Letters - Tuesday, March 31, 2020

I have seen the disregard for social distancing while shopping. Security staff need to be enforcing this.

All supermarkets should adopt the Waitrose model of limiting access (one in, one out).

This pandemic has been forecast for a long time with threat level one being assigned - nuclear war is at level two.

So you would think preparing for a pandemic would be the priority to invest in?

No, this Government is investing over £50bn in renewing the Trident deterrent (not including running costs).

Since 2010, the NHS and public services (now crucial to the fight) have had job cuts and resources rationed.

This is a dereliction of duty to protect the public.

And now the chickens are coming home to roost.

When this finishes, I hope people will remember the workers (NHS, teachers, shops, delivery drivers, postal, refuse and community volunteers) who are exposing themselves to infection in order to save others.

The self-employed will be at food banks as this Government has abandoned them.

Stay at home only works if you’re not desperate to feed your family and pay your rent.

We’re only ‘all in this together’ if we live in a fair society.

So those of us who survive need to remember who has got us through this and change the system that has failed us.

Tom Farrell

via email

SOCIETY

Clear need for credit union

As I approach the end of my term as President of Clevr Money (the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Credit Union) I thought I should like to offer some thanks to those who have made the organisation the success story it is today, and where better for a community organisation to offer thanks than through that community’s local newspaper.

It was recognised there was a clear need for a savings and loan operation (in the form of a Credit Union / Community Bank) that could provide for all of the residents of the Blackpool and Fylde Coast area, including those who found it hard to open accounts with the mainstream banks and lenders.

Since its genesis some 12 years ago, Clevr Money has grown from a concept to a position today where we have a highly-trained, customer-focused team, prestigious offices on Birley Street, 6,000 members, savings of more than £4m and loans to members totalling £2.5 m. In November and December alone, we made loans amounting to £600,000 which not only helped our members to fulfil their needs, but also supported local traders as much of that money would have been spent in the local community.

Indeed, none of this could have been achieved without the buy-in of the local community, which is why I like to think of ourselves as a Community Bank. So, I should like to firstly thank all our 6,000 members for supporting us in the wonderful way that they do, without them we simply wouldn’t exist and that is something we never forget.

I should also like to thank our Board of Directors who give so freely of their time and experience in the belief that they are making our local communities a better place. Also, our superb staff who daily prove that for them this is more than just a job and have risen magnificently to support our members during the current pandemic.

Additionally, a huge thank you to our Payroll Partners, those local employers who assist their employees through payroll deduction to save with us. There are far too many Partners to list them individually here, but I would mention that they range in size from very small businesses up to and including the local NHS and Blackpool Council.

I would like to make special mention of Blackpool Council which has supported this initiative magnificently since its inception, and also the Blackpool Gazette which, as our community newspaper, has also generously supported us by publishing regular and frequent progress updates as Clevr Money has grown and developed.

If you would like to do your bit for your local community but haven’t joined us yet - either as a Partner or as a Member - why not give us a call, you will be sure of a warm welcome.

Finally, I wish everyone a safe transition through this terrible time. Please keep safe and I am sure you join me in offering unreserved thanks to all our key workers who are working tirelessly to keep the rest of society safe and secure.

RON BELL

President of Clevr Money

ENVIRONMENT

Greta’s world

Welcome to Greta Thunberg’s ideal world: no planes, no cruise liners, fewer cars on the road, empty towns and cities. Just turn off the electricity and call it job done.

Derrick Bond

via email