Show us article on tax evasion figures
ON January 2 I read with interest, along with possibly many other readers of your paper, the article concerning benefit fraud on page 18 and found this very interesting.
However, I am more concerned about tax evasion and would ask if you would, if you have not already done so, consider a similar article show how much tax evasion has taken place over the same period which was covered in your benefit fraud article, i.e. 2012/13 to 20116/17.
I look forward to seeing this. Frances E Crane Chapelfields
Flashing lights are part of the panto
SANDRA Camwell has obviously never attended a panto at the Belgrade Theatre before (Letters, Jan 1).
Flashing toys have been around for years and are part of the enjoyment for young children. For many, it is their only experience of attending a theatre and if flashing toys add to it, then so be it.
Her letter is yet another one of a long line of never-ending moans, which doubtless will continue into 2018. Michael Smith Wyken
Misguided to blame sugar for obesity
PUBLIC Health England (PHE) again blames parents for the obesity epidemic whilst knowingly ignoring the main cause. Children are obese because they can no longer play out in the street as they have done for countless previous generations. They got healthy exercise every day at no cost to the government or their parents and were not obese. Their fixation on sugar is also misguided. It encourages the use of synthetic sweeteners rather than tackle sweetness. Children need food that is less sweet.
Having very sweet synthetic products means that natural fruit and vegetables taste sour by comparison. Consumption of high levels of synthetic sweeteners cannot be a healthy diet. Children need healthy, less sweet, natural food.
A healthy lifestyle can be created by giving priority to pedestrians in residential side streets. Parents would then be able to let their children play outside every day. This would not only give healthy exercise but would also tackle the increasing levels of mental stress in children.
The PHE approach encourages those with a financial interest in supplying expensive therapies, treatments, remedies and medical interventions. Rob Wheway Director – Children’s Play Advisory Service
Cactus timing is actually spot-on
JULIE Smith’s ‘Easter cactus’ (Your Pictures, Dec 22) is a Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) and is flowering at the right time.
Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis) has similar leaves but different flowers.
Flowering time for both species is dependent on varying periods of temperatures and daylight hours during the year. Judith Robins Stonehouse Estate
Unemptied bins are cause for concern
DO those at the council not understand that when the refuse collectors miss emptying people’s bins, people will then contact the council to request that the bins are duly emptied.
This then involves another crew having to return to the address in question from where the problem stemmed, meaning another ride for a crew, the use of a refuse vehicle and the added cost of fuel.
Can someone from the council tell us how cost-effective this missing bins practice is?
We are all now on reduced services formulated by this council and they still cannot get it right.
We were informed that, over the Christmas period, bins collections would be one day late, which was reasonable enough.
However, when bins were put out the night before the stated collection day, and were left unemptied, what is the purpose of that practice?
This only causes more concerns as bins left unemptied on the frontage of people’s property are a target for high-spirited souls to push them over and leave a mess lying everywhere, giving way to vermin and wildlife to rummage through.
If the workforce cannot manage the job now, heaven help us when we have the thousands more houses this council seems hell bent on having.
You cannot look after what you have and do a good job, and that is what you are being paid to do by the council taxpayers.
I hope my New Year wish can bring better value for our money. Sandra Camwell Keresley