Letters - August 1, 2018

I have been catching the train on the Blackpool South to Colne line consistently for four years now. This service is run by Northern Rail.

I have to say this is the worst public transport experience I have ever had.

For two years I would catch this train to Kirkham everyday to go to work.

The train would be cancelled at least once a week - either to work, or coming home.

The small amount of rebate was never enough to satisfy for the inconvenience.

I have now left that job in Kirkham, but one of the issues brought up in my appraisal consistently was lateness - not helped at all by the consistent late trains. The company highlighted 14 instances of lateness, 12 of these due to this service.

I speak regularly to conductors and representatives of Northern Rail often who are uninformed as to cancellations and who can be of little help when planning my journey.

When planning a return journey to South Shore, one representative located at Lytham train station sat on a bench and argued with me that there had been no cancellations today. The fact I had to catch a bus to get to Lytham to see my daughter was a clear fact to the contrary.

There are always cancellations on Sunday and the representatives are of little help. And the Northern Rail website states services are running on time only to have the trains cancelled at the last minute whilst being stood on the platform.

I would like to know why the train regularly stops at St Annes then turns around back to Preston. Can the train driver not be bothered? Did you once again forget to put enough fuel in the tank? Why are residents of South Shore such as myself regularly suffering because of this abysmal service? Can Virgin buy you out?

A very common colloquial phrase repeated around these neighbourhoods is the word ‘cured’. It is slang for when you have had enough of something.

So I say we are ‘cured’ of this service.

Roger Tretton

A disgruntled 
South Shore resident

BREXIT

Last ditch attack on will of people

The Brexit process is without doubt in a complete mess and that is largely due our Remainer Prime Minister’s handling of it with the help of the pro-EU civil servants, while ignoring the department set up to organise it.

We now have an orchestrated last ditch effort to stop or reverse the leave result of the 2016 referendum by a string of Remain supporters including Sir John Major, who says it will be bad for the UK and Dominic Grieve MP who has said a no deal would put UK in a “state of emergency”. Both are pushing for a second referendum. Another case of “Project Fear”.

Instead of talking-up the opportunities that are awaiting us around the world - BAE have just had an order from Australia to build war ships - these people prefer to spread doom and gloom propaganda stories in an effort to convince an ever sceptical public woes that we face.

Just like the EU and EC they prefer to ignore democracy and the will of the people and keep voting by referendum until they get the “right” result that suits their views.

The 17.4 million who voted to leave the EU knew exactly what they were voting for and expect the Government to do what they were instructed to do.

Phil Griffiths

Broadcaster and 
Commentator

WILDLIFE

Taking sting out of wasps’ bad press

Re: wasp numbers increasing this summer. As a long-time gardener, latterly professional, I feel I must make some comment in support of wasps. I have only been stung three times in 71 years and this incident was entirely my fault. I had entered an old shed in springtime to find a large wasp fall down the back of my neck, furious at being disturbed suddenly from his long winter sleep.

At present, I have two nests in the garden, both in large ‘bird boxes’, which perhaps should be renamed.

The inmates seem contented. I work around them and they me. One of my most prized possessions is a three-year-old nest still attached to a beam in my shed roof which is, frankly, a work of art.

Jake Potts

Address supplied

SOCIETY

Assisted dying trial would be popular

If life is difficult to write about, then death can be even more difficult.

I have thought for some time that it is possible for some of the elderly to be kept going for too long.

That is why the saying ‘quality of life’ has become popular.

I mean to say modern doctors with modern treatments can keep some of the elderly going beyond normality.

For that reason, I think our Parliament will, (eventually), give “assisted dying” a trial run, (opinion research suggests it will be a popular move with the elderly).

It will be controversial and far from perfect, so is the present system.

Someone asked me if I was planning a trip to Switzerland?

I think they were joking.

Max 
Nottingham

Address supplied