Letters: October 7, 2016

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

Protect the homeless

I READ with sadness of our borough council’s plans to rid our car parks of these people that use the car parks as “a home”.

The council that claims to be under the cosh financially can, all of a sudden, muster up £99,000 to barricade these concrete monstrosities to keep the homeless out. Problem solved then.

Locking the homeless out only moves the problem somewhere else within our town, they are not going to be moving to a town nearby to enjoy those unlocked facilities.

Apart from a small minority of these people who live on the streets by choice, many are vulnerable through circumstance.

Some are the result of “care in the community”, some have lost everything through events that they have no control over and some, sadly, are compulsive drug and alcohol users who will take no help from whichever direction it is offered.

All are someone’s son or daughter or friend and are never out of their thoughts but will never conform – a tragedy.

I, for one, do not want to see our town centre or other parts of our town with drunk or drugged people intimidating others or being a nuisance, so what is the answer?

£99,000 is a lot of money and would finance a basic and functional shelter.

I’m not talking about a conventional building – after all a car park has no carpets or curtains – that could give the little bit of protection that the homeless need.

You could provide basics and also put facilities in place to take needles and other dangerous items that will be used whether we like it or not.

Four walls, a roof and a tap is all that’s required.

I hear a lot of people saying “good enough to lock them out” and keep them off of our streets, but this is not going to happen any day soon without a massive programme.

Spend away, misguided council, and the rest of us must thank whichever God you prefer that we are not bedding down in fear in a car park or door entrance tonight or during the coming winter.

KEVIN EDMONDS

Covingham

Swindon

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Danger on the increase

IN REPLY to Jeff Adams (October 5) it is the murderer Christopher Halliwell that has got everyone talking again about bringing back the death penalty.

Young girls deserve the full protection of the law.

It is the duty of the law to protect the weak and vulnerable in society.

The ruling liberal elite and the European Union have made capital punishment illegal in Britain and across the EU.

This has led to a rise in terrorist attacks in France and around the world.

ISIS are murdering people in Syria. Boko Haram are murdering people in Nigeria. Pirates dominate the waters around Somalia.

The 200 school girls kidnapped in Nigeria by Boko Haram have never been found.

The ruling liberal elite has made the world a more dangerous place.

Vulnerable girls like Sian O’Callaghan and Rebecca Godden should have been better protected by society. They have been seriously let down by our soft on crime government.

TERRY HAYWARD

Burnham Road

Swindon

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Debate is rumbling on

IN REPLY to Bas Jones, Swindon Adver of October 3, I have no recollection of stating in my letter I would hang all and sundry. Nor of recommending any public executions.

This hand wringing politically correct appeaser and all his ilk anger me.

In reply to his statistics, I will let Benjamin Disraeli do it for me: “There are lies, damn lies and statistics.”

Perhaps he might ask the devastated mothers and families of the two Swindon young ladies abused and murdered at the hands of the convicted monster Halliwell if they share his opinion.

Would he feel the same nonsensical virtuous platitude if it was his wife or daughter?

He states my call for a referendum on capital punishment may be displaced. The same as my basic instinct in Britain leaving the Disunion?

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way

Covingham, Swindon

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Lack of political points

MR K Kane turns reality on its head in a long letter, most of which is irrelevant to the point of his letter.

He writes that I have used people’s disabilities to make a political point.

This is turning reality on its head. I have, over the years, often written about using pejorative language to close down debate, without mentioning my political affiliation.

In a reply to two letters, one of which inferred I was a member of the Labour Party, I stated I was a member of the Green Party.

It wasn’t me who brought politics into the discussion, nor have I made any political points.

I challenge Mr K Kane to state what political points I have made.

On second thoughts, I can’t be bothered with this thread any more.

I shall not be writing to the SA until nearer Christmas as I am undergoing treatment for prostate cancer and it is supposed to be debilitating.

I would, however take this opportunity to encourage all men over 50 to ask their doctor to be tested for prostate cancer as it doesn’t always show symptoms and it is one of the cancers that is curable if caught in the early stages.

STEVE THOMPSON

Norman Road, Swindon

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Let’s agree to disagree

I HAVE been catching up on the news and letters since I went on holiday.

I can only thank Mr Kane for sticking up for me and answering Steve Thompson’s letter on my behalf.

Very well done, sir. Couldn’t have put it better myself, in fact I would probably not have put it quite so well.

And someone else has also been having a go at me. Ms Helen Thompson, with reference my comments on Labour’s crazy ideas for the future of this country, And yes, I am happy with the Tories and no, I am not a Fascist.

Although, from Ms Thompson’s point of view it would appear that anyone who is not a Labour supporter, or indeed any other Socialist, must therefore be a Fascist.

I believe this is a pre-conceived notion that runs amok within the Labour Party.

I have never stated that any Labour supporters were in Favour of Joe Stalin’s Union of Socialist Republic.

I would also like to point out to her that the Tories have put more in real terms into the NHS in their terms in power than the Labour Party ever have.

And once more I must point out that wealth creates jobs and thus contributes again to the public purse through taxes and the NHS, etc.

Then again we have MEP Molly Scott Cato rambling on about power generation. Theresa May listens to experts with far greater knowledge than Scott Cato will ever posses.

She is just another probably Green MEP who is going to lose her job on the Brussels Gravy Train. Its probably the only thing she is interested in.Apart from Chopping down forests so that we can all burn wood to keep warm and work by candlelight.

We then come to Bill Williams, staunch fellow. As he rightly points out, Remainers wake up. You lost the Referendum by well over a million votes.

Learn to live with it.

There isn’t going to be another referendum just to please all you Remoaners.

Like Bill, I believe without doubt that history will prove we made the right choice.

We went on our own for hundreds of years without help from Europe. In point of fact it was the other way around, we helped Europe.

Just read our history and then perhaps you will understand.

Although some of you will never agree with me. Let’s just agree to disagree.

DAVID COLLINS

Blake Crescent, Swindon

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Importance of industry

IT WAS disappointing listening to the Conservative Conference and realising that they have still not grasped the importance of British industry.

It is the manufacturing industry that creates wealth.

Financial services such as banking and insurance are fine in their own way but they cannot replace the need for making things.

At five per cent of GDP Britain has the worst trade deficit in the developed world.

It is the Conservative laissez-faire attitude to industry that has created this enormous trade deficit.

It is only by getting our hands dirty and making things again that we can turn this situation around.

Chancellor Philip Hammond has not yet grasped the vital importance of closing Britain’s huge trade deficit.

STEVE HALDEN

Beaufort Green

Swindon

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Honeymoon at an end

THE honeymoon is over for Theresa May.

She comes across as a political tease, who likes to please but when a Brexit question is heard, she crosses her arms and mum’s the word.

The new Prime Minister talks of helping those who are struggling.

Yet she is cutting benefits for the disabled, while allowing the callous “Bedroom Tax” to continue.

First term report: “Theresa sows some interesting seeds, then up come the weeds.”

MAX NOTTINGHAM

St Faith’s Street, Lincoln

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Support RAF veterans

ANXIETY and depression can be disabling, as one in ten adults experience an anxiety disorder which impairs their quality of life.

As we approach World Mental Health Day on October 10, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is seeking to help working age RAF veterans and their family members who are experiencing depression, anxiety, low mood, panic attacks or stress.

Too often, the adversity of anxiety, stress and depression can be overwhelming for RAF veterans and their families.

The fund is the RAF’s leading welfare charity and wants to help all those in the RAF family who are in need.

That is why we have partnered with Anxiety UK to offer free services such as counselling.

RAF veterans and family members, age 16-64, in need of support should call 0844 334 1550 or email rafsupport@anxietyuk.org.uk.

AIR COMMODORE (RET’D) PAUL HUGHESDON

Director of Welfare & Policy

RAF Benevolent Fund