CENTRE NOISE JUST NOT FAIR

IT isn’t only the ugly boxes stuffed with boring plants, the silly benches to complement the silly ones on Broadway, the ludicrously-loopy minimalist bicycle stands and the overall bleakness of the new Town Hall Square (known to some as the Parkinson Parade Ground) - it’s the NOISE that grates most of all.

There was a time when funfairs and festivals were located on brownfield sites or in a park somewhere. Not anymore. Now they site them in the middle of the town, exposing children, shoppers and town centre residents to hours-long decibel onslaughts.

This is what we get when Philistines are voted into the council chamber. Brian Livesey Accrington

CRUNCH TIME FOR NURSERIES

EVERY parent knows how important it is to make sure their child’s early years are the best they can be.

Every parent wants to give their child this, regardless of where they live or how much they earn.

The three Lancashire County Councilmaintained nurseries in my constituency help give every child has the very best start in life.

They are vital for East Lancashire, with 19 out of 24 of these nurseries situated here.

I know the heads of these nurseries and the work they do with their specialist staff are nothing short of amazing.

So why is the Tory-run County Council in conjunction with a Tory Government in Westminster cutting their funding year on year and threatening them with closure?

There are three under threat in Hyndburn constituency – Hillside, Lee Royd and Fairfield which has been hit the hardest with cuts.

These are schools all judged ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

I have been campaigning about this for two years and, with the Labour Group on Lancashire County Council, we are putting renewed pressure on the Tories to give them the funding they need. It is crunch time. If they are lost now, they will never come back. Graham Jones Hyndburn MP

EVACUEE MEMORIES

DO any of your readers remember the Manchester evacuees or have any photos of their arrival by train?

I was eight at the time and now a member of the Evacuee Society and writing all about my experiences.

I would be grateful for any help you can give me.

I stayed with T H Broadley on Atlas Street.

They had two granddaughters, Claire and Jacqulin, next door.

Then I stayed with the Crellin family, 63 Witalley.

I went to Hindle White Dancing School and attended Mount Pleasant school.

Then I was called Jean Naden.

I would appreciate any help your readers can give me.

Thank you. Mrs J Townshend, Littleborough

GLUTTONY

I’ve ALWAYS been a Trencherman

With appetite voracious,

But Pride protests: ‘Each calorie counts,

So if you gorge such vast amounts

You’ll NOT be trim and gracious!’ How shallow’s this philosophy

Yet conscience seldom cries:

‘Over-indulgence is a vice

Which temperate men despise!’

But would the ancient Roman folk

Have viewed me with disdain?

UNDOUBTEDLY they’d cheer: ’Well done!

Please use our vomitorium

Then feast with us again!’ Jean Holden Accrington