Obsession with cars is cause of problems
I AM sure it came as little surprise to readers of last week’s Stockport Express to learn that the proposed development of Battersby’s former hat works at Hempshaw Lane, Offerton, into 144 new homes, has been deferred because of perceived overload on local roads.
I would put in to your readers that there should be no delay in the building of new homes anywhere in Stockport, simply because of our obsession with cars.
It is not the building of houses that needs to be curtailed, but the building of more and more cars.
That is what must cease.
I know that for many people the car is very seductive, in all manners of ways.
It appears to offer endless lifestyle options, if only you can find the pennies to fund it.
For all us though, whether we own a car or not, the car culture doesn’t just give but also takes away.
The list of what it steals is endless.
It is enough to say that ultimately it will take away everything, if we let it.
The whole issue of a car-dominated country couldn’t be more serious but, at the same time, the situation they are creating is so ludicrous, that I can not help but find a rich vein of humour in the unbridled chaos.
Only yesterday, I heard that electric cars are to be given the artificial noise of falling water, to prevent accidents to people who might not hear them approaching.
You can tell it was someone in Westminister who came up with this barmy idea.
They could never imagine that it rains nearly everyday in Greater Manchester and the sound of running water to one of its inhabitants simply signifies the background noise to life, not the imminent approach of death on four wheels.
There is one other consideration to using the noise of running water.
Perhaps it is just a sign of getting older, or perhaps it is just me, but I only have to hear the water pouring from the tap into my kettle and I want to visit the loo.
How on earth do they expect a pedestrian like me to cope with the provocative sounds of all this rushing water, when they have closed almost every last public convenience?
Now I see the wisdom of Tony Blair’s desire for a joined-up government.
Of course, I tell you about my personal problems in the utmost, strictest confidence. Debbie Harry must never know. John Tyers Marple
FREE BUS PASS IS NEEDED
IN answer to the comments made by J Jaruis concerning the concessions and free bus pass he wants to get his facts right, there are probably more younger ones on benefits.
I know some are genuine, but I am coming up to 84, having worked for 45 years and I paid into a pension scheme for my retirement and now I still pay tax, my dentist and opticians.
Fortunately I have never had to go to hospital or claim sick pay, there must be many more like me, but there are many pensioners who are housebound unable to use any of these concessions because of illness and have to pay for help.
It may come to you or someone in your family, you don’t sound a very caring person. R S Stevens Stockport