Live up to pledge, then we’ll pay

I read in the EDP an article about a young man who was nearly killed in a road accident. I also read our Police and Crime Commissioner has also launched Operation Impact to improve road safety.

This is the same person who is proposing an increase in the Police precept by 8p a week. It might not sound much but as far as I’m concerned, and many of the residents I speak to in the area when I’m walking my dogs, that is totally unacceptable as policing around here is useless.

I was sickened by Mr Green’s launching of this campaign to “fulfil an election pledge.” Well, he is certainly not doing anything to improve road safety round here and I often wonder how many of the drivers have passed their test.

I am referring to the total lack of action regarding the roundabout at the junction of Burgh Road and Wren Drive in Bradwell. The Road Traffic Act is quite clear, it is an offence to ignore the road signs and drive over the roundabout unless the vehicle cannot drive round it due to size.

The Crown Prosecution Service is also clear about taking action for the offence as it also can involve other offences and should be prosecuted.

I see this problem on a daily basis and have nearly been killed twice crossing Wren Drive after drivers have ignored the roundabout and failed to indicate. So far, we have been lucky with no accidents or injuries on this roundabout, as far as I’m aware. But there’s been a good few near misses.

I agree with Mr Green, no doubt no-one else has reported any problems, these offences or the speeding along Burgh Road. The reason being, what’s the point? The large number of people I speak to think it’s a waste of time and effort since no action will be taken. Indeed, one of the residents who did report a matter on a Sunday was told there was no officers assigned to patrol Bradwell that day! What the hell are we already paying for then?

So, with him and the Police seeing no reason to do anything about the offences, what needs to happen to get them off their rear ends and do so? Someone killed? Seriously injured?

I do not wish to see someone here all day every day but I certainly want these people who rip us off for council tax to take the issue seriously as other Police forces have done. Now and again to enforce the law and message about road safety, using the roundabout correctly as well as dealing with other offences which would no doubt be found. A proactive response is far better than a reactive response.

In conclusion, did anyone know there is a correct way to put the roundabout signs up. The two signs on Burgh Road have been installed upside down! I was shocked to see there was a requirement and the council and highways got two out of three signs positioned wrong! I’ve also reported the sign light being out, and I’m not holding my breath it will be repaired.

You want another 8p a week out of my pocket Mr Green? First live up to your election pledge to improve road safety, you have done nothing here and once you’ve done that, then ask. Until then, not a chance and I’ll oppose you every inch of the way.

DAVID GOODCHILD

Redwing Drive,

Bradwell.

Smoke alarm test should be weekly

I was heartened to read in your issue November 11 that our local MP is supporting the testing of vitally important smoke alarms on a monthly basis. What a shame he is obviously not aware of Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service’s campaign “Test it Tuesday” whereby members of the public are urged to test their alarms on a weekly basis.

EDDIE POULTON

Email

Talk of democracy is a puzzle to me

Great to read Anders Larson’s comments on his points of view of my letter last week. My letter then was the result of articles in the EDP on several companies upset over the unskilled labour that may have to leave. But Anders’ talk of democracy is a puzzle; in the late 1950s I had cause to be in Vienna, Austria and found the people very patriotic, and I go as far as to say their nationalism seems as strong today. A few weeks ago didn’t the Austrian government complain strongly about the number of immigrants and in strong words to Germany’s PM threatened to close borders?

Mr Larson wrote “those of us who knew Brexit was a bad idea”, this assumption in itself is undemocratic, who is he to say those of us who knew Brexit was a bad idea. How does Anders democratically square that? Are all those that voted to leave undemocratic because he assumes he knew best? The majority of Britons voted democratically for Brexit, and what a shock this was to the governing body.

Prior to the Brexit vote nothing was mentioned about law courts ruling on Article 50. The court case came about because the Remainers, being the poor losers they are, could not accept the democratic result of the referendum. And Mr. Larson may I ask when Article 50 is triggered will you have to prove that there is not a Brit that can do your job?

So Mr Larson, when Austria desists in moaning about immigrants and accepts Angela Merkel’s “democratic” decision over the Syria crisis, then perhaps he will be in order to, in his eyes, correct me.

JOHN L COOPER

Burnt Lane,

Gorleston

Cut councillors not our vital services

Every year we are asked to vote for people to represent us as county councillors. I undertook that role as a totally unpaid volunteer a number of years ago, quite unlike today’s councillors who get very well paid.

At that time I believed it was my duty to represent the welfare of all the electors in my ward but things today seem to have drastically changed. Money seems to come before people’s lives. As I see it today’s county councillors are failing in their moral duty to the very people who elected them. It is quite indefensible that the welfare, and safety, and very lives of young children are being put at risk by the couty council cuts to this quite essential road crossing patrol service.

County councillors tell us they do not have the money to provide this service. I simply do not believe this to be true as the small amount of money required for such a service could be produced from council inspired savings. For example, far fewer county councillors, less internal often pointless meetings, reduced membership of outside organisations so less need for expenses there. Greatly reduced other costs such as visits of inspection, observation or so-called study trips, visits to outside conferences, courses or other costly liaison days out for councillors.

Over the years we have seen very many county council-run services that have been reduced or even abandoned and yet there are never any cuts in the number of county councillors we, the public, pay for. This loss of county councillors seems a quite logical step as they continue to cut our public services.

Perhaps some of them will still lose their income and seats next May when the parents of children put at risk by removing the road crossing patrols have their say.

BRIAN E CALLAN

Busseys Loke,

Bradwell

Hotel a perfect place for party

I arranged a party of 33 for a weekend away at Great Yarmouth. Beforehand, I did a day trip to find a hotel to accommodate my party.As I was walking along North Denes we passed the Furzedown Hotel with a splendid garden frontage. I approached the proprietors, Paul and Lisa Garrod and they said they could accommodate us. It is a family run hotel, spotlessly clean, excellent décor, bedrooms and dining room.

It was excellent, therefore I would recommend this for parties and groups.

Mrs SCOTNEY

Orton,

Peterborough

Sparkling panto was first class!

We enjoyed Dusmagrik’s sparkling production of the pantomime Cinderella at the Gorleston Pavilion Theatre last Saturday evening. The performance was first class and a special mention must be made to the back stage crew who ensured the show ran seamlessly. As we left the theatre the atmosphere created by the subtle use of a smoke machine plus very special sound effects contributed to a memorable evening’s entertainment.

ROSIE CURTIS

Bradwell

Poorest will be those to struggle

I was pleased to read of the cross-party letter (Leaders call to halt new benefits system, November 18) to make Damian Green, the works and pension secretary aware of the particular and relevant situation in Great Yarmouth. I feel it has every justifiable right to ask why this divisive and complicated system is being rolled out here, where there is such need and deprivation. This seems perverse and lacking in compassion for some of the country’s poorest. I should imagine the facile premise was that if it could work here, it would work anywhere.

It is an iniquitous situation that due to the length of time assessing these claims, tenants might face eviction because they cannot pay their rent. Universal Credit I would have thought needed a wealthier catchment than this area to pilot this scheme with all its inherent defects and faults. This obviously leads to an exponential uptake at the food bank and anyone who has recently seen the film I Daniel Blake by Ken Loach, will be aware of that scenario. Hopefully our local Hollywood Cinema will feature this soon as it should be required viewing for everyone.

Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement will I hope have offered some hope and assistance to the “JAMS just about managing families”, whose cause Theresa May is seemingly championing where further planned welfare cuts will be paused or stopped altogether. This is particularly relevant to the planned cut in ESA for disabled people and should, I feel, be abandoned as a compassionate and civilised act.

But the Chancellor is between a rock and Brexit because the government faces a £100bn black hole due to the challenging exit from the European Union.

I note in John Cooper’s letter last week, that he and many others in that divisive vote “want their country back” but I sense in the complex and fractious years to come, it might be a poorer one still plagued by the spectre of austerity and no guesses where that will hit the hardest, the poorest and marginalised in our society and our struggling and decimated public services.

Big business and corporations I should imagine will bowl along with their customary impunity, so that Britain can compete competitively in the world and make the Westminster bubble still out of touch with real people’s lives and circumstances.

JUDITH A DANIELS

Winifred Road,

Cobholm

People make our Yarmouth ‘Great’

I am Great Yarmouth born and bred and I get fed up with hearing people constantly knocking my home town. All we ever hear are negative news stories and the town us very rarely shown in a good light.

Here’s one item of “good news” I would like to make known. On Saturday, November 19, I did a run on a treadmill for a charitable cause in Market Gates shopping centre. The response and generosity of the public was nothing short of amazing.

A considerable amount of money was donated in a town that is classed as a deprived area. This to me shows there is still a huge amount to be proud of about our town.

There may be lots of empty shops (as there are in lots of town centres) and sadly some tatty buildings, but they aren’t the essence of Yarmouth, the people are. And of those I am extremely grateful and extremely proud. You are the “Great” of Great Yarmouth and I thank you all.

REBECCA HAMPTON

Email

Town centre sight was so forlorn

What a forlorn sight presented itself in Great Yarmouth Market Place last Saturday afternoon as dusk descended (it was about 3.30pm).

Barclays Bank putting its customers first once again and now closed on Saturday afternoon; Greggs being refurbished; many of the retail outlets now permanently closed. Plenty of outdoor seating, (a bit of an issue at the moment), but none of it covered in any way to give some sort of shelter and protection.

And the biggest thing missing of all was the ice rink, which last year livened things up immeasurably, bringing just a little joy into people’s lives. Not this year though - and all because of the spurious connection made by one or two councillors between the ice rink and the proliferation of food banks.

Shame on the lot of them.

MIKE SPRAGG

Collingwood Road,

Great Yarmouth

Matt the Cat book is marvellous

I have just read local girl Valerie Jordan’s recently published book, The Diary of Matt the Cat. It is the story of a young abandoned puss’s adventures while trying to find a loving new home (tissue please) and, just as it says on the cover, it most certainly would appeal to cat lovers from eight to 80.

It is a moving yet fun-filled story which includes other homeless moggies answering to such endearing names as Mitzi, Mr Tibbs and Lulubelle, a friendly bunch of squirrels get to make a special guest appearance too. The book is such a good read I gave up watching John Wayne movies for two whole days – unheard of! So, instead of giving great aunt Maggie another ‘beefy boy’ calendar for Christmas, do like I did and go to www.Mattthecat.co.uk and for less than a tenner put a different smile on her face with a copy of Matt’s enchanting ‘tail.’

PAT PHILPOTT

Hill Avenue,

Gorleston