Letters - September 13, 2016

The lack of strategic or sound thinking is shown up clearly in the latest statement that “the decision on which libraries would close was based on two criteria, access and the deprivation of local communities”.

Surely anyone with a modicum of common sense would, if libraries had to close, close first those which were least used and less valued by the community they served.

As with all decisions emanating from county there is a hidden agenda. Those areas with the highest deprivation are most likely to vote to keep the ruling group in power. This is not a good way to provide sustainable services, as we have seen, time and time again at county.

The cry “Government Cuts” is a fig leaf to cover the county council’s utter incompetence, which will not change until an electoral laxative is applied next year.

Gordon McCann

via email

SHOPPING

Every little helps, but not for me

I’ve just received vouchers from Tesco telling me I can save £26.

As a pensioner, I thought ‘great. Then I opened the envelope and found they were spread over six weeks.

The first week I could save £6, the remaining five weeks I would save £4 per week, which sounded great, until it said only if I spend £40 per week or more.

As an OAP I only have myself to cater for, so I seldom spend more than £20 per week, which rendered the vouchers useless to me. I couldn’t give them away as they are only valid with my Clubcard.

What happened to discount on certain items?

Malcolm Boyce

Deepdale Road

Blackpool

PLANNING

Questions need to 
be answered first

I read with both interest and dismay concerning plans for further development of land adjacent to Brockholes Crescent, Poulton (Gazette, September 10).

Developers coming into the area are acquiring more and more land for housing. Many of the applications for even more houses are planned for the immediate area, and it seems that the Planning Inspectorate will most likely grant permission unless there are extenuating circumstances not to.

Poulton is a great success, however, it is going to struggle if more and more people want to move into the immediate area.

Will our doctors, dentists and social services cope with ever increasing numbers, will our roads cope, and very importantly will there be funding for more and more school places?

I have lived in Poulton for over 40 years and traffic congestion on our roads is a major problem.

The proposed site will bring more more vehicles attempting to join traffic on Garstang Road West.

Already, exiting Carr Head Lane and Holts Lane is a nightmare with a recent fatality, and in my opinion it won’t be the last.

There are to be some traffic calming measures, however, I feel they are totally inadequate.

Lancashire County Council Highways need to look at this problem urgently before there are any more serious incidents.

Coun Barry S Birch MBE JP

via email

ECONOMY

More reasons for Blackpool’s decline

I write regarding Steven Bate’s letter after he attended a meeting of the Blackpool Gold Action Group (‘We need to back the Council leader’, Your Say, Gazette, September 9)

Sorry, but I am not backing the Council leader. I do not believe that most of the problems in Blackpool stem from poor quality accommodation and it has been too easy for people with problems to move into poor quality flats in the town. Surely poor people are not pouring into Blackpool because they think it is the land of milk and honey?

Many boarding houses, hotels etc need to take in boarders, let flats to make a living if there are few guests. They have mortgages and bills to pay.

Blackpool’s main problem is it needs more visitors. Surely the council has multiple occupancy buildings under control by now if there is any trouble.

Political parties abandoned the seaside resorts and now mainly have their conferences in modern citiec – a loss to a seaside resort’s economy.

I remember Blackpool in its heyday in the 60s. Today there are some nice parts of Blackpool but other parts look run down, especially the town centre with shuttered, empty shops and businesses.

Blackpool also needs more social housing. There has been a growth in ‘to let’ properties and people have to rent. There is limited social housing and people’s wages are so low they can’t afford to buy one. Coming to the end of the season some people will have their hours cut and laid off for a few months. They will be scratting around looking for more hours to make up a living wage.

We need better paid jobs and more training courses to get workers’ skills updated.

Steven Bate, the writer of the letter, should get his MP to have a word in the new Chancellor’s ear – we cannot take any more savage austerity cuts in Blackpool, Fylde, Lancashire due to loss of jobs, closing down of buildings and reduced services.

We are already on our uppers. Blackpool is like every other town and city who have people with social problems.

P O’Connor

Portland Road

Blackpool