UK losing freedom to make own decisions
Using Huawei to develop new technology in the UK has proved controversial but it also says a lot about our national sovereignty.
Following consideration of all the issues, including security, the UK government made the decision, rightly or wrongly, to sign up with Huawei. At that time the UK was a sovereign member of the EU and as such was free to make this decision.
Now we are no longer a member, we have had to change our policy towards Huawei as a result of intense pressure from the United States.
Far from gaining from our newly won “sovereignty”, leaving the EU has actually diminished the freedom our Government has to make its own decisions free from pressure exerted by foreign countries, over whom we have no influence. Roger Chapman Bath
You recently reported that B&NES had commented on the problem of overgrown hedges reducing the width of footpaths, limiting space for social distancing and posing risks to the visually impaired (“Cut back hedges to combat virus”, Chronicle, July 9).
The article stated that “...the council can issue a notice to owners of private property asking them to cut back their hedge or other vegetation”.
I feel strongly about this issue – particularly with regard to the visually impaired – but would not expect B&NES to have the resources to identify individual infringements. I therefore dutifully reported an overhanging hedge on Bathwick Hill – just one of many, I might add – using the council’s “Fixmystreet” online reporting system.
The prompt response back from the system after less than 24 hours? I quote: “We have looked into this issue and found it is not the council’s responsibility. We have passed this report to the relevant party to take action.” That was it – inquiry closed, and no guidance regarding who, exactly, I should have contacted in the first place.
It is no use our council highlighting issues, then refusing to get involved when we follow their lead. Please B&NES, tell us where we are expected to go with this. Neil Carroll Bathwick