Letters to the Editor - 22nd July 2008

Jul 22 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

Delay woodland destruction

IN GIVING the go-ahead for Langtree McLean's proposed development for the Festival Gardens, both the Inspector and the Secretary of State acknowledged that "the effect of the proposed scheme on the character and appearance of the whole promenade would be harmful, but that this would be outweighed by the benefits deriving from the proposals."

The greatest part of this harm is to be caused by the cutting-down of the 10 acres of woodlands directly alongside the prom to make way for the seven blocks of waterfront luxury apartments.

Given the uncertain state of the current market for luxury apartments in Liverpool and the consequent delays to the scheme admitted by the developer (Credit crunch delays Garden Festival site scheme – Daily Post, July 11, 2008), would it not be advisable to delay the destruction of these woods until building is certain and ready to begin?

The city already suffers from one eyesore abandoned development on The Strand, by the Baltic Fleet pub.

It would be criminal to replace today's flourishing woodland along the waterfront at the Festival Gardens with a barren wasteland or abandoned building site.

For our part, the campaign will continue to work actively in an attempt to save as much of the landscape and the wildlife of the Festival Gardens as is possible. New members are always welcome.

Lucy Page,Chair, Save The Festival Gardens

Keep abreast of law

LIKE most people, the Government believes breast is best for babies. That is why we are doing everything we can to encourage mothers to breastfeed and to make sure that they are aware of its benefits.

But, for many mothers, the uncertainty surrounding where they can breastfeed is a deterrent. Babies do not get hungry to order and mothers have to be confident that they can feed their infants in a cafe, restaurant or shop without the embarrassment of having the owner ask them to stop.

In fact, this type of discrimination has been unlawful for women with babies of any age for more than 30 years, and the mother could challenge the owner under the Sex Discrimination Act. We strengthened this Act with extra “maternity'” protection, which means that, if the baby is less than six months old, the mother could also challenge the owner on the grounds of her maternity.

Some people also think that women can be charged with indecency for breastfeeding in a public place. This is, I am glad to say, utter nonsense.

But the law is not as clear as it could be. People are unsure of their rights and their responsibilities in this area. That is why the Government will be using its forthcoming Equality Bill to make it crystal clear that it is simply not acceptable to shoo breastfeeding mothers and their babies out of places like coffee shops, public galleries and restaurants.

We hope this will give women complete confidence that the law is on their side when they are breastfeeding their babies.

Barbara Follett, Deputy Minister for Women and Equality

Proper jobs needed

AT FIRST glance, the Government's proposals that long-term unemployed should undertake some meaningful activity in return for their benefit sounds like a panacea.

The problem arises with what is determined to be meaningful – if there is work in communities that needs doing, then people should be employed properly to undertake it – not unemployed people exploited as cheap labour.

As to education or training, the Tories were rightly condemned for putting masses of unemployed people into basic training courses in the 1980s – which only resulted in the unemployment figures being massaged and many worthless certificates being issued, eg, for a combined course of a few weeks bricklaying, woodworking, etc.

So, if unemployed people are to be helped with worthwhile education and employment, where is the money going to come from? Even the Tories found providing basic training courses expensive and discontinued it.

Of course, the proper solution is to provide proper employment opportunities – ie, jobs that provide a living wage, not like so many part-time and/or low waged places, and proper training and education.

Our politicians, however, are too busy with their expenses claims and second jobs to undertake the hard effort of dealing with the problem seriously, preferring to hide behind a simplistic and populist headline grabbing policy.

Mark Bill, via email

Idea to be applauded

FROM what I have heard about the Government’s plans to get people off benefits and into work, I would say so far so about time.

The idea that people who cannot be bothered to find themselves jobs should be made to do community service instead should be applauded.

While I appreciate that there are some people who genuinely are too ill to work and there are some people, who, despite their best efforts to find work, have not, there is undeniably a section of society who make a deliberate decision not to work and to exist on handouts from the state.

These are the people the Government will target, and these are the ones who give the genuine claimants a bad name. I only hope the Government has the bottle to see this plan through and not to water it down at the last minute.

Mrs A Shaw, Widnes

Change for better

YOUR correspondent S Watkinson states "we all know that where buildings have been replaced in Liverpool and its suburbs, they are almost inevitably worse" (Letters, July 17). What absolute poppycock.

Let's just take the city centre. New developments I have seen going up, such as Liverpool One and the Echo Arena, have been a massive improvement on what was there previously, namely decay, dereliction and bomb sites that would shame any urban area in Europe.

So now our wonderful city is being transformed into a place we can all be proud of.

No doubt if whiners and whingers like S Watkinson had their way, we would still be living in those disgusting slum tenements I can recall in the fifties. Thank goodness Liverpool has changed for the better.

Jim Ellis, Stockbridge Village

Privilege to be there

LAST week, in Clayton Square, we enjoyed a fantastic free event when they relayed direct to the TV screen the Marriage of Figaro from the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Local arrangements for this could not have been better. Courteous and helpful stewards were present throughout the three- hour performance, even handing out plastic ponchos when the rain arrived..

We felt it was a delightful privilege to see such a superb production in the heart of Liverpool. We all applauded at the end, as we felt such a real part of the event, and also in appreciation for the excellent local arrangements.

We look forward (as 80-year-olds) to the next time.

Garnette and George Bowler, Prenton

Friends impressed

I CAME to Liverpool at the weekend with some friends from “down south” who have never been to the city. We spent Saturday doing lots of touristy things, things that I myself, having lived here my whole life, had never thought to do.

I had a great time, touring The Beatles Story, going on board the Duck tour and showing off our cathedrals and architecture to my friends.

I have always appreciated what a fantastic city Liverpool is, but to see other people so impressed by it was heartwarming. Naturally, visiting the Tall Ships was the highlight of the weekend, and I was blown away by how well organised all that was.

My friends definitely went home impressed by what they had seen and vowed to come back again.

E Abbott, Wavertree

Confusing barriers

THE Tall Ships were spectacular to see, and I enjoyed looking round the magnificent Brazilian Navy ship at Sandon Dock particularly.

I was impressed to see that coaches brought people from as far away as Durham and Yorkshire to the event, testifying to how well organised and publicised the event was.

However, I do think entry to the dock could have been better handled.

We had to walk about half a mile past the entrance, with different queues starting all over the place because the rows and rows of metal barriers were so confusing.

Inside, some stewards seemed rather bewildered and their teams seemed rather small to deal with the large volumes.

All in all, though, a worthwhile day out.

Hilary Rowse, via email

Fantastic time

A GREAT big thank you to everyone involved in organising the Tall Ships events over the weekend. I took my children down on Sunday afternoon and we had a fantastic time.

Thank you also to all the people who helped me through the crowds and on and off the boats when I was struggling with two little children and a baby.

J Moore, Aigburth

Sharing makes sense

IF LIVERPOOL FC could ask Everton FC to share some corporate facilities, then why not go the whole hog and ground share?

A full ground share is, I believe, the only financially realistic possibility for both clubs.

It appears the commercial side of LFC already appreciates what sharing with EFC can offer in a positive way.

George Gibbons, Bootle

Great service

THE 08 Tourist shop and information centre in Liverpool does a great service for tourists and locals.

Let’s hope it is a permanent fixture, long after our Capital of Culture year is over.

Terry Ross, L4