Letters - May 19, 2016

This is self-evident nonsense! A family on holiday together is of much greater value in the development of a child than being the innocent target of nonsensical “regulations”, unthinkingly and ruthlessly applied.

This is clearly shown in two cases reported in the Gazette.

In the first case, Norbreck Academy’s holiday dates were out of step with other schools. Why? Did the school’s dates coincide with the head’s own holiday arrangements?

I happen to know the other set of parents and they are certainly not bad parents. They wanted their child to visit some of the battlefields of Europe. Would that every child had that opportunity!

Perhaps the teacher in this case would do well to reflect on the fact that the wars were fought, and such sacrifices made, precisely so that we would NEVER be slaves to dogma.

David Neal

Wilvere Drive

Blackpool

FLAGS

Village flag display in honour of peace

I write to you in response to the letter by Kate Cliff, of Poulton le Fylde (Your Say, Gazette, May 16). The flying of the Europe flag in our lovely village was not a mistake, but to support the annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe. There are two separate designations of Europe Day, the Council of Europe on May 5 and the European Union on May 9.

Many different flags are flown on the four flagpoles in our village, in line with a timetable produced by the Government. Not all flags are flown at the war memorial, for obvious reasons.

The villagers are informed on our informative village Facebook page why the different flags are flying, and the schoolchildren find it very educational. Hope this clears matters.

Ruth Shuck

via email

FLAGS

Don’t take a detour to see our flags

If Kate Cliff (Your Say, Gazette, May 16) has an issue with the flags being flown then I suggest she takes a different route to Poulton and stop using Staining Village as a short-cut, as do thousands of other motorists.

Geraldine Singleton

Staining Rise

Staining

EUROPE

For those about to rock... go postal

The EU referendum takes place on June 23 right in the middle of the Glastonbury Festival. This means many students may miss out on a vote that will affect them more than any other group.

They should be told they need to get a postal vote, then they can vote prior to going to Glastonbury. They need to make sure that they are registered by Tuesday, June 7 and they have been put on the postal vote list.

It is not Rock and Roll to miss what may be the most important vote of your life to listen to music.

Terry Bennett

Dinmore Avenue

Blackpool

EUROPE

We don’t want to make same mistake

Interesting how all the Remain campaigners seem to have taken to producing dodgy dossiers or estimates of how dire our financial futures will be outside the EU.

It was only a few weeks ago that PM Cameron was enthusiastically promoting his 10-point pledge of what the EU must change to ensure that the UK remains as a member. His fruitless negotiations with the various member countries seem to have had the effect of pursuading him that the UK can never now obtain these goals. His campaign has now morphed into a withdrawal from these pledges and UK ‘remaining in’, at any cost.

But our glorious Leader, instead of defiantly rallying our country to leave, as one would expect from his original stance, has taken the road of least resistance by encouraging us to join his cowardly remain in at any cost policy’, threatening dire consequences to our supposed existing financial comfort levels, if we leave.

Already having been misled by our politicians in the previous 1975 Referendum, we don’t wish to repeat this sad mistake again. The cost may well result in short-term financial discomfort, but we can at least be true to ourselves long-term, as we strive to rebuild a self-governing democratic nation, fit for our children to inherit.

E J Tilley

via email

MEDIA

Local newspapers seek out the truth

Local newspapers are taken for granted by many readers – but they should be revered, particularly as sadly many are under threat and many others have gone. This is Local Newspaper Week, and it is important to highlight the role that these publications play in community life.

It is increasingly difficult for them, with reduced staffing levels, and having to fence with highly-paid press officers employed by councils, emergency services and hospital trusts, to put a favourable gloss on everything.

And with local authorities using a cabinet system the so-called transparency they preach can be anything but. However, determined journalists always seek after the truth on behalf of the communities they serve, and that should never be forgotten.

Paul Nuttall

UKIP North West MEP and deputy party leader