Letters - August 15, 2017

As an octogenarian I’m sure my views on the following will be put down to some sort of mental aberration but am I worried?

Mobile phones are one of the 20th century’s biggest disasters and the smart phones even bigger.

If it wasn’t so serious it would be funny to see. People of all ages walking the streets completely absorbed in the wallet-sized machine in their hand.

I’ve witnessed them walk into lamp posts, collide with other pedestrians and, generally, act like morons.

On buses and trains everybody can hear their (surely) private conversations which can occasionally be embarrassing to other passengers, but the mobile phone holder doesn’t seem to care.

I’ve heard the same ‘signals’ in church and doctors waiting rooms.

But I am most concerned at the growing number of children in possession of these infernal contraptions. Because one child has one all the other kids want them and parents seem to give in.

But are they not aware of the risks and dangers in Internet involvement? I seem to recall something of an outcry in the past that any unsavoury character could make contact with youngsters via their phones yet parents seem to be oblivious.

As a recent article in the Daily Mail warned: ‘Youngsters should not be allowed to gorge on social media many are using them like sweets or junk food, especially now in the school holidays with no adult around.

‘Children age five to 15 are spending 15 hours a week on the Internet.’ At least the old-fashioned landline phone never posed such problems. It was merely a private means of communication.

Neil Kendall

Stamford Avenue, South Shore

SEAGULLS

We should look to help the seagulls

Re: ‘Are town chiefs right to declare war on seagulls?’ (Gazette August 8) No! The seagulls are not terrorists but innocent birds - the war is a bad idea.

Surely the seagulls and gulls were around before the council chiefs. It seems a bit harsh using PSPOs (Public Space Protection Orders) fining people for feeding these birds. The rise in the use of these PSPOs has raised public concern.

Seagulls did not create the throwaway society, we did. When the birds go to eat off the roadside they are chastised. People are a product of their life experience. Many people’s belief system is to throw a few crumbs to the birds. It is an act of kindness just like Blackpool wants to be seen as a kind town. The seagulls and gulls depend on habitat and food supply we are responsible for both.

Granted we do have a gull friendly programme in place at present in the rubbish tips, bins, black bags, roadside in place. However, we do need a proper food programme for these starving birds. As us humans are responsible for destroying their habitats and food source.

Can we not set up something like a food bank for seagulls instead of fining people for feeding them?

Being forced to live in urban areas stress has made the birds change their tune. Some birds (seagulls) are not sure when its bedtime. They get stressed out due to noise of traffic.

Urban wildlife have developed their own urban music - across all species. That is why seagull and gull sounds are louder.

I am fascinated by the seagulls and gulls with their flying, swooping and diving antics.

As a city child hearing the sound of seagulls reminds me as a child holidays at the seaside.

Gulls do get a bit aggressive when prorecting their young. I read the great evolutionary Stephen Jay Gould once wrote ‘ gulls wings was about as near as nature ever gets to perfection’.

I hope the seagulls and gulls will fly off to a happier place where there will no PSPOs.

Hope their lives will not be all about searching and fighting for food. They will become acrobats and enjoy flying.

Us humans will be watching.

P O’Connor

Portland Road,Blackpool

HEALTH

Clinic provides a wonderful service

The role of our eye clinic liaison officer is vital when someone discovers they are losing their sight.

Locally we are lucky because Linda Sethey carries out that role at N-Vision and Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

However, nationally, according to the RNIB, only one in three eye clinics have someone carrying out this important role.

An eye clinic liaison officer is reassuring and caring at a difficult time for individuals. I became a volunteer key campaigner for the RNIB as a result of the DWP ignorance towards medical fact regarding my sight loss condition.

That ignorance led me to have a breakdown and other health issues as a result of non medically qualified civil servants and non condition aware DWP assigned medics decisions.

To delay my sight loss, since 2006 I have required regular laser surgery to the back of my eyes, DWP personnel were of the opinion I was only receiving the laser eye surgery advertised on TV.

The doctors carrying out the procedure have included the wonderful caring Sheila Kelleher, all supportive during a worrying procedure.

Gazette readers may remember one being featured during my long distance charity cycle rides, cycling is a thing of the past.

If you or anyone you know has sight loss N-Vision is there for you locally.

Ian Hargreaves

Blackpool Road North, St Annes