More Letters

I SAW the coverage of the campaign to “Fix our Station” in the Mercury and Advertiser. I think all of us should thank the papers for the work they are doing to help promote this issue and give it enough coverage to try and finally embarrass the railway companies into doing something to help us have a station of which to be proud. It is good to know we have a local press who care about our community enough to highlight a campaign like this.

BRIAN JEWELL

Winterton

SOME weeks ago, a gentleman referred to a number of concerned ratepayers as Luddites. The real reason why so many letters appear in the Mercury about the Outer Harbour will be disclosed little by little. All one has to do is go to Companies House as well as doing a little extra digging.

The audited accounts for Great Yarmouth Port Company Ltd (trading as EastPort) for the year ending 31st December 2008 stated that the directors had not received any remuneration. However, the audited accounts of International Port Holdings Ltd for the year ending 31st December 2008 are available. They show that for the two years 2007 and 2008 an average of four people were employed in each year. The total employment costs for the two years was �1,515,720 with the costs for the year 2008 being �900,045.

Wait for it - the aggregate emoluments paid to the directors was �1,154,187 for the same two years with �665,855 being paid in 2008. The highest paid director received �375,855 in 2008 - yes, that is �375,000! This is just their salary and not a valuation of their share valuation.

In the same two years the company posted pre-tax losses of �848,462 and losses for just 2008 of �510,330.

That's really sweet work if you can get it - shame about all those local jobs that were promised and the dockers who lost their jobs.

DAVID WILKINSON

Whinchat Way

Bradwell

ON Thursday, February 11 I was in Yarmouth and trying to keep my feet on the terrible conditions with the pavements covered in ice. Passing the Police Station in Howard Street I heard a person call out and looked up to see a lady crying out in pain having gone over on the ice at the back entrance to the old Woolworth's. I quickly went over to see what assistance, if any, I could give and a gentleman who I believe was with her said that she had broken her leg. At this point I called for a ambulance. Another person came over from across the road with some cushions and a blanket to help.

I would like to say how quickly the Ambulance arrived and to thank the two-crew members in the way that they attended the lady without any fuss, which was a credit to them and the Ambulance Service.

What's wrong with the Council these days not getting the pavements cleared or sanded?

B FROSDICK

Halvergate

RECENTLY I received a rose through my letterbox. No, it was not a surprise Valentine gift, but a free Labour paper, the “Great Yarmouth Rose.”

The paper makes an interesting read, but it strikes me that whilst taking a great deal of trouble to show what has been done by the party locally, it fails to highlight some of the real problems in the town. I speak as a resident of Great Yarmouth who only moved here in 2007. It seems clear to me that much is still to be done to improve the town, and local areas.

I also feel that when the paper is critical of the Conservative Party and possible cuts, Mr Wright, the local MP, should not forget that we as a country have a very bad national debt, and are still suffering from the recession. Indeed, to be more precise, we have the largest budget deficit of any major economy, with, I have it on good authority, the national debt soaring to �1.5 trillion. Therefore cuts, even if unpopular, have to be made somewhere.

I feel also I should make some reference to the remarks in the Labour paper regarding the Tories influence on the Sure Start Centres for children. Far from supporting the privileged few, which the Labour article suggests, the Conservative's aim is to reach the families that are most in need due to economical and social deprevation. They would be targeted to make more efficient use of the money which is provided. The result would be a reduction in funding, but by no means a reduction in service.

RICHARD F SMITH

Lichfield Road,

Great Yarmouth

HAVING recently returned to the area, I read with interest the debate over the station, which has changed little in 40 years.

What the debate highlights is the failure of the Tory rail privatisation, and the fact that rail now has a subsidy of three to five times that of the nationalised industry, as taxpayers fund the profits of the rail companies and their directors. Several train companies have failed and there are several operating under severe criticism from users. Labour have failed to rectify the problems of the rail industry. Yarmouth continues to be served by an hourly shuttle service from Norwich and the opportunity has been missed to link into the wider network by extending the Norwich-Cambridge service (and the links to other services) to the town. Most trains fail to connect with the service and that to the Sheringham line.

Forty years ago, the town had links across the country. British Rail used to say we could travel from Yarmouth to Barmouth!

The key issue to the station area is the derelict environs surrounding the station, which have been unchanged for 40 years, and create an impression that the town has had it. It is interesting that the Tory party (including Eric Pickles) are keen to spend money on the station whilst being so committed to public spending cuts. Perhaps we need an election every month and keep a tally of these commitments.

C R WRIGHT

Victoria Street

Caister

YOUR readers will undoubtedly recognise Girlguiding UK as a girl-led, dynamic organisation, relevant to today - or will they? Guiding's been around for a long time now - in fact 100 years - and many people will naturally remember it as it was in their youth, not realising how it has moved with the times to remain appealing to the modern girl.

As we celebrate our Centenary, Guiding is giving girls the skills, experiences and opportunities they need to reach for new goals and succeed in the modern world, plus fun and friendship as well. But that is nothing new - throughout our existence we've touched the lives of countless girls and young women. We are the largest voluntary youth organisation in the country, and half the UK female population has at some point in time been a member!

This weekend February 20-21 marks the halfway point of our year-long Centenary celebrations and in Norfolk we are celebrating with a thanksgiving celebration of music, dance and drama at Norwich cathedral for our members, from the age of five to 95.

It's one of a number of special events taking place across the county throughout this year to celebrate our Centenary and is an ideal opportunity for your readers to get in touch with the organisation and find out about how they can contribute to help tomorrow's young women.

Whether they are former members or not, we're keen to hear from any reader who would like to join or help. Please use our 'Join us' number 0800 1 69 59 01 or email join.us@girlguiding.org.uk.

HELEN GREEN

County Commissioner

Girlguiding Norfolk