Letters - July 14, 2016

BUSINESSEmpty shops not landlords' faultI wish Tim Gavell ( Gazette Viewpoint, July 12) had researched his subject more thoroughly before blaming shop landlords for run down town centres.
Pictures Martin Bostock.
Empty shops in and around Blackpool town centre.
Church StreetPictures Martin Bostock.
Empty shops in and around Blackpool town centre.
Church Street
Pictures Martin Bostock. Empty shops in and around Blackpool town centre. Church Street

In many locations shop rents have reduced dramatically over the last six to seven years, but it is the level of business rates that proves the deal killer for many would-be tenants.

In many cases the annual rates bill is more than the rent. The April 2017 Rating Revaluation may alleviate the problems to a degree, as new assessments should reflect the fall in rental values which have been experienced in many areas of the North West – our London-based government postponed a revaluation in 2015 beca use it knew that it would result in the more recession-proof South bearing an increased portion of the national rates bill.

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And who do you suggest is going to fork out the money to buy up these properties at knock-down prices?

If you’re flush with cash, Tim, give me a call and I will show you plenty of opportunities where you can invest .

David Graham

Oxford Road

St Annes

RESCUE

RSPCA can’t turn its back on any animal

I write in reply to the letters you have received regarding the rescue of the seagull, particularly in reference to comments by E Holley (Your Say, Gazette, July 11) who described it as a ‘fiasco’.

The RSPCA do not discriminate as to which animal it rescues. They work incredibly hard to ensure that ALL animals live a life free from pain and suffering. All animals may at some stage need the expertise of the RSPCA and the fire service to rescue them from perilous or dangerous situations.

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I would like to ask E Holley if it was his cat stuck up on that roof and he had contacted the RSPCA to help him, how he would have felt if the reply from the RSPCA inspector had been ‘I’m sorry we can’t rescue your cat because it would cause such a fiasco as the individuals who donate would not be happy for us to call out the fire service and spend their donations on just a cat’.

As an animal lover, my point is, how can the RSPCA, when asked to rescue an animal, decide without bias, which animals they will or will not rescue? Don’t be so ridiculous!

The whole point of this wonderful charity is an organisation founded for this very purpose. They believe every animal has the right to be counted as an individual. They have no voice and the charity will be there for all. I would be surprised if the majority of supporters of the RSPCA would be against this rescue.

So please, please carry on donating E Holley – and if you’re that concerned, for your information, a leading DIY chain had half price lawn mowers and also sell high-vis jackets!

Lynne Allison

Layton

ENERGY

Main parties ignore scientific advice

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When the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) reported last week that shale gas production on a significant scale would breach the nation’s targets for emissions cuts unless three tests are passed, Andrea Leadsom, the energy minister, effectively consigned the government’s own advisors report to its policy waste bin.

Labour condemned this, but without saying what it would do to meet the UK’s climate targets. In fact, Professor Jim Skea, one of the authors of the CCC report, cast doubt that even these recommendations would be effective.

Doug Parr, chief scientist at Greenpeace, said “the idea that fracking can be squared with the UK’s climate targets is based on a tower of assumptions, caveats and conditions on which there is zero certainty of delivery”.

Climate change is a serious matter, with our coasts predicted to become submerged if left unchecked. Yet our main political parties continue to make policies that ignore sound scientific advice.

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The day we have a government that joins with the Green Party to promise an outright ban on fracking and other related ‘extreme’ oil and gas extraction will be a day we can say the UK has truly come to its senses.

Philip Mitchell

North Lancashire Green Party

POLITICS

Corbyn is leading Labour off a cliff

The Labour Party currently resembles the new driverless car. Already two being tested have crashed. One decided to head down a pavement into a village pond.

Corbyn is leading (I use the word loosely) an out of control Labour Party along a very dangerous mountain path strewn with hazards. Below beckons an abyss.

Dr Barry Clayton

Thornton Cleveleys

BREXIT

What was the point of the referendum?

I am surprised Theresa May is to become Prime Minister, bearing in mind she was in favour of staying in. How can she negotiate to come out when her heart is not in it?

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Seventeen million voted to come out due to issues with migration and yet the Foreign Secretary has already said trade negotiations with the EU will include the free movement of people. Mrs May has already said she will not implement Article 50 until the new year. That should have been implemented on June 24, straight after the result of the Referendum was known.

There will be no opposition from the Labour Party because they are in meltdown.

It makes you wonder what the point of the referendum was when the result is being ignored by the very people we elected to represent us.

Mel Smart

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