We should put children and elderly needs first
WHAT are the councillors in the planning department of this city thinking?
Look at the total and utter chaos caused by the new road system at the top end of Broad Lane and Banner House. Why on earth mend anything when it wasn’t broken?
Instead of wasting such money on creating yet another road system that has gone down like a lead balloon, why not use the money in the departments that really need it in this multicultural, cosmopolitan city of ours that boasts two universities that are climing up the ratings.
Instead of cutting back at the coalface by closing things, with socially deprived areas being deprived of access to nurseries, day centres and the like, instead of building anomalies on the roads and boasting hundreds of thousands of student accomodation facilities, what about the children and the elderly?
I believe it’s only because this Tory government want to fudge the unemployment figures that so many youngsters are being offered university places and then becoming £20,000 to £30,000 in debt before they are starting out on a working life.
Give the youngsters a chance with jobs for them, or hands-on training, but not institutionalise them with uni, it doesn’t make up for work experience.
I think we need to take paperwork off the teachers and give them the power to discipline the child again. All this meditation and talking isn’t the be all and end all of the many behavioural problems we have in schools today.
In the early 1970s, a 16 year old had a reasonable standard of education and most had some sort of qualification. They could read and write well as they have been taught in their earlier years, often in infant school.
Regarding the elderly. It isn’t rocket science to realise that any woman is ready to retire at 60 after 40 years and more of working life, running a home, shopping, washing, ironing, cooking, cleaning, and bringing up a family, they are more than ready to retire. What does this Tory government do? Plan further increases to the retirement age, taking it up again to 67 or 68 by 2028.
Let’s see Theresa May surviving on a basic state pension or job seekers’ allowance. It’s the same old story under this government. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Perhaps she will have a change of heart and course, so this can be a thriving community and people can be happy as it should be. Jill Pinks Tile Hill South
Bankers cost more than councillors
MATTHEW Batson’s second letter (Aug 22) on austerity in council services says that I am “shifting the blame” over council cuts, from councillors expenses on to bankers and the failure of banking regulation. At least my comments are factual.
The bankers have cost the taxpayer hundreds of billions of pounds from 2008. The cost of expenses is a drop in the ocean compared with the government cuts to local council funds because of this.
By the way, it is not just Labour councillors who get expenses, as Matthew implies. We would all like to see less cost in running a local council, but cutting council numbers would barely scratch the surface of the austerity problem. Malc Graham Long Itchington
Can you help find my brother James?
AFTER my mum, Joan Rolinson, moved into an old people’s home, I’ve now lost contact with my brother James Naughton.
Please could you help me to find James. The last known whereabouts of James was Fosters Road, Radford, CV6 3A5. Any help would be much appreciated.
He is 6ft tall, short brown hair and in his 20s. Kenny Lee Northampton