Letters - July 13, 2017

COUNCILNetball change '¨is disappointingAs someone who has played in the Fylde Netball League for many years, I am very disappointed to read Blackpool Council will not allow teams to use its indoor courts at Blackpool Sports Centre this winter (Gazette July 12).
Netball players have been told they cant pay to play indoors at Blackpool Sports Centre because six outside courts have been given a makeoverNetball players have been told they cant pay to play indoors at Blackpool Sports Centre because six outside courts have been given a makeover
Netball players have been told they cant pay to play indoors at Blackpool Sports Centre because six outside courts have been given a makeover

Netball is a sport played by women of all ages and abilities from across the Fylde coast and is a fantastic way of keeping fit and making friends.

Exactly what the council says it is trying to promote.

It is also a fast-moving sport which is why in order to reduce the risk of injury, it is better played indoors in winter.

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If Blackpool Council will not take a booking from the league, hopefully organisers will be able to find other indoor facilities in order to ensure women can continue to enjoy their sport safely in the winter.

Perhaps the league could hire indoor courts at one of the local schools instead.

Name and 
address supplied

SPORT

Can we redress Sky’s dominance?

We have just revelled in the excitement of the entertaining and enthralling Lions final Test match commentary on Talksport radio against the All Blacks.

Alas if only we had been able to watch it on live television via the BBC or ITV.

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Just think how inspiring such an epic quality rugby match and series would have been for young children to take up the sport of rugby.

The same comments apply to Test cricket.

There is little wonder we are seeing the rapid decline of local cricket leagues.

Please can we address Sky’s dominance of the coverage of sport on television?

Helen Atkinson

via email

HEADLAND

Never will be place 
for this kind of event

Back to the Old Pool - sad to see the comedy carpet fenced off for yet another ill-thought-out event.

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And again at cost to local taxpayers for the future repairs to this area. All this staged event did was to make people leave the area for a more enjoyable day. Never will be the place for this kind of event.

Russell Smith

Via Facebook

HS2

Wasting money 
on nonsense

Re: HS2. The proposition to build a rail link costing in excess of £80bn is insanity.

It is a ridiculous idea and is akin to building millions of helicopters for hire or just simply digging a giant tunnel which would connect the whole country together in love and harmony.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, there is no money left, no money, all gone. Before we all pour any more borrowed cash in to this nonsensical dream, everyone should stop and think about this for one tiny minute, don’t you think?

Anne Painter

Address supplied

TROLLS

Words can cause 
emotional wounds

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Re: the letter by a Chrissy Mcleady MBE (Gazette, July 10).

Who is she?

The title of the letter is very strange - ‘Weasel words to obscure truth’.

I felt she was using the word weasel in a derogatory way towards Philip Hammond. An animal was conjured up in my mind.

This lady did list some problems in her letter, probably accumulated over many years. I remember working with special needs children in the past.

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All political parties are to blame for problems today. Just as poor people have always been with us.

Also, I read readers’ comments on MP Paul Maynard, who is a target of the online trolls. Some of the people were sympathetic and kind towards Mr Maynard and a few unsympathetic like ‘Mr Maynard does not help himself etc’. Mr Maynard is a victim of crime. The trolls should be identified, prosecuted and photos put in newspapers.

The consensus now is words hurt by causing harm and offence. It is often argued that hurtful words cause emotional wounds and psychological scars that are worse and more lasting than the external marks of physical abuse.

P O’Connor

Via email

POLITICS

Care costs are 
far from fair

There was an almost universal rejection of the ‘dementia tax’ and the policy of older people paying for Social Care with their homes during the General Election.

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However, I wonder if your readers are aware that there is already one part of society, disabled and sick people, who already pay considerable amounts (in some cases over £4,000), a month back to their local council as their ‘financial contribution’ to their social care.) This is part of the Care and Support Statutory Guidance(CSSG) set by the Department of Health and used voluntarily by local councils.

Many people consider it far from fair, and a number of people are getting into severe financial difficulty paying such sums, while others cannot afford to replace necessary items such as fridges.

While acknowledging the impact of the cuts from central government, a number are challenging this formula, contacting Shadow Ministers, etc, but it is hard going and the response is not very transparent and the process opaque.

We would urge concerned readers to find out more, and contact their councillors and MPS.

David Taylor

Via email