OPINION: Letters to the editor of the Newbury Weekly News
Please don’t cut the Mobile Library service
As part of its budget review West Berkshire Council has proposed the ‘retirement’ of its Mobile Library service.
Although technically a consultation is in place it’s unclear who is being consulted. I rather fear that the executive committee have already made their decision.
The claimed financial saving is £47,000 which although significant is a minor expense compared to some of the other projects that have been reported in your newspaper.
It is only during the past few years that I have returned to the library through the three-weekly (now extended to six-weekly) visits of the Mobile Library van to our village.
Taking advantage of the facility to order books and the knowledge of our friendly and kindly librarian, I have now read 187 books from this source which has added greatly to my knowledge and I would like to think wellbeing.
It is claimed that only some 200 library members are solely reliant on the mobile service.
Some of us are still able to drive and I wonder whether the extra car journeys into one of our towns sits comfortably with the council’s other concern for environmental health.
Speaking of which it is of course difficult to quantify what must be at least some social and health benefits of the Mobile Library as it creates a community meeting place which has happened in our village and others.
The solution proposed by the council is to recruit volunteers to collect and deliver books to residents.
This ignores the wealth of knowledge of our librarians and I wonder where the council will find this pool of volunteers as those of us in the voluntary sector are pretty stretched already.
I did write to Mr Dillon to see if he was interested in contributing to the consultation but his case worker merely referred me to my local councillors and to the executive portfolio holder for culture, leisure, sport and countryside Nigel Foot – Nigel.Foot1@westberks.gov.uk
I do hope that on reflection officers and councillors will conclude that the proposal is a misguided, myopic expediency.
Jon Crossley
Curridge
Work done on Monks Lane has been wasted
I was mildly bemused by the difficulty Newbury FC faced with the wrong changing rooms at the new Faraday Road ground.
I am told that the changing rooms were temporary. For those that don’t know, a football pitch, stands, changing rooms etc must meet differing requirements for different leagues and it must be assessed by the FA.
The council are not allowed to ‘mark their own homework’.
I could give chapter and verse as to what was wrong with the Monks Lane proposition, but for playing a game of football (not rugby) WBC went to a lot of trouble and expense to get it right.
It seems that a lot of this money was wasted, by the way the council approached Faraday Road ground, and seemingly abandoned all the work done for Monks Lane.
Faraday Road would be a wonderful space for a genuine sports hub, with maybe a football ground, side by side with a hockey/lacrosse pitch.
At this point I will remind the Lib Dems that their election promise was not for a replacement pitch and ground, it was for an enhanced stadium.
Instead of playing football with football why don’t all political parties put aside their ambitions and work with each other to use the Faraday Road ground as a proper sports hub, and with a long-term goal that will be carried out irrespective of party politics?
I am not holding my breath.
Ian Hall
Ashampstead
Don’t let the Kennet Centre get run down
I’ve now read numerous letters online plus spoken to random people in the Kennet Centre itself – all without exception oppose the so-called development.
Several added that there were quite a few new blocks of flats around standing half empty.
You’d think this would be enough to make the developers give up but I’m afraid ‘new’ tactics may be employed, ie the owners may let the centre deteriorate to such an extent that pulling it down may seem feasible.
(Local councillors have said that ‘the owners do not seem interested in restoring the present centre’ – or words to that effect.)
You really will have to watch them!
These very tactics are being employed in Deal where I grew up, where residents are trying to preserve a much-loved but disused old cinema.
Two businessmen bought the site for a large sum on the understanding they would restore it, create a café plus some living accommodation.
Several years have passed and they’ve done nothing.
There seems to be no local or national legislation to compel them to start work.
In the meantime the building visibly deteriorates, as I saw recently.
Don’t let it happen here.
Joy Nelson
Hampton Road, Newbury
My contrary view on the assisted dying bill
Having read several letters in your newspaper supporting assisted suicide, for balance I am giving a contrary view.
Promoting assisted suicide – which is by act or omission the killing of an innocent person – is creating the potential for very bad unintended consequences.
Life is not a commodity that we dispense with in response to grief or convenience; it is a precious gift.
What people should be focussing on is better end-of-life care.
Readers should think that, if assisted suicide becomes law, they themselves could be pressured to die early as they become perceived as a ‘burden’.
In Oregon data shows 47 per cent of people who had assisted suicide felt they were doing it to prevent being a ‘burden’ to others.
Such a law is likely to be abused, with responsibility for conditions for such death expanded, even to the taking of life being removed from the individual and given to politicians or healthcare staff, despite promises of strict guidelines you may get now from politicians.
Remember the frequency we have all been lied to by politicians at all levels, and unlawful killings and actions by healthcare personnel.
Peter Starr
Hurford Drive, Thatcham
People with addictions need support and care
I was saddened at the tone of John Gotelee’s letter regarding the Peace Garden (Newbury Weekly News, November 21).
Not so much as he thinks it is a waste of money (it’s not and it’s a great idea) but his statement “remove the alcoholics”.
Where is your compassion?
Those with addictions need our support and help, not condemnation and an uncaring attitude.
Please think on this.
Rowena Smyth
Abbey Close, Newbury
I agree Christmas lights should be in December
Re Mr Panting’s letter (Newbury Weekly News, November 21), I support the view that Christmas lights should wait until December.
Regardless of whether Newbury Town Council, or business are financing.
J Hawkins
Thatcham
