Letters - January 15, 2016

CULTUREClosure would be like losing family silver I write on behalf of the 250 members of Fylde Decorative and Fine Art Society, an affiliated Society of the National DFAS, to express our concern at the possible closure of museums across Lancashire, in particular the Fleetwood Town Museum.
Trustees and volunteers from the Fleetwood Museum are battling to keep it safe from closureTrustees and volunteers from the Fleetwood Museum are battling to keep it safe from closure
Trustees and volunteers from the Fleetwood Museum are battling to keep it safe from closure

While we recognise the financial pressure exerted on local authorities at the present time, we are dismayed at the prospect of closing museums, with the possible loss of local and national treasures which may never be replaced. Even in the hardest of financial climates, museums, galleries and similar cultural pursuits must continue to offer educational and leisure facilities for all.

Art and culture is for everyone. To remove large parts of it would be to lose our history and “the family silver”, and lose opportunities for young people to learn and understand the story of Lancashire and to encourage them to continue it for the future.

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Surely the many volunteers within Lancashire arts and cultural organisations can get together with the local authorities to work out a way forward to save these great institutions, before they are lost forever ?

Jo Darbyshire

Chair

Fylde Decorative and Fine Art Society

ENERGY

Benefits of fracking are nothing personal

I am more than happy to debate the pros and cons of fracking through this newspaper.

However I am not prepared to have Kate Styles suggest that I have or would benefit personally if fracking was to go ahead (Your Say, Gazette, January 2).

I would therefore be very grateful, as I am sure would your readers, to know exactly how, when and where such benefit has or will come?

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If she is unable to provide such information then I assume she will issue the appropriate apology.

David Haythornthwaite

via email

HOSPITALS

Health chiefs should go elsewhere to cut

Oh no, not more hospital closures (Gazette, January 14)We were campaigning to get Wesham re-opened.

If the health authority or the NHS trust quangos want to save money, they should get rid of the chief executive – that will save about a million a year .

John Aspinall

via email

POLITICS

Unite behind the Labour party leader

May I congratulate Michael Moulding for his letter regarding Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn (Your Say, Gazette, January 9).

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Mr Moulding quite rightly says the Labour politicians should unite behind their leader instead of all the infighting in the ranks, many of whom are nothing but “career-mad capitalists”.

Corbyn has sound policies and principles and, as Mr Moulding states, was elected democratically with a huge majority.

The electorate are sick and fed up with Tory lies and deceit and are backing Corbyn at long last – as he is the best thing that has happened to the Labour Party in years.

Tom Riley

Address supplied

APPEAL

Could you swim the Channel for charity?

It’s a new year and the perfect time to get fit, so how about swimming the distance of the English Channel – in your own local swimming pool – and doing it for charity at the same time?

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Diabetes UK is inviting people to sign up to its Swim22 challenge, which starts on February 22.

Twenty-two miles might sound a long way, but swimmers get three months to cover the distance at their own pace.

You can even split up the 22 miles between a team of friends, family or workmates – and then you can fundraise together too.

Money raised through sponsorship will help us to fund research into diabetes, campaign on key issues, and offer education and support to more of the 3.5 million people in the UK who are diagnosed with the condition, and also the 549,000 people who have Type 2 diabetes but have not yet been diagnosed.

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Swimming is a great way of keeping fit and active, and can help you to maintain a healthy weight which is key to reducing your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Swimming is also a good way for people with diabetes to get some exercise which, along with eating a healthy diet, can help them maintain a healthy weight and manage their condition well.

Sign up for the challenge today by visiting www.diabetes.org.uk/swim22 or calling 0345 123 2399.

Stephen Ryan

Diabetes UK Regional 
Manager