Letters - May 11, 2017

TRANSPORTElectrification work is environmental worryI refer to your recent article regarding Network Rail's tree felling and vegetation clearance programme, to facilitate electrification of the Blackpool North to Preston line.
Poulton le Fylde stationPoulton le Fylde station
Poulton le Fylde station

Similar to your correspondent of Fairfield Road, Singleton I have been extremely concerned with the environmental and visual impact of Network Rail’s near-obliteration of mature trees, in particularly close to Poulton station. I feel their arguments for felling trees which in many cases have heavily contributed for decades to the area’s visual amenity to at best be specious. Indeed, far from being a joined-up approach to remove anything within six metres from trackside their approach at times seems to be random, indiscriminate, and unchecked.

An example of this is the removal of mature trees behind Longfield Place/Avenue, off Tithebarn Street. These trees abutted the track to Fleetwood which isn’t even in use but now resembles a wasteland of needless destruction.

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All trees removed not only offer nesting potential but also safe places for birds to roost. Several months ago I contacted Network Rail’s press office to voice my concerns but my email failed to elicit a response.

Charlie Bowman

Campaign to Protect Rural England (Lancashire)

GATEWAY

Decline means we don’t need a hotel

The battle of the bulldozers (The Gazette, May 5), for what were once top class hotels, does Blackpool Council take notice of the decline in the holiday industry.

No, they still insist on a tram link to Wilkinsons, which will be replaced by a, guess what, hotel.

This area would be better used as a bus station, this being a majority choice by the rate payers.

Why does Blackpool Council choose to ignore.

Pure common sense.

Kevin Gooder

Clinton Avenue

Blackpool

ELECTION

Sutch an equal against this lot!

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Tim Farron, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, is trying to convince everyone that his party is the only alternative to the Conservatives, while the lame duck Jeremy Corbyn is forever promising things that anybody with a grain of sense must realise are not affordable without drastic changes to our economy and massive debts, while the Conservatives are about to perform the last rites on the NHS.

What a shower! What a pity Screaming Lord Sutch is no longer with us, he would certainly have been on a level playing field with this lot.

Dave Croucher

Via email

ELECTION

Disaster of UKIP- Tory one party state

The UKIP wing of the Conservatives have successfully taken them over. UKIP are merged in and will take with them about three million votes.

Theresa May is not even going to try to get us a deal as good as Norway has. She calls our friends and neighbours enemies. The pound in your pocket is down in value, government and personal debt is dangerously high. Yet the Conservatives fail to crack down on the multi national tax dodgers.

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Labour need to admit they cannot get a majority. Take fear of a Jeremy Corbin Prime Minister off the table. I have been campaigning since 1972 for a change to the Single Transferable Vote system, as used last week in Scotland.

It seems at last Labour are going to support change to fair PR elections. To get fair votes next time, an unofficial progressive alliance is required.

A UKIP/CON one party state would be a disaster. I am genuinely unsure between my former Liberal Democrat Party, the Greens or Labour. All none cons should stop fighting each other, and form a moderate opposition.

Look up tactical voting on the internet, and campaign for the candidate best placed to provide a none con opposition.

Steven Bate

Ashfield Road

Blackpool

ELECTION

Parties set to put taxes up after poll

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With the exception of UKIP, whichever party wins the forthcoming general election, taxes will go up.

The Lib Dems are committed to raising taxes by one per cent, the Conservatives will not confirm that it will keep the triple lock on pensions and Labour are set to hammer workers who earn £80,000 or more with higher taxes.

It would appear that as usual the establishment parties, instead of reforming how and what it spends our money on, to get the best value for money, are instead turning to the taxpayer to fund their plans.

What amuses me about Labour’s plan, is that the higher taxation threshold is set at £80,000 and an MP’s salary is £74,000. I wonder if that is just a coincidence ?

Philip Griffiths,

North West President, UKIP