BIG PICTURE
WHAT you’ve been saying on our Facebook page:
●●SURVEY set to close on rail connection (‘People urged to have say on rail link’, June 17):
Myles Rowlinson: That £150,000 has been spent fast enough, haha
Sarah Wilson: I love the heritage of the railway, however, if it is suppressing needed changes for the people of the valley being able to travel freely and cheaply it needs to change its mind set...railways intrinsically stand for progression and moving forward...I know of many people, young and older whom would benefit from the ability to travel out of town for work which in turn brings income to the valley and supporting small business
Gary Cunliffe: Everyone seems to think a train to Bury (or beyond who knows) will solve all transport issues, no matter how much councillors and a few hand picked interviewees (one being estate agents getting all excited over rising house pricing), either way say this opened tomorrow local roads and public transport will still be atrocious.
Carolyn Watts: I spent my first twenty three years in Rossendale when we had the rail link to Bury and Manchester. We travelled frequently to both. It was great. It’s such a shame that it has gone backwards in time.
Martin Hankinson: I live in Ramsbottom and work on the outskirts of Manchester. I would love to be able to leave the car behind and travel by train to work. The traffic in Ramsbottom is shocking so bring it on.
James Crimble: Won’t happen
Andrew John: It’s important not to ostracise those who have preserved the line if the line is returned to a proper public line. We will need a large park and ride in Rawtenstall/ Ramsbottom too. Richard Mcgovern: As long as they could use heritage steam and diesel as a useful income, then why not? Just as long as they don’t start using computerized trains on a proper railway.
●●BID to turn beautiful chapel building in Weir into flats (June 17):
Joshua Nuttall: Doesn’t fit in with the community of Weir at all.
Sab Rani: What a shame if it gets accepted.
Tracey Trickett: I’ve put my objection in. It’s a money making scheme, there’s just too many flats in a small space.
Philip Amatt: ...and 16 car parking places to be found?
●●MP Jake Berry backs Priti Patel’s controversial deportation flights to Rwanda before first departure is grounded at last minute (June 17):
Tony Copley Barlow:
Well of course he does. Has he ever gone against a decision made by his beloved leaders?
Adrian Nicholls-Marcy:
The definition of an asylum seeker is someone who has arrived in a country and asked for asylum. Until they receive a decision as to whether or not they are a refugee, they are known as an asylum seeker. In the UK, this means they do not have the same rights as a refugee or a British citizen would. For example, people seeking asylum aren’t allowed to work.
The right to seek asylum is a legal right we all share. It isn’t illegal to seek asylum, because seeking asylum is a legal process. It also isn’t illegal to be refused asylum – it just means you haven’t been able to meet the very strict criteria to prove your need for protection as a refugee.
Do people have to claim asylum in the first safe country they reach? No. Neither the 1951 Refugee Convention, nor EU law requires a person to claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. People trying to cross the Channel can legitimately claim asylum in the UK if they reach it.
Carl Page: I agree too, something drastic needs to be done to stop the trafficking gangs, the French are just glad to get them out of the country, remember the 39 dead Vietnamese people locked in the refrigerated trailer?
Ronald Parker: Illegal means just that, how many more will keep coming, stop the free handouts to start.
David Hancock: The final point to really important because the Government repeat the fantasy that they are coming from a ‘safe’ country, France. An irrelevance.
Geoffrey Bekier: Just turn them around and send them back to France, let the French deal with them, all they are coming for is benefits, we’ve got enough problems of our own.
Samara Barnes: There is NO possible reason for supporting the Rwanda policy. I’ll pull him up on this at every single opportunity.