December 19
Thanks to my sponsors I WOULD like to thank my family, friends, relations, old work mates and the business people of Woolpit for sponsoring me on my cycle ride from Woolpit to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.
To my amazement, I raised 1,117 for the oncology unit.
Because I needed to avoid the A14, I cycled through the villages and did 48 miles in six hours.
Ken Wilding,
Woolpit.
Not enough consultation
As a property holder along Maltward Avenue and not seemingly affected by the proposed building development plans of our borough council, I was horrified to be omitted from any discussions or from giving my views.
It seems to depend on which side of the road you live – approximately 40ft of road.
Not to mention a deadline of January 5 to lodge any objections.
We have been given a copy of the proposed plans by our neighbour opposite. I duly went online to voice my views, downloading the response form.
How difficult can the so-called town planners in their ivory towers make it – it should come with a decyphering manual.
Why, again, is it seemingly pushed through the consultation period in double quick time, contacting as few people as possible?
All who feel as we do, please object to this invasion.
B Spurling,
Maltward Avenue,
Bury St Edmunds.
Birds bred to be shot
IN September, Animal Aid ran its first National Anti-Shooting Week.
Animal Aid says that every year in Britain, about 40 million pheasants and partridges are mass-produced like commerical poultry so they can be shot by wealthy 'guns'.
This bloody and brutal end to their lives is the final insult. From birth, they are kept in battery-type cages, sheds and pens.
These are wild birds by nature, completely unlike domestic fowl.
Animal Aid says that in an effort to contain the birds' natural aggression towards each other, they are forced to wear an array of devices on their heads to stop them pecking and killing each other.
The enfeeblement and stress this often causes means that many birds die long before they are gunned down. They die from starvation, exposure, disease, predation and are run over by vehicles – at the last count there were 17 squashed little bodies on the road I drive along every day to work.
A large percentage of the birds that are finally shot are not eaten and Animal Aid says the bodies that remain are often buried.
Killing animals for fun has no place in a civilised society. To learn more about the campaign, contact Animal Aid on 01732 364546 or go to www.animalaid.org.co.uk
L S Robinson,
Thurston.
No block on new licences
I write in response to Amanda Skull's comments on the recently adopted licensing special area policy (Bury Free Press, December 12).
During the first stage of consultation on the special area policy there were 58 submissions and only three were against its implementation. Those supporting it included Suffolk Constabulary, Bury St Edmunds Town Council, David Ruffley MP and the Churchgate Area Association (200+ members).
Cllr Farmer and I can only represent the views brought to us and, overwhelmingly, those residents who contact us highlight problems with late night disorder in the area. Following the two stages of consultation and distribution of our own leaflet to every household, the policy received little in the way of opposition. Indeed, despite all 32 licensees in the area being consulted only two chose to object.
This policy does not mean there will be no further licences granted within the special area. The only change is that the burden of proof now rests with the applicant to demonstrate their establishment will not add to the cumulative impact of nuisance and disorder.
Richard Rout
St Edmundsbury borough councillor, Abbeygate Ward.
n In response to the letter regarding the special area policy, the Churchgate Area Association would like to present the facts and correct any misrepresentations.
The association has not conducted, at any time, a survey on the special area policy.
In the summer of 2007, there were a considerable number of complaints to St Edmundsbury Borough Council and the CAA regarding alcohol-related noise and anti-social behaviour.
Two premises had their licences reviewed and a further establishment attempted and eventually succeeded in lengthening its hours, to considerable opposition from residents.
As a result of this and other concerns expressed to us regarding the environment in the grid, the survey was drawn up and discussed at committee meetings in October and December 2007, many months before the special area policy was suggested. The survey's purpose was to find out what the residents' concerns were so we knew what we, as an association, needed to work on.
Ms Skull states that in the survey 'only half the remainder showed any support for the special area policy'. We would make the point that there is not one reference to the special area policy on either the questionnaire or any of the responses. All the correspondence from residents regarding the special area policy went directly to the licensing manager in response to her call for evidence from April onwards.
Ms Skull has produced no evidence for her assumption that Cllrs Farmer and Rout do not represent the views of the residents of the Churchgate area.
They have worked hard on behalf of the residents and businesses to achieve a balance between the night time economy and the problems of unchecked drinking.
They deserve credit for doing so.
Roderick Sprake,
Chairman,
Churchgate Area Association.
Police were right to fine
I read with interest your article on the chap who was stopped and fined by the police for using his fog lights incorrectly (Bury Free Press, December 5).
I wouldn't normally send a letter like this, praising the police, however, on this occasion I must wholeheartedly agree with the police officer's decision in this incident.
I, too, that evening was driving along Parkway, in Bury St Edmunds – one of the most highly lit roads in the town – in dark but clear, winter weather conditions. I saw a car with the front fog lights on and literally had to slow to a crawl and pull over to let him pass as I was dazzled by his front lights; this in itself was a dangerous occurrence and with my two young daughters on-board a very unnerving one at that.
It is all too often that younger drivers 'racing' around town are targeted for many things, including the misuse of their fog lights because it looks 'cool' to do so, and still older members of the public (me included) moan about police priorities and the 'youth of today'. Well, perhaps Mr Policeman has started to equal things out and deal with offenders of any age when it comes to misuse of motor vehicles, I am pleased to think that this is the case.
Paul Haines,
Bury St Edmunds.
n I REFER to your report of Mike Brown being fined 30 for using his fog lights and Andrew Tonkin's response in last Friday's Bury Free Press.
I would like to say I have never pulled out into the path of a vehicle with its fog lights on, but I have driven out into the path of drivers travelling in poor visibility with no lights or, as Andrew Tonkin says, relying on parking lights to indicate their presence.
While I now know the police fine, rather than advise, motorists using fog lights, I have never heard of police prosecuting motorists for driving in bad light and even fog without dipped headlights. Is it because, like me, they just don't see them?
Give me Mike Brown's driving practices to Andrew Tonkin's anytime. I know which is the least suicidal.
Jim Hubbard,
Thurston.
No need for this change
I feel compelled to write in support of the comments made by Cllr Wheeble (Bury Free Press, December 12) regarding the School Organisation Review.
The general consensus locally is that the decision has already been made and that the reviews are just a formality. I attended a local meeting at one of the schools where a number of issues were raised but we did not get any satisfactory answers.
One of the main issues raised was the closure of Riverside Middle School, in Mildenhall, which has facilities that far outweigh other local schools that, it has been proposed, will increase in size and remain open. This will increase pupil numbers, even though the schools already have major parking issues and space problems.
Riverside already has facilities such as good access and parking, large grounds, access to science labs etc. Other schools that would remain open do not have science labs and are set in much smaller grounds, but the review team said these still met the minimum requirements for schools, so it did not see this as a problem.
No parent would choose to just meet nationally set standards when the facilities their children have locally already far exceed those standards. For example, according to nationally set standards, children do not need science lab access in years 5 and 6, but in Suffolk we have this access and the children thoroughly enjoy the facility. Why would we, as parents, choose to downgrade our facilities to satisfy Suffolk County Council?
Of course, this also comes at a cost to the tax-payer, who will be paying to extend the remaining schools to accommodate extra children. Why do we need to change a system that is already working well?
Sandy Williams,
Mildenhall.
Generosity raised 6,000
On behalf of my committee, I would like to thank all our collectors and supporters, who have given their time so readily throughout 2008.
Through the generosity of the people of Bury St Edmunds and surrounds, we have collected just a few pounds short of 6,000 for the Lifeboats.
A special thank you to everybody who has contributed to this excellent total in support of this great cause.
John Riley, Chairman RNLI Bury St Edmunds Branch.
Thanks for support
Can I through your paper, on behalf of the joint town Christmas lights group, thank everyone who has contributed towards the Christmas lights in Bury St Edmunds this year and towards making the Christmas lights switch-on event such a success.
There have been so many groups, organisations and individuals who have given or contributed with services, time, performances, money or facilities in making this a success.
At the beginning of the year we were faced with the possibility of no Christmas lights for this year, but through the efforts and contributions of everyone who has helped or given, they have not only ensured that Bury does indeed have Christmas lights, but that we have managed to put on a good show. We very much appreciate all contributions, large and small, in money or effort. We do hope that everyone enjoys the lights in town this year and wish all a very Merry Christmas.
Steve Peters,
Chairman, Bury St Edmunds Christmas Lights Committee.
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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