Letters to the Editor - 19th May 2008

May 19 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

More chances to learn

ON YOUR Letters page, Nigel Pollitt asserts that adult learning is under attack, “Education cutbacks” (May 13). This is simply not the case.

Three quarters of a million adults enrolled in courses subsidised by the public purse, over and above those who took part in full programmes of learning to get the skills needed to get a job or progress in a job.

Many other government departments also fund informal adult learning, including the rich mix of activities supported by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

In addition, many people are now organising their own learning, with 203,000 older people taking courses run by the University of the Third Age.

In January this year, we launched a wide-ranging consultation into the future provision of non-accredited learning.

As a government, we have needed to take some tough decisions over the past few years to make sure we were able to prioritise funding towards longer courses to improve the skills levels of our nation’s workforce.

However, we are clear that over the next three years there will be £210m per year for informal adult learning and this money is protected.

David Lammy, Minister for Skills

Appalling revelation

I AM struggling to contain my horror at your front-page story on Thursday: “Obese children facing stomach operations”.

This is an appalling revelation. How on earth have we got to a stage, as a society, where we are considering stapling the stomachs of youngsters because they are so fat their lives are now at risk.

I am sorry but we should not be talking about “barbaric surgery” on children; we should be talking about what we are going to do to the reckless parents who allow their children to eat themselves into this state.

Keeping your children fit and healthy is simple, you feed them a sensible amount, within their daily calorific guidelines, you fill them with plenty of fresh fruit and veg and you cut back on the sugary snacks and junk food.

Then you get them off the computer games and playing out. be that in the garden or in organised activities like football, ballet, swimming, etc.

There are many parents struggling to look after children who have serous illnesses from birth. These parents who have allowed their children to eat themselves into obesity should be ashamed of themselves.

JH, Warrington

Make more of life

THE dreadful scenes from China and Burma are another reminder of how lucky we are to live in this country.

This is something we just take for granted.

But when I hear the petty squabbles of our mediocre politicians and the rows about price rises, I sometimes think, “Is that all we have to worry about?”

The tragedy in this country is that many of our people do so little with their lives. Of course, you wouldn’t wish tragedy on them, but in Burma and China you can see the human qualities of courage and determination, as well as skill and kindness, coming through.

It makes me wonder what would happen if, God forbid, something like that happened here.

If there is a message from all this, it is that we should always try and make the most of our lives, to try and contribute to our communities, to give more than we take.

Most of us have some skills and talents which we could use to help others. Why don’t the yobs on the streets realise that? Instead of making a nuisance of themselves, why don’t they get good jobs and offer something to others?

They have been blessed to live in a country which is mostly safe and prosperous. The example of others emerging from terrible adversity should be a lesson to us all.

Agnes Clarke, Bebington

Caring for children

I WOULD like to address this as an open letter to all local councillors, and Members of Parliament in Wirral.

I was recently at a meeting of grandparents, who for one reason or another find themselves bringing up grandchildren, while themselves living on pensions or limited means after a lifetime spent paying taxes and NI, and now find it very difficult to obtain benefits they are entitled to.

The difficulties arise from an almost complete lack of information or guidelines, helpful advice or sympathetic understanding from social services, and care organisations about grandparents caring for children, unless the children are actually taken into care.

Children being taken into official care costs a huge amount of money, yet little or no assistance is given to grandparents who willingly take on this task.

Children being taken into care can also lead to all sorts of further complications involving many authorities; children cared for by family members, especially grandparents, on the other hand, tend to be kept out of trouble and go on to lead successful and happy lives.

This is a non-political, non-religious, situation that needs all politicians and councillors from whatever viewpoint to address immediately.

It cannot be ignored any longer. So what are you going to do about it? If you care to make a comment or offer some advice, pleas contact parliament@ageconcernwirral.org

Sandy Cameron (Wirral Older Peoples Parliament), via email

Parking issue

I RECENTLY parked in Cressington Park on the way to use the train, and was most upset when I returned later in the day to find a ticket on my windscreen. When I asked the city council about this, I was told that it was a private park and that the residents of the estate are, in fact, trustees who could, if they wanted, have my car towed away.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that one of the trustees is a Labour councillor who represents Kirkdale. Ironic as that is where I got my train to.

Unlike the council’s parking policy, I understand that there is no appeal against fines imposed by trustees.

E Fosdyke, Grassendale

Privatised post

POSTCOMM are to be congratulated for their report that Royal Mail should begin the approach to privatisation. Nobody can deny the improvements in pricing and increases in standards of customer service that have been made by previously nationalised communication services like telecommunications, railways and buses since they were liberated from the clammy hands of the Civil Service.

Royal Mail should also be free to charge more to deliver to the rural wilds of the country. After all, when it is now illegal for bus operators to cross-subsidise their routes so that busy city routes keep costs down in the rural hinterlands, why should I have to pay more for my city centre postal service in order to subsidise deliveries to people selfish enough to live in places like Thurso, Ballachulish or worse?

John Eoin Douglas, Edinburgh

Made welcome

I AM writing to thank the staff and owners of the Mello Wine Bar, on Allerton Road.

My grandparents attend the bar most Sundays for a good old- fashioned Sunday roast. They are now in their early seventies and have said that, while they love the food, they especially love the warm welcome from the staff.

The young lady who looks after them (the owners’ young daughter, we believe) really makes them welcome, so much so they get really excited about going. In this day and age, we are so glad that they are made so welcome and look after. Not every establishment welcomes the elderly, so I would like to thank you all at the Mello Bar on behalf of my nan and grandad. Credit where credit is due.

Mrs E Brown, L8

More dances

IT WAS lovely to see the Viennese Balls recently in the magnificent surroundings of St George’s Hall, but these were not the first balls to be held there to help celebrate Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture.

On March 8, local members of the English Folk Dance and Song Society held a Pride and Prejudice period costume ball there, and over 350 dancers from around the country attended, all resplendent in their Regency costumes.

The same committee are organising a Ceilidh on Saturday, September 20, at the equally memorable Aintree Racecourse. We also anticipate that this will be a sell-out. If anyone wants to know more, they can visit our website at www.aintreeceilidh08.co.uk

Mary C Smith, chair, Mersey and Deeside Folk

Spectacle picture

I WAS struck by the photograph of the artwork fashioned from 100,000 pairs of spectacles which is planned for Liverpool World Museum. It echoes on a small scale the horrific and deeply moving piles of personal objects to be seen at the Auschwitz concentration camp museum – spectacles, luggage, human hair shaved from the victims and much more in vast piles.

It also reminded me of a chilling advertisement to be found in the 1935 Port of Liverpool handbook which advertised Zyklon B, the cyanide gas used in the gas chambers. Here it was used for exterminating rats on ships.

MK Stammers, Crosby

Musical city

WE ARE asked by the Arts Council to vote for the most musical city in England, as if it were ever in any doubt!

To vote for Liverpool – and why would you not? – please go to www.mostmusicalcity.co.uk

We might thoroughly deserve it, but if we don’t vote for Liverpool then we won’t win!

Louise Baldock, Labour councillor for Kensington and Fairfield

Litter fine

JUST a thought regarding recent reports of fines and court appearances for dropping cigarette stubs, apple cores and a bit of sausage roll on the pavement.

If I deliberately discarded a £20 note and walked away from the scene of the "crime," would the litter police penalise me for it?

Moira Billinge, via email