Letters - March 7, 2016

I am sure that Mr Cunliffe is aware that the bus station was built in the 1930s. I applaud his sense of humour and “tongue-in-cheek” comments that “the building opposite Wilkinson’s could form an ideal bus station for our town”.

Anybody who has lived in Blackpool and the surrounding area prior to the year 2000 knows we had a very functional bus station, both for local buses and coaches from all areas such as Manchester and East Lancashire. However, Blackpool Transport stopped using the bus station in the early 2000s after a disagreement with Blackpool Council regarding the state of the bus station building.

The building also housed a staff office for bus drivers, conductors etc, a public waiting room, an enquiry office and a newsagent kiosk. It was in a disgraceful and smelly condition, and Blackpool Transport were quite justified in stopping using it. However, since that time the alternative arrangements have been far from satisfactory. On occasions when there is a bus parked up for waiting passengers, the wing mirrors of another bus, which has to move on, almost touch. Since completion of the Talbot Gateway there are a number of retail outlets which have occupied the former bus station and it would be doubtful, bearing in mind the disagreement, that Blackpool Transport would consider using the facilities, even if the area was transformed back to a bus station.

Mary Priest

via email

EUROPE

Putting right some bogus EU claims

I am grateful to Dr Barry Clayton (Your Say, Gazette, April 2), for suggesting that many claims made about the European campaigns are bogus.

Indeed, we can be misled into thinking that the EU makes all our laws. The House of Commons Library estimates that just 13.2 per cent of British laws have anything to do with Brussels! These are some other claims:

n “EU migrants are a drain on the economy.” Not so, as figures show EU migrants contribute more to the UK exchequer in taxes than they claim in benefits. Only five per cent claim unemployment benefit. They contributed over £20bn to the UK economy between 2001 and 2011.

n “The EU does nothing to help ordinary people,” is another myth, as safe working hours, higher levels of annual leave, as well as extended parental leave have been beneficial. Food labelling rules make it easier to see what is in our food and where it comes from.

n A major issue over health means that when travelling to Europe the European Health Insurance Card ensures we can get free or reduced cost medical care.

n Emphasis on issues of human rights that force its will on the UK and “negotiating our own human rights act will be better”. This again is bogus as the Human Rights Act was set up by Britain after the Second World War. It is known as the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), part of the Council of Europe, with separate membership. The ECHR helps protect everyone. Its rulings have helped to advance LGBT rights and improve child protection laws.

Bogus claims abound and have done for years. Britain staying in the EU has not made us any less British, and we are united in our diversity.

Roy Lewis

Haddon Road

Blackpool

WORK

Why does the adult rate start at 25?

After the increase in the minimum rate of pay, I am surprised at the way in which this has been accepted.

They are on about an increase in the minimum pay up to £7.20 per hour; however, what I find hard to understand is why is it that the adult rate is not paid until you are 25.

When I left school in 1957 you got ‘the key of the door’ and became an adult at 21.

Later, the age of reaching adulthood was dropped to 18, because at 18 you can sign legally enforceable contracts without gaining permission from your parents.

So why is it that you cannot get the adult rate of the minimum hourly pay or Jobseekers allowance until you are 25?

Terry Bennett

Dinmore Avenue

Blackpool

ENVIRONMENT

Blackpool becoming a haven for ‘dross’

Why is Blackpool Council letting the town be overrun with the dross of society?

Every where you go there are vagrants begging, drinking and intimidating locals and visitors alike. No wonder the town has a bad reputation.

Central Drive and Coronation Street are almost no-go areas, while the toilets by the central car park have become a hotel to beggars and drug users.

Linda Hamilton

via email

CHARITY

Thanks to those who collected funds

On behalf of everyone at 
N-Vision, Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre Society for the Blind, we would like to thank the customers and staff of Booths St Annes who raised £408.11 over two days (March 18 and 19) with their bucket collections.

Thank you also to our team of volunteers who stood with the buckets.

All your support is very much appreciated and enables us to continue to offer the many services we do throughout the local area.

Stephanie Beasley

Volunteer Co-ordinator

N-Vision

(Blackpool Fylde & Wyre Society for the Blind)