Peabugs are alive and well in Kent
Political editor Supplements editor Business editor I read with interest your article based on an interview with linguist David Hornsby about the evolution of the Kent accent (Messenger October 5).
Under the heading ‘How we speak’ and ‘words that have died out’ you listed ‘peabugs’ for ‘wood lice’.
He should have been with me today when, in conversation from a roofer based in Gillingham, he told me that when he took old chimney stacks from houses: “The stacks were always filled with peabugs. You wouldn’t think they live up there, but they do.”
I didn’t like to display my ignorance and ask him what a ‘peabug’ was, but thanks to your article, now I know.
Perhaps you can pass on to Mr Hornby the fact that ‘peabugs’ are alive and well in this part of Kent and so can be removed from his ‘died out’ list. John Cooper Edwin Road, Rainham What’s On reporter KoL editor Blair’s wheeze to open the gates for mass immigration from the EU. Could these factors have massively contributed to our current problems?
With population growth came the greater need for more housing, more school places, greater use of our NHS and road capacity for extra traffic which in turn creates more pollution. If I am right then I’m afraid that with continued uncontrolled immigration we and our future generation are doomed to a heavily polluted country covered in bricks and tarmac. Tony Monk Westerhill Road, Coxheath KoL news editor KoL assistant news editor are they allowed to operate in areas without paying attention to local authority fees and conditions?
They are taking work from established operators and drivers in the area. No other company operates in this way. It is not a level playing field. No county-licensed drivers could “rock up” in London and work the area as happens here.
Compared to black cabs that have to be wheelchair compliant, how about Uber?
While I sympathise with the gent who says he will lose £800 a week, he should be aware a lot of London drivers are losing a large sum of money as a result of his company’s policy.
I would suggest Uber will survive the scare about licensing as they have many friends in high places.
At the end of the day how much revenue will this company be paying in to our exchequer to fund essential services including the roads required for their operations? John Mclane Address supplied