Letters - April 18, 2017

Should Blackpool apply for a bid to become a city? Absolutely YES!

Blackpool has gradually fallen on hard times due to the cheap foreign holidays that were introduced in the 1960s and 70s. Clearly, history tell us that the tourism market started to change quite notably for UK seaside resorts some 50 years ago or more. Blackpool can’t afford to be complacent, like it certainly has been in the past.

If the town’s aims and aspirations are to attract a wider demographic and become a year-round destination resort, city status will help achieve this goal. Blackpool needs to ‘join the club’. The economic benefits of having a city status may be looked upon by some as pure speculation or unrealistic. On balance, it’s fair to assume that corporate investors and other well-financed developers would be more likely to show an interest in Blackpool if the town was recognised as a city.

With established attractions such as The Tower, three piers, the Pleasure Beach, Winter Gardens, the unique tramway, zoo and Stanley Park. Combined with Blackpool’s rich tourism and entertainment heritage, a city status would definitely compliment the resort. With the current regeneration projects of a new conference centre and Blackpool Museum on the cards , there is a strong case to present as to why Blackpool should receive city status from the monarch.

It is also not unrealistic to believe Blackpool Football Club could be placed in a better position in the foreseeable future. The thought of Blackpool City FC would certainly help put Blackpool back on the map, and bring much needed growth and prosperity.

Stephen Pierre

Creative Director 
Unity Music Arts Trust

POLITICS

Military strikes no solution in Syria

There can be no justification for chemical weapons attacks or despicable bombing which target civilians as in Douma,but further military intervention is not the solution and can only extend the appalling suffering of the Syrian people. It also risks spreading the war across the Middle East with frightening possibility of direct confron-

tation between nuclear armed powers.

Some argue,wrongly, these attacks are a price of not intervening. In fact, foreign military intervention from all sides, including our own government, has only served to deepen and prolong the war in Syria.

We must not back the gung ho foreign policy of the most inflammatory and xenophobic US president in history – the British Government should be seeking political and diplomatic solutions to the tragic situation in Syria, and avoid anything that could escalate the conflict in the region.

Only 22per cent of respondents to a yougov poll said they would support strikes on Syria, while military intervention could escalate rapidly. Those beating the war drums need to step back and let the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) do their job.

The PM must call a vote in parliament before further action.

Lobby and contact all our MPs, even take to the street and start a movement all over like the anti poll tax days.

Royston Jones

Anchorsholme
Blackpool

EDUCATION

Why do we worry about class sizes?

I am still trying to understand Jackie Griffiths’ convoluted letter about class sizes (Your Say, Gazette, April 16).

First, which secondary schools is she referring to? Second, she gives us a very repetitive, simplistic and well-known list of the benefits of small class sizes. Incidently, her talk of one-to-one support is not possible.

Third, her maths is faulty. An increase of three in 20 is not 25 per cent, it is only 15 per cent.

Fourth, she then proceeds to demolish her case by saying it is important to note that the Department of Education has said the figures on which her worry is based are flawed, and that class sizes have changed little over the past eight years.

Unions clearly have analysed the data rather badly. So why the concern?

Dr Barry Clayton

Cleveleys

POLITICS

Liberal elite holds us all in contempt

So now the BBC luvvies, liberal elite, celebrities and Remoaner MPs, led by that actor Patrick Stewart, are demanding a ‘People’s Vote’, to see if the EU negotiation is to their liking or not.

The People’s Vote has already been decided – we are leaving the EU. The contempt these people hold the British people in is beyond belief. Jeremy Corbyn and his London-centric liberal elitist friends are a distraction from the everyday realities faced by British families.

Mrs May, don’t shaft us!

Lawson Spedding

via email