North

I would like to thank everyone that took the time to vote and for re-electing me as their ward councillor for Gorleston. I look forward to representing Gorleston residents for the next year and will continue to work hard for them and our community.

Cllr KAY GREY

Gorleston Ward

To the residents of Bradwell South and Hopton Ward, may I take this opportunity to thank all who voted for me to continue my role as a borough councillor. The endorsement of such a huge majority is one I am so proud that so many people support me. I always try and be honest with residents regarding issues and promise nothing, but always try and be a strong voice on so many issues that affect us all. I now look forward to continuing to build on some great investment opportunities and working hard for a bright future for our borough. I look forward to getting back to work, and taking my role very seriously indeed in the village where I was born and the area I continue to cover on the borough council. A real big thanks to you all.

Cllr CARL ANNISON

Bradwell South and Hopton Ward

Thank you to all those residents of Lothingland ward who voted for me in the local election last week. I am looking forward to working on your behalf over the next year and for the Great Yarmouth Borough as a whole.

I would also like to thank Carl, Derek, Glenise and Julie for the invaluable help given to me throughout the campaign. Thank you also to my opponents who campaigned in a professional manner at all times.

Cllr DAVID DREWITT

Lothingland ward