Letters - February 21, 2018

Let's start revolution in public transport
Tram at Fisherman's Walk, FleetwoodTram at Fisherman's Walk, Fleetwood
Tram at Fisherman's Walk, Fleetwood

In response to the article about our buses covering less miles than ever I would like to make some comments.

I performed a bit of research and discovered that we, as Blackpool residents, are spending over £300m each year on running personal cars.

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I myself am a car owner, and have recently had a go at using public transport to get to work, and I was pleasantly surprised. The only way for our public transport services to properly thrive is for us to start using them.

The problem is that if one has already purchased a car, paid for the insurance, paid for the tax and filled it up with fuel, it’s very rarely going to be more cost-effective to use public transport.

This is perhaps utopian thinking, however, imagine if instead of spending our hard earned money on personal vehicles, we instead invested it in our own public transport, which would create a world class infrastructure and make getting around using the service a dream. £300m is an enormous amount of money; if even a fraction of this was diverted to our public transport, it could change lives for thousands of people.

The money we spend on cars flows out of the town never to be seen again, where as if it were spent on our public transport, it would stay in the town, create jobs, boost the economy, and give us a public transport network that could be the envy of the world!

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Revolutions start somewhere, but how can we tip the balance and get people out of their cars and on to buses and trams?

It’s nearly cheaper to go public transport instead of taking the car, but not quite. If we could somehow incentivise public transport, then the revolution could begin!

Ross Chambers


Normoss

RESORT

Time for lick of paint on ride

When is the pleasure beach going to give the grand national (pictured) a lick of paint.

I asked this question a few years ago I was told is was a popular ride. I know it is but surely after all millions they spend on new rides they could at least make it look good.

John Scholey

Via email

ENVIRONMENT

Drought crisis 
in South Africa

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As Britain continues to obsess about Brexit, a crisis is happening over in South Africa of which we all seem unaware.

Water supplies for Cape Town are running low, partly due to poor maintenance and partly due to a prolonged drought.

The need for water engineers and drilling equipment to find new supplies of underground water is now urgent.

Other major communities are also soon to be in difficulty.

Are we going to help our cousins and friends at this time?

The election of the new president (Cyril Ramaphosa) has arguably come 20 years too late for both him and the country. I seriously doubt South Africa will ever find anyone capable of filling Nelson Mandela’s shoes.

Please, we must help in any way we can.

Nigel Boddy

via email

TRANSPORT

Bus pass holders should pay a bit

Keeping buses on the road is becoming ever more difficult.

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The Government has to recognise that adequate funding has to be given to the local authorities to be able to provide these necessary services. The monies should be ring-fenced.

The time has now come for users of these services to chip in a contribution of, say, 50p per journey from all concessionary pass-holders.

This step would go a long way to keeping rural bus services going.

Not popular I suspect, but not much good having a free pass if there are no buses to use!

Jeff Thomas

via email

HEALTH

Vince Cable right about the NHS

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I am not a political animal, yet I do agree with Vince Cable when he advocates a one per cent rise in income tax ring-fenced for use with the NHS.

I would like to see some go to education as well.

Taking matters a stage further, to ease the demand on A&E in particular, I would advocate a £10 charge for their services.

Furthermore, how about a £50 levy for those idiots under the influence of either drink or drugs?

If such a levy stopped some of the timewasters attending A&E, so much the better.

Bob Swallow

Address supplied