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Letters - November 28
Car parking is a red herring for disabled
I am increasingly annoyed by the continual emphasis by many correspondents inferring that car-parking is the most important issue facing disabled people in Blackpool (The Gazette, November 24).
That unnamed correspondent (I can't understand why!) and many others who keep bringing up that old chestnut need to stop and consider the majority of disabled people who, through their disability, frailty and illness do not have the ability, nor affordable luxury of a car, and have to depend on local and national services for their travel and access.
Many of us would find the ability to struggle to find a parking place a relief from the very real issues of access we face each day.
Access to a better community is about fairness for all, and those of us who are disabled have to look at many aspects of the barriers facing us, such as those businesses which still make it difficult to get through their doors; local people who demean and dismiss disabled people as a costly nuisance, and the continuing real discrimination facing disabled people in trying to get a meaningful job.
I am saddened to admit that there are many examples I see on a daily basis in Blackpool of absolute abuse by some disabled people of their parking rights, and frankly many of us would find the ability to struggle to find a parking place a relief from the real issues we face each day.
STEPHEN BROOKES
Vice Chairman Blackpool Equality Forum, Bispham
Club's passing a sad moment
I felt I must put pen to paper about the demolition of the old Flamingo Club, as famous in the gay world as the Manchester Hacienda was in the straight world.
I started going to that amazing club in the 1980s and was lucky to see the late Diana Dors and Beryl Reid perform there.
I saw the likes of Lily Savage, Take That, Divine, Grace Jones, Beverly Sisters, Lulu and many more.
How sad it was to see such an icon of our town turn to dust whilst 30 years of fantastic nights still remain in our memories. I went to watch the last day they were demolishing it and groups of people, both gay and straight, were there all telling stories of the times they spent in that club.
I would like to say a massive thank you to Basil Newby for all those years of entertainment, joy and unbelievable nights in the club.
The new Flamingo is a credit to him but in my heart I'm there back in the 80s screaming at Divine and dancing myself silly in the old place. RIP Flamingo.
Clive Brent
Newton Drive, Blackpool
Think of animals
As our thoughts turn to present buying, remember many brands of perfume, cosmetics and toiletries are still tested on animals. 'Final product not tested on animals' simply means the ingredients have been. So buy gifts of love made with kindness not cruelty.
Do not surprise someone with a present of a pet for Christmas. It may not be what they want and the poor creature could be sent to one of our already over-burdened local animal sanctuaries.
If your child is asking for a pet for Christmas, buy them a book about caring for it with the promise that the pet will follow.
Josephine Harwood
Moor Park Avenue, Bispham
Why we need plastic bags
Doing away with supermarket bags would be fine if we had weekly rubbish collections.
However, as our vegetable trimmings peel etc, fish meat bones and so forth have to sit in the grey bin for up to two weeks, wrapping them just in newspaper is not an option, particularly in warm weather.
A plastic supermarket bag, being thinner, is ideal and causes less harm to the environment and degrades quicker than the bags specially made for kitchen waste bins.
Why do politicians go for knee jerk ideas without thinking the consequences of their actions through?
J WOODHOUSE
Poulton
Good turn by a window cleaner
I am 78 and have been coming to Blackpool for years to the Hotel Avon on Albert Road, who treat me like a family.
On November 11, I made my way to church and not many people were about when I came out at 8am.
Two men in their late 20s started to follow me and if I stopped to look in a window, they stopped at the next window.
When I walked on, they went behind me.
A window cleaner was washing Greenwoods men's shop and I asked if i could talk to him for a while.
I told him I was afraid of the men following me and he said we could just chat.
They stood looking in the Greenwoods window and the window cleaner said to go back down the road I came down and if they followed me, he would stop them.
I never thanked this kind man. I was so afraid. Do window cleaners clean windows on a Sunday? Or was he an angel?
Lilian Elizabeth Evans
Page Moss Lane, Liverpool
An idea that's plane crazy
Even if the Aero GP does bring crowds, (The Gazette November 24), it should NOT be brought here.
The waste of fuel and damage to the environment makes a mockery of the item in the same edition about the Lancashire climate change consultation.
As if the Mayor inviting peoples with stretch limos was not bad enough, the backward council still thinks men in flying machines is a tourist innovation worth destroying the planet for.
JOY BOSWORTH
Haig Road, South Shore
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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