Residents have no desire to leave excellent flats
I REFER to the letter from Ian Ogden, who appears to have scant knowledge of development policies of the 60s and early 70s. (Observer, April 19th)
In those days, Whitehall introduced a policy of clearance of terraced properties to be replaced by either high rise or deck access estates.
Those were the only kind of development they would finance local authorities to build. Differing from neighbouring authorities, the old Rochdale Borough built College Bank of a higher standard than usual, in order to attract professional people from outside.
Having just completed a degree in Birmingham, I applied for a job in Rochdale, attracted by an advertisement which offered accommodation available.
In those days there was also a sensible policy of vetting all applicants before they were offered a flat. That was in 1974, when I moved into Underwood, with my wife.
When she became pregnant we moved out of the flats and bought our own property. When the marriage ended in 1989, I moved back into The Seven Sisters and now still reside in a two-bedroom property which I have since bought.
My political career is therefore a red herring in that context, other than to say that, having been given the honour of becoming Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough, my views are more likely to be promoted.
However I am just one of many similar, longserving residents or lease-holders of the estate, all of whom have no desire to leave excellent, spacious properties which have enjoyed refurbishment over the years, including energy-saving night storage heaters and double glazing. Robin Parker Dunkirk Rise College Bank THE person who signed herself ‘old lady’ and said she was ‘ashamed to take my visitors down town’ (Observer, April 15th ‘17) has a point.
We should all be ashamed of the kind of society that can take our hard earned taxes and give them in tax breaks to large corporations and to people already wealthy enough to own two or more homes, in the UK or abroad, so do not fear homelessness themselves.
We should be ashamed that there are any homeless people in our relatively rich country.
We should be ashamed that the British people have elected the kind of government that cuts vital services that used to provide support systems for homeless people or for people struggling with addictions. (And remember that rich people develop addictions too - you just don’t see them on the pavements as they have the money to get help.)
We should be ashamed that we tolerate a government that takes away the benefits that give disabled people the support they need to go to work, get out of the house or live as normal a life as they can.
A government that cuts grants to councils so they cannot provide properly for elderly house-bound people.
We should be ashamed that the government tolerates workers being paid even less than the minimum wage, let alone less than the living wage.
Zero hours contracts too bring shame on a government willing to expose workers to such a precarious lifestyle.
Finally, her point about beggars often having dogs.
Instead of seeing this as a positive thing, a source of companionship for those deprived of so many of the comforts we enjoy, she implies criticism.
If there is any criticism, it is of the people who will readily part with money to care for animals, but whose purses and wallets are firmly shut when faced with needy people.
If people will give more to a beggar with a dog at his or her side, it is a rational choice to own a dog.
The council’s proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) will not help any of those vulnerable people.
It simply runs the risk of imposing fines on people they know do not have the means to pay them.
This then criminalises them if they do not pay and a vulnerable person can end up before the courts - bringing extra costs to the judicial system.
The costs of policing and enforcing this order would be better spent on prevention work.
The PSPO will also restrict the freedom of speech that so many groups enjoy in our centre.
It is a sign of life, of a vibrant community, when you see a church choir singing hymns, a trade union or political group protesting, a stall to explain the teachings of Islam, a peace group protesting about nuclear weapons or a brass band at Christmas.
All of these groups would have to get permission first.
Permission the council could deny - infringing our rights to freedom of expression.
Rochdale would be a dull, soulless place if the only activity taking place in our centre was shopping. Pat Sanchez High Peak Littleborough
DISTURBED BY BEGGARS
I SHARE the disquiet of the ‘Old Lady’ at having beggars say to me ‘Have a nice day’ and ‘God bless’ (Letter 15 April).
It disturbs me so much I forget I am an atheist and end up musing to myself ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’ Les May Crescent Road
TIME TO END PARKING WOE
REFERRING to the Saturday, April 8, of the Observer, on our council hoping to get new powers to stop double parking. About time. The traffic wardens will be running out of tickets around the football ground since the police stopped people parking on one side of Sandy Lane, right up to Denehurst Park walls.
In some streets it’s horrendous.
There used to be a police van patrolling; not now. Resident