LETTERS

Bring back High Streets

WITH trading difficulties facing House of Fraser coming on top of the closures of retailers such as Maplin and Toys R Us, what is the rationale of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s desire to create a cashless society?

Our High Streets used to be buzzing, but now instead of grocers, boutiques and local shops that draw people into towns, we only have charity shops and coffee shops.

When wages were paid in cash on a Thursday, supermarkets extended their trading hours until 8pm. Household shopping was then done, with Saturday reserved for a trip to the High Street.

Yes, cash is expensive to handle and requires additional bank and security employees — but is that such a bad thing?

Impulse buying is the saviour of the High Street. Instead people are using credit cards to stay at home and buy from the internet.

The cost of parking in city centres is also discouraging people from shopping in our High Streets.

If my local branch of House of Fraser in Leamington Spa closes, I fear it could spell the end of shopping in the town. NINA ELMER, Warwick.

RAF’s other heroes

HAVING spent 32 years in the RAF, I was disappointed by the BBC’s RAF At 100.

There was too much about the presenters, actor Ewan McGregor and his brother Colin, a fighter pilot, and too little about the roles of the supporting sections of the service, such as the maritime, surveillance/ intelligence and security units.

The RAF consists of many aircraft, not just fighters. Little reference was made to those supporting the frontline, such as engineers and air traffic control. The two world wars were covered in the programme, but what about Malaya, Borneo, Cyprus and Yemen, and the relief operations?

What a recruitment tool this show could have been.

C. J. WILLIAMS, Denbury, Devon. THE McGregors praised the ability of Typhoon aircraft to perform a near vertical climb from the runway, but the English Electric Lightning was doing this in 1959.

It could climb from sea level to 50,000 ft in two minutes.

J. C. POTTER, Haxby, York.

Dirty diesels?

LET’S be more honest about ‘dirty’ diesel cars. Constant reference is made to how much they pollute the air, but scant regard is paid to the fact this applies to older vehicles.

The latest models, with cleaner electronic engine management systems, produce a minuscule amount compared to older cars with solely mechanical systems, yet all diesel drivers are treated as pariahs.

How many times have you been stuck in traffic behind a bus when it pulls away or climbs a hill and belches out clouds of filthy black smoke? I have stood behind the exhaust pipe of my diesel car with the engine on and there is no smell.

ANDY CULLEY, Weymouth, Dorset. THE Department of Transport has revealed that cars will be slower than bicycles in less than ten years, as the average speed on urban A-roads will drop to just 18.4mph.

Drivers were delayed for an average of one minute per mile last year, with London recording an average A-road speed of just 7.6mph and Manchester 15.3mph.

The loss of time to businesses and vital services such as emergency vehicles is incalculable, and traffic jams have a direct effect on pollution. Despite this, Transport for London is constructing cycle superhighways.

Reducing traffic flow by devoting road space to the 2 pc of the population who cycle is not only unjust, but will add to pollution and congestion.

Cycling has only increased countrywide from 1 pc of journeys to just 2 pc between 2004 and 2016 because it simply is not a sensible option for most travellers or commuters.

It’s time for the 98 pc to stand up and be counted.

CHARLOTTE KASNER, London W4.

Betrayal of the gifted

I HAVE to question the report by King’s College that bright children ‘thrive anywhere’ (Mail).

Former chief inspector of prisons Sir David Ramsbotham once pointed out that a large number of bright teenagers ends up in detention due to the boredom and frustration they experience in a system that refuses to meet their needs.

There is far less fuss over the idea that pupils with sporting talent should receive coaching. It is only when it comes to academic ability that the problem arises.

Prime Minister Theresa May has abandoned the idea of increasing the number of grammar schools, while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn would punish the brightest children by squeezing them into one-size-fits-all classrooms.

To impose obstacles on any aspect of education, in a world of intense competition in science, technology and manufacturing, will prove counter-productive. PETER DAVEY, Bournemouth, Dorset.

What money can buy

I HAVE to question the fad for charging a premium for certain seats on an aircraft. Nearly all the seats with extra legroom are near the emergency exits, and so there are important issues that should come into play when allocating them, other than paying more money.

Will the person occupying such a seat be fit enough to open the emergency door in an evacuation? Can they read and understand the instructions detailing how to activate the emergency door?

Ground staff at the check-in desks once selected able-bodied passengers for these seats, but I’ve seen frail grannies and elderly gentlemen in such seats, allocated to them simply because they paid extra.

PETER MURRAY, Mellieha, Malta.

Boomers busted

CAN we put an end to the myth that baby- boomers are the most privileged generation in history?

When I grew up in the Fifties, there were seven of us in a rented threebedroom house with no inside toilet, central heating, phone or fridge, and there was rationing until 1954.

As for free university education, I was a grammar school boy, but none of my classmates went on to study at third level. Most of us left school at 16 to get a job to help contribute to the family finances.

CLIVE WHICHELOW, London SW19.

Fall of the wild

HOW sad to see the picture of the last male northern white rhino with his keeper moments before he died (Mail). Future generations will no longer share this planet with such a wonderful animal.

Can it be right that as the human population continues to increase,

there is no room for the wildlife we should have a responsibility to cherish and protect? Mrs S. J. WRIGHT, King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

Cold call scourge

I WaS surprised when a Scottish Power representative asked for my phone number.

I pressed her to say whether it would be sold on to cold callers, but she kept insisting they needed a number in case they had to contact me. I reluctantly gave my landline.

The day after, I received ten cold calls, and the next day I was called nine times.

CHRIS PEAT, Accrington, Lancs.

I do ...

WheN there is so much doom and gloom in the news, the prospect of a royal wedding is surely to be welcomed. For an hour or two, the nation — and possibly the world — will be able to forget about nerve gas, Brexit and other troubling issues. roll on May 19!

Rev ANDREW McLUSKEY, Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey. hOW refreshing to see the photos of mischievous Mia Tindall (Mail) rugby-tackling her cousin.

If she is going to be a flower girl at the royal wedding, Meghan better have a tight hold of her bouquet or goodness knows what may happen! PAT SMITH, Cowbridge, Glamorgan.

My walk of hope

I WaS shocked that Turkish coastguards beat Syrian refugees (Mail). These people are fleeing from desperate situations and leaving behind all they know and love.

I am taking part in Pope Francis’s easter campaign Share The Journey, which has been adopted by the charity Cafod, for which I volunteer.

I am walking the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela in solidarity with refugees.

My journey will be in stark contrast to theirs: I will not be fleeing war or oppression; I will be free to cross borders, confident of a warm welcome; and I know my family is safe at home. JUDITH TOOTH, Diss, Norfolk.