Solution to speeding is right under our wheels
WITH regard to the council’s attempts to find ways of curbing excessive and dangerous speeds in Coventry (Letters, Aug 14). May I praise them for the solutions already in place.
It seems the plan is to let existing roads such as Enlgleton Road in Radford – as well as many others in the city – be left to deteriorate to such an extent, that it is impossible to do 30mph, let alone drive excessively.
Speed bumps will not be needed as the huge holes and loose or missing swathes of road will do concavely what the speed bumps do convexly, i.e. slow the traffic down.
As for making driving less dangerous, I must disagree. Because motorists are forced to avoid these holes, or risk having their car suspension ruined by the erratic state of the surface, they must take actions to avoid them, actions that could cause collisions with oncoming traffic.
Apart from this, I believe the system is working quite well. It certainly slows me down. Peter Surtees Bedworth
Stereotypes help inequality exist
THERE is a general expectation that the media will represent society’s interests in a balanced manner. This is fast becoming an illusion.
Certain sections of the community, especially in housing provision, are finding themselves negatively stereotyped. There is little opportunity to challenge the negativity and thus restore the balance. The bias gives a distorted picture.
For example, a random selection in a street of some 100 people would be unlikely to result in some half dozen representatives carrying convictions for either criminal or anti-social behaviour. It is obvious that not all of those renting from local authorities are on benefits. The majority are employed and law abiding citizens.
In the negative stereotyping of social housing tenants, there is much double speak. For example, a social housing tenant who neglects to keep the house clean is lazy slob/ filthy animal. A resident of a privately owned or rented accommodation is excused as a hoarder or an eccentric.
The same distinction is made about the consumption of alcohol. A person renting social housing who is lying in the gutter clutching a bottle of cider is a disgusting brewhead. His or her counterpart in the private sector sprawled on his settee legless consuming his third bottle of sherry is merely an overstressed executive cooling out.
Irrespective of party allegiances it appears that governments endorse stereotyped images to defend the prevailing degree of social and economic inequality. Pat Bidmead Nuneaton
Partition in India under the spotlight
IT IS now 70 years since partition in India and the end of colonial rule.
Sadly the reality and the horrors of partition have often been overlooked. Thankfully with the 70th anniversary, more are now starting to talk about what really happened during this dark period of the British Empire.
For many years Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims lived together in harmony in India. But that soon changed when Britain used the tactic of divide and rule.
This brought about total chaos and prompted civil unrest as one-time friends and neigbours turned on each other overnight.
This was made worse by the haste in which Britain withdrew, leaving a blood bath behind them.
Only now are the true horrors coming to light and actually being talked about.
Sadly schools neglect to teach about this topic, but it is crucial that children learn about the British Empire and its role in such atrocities. Phyllis N Bembridge Ball Hill
Will pollution tax charge be valid?
RE: Pollution charges consultation.
What happens to the drivers like myself who have already paid a pollution charge tax to the European Union brought in by countries abroad?
The tax charge is valid until the car is no longer in use i.e. the lifetime of the car.
Does anyone know? Gary Daffron Radford
What is the cost of Kenilworth station?
RECENT reports (Aug 1) tell us that 38mph is the average speed of your train journey from Coventry to any other city.
A lot of money has been spent on the re-building of Kenilworth Station and it would be interesting to see the figures for that new enterprise. As it seems that Cross Country trains will not be stopping there, passengers will need to travel to Coventry or Leamington Spa to get onto trains that pass through their town without stopping.
You couldn’t make it up. Fred Foster Radford