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Beware of snow fun

BY the time this letter is published, we could we could be inches deep in snow.

As a road safety practitioner, I never cease to be amazed at motorists driving with the registration plates and lights covered in snow after clearing most of the snow from other parts of the vehicle. Clearly breaking the law.

Also, parents need to be aware of how their children are enjoying being out in the snow. I see children using gradients on housing estates to skid or sleigh down, therefore making it dangerous for other road users.

What if a driver skidded on the surface that the children had ‘polished’ and hit a pedestrian on the pavement, possible killing an elderly person? My advice to parents is to make your children aware that, through some forms of enjoyment they can cause danger to others.

In my area, I have to tell children not to make things dangerous for others on the slight gradient where we live. 

Chris Gleed, Proud Close, Purton

Nothing is being done

I’D like to draw attention to the appalling rubbish dumped in the alleyway off Graham Street at the back of the properties in Station Road, and at least one other alleyway in the area.

I have sent a photo to various councillors on the Regeneration Committee and I have endlessly appealed to the various branches of the council responsible for such things, but they all say ‘it’s on private land so we can’t do anything’.

I let out two flats in the area to good tenants who pay their (considerable) council tax, and who, I believe, deserve better.

Several different people from various branches of the council have looked at it, but, apparently, ‘from an envirocrime perspective and a healthy neighbourhood perspective there is no action to take’. Perhaps we must wait until there are several tons of it before an ‘envirocrime’ is judged to have been committed.

And council tax goes up. Why should people have to live in these conditions? The council seems totally unconcerned. I despair of them.

Gwyneth Owen, Calne

Spot self harming

SELF Harm Awareness Day yesterday aimed to educate people from all walks of life about this important issue so they can recognise the signs.

Last year the NSPCC’s Childline service delivered 15,376 counselling sessions about self-harm to children and young people across the country making it one of the most common reasons they contact the service for support.

Self-harm is often a way for young people to release overwhelming emotions. It’s a way of coping. It can take lots of physical forms, including cutting, burning, bruising, scratching, hair-pulling, poisoning and overdosing.

Advice and support about self harming is available via the NSPCC’s helpline on 0808 800 5000. Children can call Childline on 0800 1111, 24 hours a day, seven days a week or visit www.childline.org.uk to chat online.

Sharon Copsey, NSPCC, Little London Court, Old Town