Spalding pensioner's memories of nuclear test vet and Whaplode reader's views on housing
Here are the Lincolnshire Free Press letters of April 12, 2022...
So happy to see Dougie in the paper
I was so happy to see an old friend featured in the March 29 edition of the Free Press (Douglas Hern’ long-running fight to gain justice for nuclear test veterans).
I lived in Station Street, Donington when Dougie lived in Barnes Road. He was in the Royal Navy then – what a fine man.
I knew his mother and we all went to church. I have kept in touch with news of him by reading the Free Press and Spalding Guardian.
I am 96-years-old and my memories go back to 1933 when my father came home to stay after being in the Navy for 24 years. I was also in the Women’s Land Army for four years.
Last summer my nephew, who lives in Moulton, came to see me and told me Dougie now lived near him, so they went to seehim and told him my news.
After Covid was over, he came to see me – what a long talk we had – and what a taking point his article has made.
Bun Smith
Spalding
We will lose all our villages
Problems at Weston concerning planning matters and housing look to be starting elsewhere. Why are South Holland District Council not speaking out and telling the public why so many new houses must be built?
The council has the power to object to Government to prevent it. It is the decision making organisation. Fail to learn why villages are filling up and we will risk all prospects to stamp out an intended ‘something’ and likely find ourselves living in areas smaller than acity but larger than a village.
Farms, fields, village greens, cricket and football fields and ponds will be things of the past, under concrete.
While is seems that Robert Jenrick (former Secretary of State for Housing) thinks that homes will get automatic consent, with permission in principle given to development on pre-designated land.
He wants ‘beautiful homes’ and says the aim is to draw on the inspiration that built the city of Bath. Very expensive to bring about.
I think we’ll end up with far worse than quality homes. Communities could be destroyed, green land lost and the ‘beautiful homes’, rather than one might wish them to be, will be more unsuitable buildings.
A district council has a local government officer who is the servant of both the council and the public. He has duties to the public to see their rights are protected.
You can contact him at SHDC, Priory Road, Spalding PE11 2XE.
Mrs M Reeves
Whaplode
