Letters to the Editor - 7 January 2008

Jan 7 2008 by Liverpool Daily Post

I note that in your leader, Action can lure bus passengers – which referred to the front-page article “Alarm as Mersey bus use declines” (January 2) you make little mention of what must be one of the major factors driving people off the buses – fares.

Public priced off the bus

I NOTE that in your leader, Action can lure bus passengers – which referred to the front-page article "Alarm as Mersey bus use declines" (January 2) you make little mention of what must be one of the major factors driving people off the buses – fares.

The cost of bus travel is now so great the temptation to use a car must be almost irresistible.

Why would anyone take a bus for a short journey when it seems to cost over £1.50 for the cheapest fare. I don’t drive and I walk up to a mile to my destination, or to the railway station, to avoid paying such an amount.

My most frequent journey – Liscard to Liverpool – is now £2.20 single. If I want to come back, it’s cheaper to buy an all-zones Saveaway which costs £4.30 and entitles me to do lots and lots of journeys I don’t want.

Has it not occurred to anyone that providing tickets at a reasonable price for the journeys they want to make might get people using the buses again? By comparison, a cheap day return on the train is enormously cheaper than using the bus.

There used to be a cross-river Saveaway option at £3.70, but it has recently been withdrawn.

I asked Mr Paul Leddy, of Merseytravel, how they justified this and I was told this was due to financial considerations, which would be explained in detail if I wrote to Merseytravel. I was unable to tempt him into giving me a succinct explanation, but it seems they could no longer afford the subsidy.

I travel extensively in Europe and there are few cities where public transport is managed so badly as in England (it’s not just Merseyside, by any means).

Is it not time the private bus operators were told to sling their hook and the local authorities went back to providing an affordable, efficient service for local needs?

John Usher, via email

Passing on costs

AFTER all the inconvenience in 2007 with the local trains in Liverpool/Wirral, and the problems with the wheels and the poor service and the fines Merseyrail were given, I just knew that the public would end up having this passed on to them.

I didn’t realise how quickly it would be until I renewed my monthly season ticket.

When some of us are certain we will be fighting to get a 2% pay increase in our jobs (and below inflation) how Merseyrail can have the audacity to increase my train fare by over 25% makes me sick in the stomach.

I only travel from the city centre to Hamilton Square and back – two stops in total – it used to cost me £40.10 a month and now as they have changed the zones it costs me £52.50.

When I questioned this, the ticket clerk handed me a book which said "Money saving season tickets" on which the slogan says "just sit back and save!"

John J, via email

Architectural abuse

I HAVE been following with interest recent correspondence regarding the new buildings in the centre of Liverpool, particularly those near to the Royal Liver and Cunard Buildings.

What to me is glaringly obvious is that all buildings built before the Second World War are architectural gems compared to the monstrosities built after.

I am thinking of the dreadful St John’s Market and the buildings which house your own offices, which have been with us for some time.

One of the worst examples of recent modern building is in my view the Travelodge, which ruined the splendid view overlooking the old Mersey Tunnel. Why this monstrosity was ever allowed to be built I don’t know.

Liverpool is not alone in suffering post-war vandalism. Manchester and Birmingham were years ahead, and it is a great pity Liverpool had to follow after seeing them destroyed by modern architects.

It is also a national disgrace what has been allowed to happen in London, which was the finest Victorian city in the world but it is now a city of soulless high-rise buildings.

It is doubly shameful when you compare London with other European cities such as Amsterdam, Warsaw and Paris which have pride in their old buildings.

JM Berry, Aughton

Fight PO closures

SEFTON Trade Union Council (TUC) is extremely concerned about local post office closures. Aintree Road and Dale Acre Drive, in Bootle; Rawson Road, in Seaforth; Coronation Road, in Lydiate, and Freshfield Branch appear to be only the first in line for closure, with others to follow.

We add our voice of opposition to that of the many residents of our community who will be affected by these closures, particularly pensioners, disabled people and those on low incomes.

These are part of a national wave of closures which have been condemned by groups including Age Concern and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Our colleagues from the Communication Workers Union add that the likely impact on these closures would mean: "The public can kiss goodbye to the professionalism and experience they are used to at directly managed offices and wake up to long queues and second class facilities in newsagents and mini- markets instead."

We encourage everyone to sign the local petitions for the offices affected and to get behind their campaigns.

We also call for a radical change of government policy to stop undermining valuable public services and amenities, and its own credibility, and instead use our nation’s vast wealth for the benefit of all its people.

Danny McGowan, Secretary, Sefton TUC

Thanking toddlers

WE WOULD like to thank all the under-fives across Merseyside who took part in the Barnardo’s Big Toddle last summer.

These tremendous toddlers joined youngsters from across the UK in a sponsored half-mile walk and helped raise over £37,500 for their local community and Barnardo’s early-years work.

All money raised by the Big Toddle supports Barnardo’s projects in your region helping disadvantaged and vulnerable under-fives. These projects help all kinds of children, including those with physical and learning disabilities, autism and behavioural problems. Barnardo’s Big Toddle 2008 will take place in June. Find out how to take part by visiting the website www. bigtoddle.co.uk

Nancy Hart, Fundraiser, Barnardo’s North West

Slandered city

WE ARE only into the first week of 2008, Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture, and Independent columnists Miles Kingston and Terence Blacker show just what independent thinkers they are by lazily rehashing every prejudice they can dig up about Liverpudlians.

2008: "The Year of the Scally" / "It fell off the back of a..." / "Slavery? We’re Not Ashamed" and "tendency to wallow in their victim status" are some of the phrases seen.

Obviously, if we complain, we get the same back only tenfold, with the added addition of "where’s your famous sense of humour?" jibes.

We are truly one of the most slandered and libelled cities in England, and from 2008 onwards, we should no longer idly stand by and accept it. I have written to the editor of The Independent to make my views known.

P Saeed, address supplied

Excellent publication

I WOULD like to heap praise upon the Daily Post for its publication, History of Liverpool.

I obtained a copy of this literary contribution to the 800th birthday of the city and feel that as a wonderful account of Liverpool (1207-2007) it will be of great interest to the millions of visitors to Liverpool in 2008.

Writers David Charters, Peter Elson and Laura Davis, together with the entire editorial team at the Daily Post, are deserving of having this available for purchase throughout 2008 at so many varied outlets in the city.

Ron Formby, Vauxhall

Magnificent Arena

HOW great to hear, when we have become so used to being let down and told that we will have to wait longer for things to be ready, that the Echo Arena, Liverpool has come in on time and will be ready for all the celebrations that will go with the official launch of our Capital of Culture year.

I have already seen in the Daily Post that there are many brilliant concerts and events arranged for the Arena, and hope to get to some myself if the budget allows.

Having an Arena of this sort, and which has been done so well, really will be such a boost for our city, I am sure.

P Swithin, Kirkdale

Role for Marsden?

HAS Gerry Marsden got a role in Capital of Culture? I hope so, because if not he really should have.

He has made popular two of the songs that most define Liverpool – Ferry Across the Mersey and You’ll Never Walk Alone – and is one of our most famous and successful musicians, so he should definitely be involved.

In fact, isn’t it time to honour him as a hero of this city? Perhaps he could give a concert at the Arena and be given some sort of award for helping to make Liverpool so great.

M Woods, Allerton

Turn back clock

IT IS very sad that it hardly seems shocking when you hear of someone being savagely beaten to death by rampaging yobs.

The latest was Ron Sharples, who apparently was a devoted dad and helped out with the elderly, who died on New Year’s Eve while looking for his dog.

In one newspaper, it only merited a couple of short paragraphs.

I don’t know how you turn back the clock to when people had more respect for each other, but banning youngsters from getting alcohol and those computer games where the only goal is violence is surely something we could try.

Edith Parry, Hoylake