Letters to the Editor - 20th May 2008

May 20 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

Plants are a waste of cash

IT SEEMS particularly ironic to me that, at a time when the Mersey Tunnels Authority were implementing an increase in tolls, they saw fit to spend £20,000 in February on planters at the approach area of the Wallasey Tunnel.

For those travellers who have not yet seen them, they are positioned in a continuous, long line on both sides of the roadway, each containing several shrubs. I understand that there is an automatic watering system installed. I made enquiries to Frank Rogers (general manager, Mersey Tunnels) and received a reply from Gary Evans (administration manager), explaining the expenditure was agreed as "part of our commitment to visually improve the tunnel infrastructure ahead of European Capital of Culture and beyond".

In my opinion, it is a totally needless waste of money. Tunnel entrances do not need to be made to look pretty. Users of the tunnel will either be concentrating on getting into the right lane and avoiding other vehicles, or queuing and, if the latter, will be infuriated by the sight of these planters which part of their toll has paid for.

I would ask that the authority thinks very carefully before expending any further element of our tolls on such "improvements".

Bill Fletcher, Thurstaston

Tedious dirge

YOUR review of the Pink Floyd concert last week (Daily Post, May 16) finished with the predictable news that the concert had ended with a rendition of that well- known Liverpool football anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone, and the equally predictable comment from your reviewer that even the Blues in the audience "didn't mind too much".

Well, speaking as someone who now prefers to attend concerts in Manchester rather than put up with this tedious dirge at the end of almost every concert in Liverpool these days, I'd like to inform the reviewer and the powers that be at the Echo Arena, the Phil and the Empire there are quite a lot of us who do mind.

One thing I've yet to hear at the end of any concert in Manchester is a rendition of Glory Glory Man Utd – or Blue Moon, for that matter. And thank goodness for that. They've got far more respect for their audience.

YNWA probably sounds great on the football terraces and during the musical Carousel. But please stop inflicting it on us at every opportunity. When I pay money to attend a concert in Liverpool, I'd like to hear the songs of the performer, not a song that ignites the football passions of less than half the audience and irritates many others.

Amy Jones, Ormskirk

Changing lifestyles

SUNDAY'S Transition Town (South Liverpool) Planning Day and Friday's Critical Mass gathering of self-propelled transport (Daily Post, May 19, Page 16) were both notable for their abundance of camaraderie, solidarity, inspiring ideas and eager anticipation.

Such positivity contrasts with the disposition of most motorists the Critical Mass encountered. Deliberately intimidating engine revving and dangerous manoeuvring represent common discourtesies afforded to cyclists.

However, pondering the reactions of motorists leads to the awareness that they, like the majority of us, are victims. Mesmerised by our consumerist culture, its deceit chivvies us into the futile pursuit of the "ideal" lifestyle.

Devouring miles on the "open" road, cheap package holidays, acquisition of the latest fashions – profligacy is widely encouraged.

If you are one of those snared by improvidence, the time has come to embrace a more authentic future. Fossil fuels are in decline and our lifestyles will change quite substantially. This need be neither a scary nor a negative prospect.

To join Transition Towns South Liverpool go to http://transition towns.org/Liverpool-South/ Liverpool-South .

For Liverpool Critical Mass email: anarchosurfer-criticalmass @yahoo.co.uk and visit: http://www.critical-mass.info/

Chloe Hewson, Liverpool

Flight of fancy

WARREN BRADLEY'S idea of turning derelict pubs into 1950s- style milk bars is a flight of fancy that just won't work.

Many of us would love to return to the moral and behavioural standards of the 1950s, but I'm afraid the horse has well and truly bolted.

Can anyone really see teenagers being attracted to milk bars in the current era of alcopops, drugs and street gangs? The popular culture epitomised in films and TV is a million miles away from milk bars, and unfortunately it's this former culture that will dictate what teenagers view as "cool".

Warren Bradley would be better advised to spend our council taxes on more effective projects. It's all very well coming out with initiatives that make a headline in the papers, but I'd rather our council concentrated on actually completing productive tasks instead of making headlines.

Liverpool has a terrible reputation for litter and fly- tipping, as evident from the volume of letters on this subject, but the council never really get to grips with this. Again, initiatives are publicised, but in practice very little is done because the council never takes tough enough actions.

Simon Taylor, Liverpool 8

Volunteer appeal

I AM writing to appeal to your readers to help the British Heart Foundation by volunteering at their local BHF Shop.

Volunteers are absolutely essential to the success of the BHF, and they really do help save lives. Last year, thanks to our volunteers, BHF Shops raised a staggering £14m to fight heart disease – the UK’s single biggest killer.

We urgently need more volunteers in BHF’s shop to raise vital funds and help us continue our work into heart research, care and education.

Most people know someone affected by heart disease. Any time your readers can spare, from a few hours to a few days a week, will make a real difference to heart patients across the UK.

Volunteering at your local BHF Shop is not only a fun way to get involved with the charity but, with a real team atmosphere, it’s also a great way to make new friends. Volunteering can also help you stay happy and healthy for longer.

We welcome volunteers from all walks – all you need is enthusiasm and a desire to help.

Readers can find their local BHF Shop by visiting bhf.org.uk/shops or calling 0844 412 5000.

Ken Blair, Chief Executive, BHF Shops

Rebuilding the wall

I CANNOT believe there is any doubt in the restoration of the sea wall at West Kirby, this attraction is probably the most visited location in Wirral and quite famous all over the world, perhaps the authorities should organise a one-off local lottery or raffle.

They could sell tickets for £1 each, with prizes donated by all the business premises that so obviously benefit from the many thousands of visitors. This would have the potential to raise more than the £750,000 estimated. It could be a concentrated project to carry out a vast range of improvements with the council match funding the money raised by the lottery. Buying lottery tickets for West Kirby would be far better than supporting the National Lottery for the Olympics that will be of no benefit to the Wirral.

Hugo Marchen, West Kirby

Impressive city

I AM writing to you to say how impressed I was recently on my first trip in many years to Liverpool city centre.

It certainly has changed over the many years since I lived there, but what made a real impression was a group of young people who were waiting at Central Station with me to board a train to Freshfield for the day.

They were very well mannered, giving way to allow me to board the train and then during the journey they sat chatting without any of the usual aggression or yobbish behaviour. I am sure their parents will be very proud of them. It is good to know that not all young people are badly behaved.

Mrs C Hughes, Stafford

A nugget of culture

ON SATURDAY, May 17, I caught a real nugget of culture in the centre of Liverpool, two men singing opera wonderfully. This was a truly non-elitist happening (and happily nothing to do with football!). No-one who was there could have been unmoved by their performance. More of this please, less tuneless strumming and more spontaneous "real music" al fresco.

Let's give visitors a positive memory to take away with them.

Jill Young, Irby

Institutional bigotry

WHEN the Queen's grandson, Peter Philips, married Autumn Kelly recently, she renounced her Catholic faith as it's against the Act of Succession for any person in line to the throne to be married to a Catholic.

It would seem the British state is happy for Catholics and non- Anglicans to fight and die for it in wars, but not to marry into the Royal Family.

This is anachronistic institutional bigotry.

As a Republican, I believe the monarchy should be abolished anyway, but at a time when we all need to support peace and reconciliation in the North of Ireland and the wider world this ugly and unjust law should be got rid.

Martin Timson, Liverpool

Ban drinking

WELL, it's exam time again, which means loads of teenagers gathering in Calderstones Park, drinking, "smoking" and having barbecues; that would be fine if they behaved and took their litter home, but they don't.

When they've finished, they just get up and leave everything behind, including the foil barbecues, which leave a burnt rectangle, but more importantly glass bottles in large numbers, quite often smashed, causing a danger to small children and animals.

It's time drinking was banned in public parks and other public places.

A concerned park user, Allerton