Letters - August 1, 2016

I still drive all over the country. My last trip I covered 800-plus miles. I have been cut up on the motorway by drivers going too fast and not concentrating, drivers using mobile phones, middle aged drivers, even women putting mak- up on. Don’t base an opinion on all older drivers on a TV programme.

Young and middle aged drivers are as bad on the road as elderly drivers.

Look at the article about the Preston New Road junction, a driver recording a lad on a motorbike cutting him up. He must be using his phone! Two years ago I went on a refresher course run by Lancashire County Council. We were told older drivers are as safe as any and cause fewer incidents.

I am 75 years old and still have a clean licence. Please stop criticising all older drivers, there are bad drivers in every age group.

V Canon

Granville Road

Layton

TRANSPORT

I’m no youngster, but we still need a test

I would like to thank J Welsby, (Your Say, Gazette, July 27), for assuming I am a young man.

I have no wish to get from A to B any faster than I do now with my Now Card bus pass. I was born in February 1942, which makes me 74 years old.

I stand by my belief that on reaching 70, everyone who drives should have some form of test.

Malcolm Boyce

Deepdale Road

Marton

HEALTH

I was lucky, so get a yearly health check

Having diabetes probably saved my life. Because of it I was required to attend the surgery twice a year for checks on my blood sugars.

On one occasion I complained to the practice nurse of my breathlessness, but no pain. An ECG revealed I had had a massive heart attack, the doctor ordered an ambulance and took me straight to hospital.

The heart specialist told me I was very lucky. I found this hard to believe because I had no pain.

I am still here, thanks to the wonderful treatment I received from Victoria Hospital and wonderful staff.

I suggest elderly people at least get a yearly MOT.

Kevin Gooder

Clinton Avenue

Blackpool

TRANSPORT

Why do we really need this tramway?

Jack Gledhill’s letter on July 26 was a breath of fresh air. I too have been wondering exactly the same things.

Do the council survey interest in visitors requiring the tramway and viability – what benefit we gain vs costs to set up and run? We have to assume not, given all the issues they have overlooked.

Many times I have stopped (usually in traffic) and wondered why a borough so dependent on holiday makers seeks to make travelling around our town so time-wasting, anger-making, eco-damaging and speed ticket dangerous! I really am surprised people want to put up with it and come back.

Who designed all roads leading through town north to south converging on one small street? It sounds like a punchline.

This tramway isn’t needed, it will make a bad situation worse – can you even bear to contemplate illuminations traffic interacting with trams crossing the prom? But more than anything it’s taxpayers’ money they are wasting. I would far rather they ‘wasted it putting the prom back the way it was’ following that fiasco.

Mr Gledhill has my vote should he run for council – he is plainly a sensible man who I feel could be trusted to look into things properly before wasting hard-earned taxes.

For example, why are the council actually running with this tramway idea, what makes them think it’s worthwhile?

It would be really nice to either stop this tramway or find out a good reason why we do need it.

Sally Bowen

via email

DEFENCE

How many jobs will come from Trident?

It was, in some ways, good that the Trident Nuclear Programme has been approved by Parliament, but there is one question that needs to be answered, namely, how many jobs will result – particularly in the North West ?

Barrow-in-Furness is the major submarine construction dockyard in the UK, therefore it begs the question. One only has to read in the papers and see on TV of the countless number of graduates coming out of universities and colleges with an excellent degree in science subjects, namely mathematics, physics and computer science.

However, in order to ‘make ends meet,’ they finish up, through no fault of their own, taking jobs in restaurants, pubs and supermarkets – because of the acute shortage of technical jobs. Shame!

Those people who designed the present nuclear submarines and missiles have had their day. They have served the nation well, but it is now time for them to step aside to make way for graduates, particularly in the North West.

Pressure needs to be put on MPs in the Morecambe Bay area to emphasise to the MoD the importance to local recruitment.

Norman Tomlinson

via email