Fine those who make city look like a dump
I SEE common sense has prevailed in respect of the man who was to be fined for accidentally dropping some of his pie on the pavement (A crumby fine from council is cancelled, M.E.N., April 19).
Last weekend, myself and my family enjoyed an evening birthday meal in Spinningfields.
Walking back to Piccadilly, the roads, pavements and benches were absolutely strewn with bottles, cans and takeaway wrappers – which had been deliberately left by morons who should know better.
The rubbish was being left to accumulate more quickly than the poor street cleaners could move it.
If the bins are full, at least leave the rubbish near the bins.
The council could make an absolute fortune if fines were imposed on those who are deliberately making our city look like a rubbish dump.
What kind of an image does this give to visitors to Manchester? Miss J Evans, Manchester
A hole waste of our cash!
WHERE does our council tax go?
Earlier this week at around 9.30am, one pick-up truck, one tipper lorry, one tractor and several men in high-visibility jackets arrived outside my house at the corner of Park Road and Catherine Road in Crumpsall.
There is a variety of different sized pot holes and I thought ‘Great, they’re going to fill them all in.’
At around 10.15am they laboriously filled in one pot hole. After a meeting that lasted for at least 30 minutes they upped and left. Two hours, several men and all that equipment for one small pot hole – with several more within two or three metres left untouched.
Whoever sent this gang out to do this job should pay for the one hole out of their salary. Maybe next time they will make sure all aspects are covered. Len Goldberg, Crumpsall
Cobbles in safe storage
FURTHER to Roger Foss’ letter (Where are the stones?, M.E.N.
Viewpoints, April 17), I’d like to reassure readers that the cobbles which were removed during the Second City Crossing Metrolink scheme are in storage pending the planned renovation of Albert Square, which will take place as part of the ‘Our Town Hall’ project. Through this once-in-a-lifetime scheme, Albert Square will be improved in order to enhance its role as a popular venue for events ranging from the Christmas markets and sporting celebrations, through to key civic occasions, such as vigils and VIP visits.
We are keenly aware of the vital role played by the town hall and Albert Square at the heart of city life and, through this one-off project, are determined to safeguard these precious assets for Manchester’s long-term future. Sean McGonigle, director of trading services, Manchester council
Kids’ poverty is on the rise
RECENTLY I have read the following figures: The number of children in poverty rose by 100,000 last year to 4.1m, and the number in temporary accommodation is up 75 per cent since the Tories took power in 2010.
Families in temporary accommodation rose 64pc in eight years, according to Trinity Mirror’s data unit.
Allison Graham, of Child Poverty Action Group, said: “How many more children will follow before the government accepts cuts to support are leaving too little to live on?” M Smith, Middleton
Green fields disappearing
WHEN Trafford council planted trees on the greenbelt, stretching from the sports centre to the Nag’s Head pub, Davyhulme, residents understandably thought this was the start of the landscaping of this field.
But in 2019, the George H Carnall Leisure Centre at Davyhulme will be turned into a 2,000-seater basketball stadium and parking for hundreds of additional motor vehicles – besides 60 homes and a range of other facilities to be built on this field. In reality, this field is a landfill site, adding more pollution to an already inadequate, overladen road network around Davyhulme, which will do no favours for the hundreds of children who already suffer from asthmatic problems and chest infections.
Greenbelt areas are disappearing in Davyhulme in the blink of an eye.
One day, through bitter tears, your children will have to explain to their children why a beautiful place like Davyhulme was transformed into an oasis surrounded by 21st Century concrete. Harry Wild, Davyhulme