Roadtrain is 'irresponsible'

THE proposal of a Choo Choo roadtrain operating through Caister High Street is clearly not based on public support, can only cause severe traffic congestion in the area, and is irresponsible in the extreme.

Slower traffic does not necessarily mean safer traffic.

It takes a very brave pedestrian indeed to try to walk through bunched vehicles travelling through Caister High Street and I can only believe that David Law, traffic management officer, has failed to grasp this essential truth.

The proposal appears to be widely opposed by Caister-on-Sea residents - yet the daily bus services to Norwich from Caister Police Station were terminated, despite long queues of residents at the bus stop. The question arises as to where lies the logic of imposing a service so widely opposed, whereas a service for which substantial public support existed was withdrawn?

The comments of Tony Overill, chairman of Caister Parish Council (Mercury, November 7) correctly reflect the widespread concern which many villagers feel at this ill-founded, illogical and fiercely opposed suggestion.

T E DRIVER

Caister-on-Sea

I HAD first hand experience of the proposed Caister Holiday Camp and Great Yarmouth seafront roadtrain route, when I acted as a substitute on the journey for Tony Baker, Chairman of the Caister Road Safety Committee.

At first I thought the idea was commendable, echoing, it would seem many of the reasons given by police traffic manager David Law, with whom I share the Caister Road Safety platform.

Having experienced the journey and then examining the practicalities, I find the objections raised by Caister Parish Council chairman, Tony Overill, has a lot of merit. I am, however, more sympathetic to the views mentioned in the Mercury by the only Caister borough councillor to pass public comment, Mrs Marie Fields, in that any extra public transport would be a great idea, for Caister!

Both she and Mr Overill are in agreement with me that the main concern would be the transit between the Caister Camp and the roundabout at Tesco, but especially the “narrows” near the church/crematory holding up traffic. I cannot agree with the objections of the deputy mayor, Mr Garrod, that the road rain would hinder traffic at the Jellicoe Road junction any more than a bus does at present.

There seems a general consensus of opinion that Caister would benefit from, to quote Mrs Fields, “extra transport”, but the roadtrain, using its present route, in my opinion, is a non starter.

Mr Law, in mentioning the “rumours” relating to the possibilities of opening up a route from the Seashore to the Haven Camp along the beach has hit the nail on the head. It should not be a rumour but a logical and practical resolution. The problem is there is only one road out of Yarmouth feeding all the traffic to the “Northern Villages”. Anything to elevate that should be investigated especially with the increasing population and the pro rata increase in traffic.

Following Mr Law's observation, using his expertise as Police Traffic Manager, the roadtrain would go some way to alleviating some road traffic by its implementation. By extending the seafront at Yarmouth all the way to Caister would go some way to provide another practical route between the two centres and possibly onwards to the north?

In conclusion, the Choo Choo is a good idea and an attempt by Mrs Lord to provide a service that would benefit the residents of both Caister and Yarmouth, for which she is to be commended. However, I agree with the voices against her good intentions, seeing her only salvation as being in the hands of the “planners” and their vision of fore sight. Unfortunately, they haven't got any!

DAVID MORRICE

Villarome

West Caister

DO we need anything else to slow the traffic down in the Great Yarmouth area? How is a silly little train supposed to generate extra tourism? The only thing it would generate is extra cash in the company's pocket. As for the rumour of a new cycle path from Seashore to Caister, I did not know that road trains were added to cycle paths? Who's going to pay for that? Does it give the roadtrain business the right to operate a commercial enterprise this way? It would be like having your own private road.

If so, it should be opened up for other transport operators such as buses, coaches and taxis.

D J COLMAN

Gorleston

EVERY so often a letter appears in the Mercury, decrying the amount of dog mess on the beach. Agreed, that is a problem, but I would also like to draw attention to the dangerous objects left on Gorleston beach by fishermen.

One recent find was a weight with several spikes, also several lengths of nylon line, one with 10 hooks attached. I wish to point out the danger to humans, animals and birds, and ask that anglers act responsibly by picking up and disposing of these objects in the bins provided, or taking them home. Remember, it could be your child or animal that may be injured.

KEN HEALES

South Garden

Gorleston

HOW lovely to see the photograph of Sheila Gilham with some of the gifts she and her daughter are posting to the troops in Afghanistan. But did you know the MoD are asking people not to send gifts? Please, through your paper, will you highlight this appalling fact. To many people this is the only way we can say thank you.

Mrs B WAKEFIELD

Long Beach

Hemsby

I WONDER how innocent the support is for the SLP wind turbine near Hemsby from the European Green Party candidate Mr Rupert Read (Letters, November 7)? As he mentions himself, it is not the Green Party policy to support every application. Maybe he should lend his support to flying England's flag to the nuclear power station which is being built by the Germans and owned by the French.

As for the accusations of Nimbyism he obviously hasn't spent any time in our area or he would have seen a large turbine to our west, eight to the north and several to the east. One unbroken view to the south would be greatly appreciated as Norfolk is famed for its open sky-scapes.

With regards his scaremongering tactics of manmade carbons, I believe a windmill has to run an amount of years before it offsets the carbons taken to build it and install. I find his interpretation of Hemsby folk concerning house prices and Nimbys very shallow and with regards our turbines in the area, unresearched.

The capitalisation of landowners and engineering companies should play a larger consideration than that of village people and their spirit displayed when they join together and debate on a local issue.

M ELLIS,

Martham Road,

Hemsby

THE Service of Remembrance held at Cobholm War Memorial was officiated by Canon Michael Woods and the Rev Irene Knowles was also there. As Canon Woods is retiring, Rev Knowles will be taking this service next year, and I wonder if she thinks it worth her while after seeing the pathetic gathering - approximately 12.

There were representatives of the Residents Association who laid a wreath, but what happened to the Cobholm Community Centre? No representative or wreath. Poor show all round.

D FEETHAM

Cobholm

AS you may or may not be aware my shop window was one of those broken on the early morning of the November 6 during an indiscriminate “rampage” through the town along with Co-op and Bakers Oven. It is difficult enough being an independent retail business, especially at the moment in this economic downturn, without episodes like this which not only cost money but also time and possibly trade.

I always take great pride in my window displays as this is what gets people though the door and without it, it is possible we have lost custom. Having said that things could have been a lot worse and I am grateful the window was the only damage done.

Finally, I would like to thank the police, the town centre partnership, local traders and the public for their support and kind words. Not a day has gone by since the incident without people coming in and wishing me well, proving community spirit is alive and well in Great Yarmouth. Luckily before this paper goes to press my window should hopefully have been replaced allowing me to resume normal trade and put my efforts into something more productive like sourcing products different to other card and gift shops and creating special offers to entice sales in the lead up to Christmas.

DARREN BURTON

Sentiments Card and Gift Shop

PLEASE spare us any more of those hideous wind turbines as we have more than our fair share already. They are inefficient and uneconomical, added to which they are not needed as the government intends to build more nuclear reactors.

The jury on 'global warming' is still out and I, along with many eminent scientists believe that climate change is a natural phenomenon, that we have no control over whatsoever.

We are all being frightened by the media about the horrors that lie ahead for mankind, while having to 'fork out' for green goods and green taxes. What I can't understand is how the scaremongers can predict what will happen in 100 years time but can't get the weather forecast right for the next week.

PAULINE LYNCH

Mill Lane

Bradwell

I AM 70 years old and have never written to your paper before, but would like to take this opportunity to mention the following.

I visited my local post office yesterday to check the right postage was on the package. I was advised the package was border-line and for another 16p I could be sure that the recipient would not have to pay extra.

As I had no money on me, I said I would take the package home and come back later. The owner of the post office insisted he put the extra 16p stamp on and that I could go in at a later date to reimburse him. I am not known at the post office.

With all the small post offices closing, I just wanted to say thank you to Hopton Post Office. I would never get that sort of service from the larger post office. Please keep the smaller post offices open. It means so much to people like me.

Name and Address withheld

ONCE again as I ride in my scooter along Gorleston seafront, I see dog poop.

If I, who am limbless, can pick up my dog's poop, I am sure you (and you know who you are) can, as an able-bodied person.

I watched two women on the beach the other day with their dogs. One of the dogs did a poop. Did she pick it up? No. What she did was to put sand over it to hide it.

Does she not think about the children playing on the sand who put their hands into it to make a sandcastle, or lay in it playing cover-up in the sand? Of course not. But if it were their child whose hand is covered in poop, or maybe their clothes, what would they say?

You others that walk on pretending blissfully that you do not know what your dog is doing behind you, should wonder what the visitors to your area must think about you as they accidently tread in it. Or a young toddler falls on it. Yep, as usual, you selfish people do not think of others.

I hope that the people reading this who see someone not picking up their dog's poop will take a photo and give it to the Mercury. Let's have a gallery of dog poop criminals.

DAVID BROWN

MYSTERIOUS happenings in Norfolk.

This is to the great many people in this area - Gorleston on Sea and Great Yarmouth - who believe in the supernatural, UFOs, spontaneous combustion and anything remotely Arthur C Clarke-ish. What I am about to tell you all is truly unbelievable and happened here on Thursday night on Southtown Road.

Going home from work by car from Yarmouth to Gorleston where I live, I was astounded, nay gobsmacked, to see a cyclist wearing high visibility clothing, with fully operational lighting equipment, front and rear on his machine, and - this is the spooky part - riding in the cycle lane. I kid you not. G oing in the same direction as the traffic and, wait for it, actually stopping at a red light.

I nearly fainted with disbelief. This person deserves a Blue Peter Badge in the very least. I hope he recognises himself and comes forward to show the rest of the inconsiderate, foolhardy, law-flouting idiots who use Southtown Road how it should be done.

He was the first person I have seen in weeks on the right side of the road and not on the pavement. It's about time all cyclists contributed to the roads we motorist pay for and abide by the rules.

GRAHAM HODGKINSON

Western Road

Gorleston

I HAVE just returned from Blackpool and must agree with Mr Broadbent's letter in last week's Mercury. There were more people walking around the last week of the season than I have seen all year on Great Yarmouth seafront.

With a catchment area of over 90,000 within a few miles I would think there are plenty of people who would support things if they were here. You have to be open to attract business otherwise people will go elsewhere.

I think the council could do more to put the town back on the map. All you have to look at is the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft that is supported by the local council and you can see the artists they attract, which not only puts bums on seats but also brings money into the town. The council should look more to the people's needs as well as the holidaymakers.

M P SWIFT,

Great Yarmouth

DOES the “wealthy” Jak Miller in last week's Mercury not realise that for every wealthy resident there is in the area there is a vast majority who are not and welcome the new pound shop in Market Gates shopping mall? Does he not like a bargain to enable him to maintain his wealth and buy goods cheaper than elsewhere? Surely he must realise the shop he questions will be paying a substantial rent and give employment to several people, which judged by its counterparts in Lowestoft and Norwich, will be of a good standard. Welcome to the Pound Shop!

FRED HARMAN

Market Road

Bradwell

THE Great Yarmouth store will be the 195th Poundland store to open in the UK and Poundland is expecting the new store to be as popular as all of its other stores nationwide. By offering truly unbeatable value to its customers with every item at just £1, Poundland hopes to bring a smile to shoppers' faces in Great Yarmouth and a solution to the difficult times that they are facing.

There have been very few occasions when Poundland has received a negative reaction from people in the local community.

Usually when a Poundland store is opened the public are very supportive and the day of opening is always full of people coming to check out for themselves the amazing value that is on offer to them.

POUNDLAND

MY name is Amanda Rushton and my husband is Martin Rushton and we came to Great Yarmouth for the half term last week in a family caravan that we own. On the first day we were went to the Pleasure Beach. We arrived at noon and stayed until the gates closed at 5pm. The whole family had great fun on the rides and stalls.

It was not until we were stuck in traffic going home to the caravan that my husband Martin realised he had lost his wallet at the Pleasure Beach. Disaster, as he had just withdrawn £200 from the cashpoint to see us through the first couple of days of our holiday!

After a night of worry, we went back in the morning.

Martin went tothe office and was guided to trace back the last time he had his wallet which was on one of the food stands. To our utter amazement, the vendor had indeed found the wallet on his counter and it was handed back to my husband fully intact.

My husband was totally overwhelmed and offered a substantial reward to the vendor, who refused it. We felt so strongly this was an absolutely wonderful thing to do, not only did this make our whole holiday, it restored our faith in human nature.

To know there are still honest people and organisations around is very heart warming. We will, of course, be not only returning to the Pleasure Beach but proceeded to tell everyone we know about this - hopefully this will be good for business!

We are all too quick to criticise but not to tell people when they have done a wonderful job.

AMANDA RUSHTON

Selsdon,

Croydon

IN response to the letter and article in the Mercury on November 7, if Mr Rupert Read were to go down to Fen Gate corner, down the Common in Hemsby and walk the footpath across the fen (incidentally, a place of special scientific interest) and keeps looking around, I think he will find the landscape to be of very special quality.

If he stops where the footpath crosses the last fen (probably the best unspoilt part of Hemsby left) and takes in the lovely view to the east, he is, I believe, within a few hundred metres of the position of the last proposed windmill. Surely the best place for them is off-shore, not on the high ground around Hemsby?

We seem to have enough already. I hope on days when there is no wind, Mr Read doesn't use power from a dirty fossil fuel power-station to supply his house.

Name and Address withheld

RE: Unlawful parking. The lawfully parked and fully taxed vehicle owners in Exmouth Road would like to thank Mr Parke for clarifying the issue of road taxing.

We feel it does not apply to the vehicle currently untaxed, which turns up and parks outside our homes blocking out the light, partly on the pavement, due to the width of the road. We know it has been reported to DVLA several times, “the car clear man” and the police. At least we all now know when it is unlawful to park our cars!

Name and address withheld.