Letters: August 17, 2016

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

Zero hours’ is archaic

IT IS little known that ‘zero hours employment contracts’ in recent years are not just an abhorrent manifestation of this country and the likes of Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley but widespread in the EU as well.

It should be therefore realised that 18 countries across Europe have outlawed such contracts, mainly due to the hard work done by unions and other campaigning organisations opposing them.

These practices, which provide no regular or reliable income guarantee, make life even more difficult during these austere times for those affected.

They are not able to plan for the future, put a roof over their head, or pay scheduled bills.

In fact they are being robbed of any sustainable future. These poor unfortunates will also find that pension contributions will amount to little or nothing.

These contracts hark back to the practices in the 1950s and ’60s where dockworkers would line up on the quayside and wait in anticipation for the business owner to arrive in his car.

He would then walk up and down the row of potential workers picking out the ones that he liked the look of, or that were well-known to him.

In short, if your face fitted then you were in, but this left the poor unfortunates that were sent away with their tail between their legs not knowing where the next pennies were to come from, and indeed whether or not they would be able to put food on the table for their families.

These vile practices were put paid to by the efforts of great union leaders such as Jack Jones, of the Transport And General Workers Union.

He would surely be shocked and appalled if he could see all he fought against resurrected and rechristened as zero hours contracts.

I have heard that very often a trip to a job centre for an unemployed individual could quite possibly mean being expected to attend an interview for a zero hours contact job, or face being sanctioned of one’s employment benefit.

This is an archaic practice that gone on for far too long now and there is no excuse or place for it in this day and age.

It is possibly the reason why so many people are now joining the Labour Party in droves as they seem to like the policies that are being put forward by the leader Jeremy Corbyn. And who can blame them?

G A WOODWARD

Nelson Street

Swindon

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Endless bureaucracy

I wonder if anyone can advise me how I can obtain employment with either, Wiltshire Council, Green Square or Wales and West Utilities, whereby I can do nothing all day and get paid for the privilege.

A FEW months ago, in the area in which I live, I noticed two street lights were not working.

I used my initiative and sent and email to ‘Clarence’ to report the defect. Back came the reply: “You have to report it through the app.”

I telephoned Wiltshire Council and stated that I do not want to use the app, I just want to report the problem by an unusual method of using the telephone.

I contacted MP James Gray and asked what one without a computer would do and could he offer an opinion?

He did respond and made inquiries. Eventually all was sorted… well almost. I took the details from the lampposts in question and reported it to Wiltshire Council.

They then said it was the responsibility of Green Square.

I contacted Green Square, who very kindly replied saying, “It is down to Wiltshire Council”!

It was eventually sorted, mostly by myself.

Recently I noticed that a gas connection pipe had become exposed within a short distance of where I live.

I reported it to Wales And West Utilities, who asked if it was an emergency.

I replied: “No, not yet as there is no smell of gas, but the protective cover is dislodged from the supporting iron frame and in so doing, has exposed the gas pipe.”

I waited, as the lady ‘Googled’ Street View. “Is there a telegraph pole opposite by a yellow grit bin?” she asked.

“No, it is a little way along from there.”

“Is it by a street sign and is it a grey circular protection cover?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry, that is down to Wiltshire Council.”

I then contacted Wiltshire Council, stating that I had been referred to them by Wales And West Utilities.

They said it had been passed on to “Local Highways and Streetscene Service Area”, and they “will respond accordingly”.

The next message was to tell me that it should be reported to the Wales And West Utilities who can be contacted on 0800 111 999 as the land indicated is not owned or maintained by Wiltshire Council.

What part of “I have been in touch with Wales And West Utilities and they have referred me to Wiltshire Council” do they not understand?

I have now responded by stating that I am no longer a responsible citizen trying to sort out lighting and gas defects in the area but am patiently waiting until it becomes a real emergency so that I can say, “I told you so”.

Is there really a point in paying council tax?

CHRIS GLEED

Proud Close

Purton

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Centre is not wanted

REF the information on the Toothill Big Local in the Adver.

I live in Bodiam Drive, as do friends of mine. I don’t know who the group carried out their research on but it certainly wasn’t people living in Bodiam Drive.

The first I knew about it was when our Labour councillors dropped a leaflet through the door.

I don’t know anyone who wants Toothill Farm turned into a community centre, with a bar and floodlights, etc.

I bought our house knowing no-one could build at the back and no plans were on the deeds for the farmhouse.

The noise will be terrible and cars will find it impossible to park as there are too few spaces at the farm. Bodiam Drive is already an accident waiting to happen.

Why not upgrade the village centre into a community centre? That’s what the petition is calling for.

I would like to see Toothill Farm brought back for the children of the area. With all the children’s centres closed at least they would have a place to go.

And the money the TBL have could be used to maintain it.

STEPHANIE GILES

Bodiam Drive

Toothill

Swindon

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No TV licence jail threat

A RECENT article (Parishes aren’t value for money, says Gill Harris, August 11) suggested that the BBC threatens those who don’t pay the TV licence fee with imprisonment. That is not the case.

The maximum penalty for watching TV illegally is a fine of up to £1,000 (plus court costs and a victim surcharge). A custodial sentence may only be imposed by the courts for non-payment of fines as a last resort, where there is a refusal to pay and where all other enforcement methods have been tried or considered.

We will only prosecute as a last resort when we have exhausted all other options.

We do everything we can to help people stay licensed and provide a wide range of ways to pay. Last year, TV Licensing worked with more than 460 organisations to offer advice and support to people who, for financial reasons, might find it hard to stay licensed.

The Perry Review on licence fee enforcement recently concluded that licence fee evasion should not be decriminalised and that the current system is broadly fair, proportionate and provides good value for both licence fee payers and taxpayers.

ELLEN WRIGHT

TV Licensing

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More ladies’ letters...

OH DEAR Beth, it didn’t take long for you to rattle someone’s cage and give them a wobble. I wondered who it would be.

But it is true, the men write yards and yards of things that I haven’t got a clue about.

I do try but at 86 years old I’m not even going to think about it.

I have written to the Adver, starting in the ’60s but it’s usually when something annoys me, or when I want to say thank you, usually to the hospital, bless them. And after next week, when I have had surgery, I will write to thank them again.

So, until I do, come on ladies, put pen to paper and write any old thing (the men do).

I would like to thank those that send such beautiful pictures in, especially of the animals. I had considered cancelling my Adver, getting fed up with the men’s letters but the pictures make the paper worth buying.

So, until I can write my letter in a few weeks’ time, please ladies drop the Adver a line.

LILIAN SPENCER

Thames Avenue, Swindon

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...and funny females?

IN REPLY to Beth Anonymous (Adver, August 11) you mention the fun letter from a chap, I suspect it was penned by me. Every word the truth.

I also suspect that the fact you mentioned it was a fun letter, meant you thought it was humorous in its content.

Perhaps the lack of ladies’ contributions to the Adver is pragmatic – maybe it doesn’t receive many.

May I remind you Beth Anonymous, that some of Britain’s finest literary geniuses, as well as contributors to humour to our society, were women: Agatha Christie and Victoria Wood come to mind.

May I also add that some of the old boring men you mention, including me, have the greatest respect for their women – in my case from wife to daughter and granddaughters.

Now ladies let’s hear your voice on our local newspaper.

I imagine that you would delight us with your tales to tell. Can all us males get under the blankets quickly, before your wrath is unleashed, hopefully in a humorous manner?

Perhaps Beth Anonymous will nail her colours to her campaign by revealing her true identity.

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way

Covingham, Swindon