Use of Welsh in Covid updates is not helping

THE lunchtime Covid-19 bulletins on BBC Wales are useful updates on the crisis. Mr Drakeford has acquitted himself well with clear, measured delivery and accurately informed and re levant responses. Mr. Johnson could take note.

However, the tokenistic demand for the use of Welsh in some questions and answers does little for the programme, or indeed the language, among what must surely be a largely monoglot audience.

It reached a new level one day when the BBC Wales reporter asked two lengthy questions in Welsh without translation. The First Minister answered both in Welsh, but only translated the second answer – of limited use without knowing the question, whilst the content of the first remained unknown. Hence, a significant proportion of the broadcast was ineffective because of the unnecessary use of Welsh.

I am anything but anti-language, a proud grandparent of two fluent grandsons, but I am unclear what this use of the language is achieving.

Hugh Smith

Llanharan

The numbers show we aren’t doing well

IT IS claimed that Mark Drakeford and his Government have had a good response to the virus emergency.

I do not agree with this. He kept Wales in lockdown nearly a month after England, losing valuable income for the beleaguered tourist and hospitality industry. We are now near the end of a two-week, short sharp shock, which is obviously not enough.

The present virus figure for Merthyr Tydfil is 690, the worst in the

UK, while the figures for Blaenau Gwent and the Rhondda are over 500, even Cardiff has a figure more than 300. Meanwhile England is starting a four-week lockdown.

Apart, from anything else, the people who live on or near the border of England and Wales must be completely confused and fed up with the constant and contradictory messages coming from both countries.

This does not apply to Scotland, where the border is sparsely populated and where the SNP’s only interest is independence and being as awkward as possible, a route Wales should not be following.

David Gorton

Rumney, Cardiff

Ban the ‘banger’

IS it not time to put an end to the sale of “banger” type fireworks? Can anyone give a good reason for their sale?

Ron Boyce

Cardiff

Open gate could lead to accidents

WITH the recent flood defences and bridge replacement etc at Roath Mill Gardens, someone with mindnumbing stupidity, and no forethought, decided to put a gate (and extended path to gate) on Waterloo Road, opposite Deri Road shops, where no gate existed before. There is a sign “Please close gate”, which few people do.

Waterloo Road has already been featured in the Echo as an accident blackspot. Cars descend the hill at speed, and cars and vans are always parked on the same side as the opening, obscuring it.

On the afternoon of Monday, October 26, I witnessed a small boy aged about six go flying out of the gate on a bicycle, whose mother had to run to catch him. Also on Wednesday the 28th a dog running straight out of the gate.

Even when this gate has been closed the amount of people who just leave it open is amazing. This is an accident waiting to happen. The gate should not have been installed in the first place and should be welded shut.

Frank Hart

Rose Street, Cardiff

Time to invest in energy efficiency

DURING this Wales Climate Week (November 2-6), we are reminded of the need for us to take action if we are to reach Wales’ climate targets of net-zero emissions by 2050 and a carbon-neutral public sector by 2030.

The current pandemic is understandably at the forefront of everyone’s minds right now but tackling climate change remains a key priority. Climate-led investments will play a pivotal role in helping to rebuild the country and economy post-Covid.

The “green recovery” will encourage innovation and stimulate job creation within green sectors, while shaping a more environmentally positive future for generations to come.

As the UK continues in a collective effort to reduce the spread of Covid19, public sector organisations across the country will be searching for ways to make cost savings.

One way they can achieve this is by investing in energy-efficient technologies that will lower costs through reduced energy bills. Such investments will also enable them to play their part in helping the environment and contribute to Wales’ green economic recovery.

With millions of employees now working from home, and many of our public sector buildings remaining empty, it is an important time for organisations to invest in such upgrades, avoiding disruption to staff while helping public sector bodies to make cost savings that can be put towards other important resources.

While investing in energy efficiency projects may not initially seem like a viable option for some organisations given the current climate, interest-free funding, such as loans offered by Salix Finance, are still available despite the pandemic, to enable organisations to invest in such technologies.

I encourage public sector organisations to take advantage of these empty buildings and available funding to invest in energy-efficiency measures. Doing so will support organisations to become more resilient in the face of a recession while also contributing to a greener future for us all.

Liam Gillard

Wales Programme Manager

Salix Finance

Let’s stand united with the migrants

BORIS JOHNSON’S government is trying it on a bit with their upcoming migrant policy. In around eight

The people who live on or near the border of England and Wales must be completely confused and fed up...

David Gorton

months’ time up to four million European migrants and refugees lose their right to remain unless they have settled status. That means well over 10,000 people could be deported.

It is not migrants responsible for the recession but bad economic management. Migrants add to the economy as well, just like everybody else. Blaming foreigners is creeping fascism and should not be tolerated.

The free movement of people is a fundamental economic principle and should be respected. The Europeans are neighbours and we should cooperate not compete. We must not just continue but also expand free movement. EU citizens should not only have access to basic services but also have a guaranteed “right to stay”. Everything which divides nations should be opposed. We should push the Government in the right direction. Migrants and refugees are our friends, colleagues and neighbours. United we stand.

Mr J Bucke, Bridgend