Council should do more to protect environment
WE have been living through floods, a global health crisis, environmental degradation, air pollution and a climate emergency.
These are not isolated events, and we were warned about all of them. Yet, as a city, we are like people casually picnicking in the path of a steamroller. Councils in the UK still allow developers to cut down trees and build on flood plains (the clue is in the word “flood”). The natural world is treated with contempt, and we are shocked when the sky is dark with chickens flying home to roost.
Living near the Suffolk House development in Canton is a daily reminder of all these threats. Despite stalwart opposition by environmental bodies and our local councillors, a petition by 400 local residents, the site being in a conservation area, the council having declared a climate emergency and the Well-Being of Future Generations Act, a developer was allowed to raze 150 years of green heritage to the ground for extra profit.
Recently, trees in nearby Llandaff Fields at the edge of a development site have been felled with council permission, and in the nesting season. Seemingly, this is just to give a better view of the park for prospective buyers, and so increase the sales value of the new properties.
The loss of trees means less clean air, less wildlife, less rainwater soakaway capacity, less oxygen and yet more polluting greenhouse gases.
What is the point of laws and climate emergency motions being passed if developer greed is still allowed to degrade our environment and give two fingers to our welfare and that of our children, grandchildren and citizens as yet unborn? Peter Morgan
Canton, Cardiff
Check-ups are continuing
I WAS sorry to hear that Mr Symons had had trouble obtaining his blood test results, and also in arranging an appointment at the hospital (“Covid has impacted on the whole health service”, Echo letters, July 16). It’s possible that the system of his surgery only giving results after 2pm has recently been adopted to fall in line with other GPs, as this has been standard practice in my surgery for quite a few years now.
I also have regular blood tests at UHW to regulate my drugs but, unlike Mr Symons, my care during lockdown has been very different. I have been able to arrange for my blood to be taken at my GP’s, my consultant has given me telephone consultations and, as I’m only able to have my drugs dispensed at the hospital pharmacy, they were delivered to my home by a courier, even though I am not “shielding”.
A huge thank-you to all staff at Haematology UHW for the extra efforts being made to ensure that essential regular check-ups are being continued during the present difficult situation.
Marilyn O’Donovan
Splott, Cardiff
Hugh a stalwart of the hockey team
THE Echo’s Family Notices of July 15 carried an announcement that Mr Winford (Hugh) Price, OBE, had passed away. Mr Price, or Hugh as he was known to City Hall colleagues, rose through the ranks to become Treasurer of the City of Cardiff.
My connection with Hugh? I had been a junior clerk of just three days in the City Treasurer’s department. I was suddenly aware of an immaculately suited (this was 1948!) person alongside me, piece of paper in one hand, pen in the other. “Would you be interested in playing hockey for the City Hall?” I was asked. I’d never played the game, but the impressive suit made my mind up for me. And that is how I came to spend the next 30 or so years trying to stop opponents putting the ball past me.
Tribute must be paid to Hugh for his tireless work, as our Hon Sec and general factotum. Without it City Hall Hockey Club would have folded many years before it eventually combined with another club. Job description for a general factotum? First and foremost arranging fixtures with other clubs, liaising with the Blackweir groundsman (our home ground), cutting up oranges for half time, arranging post-match hospitality at the nearby Hope Hotel, umpiring home matches and doubtless many other things we never knew about.
Thank you, Hugh, former City Hall Hockey Club members pay tribute to your memory, and sincerely thank you for your efforts on our behalf. Rest in peace.
Norman Rendle Rhiwbina, Cardiff
The loss of trees means less clean air, less wildlife, less rainwater soakaway capacity, less oxygen... Peter Morgan
Foolish to ignore the minor offences
LAWS are worthless unless enforced. Thousands of cyclists break the law every day because they are allowed to. The police say they are too busy chasing murderers, street robbers and drug dealers to bother with cyclists but increasing serious crime, however, is surely just the end link in a chain which started when the police began turning a blind eye to minor crime to save money.
If hundreds of people now decide to hold an illegal street party they simply order the police to go away and help them on their way with a few bricks and bottles. It reminds me of a Shakespeare play where the law is compared to a scarecrow which at first frightened the birds but has now become so familiar that they use it as a perch.
Voltaire said: “Let the laws be clear, uniform and precise, interpreting the laws leads inevitably to their corruption.”
People don’t usually suddenly start robbing banks in adulthood unless they already have a long juvenile crime record as long as your arm for which they have never been meaningfully held to account.
Ron Price
Cwmbran
Jobs migrating to European mainland
BREXIT-SUPPORTING Ineos Automotive is set to ditch plans to build its first off-roader in Britain, it has emerged.
A state-of-the-art factory was due to be built in Bridgend for production of the new utilitarian Grenadier off-roader, creating up to 500 jobs in the region. However, bosses have selected to manufacture the vehicle in France after carmaker Daimler announced plans to sell its factory there as pressures mount amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Brexit campaigners promised that companies will be supporting local
communities. The truth is Ineos fears a no-deal, so it would rather be opening within the EU than the UK.
People are worried about the 0.01% of the fishing trade, when in fact 90% of the fishery trade is done with the EU. The Netherlands has lured 140 Brexit-wary companies since the 2016 referendum to quit the EU. More than half of the firms – 78 – moved last year, according to Netherlands’ Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA). They are expected to create more than 4,200 jobs and inject €375m in investment into the economy. The NFIA said that uncertainty over when and how the UK would exit led to a surge in interest last year.
Andrew Nutt Bargoed
Letters will not be included unless you include your name, full postal address and daytime telephone number (we prefer to use names of letter writers but you can ask for your name not to be published if you have a good reason). The Editor reserves the right to edit all letters.