Post office move is 'suicidal'

SOME comments re the issue of the local post office:

Firstly, why is the post office being relocated? This site is at the junction of Sun Lane, Lords Lane and Green Lane. At peak school times, it is manic trying to access this area. To have a post office there will be suicidal, as there are so many cars and children/mums trying to get to and from the three schools in the immediate vicinity of the store. Add the post box outside the community centre, which attracts people to park cars adjacent to it in order to post letters, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Do the logical and sensible thing and put the new post office on the site of Rainbow supermarket! It is a large site with extensive parking and is more centrally situated in Bradwell, which has become huge over the 26 years we have lived in the village.

Perhaps we need local Bradwell people making decisions which affect local residents.

Mrs MAZ COLE

Holly Avenue,

Bradwell

IT was so rude to close the Post Office in Bradwell at such short notice and without any warning. The counter ladies deserved better treatment than that. You could not wish for better people, they were polite, helpful and understanding.

So now they are moving to Premier Stores with very little car park and the road surrounding with packed with cars morning and afternoon with mothers picking their children up from school and dropping them off whereas the other post office which is closing had a car park, plenty of space inside for improvements, disabled ramp, what is the sense of moving it?

We believe it's called progress.

Anyway, thank you ladies. I hope you soon find another job be it in the post office or elsewhere.

MR AND MRS JOHNSON

Rambouillet Close

Gorleston

IS this the way the Post Office conducts its business these days, closing Bradwell Post Office without notice?

When I first moved to Bradwell the post office and stores was the hub of the village run by the Amis family of whom nothing was too much trouble and who would look out for their elderly and infirm customers. Unfortunately the family's involvement with the post office was cut short by the murder of Roy Amis in the early 1980s.

However, a village the size of Bradwell still needs a decent post office with suitable parking, not just a corner in another shop.

PAULINE LYNCH

Mill Lane

Bradwell

THERE used to be a Pier to Pier swimming race held every year by Great Yarmouth Swimming Club for which a club cup was awarded. However, this ended many years ago and now suddenly we have an ideal area of water, namely the Outer Harbour, which every time I look at it, would be perfect for swimmers in the area to raise money for the charity of their choice, just by completing a swim across it. There must be many like myself who would just love to swim across. So how about it?

VALERIE JORDAN

email

I WAS very sorry to hear the Holiday Association, formally known as the Hotel Association, had finished. As a member for many years and finally as a vice president I can only praise the work the members put in over the years. Just after the second world war, under the guidance of councillor and mayor George Scott they formed a buying co-operative, where they could buy sheets and towels in bulk as supplies were difficult.

As years went by and times improved, the East Anglian Catering Exhibition was started this was a great success and became the association's main source of funding, with members building and erecting all the stands; the whole thing done by the members voluntarily.

These funds enabled them to mount advertising campaigns in the National Press, part fund the annual bowls competition, organise publicity exhibitions in shopping centres around the country, fund and build a float for the Lord Mayors Show in London two years running to blow the town's trumpet, to produce early and late entertainment at the Marina Centre. The members gave freely of their time to achieve all these things. The spirit in the town was great and still is I am sure.

GERRY JARVIS

Mission Place

Great Yarmouth

I HAVE followed the dispute involving the dockers with interest. Having read the letter that you published from Frank Drew I feel the need to respond. The dockers as a group dominated the ports around the UK for years through their closed shop. Remember, the dockers ran a closed shop. The only way to get a job was through family connections.

The port users were compelled to work with a group of workers who dominated the employer. Nothing moved without the dockers agreement. So please don't come looking for my support now that the boot is on the other foot.

Name and Address withheld

NORFOLK County Council, Police and the Environment Agency are at last coming to terms with the fact they have totally underestimated the strength of opposition there is amongst people living in the coastal areas of the county to their planned switch off of the flood sirens.

The greater scrutiny that is made of their reasons as to why the sirens should be switched off, the more dubious their arguments become. What none of these organisations have yet explained is why the County Councils, Police and the EA in Essex and Lincolnshire are fully supportive of the flood siren schemes in their areas. Why is the EA treating Norfolk so differently?

Questions also need also be asked at County level as to why it has been left to now to have a discussion about the possibility of updating the sirens. The sirens are WW2 vintage and something should have been done about them years ago.

Also the question needs to be asked, why has it been left to campaigners to seek costings and possible alternatives from the Coventry based supplier of, “modern”, sirens? Surely this was something that should have been undertaken by the individuals tasked with reviewing the recommendation to switch the sirens off. Failing to find out the cost of updating the sirens as well as failing to find out the different types of sirens now available in the market place, that may do a better job than the current sirens, I find extraordinary.

It just adds to the perception that the intention all along was to do away with sirens as quietly and quickly as possible.

I just hope that in the lead up to the General Election, our mainstream politicians do not start playing party politics with this issue. We have had enough false dawns about dualling the Acle Straight to last anyone a lifetime. The last thing we want are more false promises about the sirens. Replacing the sirens for the forthcoming flood season is unrealistic. In the interim, Norfolk Police and the EA need to be encouraged to use the flood sirens in the event of a major flood where lives are at risk.

Providing planning starts now, there is no reason why a new and improved public warning system could not in place for the 2010/2011 flood season. Certain individuals in the decision making process may have to eat a bit of humble pie, better that, than people losing their lives because the flood warning system was not up to scratch.

BRIAN GARE,

University Crescent

Gorleston

ON Monday last week I was in a hospital waiting room, observing the other people who were also waiting. Many were reading the magazines that can be found in most waiting rooms. I noticed that some of the readers were licking their fingers to help turn the pages and wondered how many had the flu virus, how many others would read that magazine in a day and how many would never realise how they had caught the flu. This must be happening in thousands of NHS waiting rooms around the country, and I think the public should be warned.

T TOWNEND

Winterton on Sea

RE the article “Hemsby allotment sites chosen”, Mercury July 31. The article mentions planning permission as one of “a number of hurdles," which would be involved in using the farmland off Yarmouth Road as allotments. The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG) gives very clear legal advice on this - planning permission for allotments is not required for change of use from agricultural land. See www.nsalg.org.uk/uploads/article547/Allotments%20-%20The%20Basics.pdf. The Mercury would help those considering new allotment provision locally by advertising this fact.

MARGARET CAMPBELL

www.allotmoreallotments.org.uk

I AM sorry K Brown moved here and found our streets so dirty (Mercury letters, July 31), I quite agree with him.

I do not know what people's upbringing is like now but when we were young we were made to find bins and when we were out on picnics we brought our rubbish home. I have seen people throw rubbish out of cars and we find cans and cartons in our garden.

My friend and I were walking along Lowestoft front and saw a dustcart going in front of us. Do you know they hardly had a thing to pick up, so that proves my point.

V ELLINGFORD

Briar Avenue

Bradwell

THERE has been much debate in recent months over the lack of a bus enquiry office at Market Gates Bus Station and for that matter a lack of any proper travel information in Great Yarmouth as a whole. Despite what the borough council may think, there are other bus operators here, not just First.

Today I came across a map on the internet showing all the bus routes in Yarmouth and Caister and includes those run by Anglian and Sanders too. I thought at first the county council had made it and put it on the internet, but no it's been put there independently.

If they can produce such a great looking and useful map for free, why couldn't our own elected councils? The information at Market Gates is horrendous. Every other county has maps at their bus stations, but not in Norfolk. Maybe the powers that be should take a look to and anyone else like me who was unusual of all the routes in Yarmouth.

Forget spending thousands on a bus kiosk, just provide us with proper information.

MATTHEW KNIGHT

York Road

Great Yarmouth

WHAT is happening to the new upgraded traffic lights at the junction of Tollgate Road and Southtown Road; they change to red on Southtown Road every 30 seconds or so, even if nothing is coming out of Tollgate Road or if no one is waiting to cross the road at the new crossing point. I thought they were operated by road sensors on Tollgate Road but it is not helping the traffic flow on Southtown Road.

RICHARD GOODINGS

Church Road

Gorleston

I WAS thrilled to read in the Mercury about two of my favourite buildings architecturally in England; the third one being the Pavilion Theatre at Gorleston. Yes, the Hippodrome comes second for me and by far and wide the Windmill building comes number 1. Without doubt it is a gem. My dearest wish is that sometime we can again go into this glorious building.

MALCOLM PORTER

South Walsham Road,

Acle

I READ with great interest the letter from Jean Samuels about the lynx. Some ten years ago I was returning home with my husband from Belton on a very clear and moonlit night and just as we went over the run of water at Lound waterworks I glanced over to the right and there ambling along on the side of the road was a cat-like creature coming from the direction of Ashby (and the gamekeepers' cottage). This creature had very distinctive ears and was larger than a domestic moggie. My family have all had a good laugh over the years but I know that I saw something, not as large as a panther, but nevertheless quite unusual.

PAM ROBERTSON

The Pippins,

Blundeston

THE Audit Commission is in the process of looking at how well the public services are working in Norfolk as regards provision of services for older people. This time, instead of relying on what they are being told by the various authorities, they would like to know what you feel about the services that are provided.

They would like answers to the following questions: (I have substituted Great Yarmouth and the surrounding villages for Norfolk, as it is important to comment on what is happening in our district).

“What is working well in Yarmouth and the surrounding villages to make a difference to the quality of life of older people?”

“What prevents things from being as good as it should be?”

“Have you any thoughts on what should be changed to make a real impact on the lives of older people.”

Please send your answers to me, Rachel Mclean, Age Concern Great Yarmouth, Priory Centre, Priory Plain, Great Yarmouth NR30 1NW by August 18 and I will pass the information on to the appropriate people. Alternatively, you can leave your letter at the reception desk at The Priory or why not come to the Pop-In at the Priory, next Wednesday morning. I shall be there.

RACHEL MCLEAN

AS the recession bites and spirits fall a much needed uplift was provided on Gorleston cliffs at the weekend.

What a joy to see so many happy faces enjoying the fun and contributing to various charities. Among the varied entertainment the Community Choir sang their hearts out to an appreciative audience and helicopters whirled overhead as Gorleston came together - even the beer tents were singing in the rain!

Congratulations to everyone who organised and took part in the gala - community at its best.

As the Beatles song reminds us “all you need is love - it's easy”.

Well done Gorleston

DUSTY MILLER

Links Road

Gorleston

FURTHER to letters in The Mercury: The Daniel Tomkins School became, I feel sure, Duncan House. My uncle went to Daniel Tomkins some 25 years before I went to Duncan House under Mr Bernard Pledger, Headmaster. Pupils I can still remember well were Leslie Lawn, I believe a grandson of the Mayor of Yarmouth at that time; also Steve Daniels and Fred Parsley. I went to Duncan House in Yarmouth about 1928. I am now 90 and living in Burgh House Residential Care Home. I send all my contemporaries my best wishes and would be pleased to hear from any of them.

KENNETH ERIC COCKRILL

Burgh House Residential Care Home

Burgh Castle

I WAS washing up at 6.50am on Friday, July 31when I looked up to find a deer in my back garden on Buxton Avenue in Gorleston. Unfortunately I was unable to get a photo but wondered if anyone else saw it or what happened to it.

TINA CLEVELAND

I WAS somewhat put off going to a local supermarket as the shopping trolleys were disgustingly dirty. I then went to several other supermarkets and found that none were as dirty as this particular one. However only one supplied dry paper towels to clean the trolleys and none had anti-bacterial wipes easily available. With swine flu being rather prevalent, this seems rather short-sighted. Viruses can be passed on from door knobs etc so I suggest that people ought to carry their own anti-bacterial/anti-viral wipes and wash their hands frequently.

ALAN NOVAK

Email

ABUSE similar to that experienced in other parts of the country by our troops returning from the war zones, was heard being directed towards staff and cadets of the 901 Troop who were at the Pleasure Beach's 100 year celebrations last Friday night.

We were proud of the cadets' efforts but the abuse made me feel very upset. It made me wonder what sort of sick country we live in to tolerate an "enemy within." And all because they were dressed in a "uniform" similar to that of our Armed Forces.

Some of the cadets in the band are as young as 11 years old.

The question is when is enough enough!

Name and Address withheld

THIS week I took my dog and my binoculars down to Breydon Water, parked in Asda's car park and walked under the road bridge to enjoy a few minutes peace away from the hustle and bustle.

I could not believe what I encountered. Along with an elderly couple walking the Wherryman's Way footpath as is their right, there were several men milling around looking distinctly out of place and then as I was returning to my car, a couple of teenage boys ran under the bridge towards the men. They were certainly not birders.

I had heard stories about the use of the old hide on the wasteground but never expected this to happen during the late afternoon. I hope the police put a stop to it soon.

Many hundreds of people walk this footpath into Great Yarmouth throughout the year and we don't want their first impression of the town to be this sort of behaviour.

I would also like to plead with fellow birders, dog walkers and users of the footpath to continue using this area and not let what is happening drive us away.

DAVE GAHAN

Havelock Road

Great Yarmouth