Mercury Letters November 7

The 42 days has passed to object or agree with the Great Yarmouth Port Authority being granted a Harbour Revision Order to dissolve the present GYPA Board, and revoke the 1989 HRO, a legal act that would produce a new board picked by outsiders are long past.

There will be residents of the borough that wonder “what is the difference who manages the Port”?

Primarily there are two reasons that local persons should be on the board of GYPA: Local knowledge of the offshore business green energy and general cargo; there is in the region of £30m of public funds tied up in the Port, and the proposed new HRO would mean that ratepayers would have no say in how the cash would be managed. The new HRO does not include any councillors on its board.

In my opinion, the GYBC and NCC have not made any inroads in jobs and fortune for the county that they promised would come with the Outer Harbour, and as there is so much public funds slopping about in the Port we do need elected officials on the board to make sure we get (belatedly) the best of a raw deal.

But even that will have to have changes, as now we have ex-councillors as board members.

The 1989 HRO specifies one Norfolk County Councillor and two Great Yarmouth Borough Councillors but that is not happening at the present time, we have one county councillor on the board but the two borough council representatives are not borough councillors.

I have written to the leader of the GYBC Cllr Trevor Wainwright informing him the 2014 HRO will, if approved, mean our council will have no more say.

He has acknowledged my email but as yet has given no inclination as to whether he will lodge an objection.

JOHN L COOPER

Burnt Lane,

Gorleston

Thank you for £1,816 donated

May I through your letter column on behalf of the committee of the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Macmillan Cancer Support group thank everyone who volunteered to collect, and most of all everyone who contributed to the collection that was held at both the Caister and Great Yarmouth Tescos on October 24-26, and of course Tescos themselves.

I am pleased to report the sum of £1,107.29 was raised at Caister and £709.43 at Yarmouth making a total of £1,816.72.

Thank you for all the support given.

CAROL CALVER

Secretary

Stories for my new book please

I am now doing research for my next local history book about Moulton St Mary and Beighton. If there any folk who live, or have lived in these villages, who have memories, stories and old photographs, or even some ghost stories, and would like to contribute them for the book then please contact me on 01508492239 or by e-mail at paul.sheila844@btinternet.com.

SHEILA HUTCHINSON

email

Cllrs should start to feel worried

I should like to congratulate Mary Kent and Pete Biss on the professional procedure being made re their article and illustration on the progress to re-open the harbour’s mouth peninsular (Mercury, October 24).

If this is the action a man and woman of the community can make, councillors beware, you should start to feel very worried as it is these positive-minded individuals that we need to represent us with issues in the borough.

With regards to the public forum website www.streetlife.com, and options, I should think EastPort should be made to fund costs to make the area public friendly, with fencing, paving, roadworks and parking, bearing in mind their original windfall of the area.

What visual impact could be made to the old beach/car park area at the bend we can only wait and see. But at least let’s just get it open.

May I reiterate their details to add your support and email greatyarmouthharbour@hotmail.com or call 01493 202201 to leave a message.

C HOPKINS

Bradwell

The NHS been good to me

After reading a letter in the Mercury on October 24 praising the JPUH and especially ward 7, it has prompted me to write something myself. Approximately five years ago the JPUH diagnosed me with polycythemia, my body was producing too much blood, and once a week for several weeks I had to go to the Sandra Chapman Centre to have blood taken from me.

I was under the care of Dr Sadullah and his assistant Rachel. Polycythemia cannot be cured but can be controlled and in the last two years I only have to go every six months for a check up: my thanks to Dr Sadullah, Rachel, and the Sandra Chapman Centre.

A year ago I was found to have cancer of the bladder and under the care of Mr Suresh and his staff at the urology department, things are looking very positive and I am still having treatment. My thanks to Mr Suresh, his assistant and all at the urology clinic. The nurses there are great.

Next, on September 27 this year, I went in for a hip replacement. I would like to thank everyone who was involved with the hip replacement from start to finish, too many to name individually. My thanks to consultant surgeon Mr Nnene and his team. They have done a great job, I am walking better than I have for along time and without the pain, and it’s early days yet.

Ward 7, what can I say, everybody there was brilliant, nothing was to much trouble and you could see they cared about the patients yet they were rushed off their feet. The ladies bringing the meals round were very helpful to and the food was lovely, far better than I expected.

I cannot thank the JPUH and the NHS for all they have done for me. Lastly I would like to thank my wife Margaret, she has been great, she mothers me like an old mother hen looking after her chick. Mind you, she did say to me if she knew I was going to fall to bits at 71 she would never have married me.

Me? I feel great and all of this due to the NHS.

P ROUNCE

Long Lane,

Bradwell

Support the Poppy Appeal

On behalf of the Borough Council, I would ask your readers to support this year’s Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, which is the Legion’s most important source of money.

The work of the Legion is devoted to people whose needs arise from service to their country- they range from Veterans of the First and Second World Wars to those who served in conflicts in places such as Cyprus, Falklands, the Gulf, Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan. Our donations provide the practical help for those in need during times of hardship and distress and is wisely spent on such things as helping to maintain residential homes, convalescent homes, sheltered workshops and a multitude of other large and small measures which help those who have given so much for our freedom and security.

I would like to invite members of the public to come to St Georges Park on November 9 for the Remembrance Day Service commencing at 10.55am. Also there will be a service at 12.30pm at the Far East Prisoner of War Memorial at the Jetty, Marine Parade.

I also hope you will observe the two minutes silence on November 11 to express your gratitude and honour of all those who have died in the cause of peace and freedom throughout the world and to remember the sacrifices made for future generation to enjoy the freedom that was won.

Cllr MARLENE FAIRHEAD

Mayor of the Borough of Great Yarmouth

Hip replacement op gratitude

Six weeks ago I had a hip replacement at the James Paget Hospital. As most people who have to go into hospital would say, the staff, doctors, food and level of care generally could not be faulted - they were all wonderful.

But also I would like to give heartfelt thanks to the district nurses (male and female) who have been unfailing in their work to attend to me from the day I was discharged from hospital. Every day around teatime one has come to inject me in the tummy to prevent blood clotting. Such a lovely bunch, always so cheerful.

Thanks ladies and gentlemen - you were great.

D L GOODINGS

Genista Green,

Gorleston

Bye mate, you will be missed

Like many others, I was saddened to hear of the passing of jazz clarinettist Acker Bilk. I met him on a number of occasions and worked with him on the Acker’s Aweigh radio series for Radio 2 in 1991. I first saw him perform at the National Radio Show at Earls Court London when I was 14, playing Stranger on the Shore and his vocal rendition of Gotta See Baby Tonight.

It was in the 70’s I met him couple of times at the BBC-TV Theatre and in 1986 interviewed him at his home for a TV pilot. He told some amusing stories about the “Battle of Beaulieu” when a jazz festival got a little out of hand due to some yobs in 1960, but he and his Paramount Jazz Band played on! Also, the fact that as the son of a lay preacher in Somerset he had to attend chapel three times on a Sunday which he resented but added: “I think those monosyllabic hymns sank in and it inspired me later with the music.”

In 1991 I was an associate producer at BBC Radio 2 Arts and Jazz in Bristol. It was here that I worked on the six part series of Acker’s Aweigh. What I remember about him is that he was always very unassuming about his success, no prima-donna attitude, he never got flustered, never had a bad word say about anybody and was always very friendly.

His legacy has not only been his music but also the fact that from humble beginnings he made it to the big time through talent and hard work an inspiration for anyone to follow.

He is a sad loss - and not only to the music world. Acker is a Somerset term for “mate”. God Bless you mate, you will be missed.

ALAN THOMPSON

North Walsham

People, count your blessings

Fifty-odd years ago I came to Great Yarmouth on my holidays as a child during the summers. I never believed I would come back here to live, but I have.

I recently moved to Gorleston from Nottingham and it is the best thing I have ever done. I cannot believe though how people around here moan so much about their quality of life - you have it so much more better than in a place which is landlocked, and almost smothering in the heat in the summer.

Every morning I walk along the beach with my little dog and we thank god for being here and breathing in the fresh air, come rain or shine. And I feel better and fitter than I have felt for years and years. Let us hope I have a few more years left to enjoy this time.

Please, reflect on what you have here and in Yarmouth. You actually have communities which are fairly rare in the bigger cities, and you have a way of life that is envied by many.

Where I used to live the parade of shops I relied on for bits and bobs such as milk, tea and sugar when i ran out - and a launderette, have closed. Other shops in the street have also gone - but never mind one has now become a betting shop.

I had no option but to go a mile or so to get my food and household shopping, and on a bus as there is nowehere to park.

I count my blessings daily, please count your’s too.

J KIRBY

Address withheld

A Halloween horror disgrace

I wholeheartedly agree with the views expressed by David Morrice, Mercury, October 31, the Browston Lane housing development being a case in point where there is currently neither the infrastructure or services to support this development.

My internet access is sporadic at best, intermittent on windy days with occasional no connection during inclement weather, householders in Gorleston report equally poor provision. My internet download at best: 2Mb/s.

I was reliably informed that this is due to a weak carrier signal and my being at the end of the line.

How much weaker will it be when there will be another 800 connections, when I shall still be at the end of the line?

On another point, during the run-up to Halloween, a householder put grotesque mannequin heads on spikes in full view of the highway in Southtown and therefore visible to children and vulnerable adults. In view of recent news reports from the Middle East, this was insensitive.

More disturbing: the authorities obviously considered this aberration appropriate and acceptable.

On a brighter note, en route to Carrow Road, on the evening of Friday, October 31, the Norwich Street Carnival was spectacular. The evening rounded off by another fine display from the Canaries.

ROGER HAYES

Beccles Road,

Bradwell

Free parking is key to future

I share everyone’s concerns about the future of our town centre.

Every time I go in M&S and say a silent prayer in the hope of saving it. When the store shuts it will leave a huge hole in King Street - it couldn’t be more central.

And aside from that there is the added inconvenience to the many people, like me, who work in the town centre and use it virtually every day.

Clearly we can’t expect the store to carry on as a charitable service when its not making money and can see more dollar across the river.

But here’s the rub. In a sense we do still have a town centre - its just migrated to Gapton Hall.

And when M&S joins its ranks adding a cafe and loos it will be even more like one.

Anyone who goes to Norwich on a Saturday will see that people do still like to shop. We are not all holed up in dark rooms in front of flickering screens having our clothes, shoes and food conveniently delivered to our front door. There are still lots of people out there pounding the streets and browsing. Shopping is not dead and in the city people are prepared to pay to park because there is so much more on offer.

It is patently obvious to me that the problem in Yarmouth is parking. I understand that the council has to make money from somewhere and that there costs involved in maintaing a car park.

But providing free parking is the key to saving our town. I am sure that if that were the case many people would drive in and end up staying much longer.

E WATSON

Ormesby

email

Sunny town was a half term joy

Just to say what a wonderful time I had with my children in Great Yarmouth over half term. We thoroughly enjoyed Retroskate, the Marina Centre fun swim and the Hippodrome Circus.

People are always quick to run the town down but it was lovely in the sunshine, and busy too.

JOANNA JAMES Via email