Sorry, but I’m having a mayor nightmare!
CONCERNING the Greater Manchester Mayoral election, spare a thought for those of us in the City of Salford.
Not only do we have a ceremonial mayor and a directly elected city mayor, we will now have a third mayor!
How many Mayors does one city need? To whom do we go for what? This has all the potential to become a bloody nightmayor! (Sic) Neil James, Salford
We’ve been here before
HERE are some personal thoughts on today’s Mayoral Election.
My first thought was one of complete surprise, I seem to remember that in the past I and many others voted to reject the idea of having a Manchester-area Mayor. Obviously that referendum was run under different rules than the Brexit referendum.
So we are where we are having this election foisted on the population of Greater Manchester.
One of the functions of the new Mayor will be that of transport in the area.
In a back to the future moment I believe one of the candidates is advocating changing the livery of all busses to orange and white.
Now this combination of colours was used during the period starting in 1969 when the South East Lancashire and North East Cheshire Transport Authority (Selnec) was formed, this lasted for several years before it was disbanded.
I wonder how long the new Greater Manchester Mayor will last? Russell Alcock, Cheadle Hulme
10 heads you win...
IF two heads are better than one, then ten heads are so much better.
One person can be biased, be corrupted or be thinking of losing votes by decisions made that may not be popular.
Was there a saying that absolute power corrupts.
One thing that seems certain is that the Conservatives will never gain power in most of the North, so what better way to get power than to create the position of a Lord Mayor. Lots of money spent on advertising may secure this position. David Harrison, Middleton
May’s on right track
PRIME Minister Theresa May demonstrated caring compassionate Conservatism by pledging £500 million to tackle idleness among the homeless.
Getting them accommodation and jobs will clear Manchester streets of mobile vagrant tented villages and restore some pride in the city once more.
Moreover, public services have been delivered more efficiently than ever before; the number of public sector is lower than the 1930s, cutting back on big state intervention in people’s lives.
More has been done to ensure benefits get to those most in need, while cutting the welfare bill significantly, penalising the jobless who simply don’t want to work.
The premier has been tough on the Brussels bureaucracy and fighting Britain’s corner over Brexit, and more money is being spent on education than even under Tony Blair. Also, a Theresa May government will be more traditionally centre-right and that will make this country and city more prosperous than before. Gerry Diamond, Manchester
Be a good neighbour
I AM fortunate enough to be a volunteer at Chorlton Good Neighbours.
After retirement I took my two grandchildren to the weekly ‘Mums (!) and Babes’ until they were old enough to move on to Nursery classes.
After that I stayed on and even at the tender age of 80, I still delight in seeing the babies grow and develop.
About the same time, I started as a driver, picking up elderly ladies and gents to enjoy the variety of activities this vibrant organisation provides.
It is for those who, maybe, live alone in Chorlton and Whalley Range and who would otherwise have little or no social interaction from one week to the next.
On offer are keep-fit classes, coffee mornings, positive living sessions, regular coach trips, a monthly Sunday tea and an afternoon each week at the local cricket club for the men to chat and play snooker.
The majority of the folk have no means of transport other than that provided by volunteer drivers.
So, if you are retired, have a car and are looking for an opportunity to benefit the community then why not give Helen a ring on 0161 881 2925 or call in to the office at St Ninian’s Church on Wilbraham Road to find out more.
Also you will not be out of pocket as 40p a mile is paid to cover your fuel costs. Trefor Jones, Chorlton