Letters - May 9, 2018

I was extremely disappointed to learn of the closure of H&M in the Houndshill Shopping Centre and also that the reason behind the decision was rumoured to be rent increases and/or low footfall.

Whatever the reason, we have to hope that there are no more to follow as Blackpool’s town centre shopping collective continues to morph into pound stores, tacky gift shops and a growing compliment of charity shops next door to boarded up retail units.

This problem has been made significantly worse by the chaotic and disruptive street works that have been happening since before Christmas. It seems that people travelling to the centre of town face having to manoeuvre around a new traffic route every day, even our own bus drivers admit to getting confused. Taxi drivers have to navigate a series of little used back alleys and risk going the wrong way on single access roads to get passengers to their destinations.

Rising rents and council tax are adding to the financial woe of some retailers whose pleas have been ignored by landlords and this council. My call for free parking over the Christmas period was laughed at by the labour Leader and it took a hefty cash donation from BID to make them see sense and open up the car parks with no charge.

The council has to take some responsibility for the deteriorating condition of shopping in Blackpool people are tired of the congestion, sick of being intimidated by beggars, frightened by the growing number of Spice zombies and druggies and fed up of seeing most of the empty shop doorways being used as makeshift beds littered with empty beer cans and cigarette ends.

Coun Gillian Campbell, the deputy leader, has recently announced the council will join forces with the police to start to get rid of the beggars. She seems to forget that she made the same promise in full council two years ago and the situation just got worse.

This council cannot attract big name retailers, who already see the town heading in the wrong direction, while they still continue to borrow millions investing in pointless projects.

They are also keeping very tight lipped about their decision to lease a substantial building they own in the centre of town to yet another budget shopping store - so much for progress.

Coun Tony Williams

Councillor for Anchorsholme
Leader of the Conservative group Blackpool Council

CRIME

Death penalty’s 
a deterrent

I have just come across a newspaper cutting, dated March 5, 2014.

It states that, in 1964, there were 296 murders – a homicide rate of 6.3 per million in England and Wales.

In 2010/11, there were 636 murders – a murder 
rate of 11.7 per million – roughly double that during the final period of the death penalty.

Surely this proves that the abolition of the death penalty was a great mistake on the part of our Government?

We are becoming more vulnerable than ever, the people that we have voted into power are not protecting us as they should.

Murderers nowadays are sent to prison for a few years, to be kept in better conditions than many of our pensioners and unemployed people.

They don’t have to wonder where their next meal is coming from.

The death penalty of hanging was brutal, but so were the murders that were committed.

Murderers should not be let off so lightly.

They have proved they cannot be trusted among a vulnerable public.

Mr C Lambert

Address supplied

BREXIT

Let’s unite for the good of the country

In the referendum, both sides were able to put their point of view.

The voters’ job is over and we must respect their decision, even if we do not like it.

Making the Government’s job significantly harder than it needs to be in hope of changing the outcome is not acceptable in a country where the ballot box delivers democracy.

It is time for us to unite behind our Government in order to ensure we get the best deal for United Kingdom.

Christopher Clapham

Address supplied

APPEAL

Looking for my mother’s family

My name is Edwina Johnson. I live in Australia and I will be coming to Blackpool in October this year. This will be my first visit to my birth town since my family emigrated to Australia in 1954.

My father was Harry Roberts and many of his sibling’s family are living in Blackpool and we are excited to be meeting for the first time.

My mother was Ivy Lenora Ann Roberts, her maiden name was Haynes and her first marriage was to Stanley Rimmer. My maternal grandparents were Leonard and Sarah Haynes. Sarah’s maiden name was Firm, and her father’s name was Enoch Firm. My paternal grandparents were William and Selina Haynes.

Harry and Ivy had a boarding house in the Blackpool districts and many may remember Harry as the donkey man on Blackpool beach.

I am hoping that this letter will help me locate any of my mother’s family members so that I can meet them too. I am bringing with me many of my mother’s war photos to donate to the Blackpool Trust.

If anyone can assist in locating my family or who remembers my mother, any information would be appreciated.

My sister Pauline and I would love to know more about our parents.

Edwina 
Johnson

[email protected]