Letters - August 20, 2016

Council

Bins need emptying more often on Prom

I regularly stroll along Blackpool’s splendid Promenade and applaud efforts made to keep our Prom and Beaches clean and tidy.

But .... when the bins are full at night why is there no late emptying service before the rubbish over spills the bins.

Seagulls target the full bins and distribute the rubbish from them undoing the publics diligence in filling them in the first place.

Glass bottles left neatly stacked by full bins become smashed and broken by the mindless.

Surely the cost of cleaning up the overfilled bins must be greater than keeping them emptied during our peak season.

Blackpool has an ideal opportunity to shine this year with the resurgence of the seaside staycationers and day visitors.

Let’s give them a resort to make them want to return to

Martin Wilson

Via email

Pontins

Temporary lights causing chaos

The Coastal Dunes housing estate (ex Pontin’s site) one way temporary traffic lights along Clifton Drive North during the day has been a nightmare for commuters to and fro.

Hand on my heart I initially blamed Blackpool Transport not realising that temporary lights were operational for most of the day until my work colleague told me because when I leave work for the 1611 service 7 from Lytham to Blackpool the lights have been taken away and they’re not there early morning thank goodness but the daytime usage has just caused mayhem and listening to passengers’ complaints, most have said that the work should have been carried out during the night. This may well have disturbed new residents of Coastal Dunes but who cares, it’s for their benefit creating island crossings and lamps.

Finishing our working day we just want to get home but with the knock-on effect, most of us have waited over half an hour and more for a bus to arrive and just taking pot luck well it’s not good enough and whatever powers that be deciding this was the only option have a lot to answer for. Oh but they kept the work at a minimum to avoid disruption well no it didn’t and the effect has been annoying, frustrating causing most of us to be overly late home or worse, late for evening shifts. It goes without saying that it has been equally frustrating for Blackpool Transport staff with the numerous complaints but take it from me, there is nothing else they could do to keep bus services running on time when temporary lights prevented it including car drivers on route. What with that and the everlasting Bloomfield Road temporary lights we commuters deserve compensation but will we get any? HAH NO! It’s put up and shut up!

Clifford Chambers

Blackpool

Appeal

Has anyone lost a bunch of keys?

A large bunch of keys, including car keys, found on Lowfield Road, near to Holgate.

They can be collected from Cowens the Newsagent on Common Edge Road, across from the Highfield.

Ms R Page

Blackpool

Sport

Millionaire Olympics?

Not wanting to cast a shadow over our athletes doing so well in Rio Olympics, but being a lifetime supporter of all sports, there are a few things I am unable to get my head around.

I am, of course, delighted that our medal toll is rising daily, but am merely pointing out a few anomalies.

Back in time, great athlete Native American Jim Thorpe had his medals taken away when it was found he had had trials with a professional baseball team. Jesse Owens, probably the best known sprinter of all time, never obtained rewards commensurate with those obtained today by successful athletes.

Those aspiring to be the best in the traditions of the Olympics had little or no assistance and made countless sacrifices in their efforts to do so. While knowing times and traditions have changed, I still have to admit that to see millionaires competing on the same stage as others, whose only help towards Olympic selection has been funding from various bodies to help in their training, or none at all, leave one with an uncomfortable feeling.

And that while these high ranking and wealthy sportsmen and women are allowed to compete in fields of sport which were once strictly amateur, they deny the opportunity to countless others; and in effect compromise the ethics and creed of the Olympics. Sorry folks, but I am merely acting as devil’s advocate.

The creed, or guiding principle, of the modern Olympic Games is a quote by Baron de Coubertin: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

Ernest 
Lundy

Via email

Security

It is time now for ID cards

In view of the fact that many sections of society have to have ID cards to prove capability, qualifications and accountability, is it not time to implement a citizens’ ID card similar to the Spanish and US format?

If you have nothing to hide, why refuse a means of identification?

John E Downing

Via email