Letters: July 23, 2016

Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

Don’t be a litter lout

During my walks around my village and various areas, I have reason to pick up various cans, bottles, food packets etc, in abundance.

I have noticed though that, on lots of the cans and bottles, they are labelled, ‘high energy drink’! These are loaded with caffeine and sugar and with a warning to ‘consume responsibly’! Nothing about where to ‘deposit responsibly’!

Why is it that after consuming these ‘high energy’ drinks, the consumers lack the ‘energy’ to find a litter bin but they have the ‘energy’ to crush the can with one hand so that when thrown on the floor, it doesn’t roll away, it just wobbles in situ?

If you say to a young person who has dropped a bottle or can, “Did you not see the litter bin over there?”. The answer is generally, “Yeah, but it’s like a long way away innit bro”.

I think it is a shame that many shops do not give out plastic bags now as that would help. It would keep all of the cans together so that one could pick them all up at the same time to place in the litter bin. It also seems that, in the ‘high energy’ drinks there is an additive called taurine which, evidently, can ‘help support brain development and help and support athletic performance’.

That seems to be a ‘misrepresentation’ as it doesn’t seem to work. How does the the brain process, ‘empty can-litter bin’ and how athletic do you have to be to reach a litter bin?

The drinks seem to contain vitamin B12 as well. So, if you are 18 or 19-years-old, does that mean you can B12 again and act like a 12-year-old and have the excuse of not being a responsible adult? Perhaps it means that you can go and get a ‘tattoo’ without feeling any pain!

Thank goodness we do have many responsible young people who are a credit to us all but we seem to lack the law enforcement, education and parenting to allow us to compare with some clean and tidy countries and keep the respect and tidiness of our own.

CHRIS GLEED

Proud Close

Purton

Swindon

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Stance on incinerator

WHERE do Swindon Councillors stand on the proposed incinerator?

I am alarmed by the lack of interest shown by our local Swindon councillors in the proposed incinerator close to the White Hart roundabout in Stratton.

The incinerator would have a 55 metre chimney and burn three types of waste used as refuse derived fuel, residual commercial waste and municipal solid waste.

It is strongly opposed by many residents. However, councillors Russell Holland, Colin Lovell and John Haines are conspicuous in their silence on the subject. I have tried to communicate with them by phone, where my messages have gone unanswered.

I have also attended their scheduled surgeries at the Stratton Community Centre but they have failed to arrive on two occasions. It begs the question, where do their true motives lie? Local councillors are supposed to represent their local community. If so, would our local councillors please the community in opposing this planned incinerator?

Without their support we risk being lumbered with a highly unsuitable development.

ROGER HAYES

Swindon

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Opinion of Cameron

GED Meheran’s letter of July 19 cites six negative ‘achievements’ for which David Cameron should be remembered.

As an observer of political issues I sense that Ged may well not be a Conservative voter but even so he should be fairer in his allocation of blame. For example foodbanks began their inexorable growth during the premiership of Tony Blair, it was Mr Cameron who increased awareness of foodbanks by allowing government departments to direct users to them.

I’m not sure the trialled introduction of UC was in any way ‘uncontrolled’ albeit I accept there are many who objected to what was presented as a simplified way of paying welfare.

The intervention into Libya was indeed ‘disastrous’ but was supported by a myriad of politicians, all of whom claimed to be better informed than the majority of the public who objected to the incursion – but in the same way Blair pushed for regime change in Iraq to embellish his ‘statesman like’ credentials so too did Cameron.

I do think Mr Meheran is attacking the wrong man with regard to ‘the potential demise of the UK’ – that can be fairly and very squarely laid at the door of Tony Blair who admitted his government made a “mistake” by failing to do enough to ensure that devolution of powers to Scotland did not undermine the United Kingdom’s national identity.

Finally, Mr Meheran blames Mr Cameron for alienating half the population by calling the EU referendum. Whilst I would agree that the decision to hold a referendum was a political expedient which went badly wrong, it was something promised in the Conservative manifesto. It could be argued that over 50 per cent of the population felt empowered as opposed to felling alienated. Sadly, the very basis of politics and democracy is that some are satisfied whilst others are dissatisfied - in truth no politician will ever satisfy all the people all the time.

I think Mr Cameron will best be remembered as a Prime Minister who had a bag full of principles and brought out the ones which best suited the occasion. He was prone to shift with the wind, a man of straw and in the end he proved himself to be a man whose word was never to be trusted.

DES MORGAN

Caraway Drive

Swindon

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‘An arrogant Tory toff’

I RESPOND to Terry Hayward’s letter of July 19, “Big Cheer for Boris”, where Terry makes the absurd statement, “Boris puts a smile on everyone’s face”.

Speak for yourself Mr Hayward, a lot of people find him an ignorant, arrogant Tory toff who does nothing but throw insults at world leaders and politicians, he has also been accused of lies. How can such a person bring a smile to people’s faces? Unless of course you share his views as no doubt Mr Hayward does.

Sorry Mr Hayward but a lot of people think Boris Johnson is an absolute embarrassment in his role as foreign secretary, his views on certain politicians abroad bring shame to this country.

John Kerry, US Secretary of State, said he was told that Boris Johnson is a bright and capable man; obviously Mr Kerry couldn’t see it himself that Mr Hayward says everything about a certain Boris Johnson.

MARK WEBB

Old Town

Swindon