Passengers were not informed

Apr 22 2009 Birkenhead News

IN the lead article ‘Return To Rail Chaos’ (The News, April 15) a Network Rail spokeswoman said that “passengers had been kept fully informed of the changes”.

She also said: “We’ve done all we can to

try and let everyone know in advance”.

What she said is just not true.

At 11.30pm on Sunday, April 12 I visited Merseyrail’s website to check the early-morning train times to Liverpool for the following morning.

On the website was a warning panel advising that all trains from Wirral would terminate at James Street.

On arrival at West Kirby station at 7.45 the following morning I was informed that the warning notice was incorrect and that all trains would be terminating at Birkenhead North.

That is not exactly the best example of “doing all we can”, “letting everyone know in advance” or “keeping passengers fully informed”.

It is typical of the attitude displayed regularly by those running the rail network.

MIKE W WALL

West Kirby

No dignity

HAVING just come home from a funeral at Landican South Chapel, I was incensed to see the state it was in.

The last act a family can do for a loved one is to give them a dignified and loving send off.

The plaster is falling off the walls, with brickwork showing, the paint is peeling all over, even the artificial flowers in the vases are faded.

The very least the council can do is to make sure that this one facility is kept in good condition.

What happens to all the money made from cremations/burials?

It certainly doesn't go into maintaining the buildings.

The last memories of a loved one are saying goodbye to them in this excuse for a chapel.

HEATHER REDMOND

via www.wirralnews.co.uk

Funds flaw

IN the News (April 15) it was reported that Christ Church, Higher Bebington, is writing to every home in Higher Bebington to ask them to contribute towards their proposed new community centre, and that the church has been awarded £500,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

Those in Higher Bebington who read the appeal leaflet, and readers of the Wirral News, will perhaps suppose that other Christian groups would be happy to accept Lottery funding and would support what Christ Church is doing to raise funds.

However, this is not the case. There are those, including myself, who maintain that biblical teaching leads to the conclusion that gambling of any sort, including the Lottery, is outside God’s will.

The consequence is that it does not seem appropriate for Christian groups to benefit from the proceeds.

Christ Church appears to take a different view about Lottery funding, which should be respected.

Their desire to replace their old hall with a building suitable for present and future needs is commendable.

But I much regret that they are choosing to fund it in this way.

RICHARD LANDON

Minister, Grange United Reformed Church, Higher Bebington

Right of way

TO the mature ‘lady’ and her friend, walking with two black Labradors and another dog on the coastal path towards Meols slip at lunchtime on Tuesday April 7.

You may recall having a rather abusive rant at a female on a bicycle, insisting that she shouldn’t be there.

That female was me, and being concerned that you might approach other coastal park users in the same way, I thought it appropriate to check some facts.

I have liaised with the council’s Rights of Way officer and also the Senior Ranger for Wirral’s coastline and can confirm that the top pathway does not prohibit cycle use and it is in fact open for all.

The lady concerned would be better concentrating on the defecation your dogs are leaving behind you as you enjoy your walk, than worrying about who should and who should not be using which part of the path!

SUZANNE MOSELEY

Councillor for Moreton West and Saughall Massie

Not a victory

WHILE thousands of Wirral tax payers and their supporters will be delighted that the Culture Minister has ordered an inquiry into plans to close numerous libraries, this does not necessarily mean opponents to the closures have won.

The reported reaction of council leader Steve Foulkes was no surprise. He is, of course, totally wrong to imply that the council have kept the libraries open.

It is as a result of central Government’s intervention that they must remain open.

The plan is and was flawed from the onset.

Wirral residents do not want it and it may yet prove to be unlawful.

Frankly the whole project, which has already cost taxpayers thousands of pounds with more still to be spent, is just another example of the incompetence of this discredited council, which will be remembered in history as probably the most incompetent we have had the misfortune to have.

PETER SLEEMAN

Wallasey