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Lincs Free Press letters - March 12, 2019




RELIEF ROAD

Are our planners incompetent?

We wish to record how appalled we are about the plans for the proposed Spalding Western Relief Road. How can it be deemed to be a relief road when the middle section may, or may not, be constructed sometime never.

Why do the councillors and planners regard the local residents as gullible idiots?

We are well aware that the new road is merely to provide access to thousands of new homes, to be built on our wonderful open countryside.

If the intention was to truly construct a bypass, then why not choose a route which would also bypass Pinchbeck and Surfleet, and then join the existing main road at the roundabout near the South Lincolnshire Crematorium, rather than funnel a considerable amount of traffic onto the already heavily congested Pinchbeck Road?

Where are the amenities in Spalding to accommodate thousands of new people?

Why spend millions of pounds on new roads when our councils are either unable or unwilling to properly maintain our existing roads.

We feel great sympathy with the people who face possible demolition of their homes.

It must be a nightmare for them, especially with the totally inept way it is being handled by the powers that be.

We live beside the Vernatts Drain in Spalding, having moved here five years ago. Like most of the people facing the Vernatts, we paid a premium for our home in order to have wonderful views of the countryside and spectacular sunsets.

Now we can look forward to noise pollution, air pollution, light pollution and de-valued property prices. Our visual outlook will be either a high soil bank sound barrier, or alternatively, thousands of new houses, - what a choice!

We have also been told that the public footpath known as Blue Gowt Lane is to be closed. We witness hundreds of people using this lane on a daily basis, including unaccompanied school children. Will they try to cross the new road, God forbid, or will they have to negotiate the already manic Pinchbeck Road?

We feel that this new road will make absolutely no difference to the traffic in Spalding town centre, as people will still need to get to their workplaces, shops, etc.

We, along with many others, are far from happy with this situation. Which makes us wonder, do our planners have a degree in incompetence? Or are they just born stupid?

Kay and John Batterham

Spalding

John Elson's Lincs Free Press cartoon (7669620)
John Elson's Lincs Free Press cartoon (7669620)

CARE AWARDS

Excellent news off two Spalding winners

It was recently my privilege to once again attend the annual Lincolnshire Care Awards, the third year of this ceremony, which acknowledges the immensely valuable work done across our county by all those who work in this environment. This Lincolnshire Care Association well-suppported evening celebrated and recognised the sector’s hard work and commitment.

All too often we hear of disturbing cases in residential care homes where serious mistakes occur. But we hear too little of the excellent quality of the majority.

These hard-working (and underpaid in my view) care workers carry out their day-to-day tasks with good humour and kindliness, and we all owe them our gratitude.

The nominations for awards came from across Lincolnshire (from Gainsborough to Long Sutton) and ranged from Community Care, Training, Teamwork and Leadership and more. I was happy once more to be part of the judging team (though with no input into anything local).

It is excellent news that two Spalding nominations were winners. Southfield House in Woolram Wygate (part of the Order of St John Trust) won the Apetito Healthy Nutrition Award. The five-strong kitchen team were delighted, and it is undeniable that good food, well presented and healthy, is a vital element in the well-being and happiness of the residents. Bon appetit!

The second winning candidate was Gaynor Jones, who works at Cedar House (part of the Making Space group).

Gaynor received the Lincolnshire Rising Star Award in recognition of her amazing work at this Spalding home. Well done indeed.

In my view all those nominated were winners, and I cannot tell you how humbled I was to hear so many interviewees say that they loved their work, that the residents felt like family.

Some had been doing this very hard work for many years, but others were newcomers to the caring profession.

It is work that many of us would be unable or unwilling to do, but we are fortunate that there are carers who truly care, and who make a genuine difference to the lives of those they look after. Thank you to them all.

Coun Christine Lawton

Spalding

BREXIT

We could do without his wisdom for a little while

I see your regular contributor Alan Meekings is fed up with being insulted by our MP Sir John Hayes.

Sir John is far too polite to say he is fed up with Mr Meekings.

I feel that Mr Meekings should be persuaded to take a rest from his constant bleating about the evils of leaving the EU, also cease his criticism of one of the best Members of Parliament we are likely to get.

So that we all get some relief perhaps he could also cease his regular doses of drivel about those of us who would like the freedom to run our own country.

It would be nice for him to go and live somewhere he really would be appreciated.

I am sure many of your readers would gladly make the sacrifice of being without his “wisdom” for a while.

Ian Hensman

Gosberton Risegate

ISLAMISM

Do not confuse ideology with religion

In response to Sir John Hayes’s column on February 22, I would like to say that Islamism in any shape or form, including Islamic State (Daesh), has nothing to do with Islam. It is a ruthless political ideology not a religious belief, so the connection is merely linguistic.

The best remarks on this matter came from King Abdullah of Jordan when he was talking about the Islam he knows, when he said Islam has nothing to do with the hate-filled fiction promoted by the khawarej (the outlaws of Islam) such as Daesh and the like.

Sir John Hayes MP is correct to say that those who betray Britain by fighting for our foes must now face the consequences.

Islam is an Abrahamic religion sharing its roots with Judaism and Christianity. From this association should spring a shared grasp of what is right and just. It is indeed fortunate that South Holland and the Deepings has an MP in Sir John who is unfazed by political correctness and who stands for values which Britons of all faiths hold dear.

Professor Mohammed Abdel-Haq

via email



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