Letters - July 24, 2017

Oh well, that's rich, coming from a council who seem hellbent on banging up hotels here and there, as if trying to knock out the smaller guest house trade, by reviewing a supposedly '˜over-supply' of holiday accommodation (The Gazette, July 17).
Charnley Road in BlackpoolCharnley Road in Blackpool
Charnley Road in Blackpool

While we understand bedsits and poor rented flats are not welcome in holiday areas, shrinking such areas of tourist accommodation just seems to me to be a ploy to allow the council to have the monopoly of staying tourists, rake the money in and take smaller businesses away that are successfully contributing to the hotel industry with homely and welcoming proprietors, good food and impeccable rooms.

Claire Smith, president of Blackpool hoteliers’ group, is quite right to state they need to help the council to get it right because basically they’re going into this blindly and need to work with the hoteliers’ group, who know which properties are viable to convert into residential accommodation and those that are not!

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After all, they know the business and the holiday areas whereas the council are not as experienced.

Clifford chambers

Blackpool

EQUALITY

Why not have best man at wedding?

It has just occurred to me that, despite all the campaigning for gender equality in just about everything, one never hears of best women at weddings.

The institution of best man seems to be bucking the tend!

Neil Inkley

Via email

SAFETY

Helping children across the coast

It’s been a very busy year for NSPCC Schools Service in our area.

So far this school year our volunteers have visited 233 schools and spoken to 46,912 children through our Speak Out Stay Safe programme across Lancashire, Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen and Isle of Man.

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Our Speak Out Stay Safe programme ensures children aged 5-11 learn essential safeguarding information in a lively, interactive and memorable way. By the end of our visit we know pupils feel empowered and can speak out and stay safe.

Thanks to the efforts of volunteers we can provide assemblies and workshops to help children understand abuse in all its forms, know how to protect themselves, and to identify their trusted adults and sources of help available to them, including our Childline service.

Our fully trained volunteers truly believe that every child has the right to a happy childhood and help empower children to have the knowledge and understanding to stay safe from abuse and neglect.

These fantastic volunteers have worked extremely hard and their commitment to helping children is impressive. The difference they have made to children’s lives is huge and I would like to thank them for their time and energy over the past year and look forward to working with them in the new school year.

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If you would like to help children and empower school communities to fight for every child to have a happy childhood, then please get in touch with me via the e mail address below to find out more about joining our team.

Chris Dunn

Area Coordinator
NSPCC Schools Service

PETS

Putting dogs at risk out on the walk

There now is a new menace on our pavement. Irresponsible dog owners.

This week I’ve seen three cases in Cleveleys of people on bicycles and disablement buggies running their dogs. The dogs were panting and obviously in much distress in the heat.

Don’t these pet owners realise the type of accidents that might occur to the dog, if it should go the wrong side of the lamp post, while being towed by a bicycle at speed and get strangled by the lead, or if a pedestrian should get tangled up with the dog and lead.

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I called the RSPCA to report animal cruelty, common sense should prevail but I guess they won’t learn until it’s too late! A dog or person injured, or worse.

Jeffrey 
Bilham

Address 
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VOTING

IQ tests before 
you can vote?

I really think we should all sit up and take note of Dr Barry Clayton’s views.

Most of us really are too dumb to be given an opportunity to vote on important issues. I made this very same point when we were asked in the 1975 referendum as to whether or not we wished to stay in the EEC, and the ignorant electorate voted to stay in.

We need to do something about this.

IQ tests for qualification to vote? Voter profiling? Doctors of Philosophy need only apply?

You sound like a sore loser, Barry.

DAVID GRAHAM

Via email