Wrongly named Liberal Democrats
I am not, nor ever have been, a member of any political party so it was with interest that I read the letter from
Cllr Clive Jones, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Wokingham Borough Council (Politically and morally corrupt. Letters Thursday, November 11, 2021).
One problem with the Liberal Democrats is that they are wrongly named.
They should be called the NonLiberal Non-Democrats.
They still do not recognise the result of the democratically held referendum on the UK leaving the EU known as Brexit. This makes them Democracy Deniers.
They still have unelected and unaccountable Peers sitting in a
House of Lords, which could also be construed as a “Politically and morally corrupt” organisation.
The House of Lords is also a bastion of unelected and unaccountable privilege.
I have written letters to Wokingham.Today in the past asking Liberal Democrats why they still have Peers sitting in the House of Lords. Why have they not unilaterally made their Peers redundant for good? No replies so far.
The reason is, I believe, because they too are allegedly like all the other political parties.
They support unelected and unaccountable privilege within a politically and morally corrupt system.
I call upon Cllr Clive Jones, as leader, to condemn the House of Lords, in the Wokingham.Today newspaper, as being against the principles of a political party calling itself “Liberal Democrats” and to call for the unilateral redundancy of Liberal Democrat Peers immediately.
If Cllr Jones won’t do this then he really should start calling himself the leader of the Non-Liberal NonDemocrats as he will be seen to be willing to continue with unelected and unaccountable privilege within our “Politically and morally corrupt” political system.
Answers please Cllr Jones, not silence.
Paul Clarke, Wokingham
Make road closures work for residents
It was interesting to read Councillor Cowan’s letter in last week’s Wokingham Today.
Road works are indeed out of hand and the interests of the ordinary road user appear to get little, if any, consideration.
A couple of examples of how things are arranged to meet the needs of the companies doing the work, rather than the motorist.
There appears to be division of labour (e.g. one team digs up the road and another fills the holes in).
I walked up past the sewer works on the Nine Mile Ride at its junction
with the A321 on Thursday and the works were clearly finished, with only limited clearing up still to do.
Nevertheless, it was only this morning (Saturday) that there were signs of the road opening.
The other example is that the response to recent odious fly-tipping on Ambarrow Lane was to close the road, when the alternative of shovelling the blockage to the side temporarily would have almost certainly taken less time than putting up road closure signs at the blockage and at the end of the road.
Once again, little common sense was used and no thought apparently given to the interests of the ordinary road user.
I am grateful, however, to one of the Finchampstead councillors, Charles Magretts, for providing accurate and up-to-the-minute information on local road works.
At some point, road users should wake up to the fact that they are members of a persecuted majority.
There are many other examples of this, for example not-so-smart motorways, no action taken to curb car park cowboys (despite Government promises) and the state of the DVLA. This is a ridiculous situation in a democracy.
John Sheridan, Finchampstead
Influential views
Last week’s article ‘Dovetails Nicely’ by the Leader of Wokingham Council on the Local Plan clearly demonstrates the current Wokingham Borough Council culture.
This blatant attempt to influence ‘consultation’ before it actually started shows that consultation and debate in Wokingham are meaningless.
The article, of course, also included the current favourite sound bite ‘we are only here to serve the residents’.
The local plan update shows yet again that In Wokingham residents come behind the leaders serving themselves, serving the University and serving their own political party aspirations.
Wokingham has a culture of ‘follow the leader’, so there is absolutely no doubt at all of the LPU will get approved. No doubt promises of infrastructure and delivery behaviours will yet again be made and broken.
Just like the promises made in previous local plans.
The only losers in all of this are residents and communities, which dovetails nicely with the current Wokingham Borough Council political culture.
Cllr Jim Frewin, Independent
councillor for Shinfield
Let’s protect the animals
Please write to your MP to protect all farm animals that myself and other people have campaigned for many many years.
Advocates in Dover, Trafalgar Square, and Ramsgate, have been speaking out against live exports of cattle, sheep and many other animals such as ostriches and goats.
It is horrific and cruel.
The animals are not watered or given any space and it is alleged drivers have been beating them with police looking on or the other way.
This trade must stop and stamped out for ever.
We have put this forward to parliament for 50 years plus now and still it goes on regardless of the promises to end this long time misery for animals and factory farming which cause Tuberculosis.
Victor Rones, Animals Justice
& Rights
Bullying today
Bullying is an issue that has always affected children and since Childline began 35 years ago, thousands of young people have turned to the service to share their experiences of bullying.
Over the past 18 months due to the coronavirus pandemic, the landscape of bullying has changed.
Some young people have had respite from the bullying they experienced in person due to the numerous national lockdowns meaning they were out of school and away from the children who had previously picked on them for months on end.
For others, the bullying transferred online and we know for many this felt inescapable and overwhelming due to the increased amount of time children were spending online for their education, to keep in touch with friends and family and to stay entertained.
For many who were struggling with this issue, Childline was the only place that they felt they could turn to.
It’s thanks to our supporters like the players of People’s Postcode
Lottery who have provided crucial funding that enabled our frontline staff to still be here those young people during the pandemic who desperately needed our help.
As we move out of the pandemic, it remains essential that all children know where they can turn to for support.
This anti bullying week, we want to remind children that Childline is here for them and that they don’t have to deal with this issue alone.
All children can call children on 0800 1111 or online at childline.org. uk. No worry is ever too small.
Alex Gray, Head of Volunteer
Operations or Service Head.
Remember our armed forces
As we paused to remember the fallen this Remembrance Day, our thoughts naturally turned to the veterans of the Second World War, rightly so.
This stoic and humble generation made the ultimate sacrifice and have been an inspiration for the countless servicemen and women who have followed after them.
We must also remember those who answered their country’s call to serve more recently in campaigns in the Middle East, and Europe.
Events in Afghanistan this year reminded us all, not least those who had served there and their families, that for those who do their duty, duty does not end when they arrive home.
For many, the physical and mental impact of their service remains with them for the rest of their lives.
Our mission at the Fund is to find all those who did their duty, however long ago, and ensure they know we are here for them, as long as they need us.
In celebration of their service, we are calling on members of the public to share their loved ones’ stories as part of our Month to Remember. Go to lovedonesmissed.memorypage. org/dedication to pay tribute to your family members.
Air Vice-Marshal Chris Elliot, Controller, RAF Benevolent
Fund