Letters - December 15, 2016

The fracking industry will never fully communicate with the public, as they knew from previous experiences abroad that fracking causes serious health problems by toxic emissions, radioactive waste water, use of cancerous products to people and animals and destruction for ever of agricultural land and property resulting in uninsurable and unsaleable homes, and contaminating drinking water.

Fracking irreversibly poisons land, air and water, smashes the ground beneath our feet causing earthquakes as Lancashire has already experienced.

Which is why France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Ireland, Austria, Argentina, Switzerland, Australia, Canada – the list is endless – have banned fracking. Less than one per cent of gas comes from Russia.

Shale gas is supported by taxation from the public in order to give massive concessions by a government who completely ignores local democracy, and who will never keep its pledge signed at the recent Paris climate change conference.

Local members of parliament could have supported Lancashire County Council and prevented fracking which will bring vast profits to the ever loaded pockets of the privileged few to the serious detriment to public health. And, of course, the government agencies charged with keeping the public safe will ignore problems that arise.

Mr D Barker

Pine Crescent

Poulton

ECONOMY

We need a more balanced economy

After the Chancellor’s recent Autumn statement. Mr Maynard, my MP, told this newspaper and any one else listening that the Tories will promise to make work pay.Last week’s Joseph Rowntree report on poverty and social exclusion shows that, after six years of ideologically driven austerity, the economic difficulties we face are shocking.

More than seven million people in poverty are in working households.So despite all their false promises this Government is not making work pay.

It was suppsed to be a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay. Wages are simply too low, millions struggling to afford the basics, even when working hard. The Government has to lift the public sector pay cap and invest in this country.

For millions of people, including children, last week’s report makes the future look bleak.

After the war, despite all the problems we faced, when I left school, every boy got a job and within a few years had enough to raise a family.

If politicians stopped being in awe of the bankers and created a better, balanced economy, our children and grandchildren can grow up where things get better, can we not all work to make that happen?

Royston Jones

via email

PETS

Should we use a lead for our dogs or not?

As you will be aware, there is a lot of attention being focused on dog walking in the local area at the moment.

When I walk my dog on the Bispham gala field (on the lead), the dog is pestered by other dogs (off the lead). Could someone kindly clarify whether or not dogs should be on or off the lead in this particular area? I noticed the dog warden’s van was parked up in this area several months ago, and to my amazement there was absolutely no response from the warden at all.

Very confusing.

Wayne Mann

Bispham

LIBRARIES

Something must be done for the library

It has been three months since Lytham Library closed its doors to the public.

Lytham Heritage Archive is lucky to be still open on Wednesday afternoons and all are welcome.

The sad fact is that the library has been left in the same state it was when the doors closed for the final time in September.

All the books and computers still remain, even the till is still on in the cold dark rooms.

I have noticed damp now creeping in, and the chill of the building will surely ruin the valuable books the library holds.

Will the building it go the same way as the Police Station I ask myself?

This building must be saved. It belongs to the people of Lytham and has had many promises of new use, but as yet nothing what so ever has happened.

As the Archivist of Lytham, who is the custodian of many rare artifacts and documents in the library, as well as the Civic Society’s collection, I feel something must be done before it is too late.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

David Hoyle

Archivist of Lytham

SEASONAL

Cracker jokes to help raise a smile

I lunched today in the café of a department store. When the waitress brought me my meal, she asked if I would like salt and pepper. She was thus offering me condiments of the season.

I realise that I hadn’t enough money to pay, so I dashed to a nearby cash machine.

There I was showered in cinders. Then I realised that it was a freak ash withdrawal ATM.

Neil Swindlehurst

via email