Letters - February 13, 2018

Parking misery being stored up for future
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I can understand Terry Bennett’s frustration at not being able to park at Blackpool sports centre, in West Park Drive, because of all-day parkers (Your Say, February 2).

Parking, or lack of it, seems to be a continuing problem in Blackpool and yet the council seems to have no strategic plans to deal with the issue. I wonder what assumptions Blackpool council planners made on parking requirements when they gave planning approval for the sports centre? Maybe no one considered all-day parkers at the planning stage.

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If the proposed development of the old central station site goes ahead, how will the council cope with the loss of the existing parking spaces on that site plus the influx of new visitors to experience the new attractions? They won’t all be using public transport - that’s for sure.

And what about the new Hampton By Hilton hotel which is used by many as a great example of regeneration in Blackpool? It’s a 130-bedroom hotel which will have only 38 parking spaces. Blackpool planners were happy to approve this even though many local authorities recommend one parking space per bedroom (plus staff parking). I think the long-term effect on parking locally will be disastrous.

It is also of great concern to me that, in many cases, Blackpool council planners seem to be prepared to grant planning permission for residential developments without ensuring that the number of parking spaces meet the government’s recommended allocation of 1.5 parking spaces per house or flat. I think these short-sighted decisions are storing up parking misery for Blackpool’s residents in the future.

If Blackpool council wants to attract affluent visitors and new residents, this is not the way to do it.

L Amiss

Carlyle Avenue
South Shore

POT HOLES

Road repairs well worth the wait

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Very many thanks to Blackpool Highways department for doing such a marvellous job resurfacing the stretch of Newton Drive, between Tarnbrook Drive and Normoss Avenue.

There is no comparison to how it looked previously, with its mass of pot holes, to the now sublimely smooth new, finished surface. It’s a joy to ride in a car along that stretch. The wait may have been long but my, has it been worth it. It just needs the white lines re instating now, then job done.

Very many thanks again to those responsible.

Break open the Champagne, brilliant.

Mrs J Geddes

Whitemoss Avenue
Normoss

TRIBUTE

So pleased Jimmy was recognised

I was pleased to note that a motion was tabled in the House Of Commons to honour Jimmy on the day of his funeral.

I would also thank Gordon Marsden for bringing the tribute to Parliament

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and to the Gazette for the lovely archive material they have published and

also their recognition of Jimmy and all he did for football and our town.

Many thanks.

Marjorie Nye

Knowle Avenue
Blackpool

CHILDREN

Youngsters need our help to thrive

Gazette readers may be surprised to learn that a recent Barnardo’s survey has shown that half of all schoolchildren aged from 12-16 years old feel sad or anxious every week, with worries about their future and school being their biggest concerns.

It is deeply worrying that so many children are growing up feeling this way and that these feelings are intensified as they get older.

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By the age of 16, seven in ten (70 per cent) report feeling sad or anxious at least once a week, with nearly a quarter (22 per cent) having negative feelings as much as once a day.

Children cited the main causes of stress as being school, their future, problems at home, being bullied, and their weight.

The results show the overwhelming majority of 12 to 16 year olds in England (75 per cent) think it would be helpful if they had a counsellor or another professional at their school to talk to when they’re feeling down and upset.

The polling results also show that children like to speak to a range of people when they are feeling troubled and call into question the Government’s Mental Health Green Paper proposal to train just one senior lead in each school about mental health.

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As the UK’s leading children’s charity, we provided specialised mental health and wellbeing support to 21,100 children, young people, parents and carers last year. And we strongly believe we need to create a culture where everyone has a greater understanding of what keeps children mentally well and when professional help is needed.

We want parents and carers to be confident in recognising if their children are unhappy and teachers and other professionals to be sufficiently trained, adequately resourced and available to support them.

Lynn Perry

Barnardo’s Regional Director

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