The sums don’t add up

Feb 4 2010 Liverpool Daily Post

IF AN individual acts in an anti-social way, they can expect a punitive fixed penalty which increases if they fail to attend to the matter. As stated in your article on the utility companies (Daily Post, February 1) their failure to attend to holes in the road means a charge of £47.50 for each period of 17 days, which continues for the next 17 days; that’s a maximum of £2.79 per day. It seems obvious that the cost of administering this scheme must greatly outweigh any revenue returned.Š

Your leader article mentioned £150,000 “coming into Liverpool”. Let’s explore the maths; it would take 3,158 penalties to give this return; however, your paper also stated that the council is only allowed to examine 6% of works in question. That means it would take a staggering 52,633 holes in the road to reach this figure, and that 49,475 would go unchecked.

ŠIt seems rather more likely that the total number of works carried out would be 3,158 and that the genius who dreamt up this plan has simply multiplied that figure by £47.50 to put a gloss on how much would come in.

What is certain is that the punishment would fall on the council tax payer for imposing the penalty – which has a novelty I’ve never quite encountered before. But, make no mistake about it – some paid official did sit down and devise this scheme.Š In A Day in the Life, John Lennon says there are 4,000 holes in Blackburn Lancashire; just how many holes are there in Liverpool?Š

Paul Kelly, Edge Hill

Lib-Dems listened

I WAS very surprised to see the Labour Party saying they are against the plans to freeze our council tax in Liverpool (Daily Post, January 28).

Those of us who live here and don’t earn a lot of money appreciate this, as a lot of our bills have gone up.

I have written to the council in the past to say the tax should not go up because of the recession, and I am glad to see the Lib-Dems have listened.

We should be welcoming this council tax freeze, and Labour should remember that working people pay tax and don’t want to be penalised.

Karen Dowing, address supplied

Life or death debate

THE current debate on the issue of assisted suicide needs to be addressed, together with that of the withdrawal of treatment from patients in a persistent vegetative state (PVS).

A poll now suggests that more than 50% of the public approve the concept of assisted suicide, and the prominence of this subject grows with the entry into the public debate by well-known personalities such as Sir Terry Pratchett, who has suggested setting up tribunals presumably to provide rulings on this emotive subject.

We should not, however, forget the case of Rom Houben, who was diagnosed as being in PVS and treated for 23 years until advances in medical techniques by chance discovered that he was found to have brain activity and to be suffering from “locked-in” syndrome.

This case has huge implications for the legality of withdrawing treatment from PVS patients. Our traditional acceptance of medical opinion must be questioned in terms of the need for a wider public debate. Is it fair to criticise MPs for their reluctance to legislate in the face of growing public support for assisted suicide? But then who is to sit in judgment on these life or death issues?

In the meantime, in the absence of a conclusion, the more we talk the better.

David Kirwan, prospective Independent MP for Wirral West

Migraine relief

I WOULD like to pass on my thanks for the excellent coverage you gave of the planned meeting for people affected by migraine and other severe headaches recently.

The meeting drew an audience of 71, the majority of whom suffer with occasional or regular migraines or severe headaches. Consultant neurologist Dr Nicolas Silver’s talk and responses to questions were very well received. As the meeting was over-subscribed, he has offered to do another talk in March.

In the meantime, I have organised the next meeting of the local Migraine Support Group for Monday,February 15, at Neurosupport, Norton Street, Liverpool L3 8LR from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Anyone who would like to attend the Support Group meeting and/or Dr Silver’s next talk, should contact me on 0151-529-6100 or email tony.murphy@thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk

Tony Murphy, Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) manager

Brilliant show

I ATTENDED the Help for Heroes concert on Saturday night at the Philharmonic Hall, and I would like to congratulate RSM Dougie Icke for putting on a brilliant show.

Having arranged a number of small charity shows myself over the years, I know the amount of time and effort it takes. The show raised £35,000 for the Help for Heroes charity. I am sure everyone in attendance thoroughly enjoyed themselves while helping to raise funds for such a worthy cause.

Following the main show was an after- show fundraiser at Yuet Ben, the Chinese restaurant on Duke Street.

I arranged for Andrew Coleman and his friend, Suzanne, to be the volunteer entertainers at this event. Thanks to Dougie for allowing them to take part. The management and staff at the Yuet Ben were brilliant.

Jim Coleman, Knowsley