World should unite to fight madman’s army

From 1936 to 1939 there was a civil war in Spain (forgive me if I’m stating what you already know). The war was fought between Franco’s government, supported by the Catholic establishment and the wealthy on the one side and the working classes supported by a number of intellectuals hoping to make Spain a democracy.

Before long, individuals from around the world (the International Brigade) set out to join the struggle against the establishment. Sadly, their efforts were in vain. Is it possible that a similar situation might arise in Ukraine, to aid the beleaguered Ukrainians against Putin’s overwhelming invasion force? I doubt it, but it would be an uplifting thought. Meanwhile we watch a peaceful nation being overrun by a madman’s army with the West instituting economic sanctions -which will be of no help.

Barton

Towers has withstood stormy weather since the 1800s... you would think that houses built a few years ago would fare rather better

Looking at the pictures on the front page last week, we might well have thought that we, too, were in a war zone.

County Square was not the only place to feel the storm’s wrath.

New build houses on the controversial Chilmington Green estate suffered, as (to a small extent) did Barton Towers. Mind you, Barton Towers has withstood stormy weather since the 1800s. You would surely think that houses built just a few years ago would fare rather better.

All power to SELEP (South East Local Enterprise Partnership) for producing evidence that high streets benefit from a determined injection of cultural and creative input by councils. Citizens who have been pressing for a theatre will be hoping that the cabinet will begin to reconsider their opposition to the idea.

Some time ago, I suggested that our town museum deserves larger premises and a more visible location than the cramped space in the churchyard. The dedicated curators of the existing collection deserve better.