Letters - March 22, 2018

The disgraceful spitting incident involving the ex-Liverpool footballer, Jamie Carragher, towards a car with people in it with an open window, was obviously intentional, as he clearly filled his cheeks/mouth with the projectile (spit) and directed it towards the open window and spat quite forcefully.

As far as the driver, parent of the 14-year-old girl in the passenger seat, he is actually filming the incident while driving, obviously having to take his eyes off the road to hurl abuse at Carragher – who has apologised – and to ensure he had a good shot of the ex-player beggars belief, he openly displays driving while using a mobile phone.

In my opinion, and I am sure in the minds of thousands of other like-minded people, get Jamie Carragher into the police station, charge him with Section 5 public order and the driver likewise and charge him with using a mobile phone while driving. Let the courts deal with any trial, not trial by media and hysteria. Both should plead guilty if they have any self-respect left.

As far as any punishment by Sky towards Carragher, that is between them. Because I am sure the employers of the driver of the car won’t dismiss him for his taunting and driving offences while on world wide TV.

Colin Howorth

Epsom Road
Anchorsholme

HEALTH

Medical school is great for county

The announcement that Lancashire will, for the first time, have its own medical school is fantastic news for the region, and means that our community will directly benefit from having the future generation of talented doctors train here.

I am really pleased that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has selected Edge Hill University, near Ormskirk, as one of just five across the country to help students realise their dream of becoming doctors and I believe, shows this government’s commitment to our region.

As Mr Hunt said, in a decade’s time we will have to address the challenge of having around one million more people aged over 75, which is absolutely why we need to recruit more and more talented health professionals from places such as Lancashire.

Across the north west, here are already 1,859 more hospital doctors in place since 2010, but if we are to look to the future we need to foster more young talent in our rural and coastal communities, which have traditionally been seen as difficult places to recruit to the profession.

Too often, students who wanted to train as doctors or nurses often headed for the capital, but 90 per cent of these new places will be based outside of London, helping talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds realise their dream.

Peter Malpas

via email

TRANSPORT

Vans should be parked off-street

Though not a motorist myself, I am well aware that a road tax entitles a holder to park on any thoroughfare.

This is all very well for the owners of private cars – but I do feel those with large vans should not have the same privilege. These are surely commercial vehicles, and when not used for the business they were bought for should be parked off the road of a residential street, in a garage or the like.

I take this view after the regular parking outside my private house, particularly at weekends, (a) preventing me having a view of my neighbours and (b) meaning would-be visitors having to park their private cars some distance away.

In other words, buyers of large cars or vans should ensure they have arranged to be off the residential streets before they undertake the sale.

And if the large vehicles belong to firms not residing in small streets, ensure their drivers move to a pre-arranged building, particularly at weekends. I appreciate this may be unpopular for some, but for others it could be a blessing.

Neil Kendall

Stamford Avenue
South Shore

HISTORY

An error in article on the fire service

In the Fleetwood edition of the Gazette on March 16, on pages 28 and 37 about Lancashire County Fire Brigade, it showed the date April 1, 1968, this should be April 1, 1948. It became Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in 1998.

The following brigades only became part of LCFB on April 1, 1974 – Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley and Preston.

John Duckworth

Chatsworth Avenue
Fleetwood