Wirral News letters – August 12

Aug 12 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

Street sign failure is a disgrace

IN August 2008 I contacted the council’s Streetscene department to report that the street sign at the top of Laburnum Road was broken in half and hanging down.

I was told a job number would be raised and the street sign would be ordered, but it would take eight weeks.

After 16 weeks I rang the council to see why the job was not done and was told the sign was still on order but expected in two weeks.

I made five further calls over the next four months and each time was given a date for the work to be done, but it failed to materialise.

When I made a call in February 2009 I was told the job would be done in April as it was being carried over into the next year’s budget!

Well it’s now August 2009 and guess what? The job is still not done.

My last call last week was met with the response that it would be done as soon as was possible.

I even offered to fix the sign up myself if they dropped it off at my house.

Now maybe in the council’s big picture a piffling little street sign is small potatoes. After all, they have CCTV cars to get on the road and libraries to close.

But to prevent neighbourhoods from deteriorating and looking run down, surely it’s essential to carry out these type of jobs as quickly as possible.

For a job such as this to still not be done after a full 12 months is an utter disgrace.

LEN GRIFFITHS,

Prenton

Car thanks

AT about 7.25pm on Friday, July 31 my very frail, elderly aunt, aged 82, was driving her car along the M53 in the direction of Chester/North Wales when she became ill and confused, bringing her car to a standstill in the outside lane.

A young gentleman driving behind my aunt stopped his vehicle and went to her aid.

The actions of the gentleman possibly saved her life as she would have got out of her car and may have attempted to walk across the carriageway to the hard shoulder.

A very short time later a police patrol arrived on the scene and having explained to them the nature of the incident he drove away without leaving any contact details. I would like to thank the gentleman and ask that he contact me on 07710 410340.

DON TOMKINSON,

via e-mail

Be charitable

AS a person who visits the Wirral Show year in year out, it is very obvious that an essential commodity is getting less and less, i.e the small local charities.

Just look at the areas of empty spaces that the show once occupied.

Why is this? Simple, the charges levied on a daily or two-day basis are too large for small charities.

This means that small local charities have to raise this money before they can look forward to any profit for their cause.

So a message to the Rotary Clubbers, Round Tablers and whoever else runs this event, before patting yourselves on the back look forward to next year and make a very small charge to, or scrap the charges for small charities altogether.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

via e-mail

Warm welcome

I WAS delighted to see Port Sunlight village at last realising its unique potential during its annual festival and giving us the truly traditional pastimes enjoyed by its Victorian founders.

Few other venues have the history and perfect background to deliver this go-slow oasis in our noisy, frenzied times.

Last year’s reeking curry and hamburger stalls and Caribbean Carnival promoters were truly incongruous, resulted in mounds of litter and frankly we could have been anywhere in England.

So let this lovely village play to its strengths, continuing to deliver an old-fashioned family day out in these perfect surroundings.

Your columnist gave a good account of the day but I do not agree that the Lady Lever Art Gallery cast an “austere shadow”.

I find its classical design harmonious and in fact both it and the entire village was so welcoming that at one point I found myself humming, if not actually singing, in the rain.

L JOHNSON,

via e-mail

Bin shortage

I’D like to bring to your attention the shortage of refuse bins around the Dips on Wallasey seafront.

While walking there today (Sunday) the Dips were full of rubbish that foxes had pulled from overflowing bins.

It must be awful for nearby residents to look out of their windows and see such a mess.

The cleaning dept did arrive when we were there and, although they emptied the bins, did not do a very good job on the Dips.

The wagon they were in was travelling so fast along the prom that rubbish was blowing out of the truck.

When will the council realise that brushes are best for pavements? There are scourers that have been on the prom since the Wirral Show!

PAUL MORAN,

via e-mail

Car crisis

RE: last week’s letter, “Parking Sharks”.

I felt the same as the writer – that I didn’t ever again want to shop in Liscard’s Cherry Tree Centre – when, a year ago, I came out of there at midday on a quiet, rainy Tuesday only to find an £80 ticket on my two-wheeler!

I had parked out of everyone’s way – against a wall. There is no designated parking space for motorbikes in that car park.

So much for going for the cheaper shops. So much for customer care.

G CARROLL,

Wallasey

Claim truth

LIKE most people, I was shocked to hear about the expense claims made by some MPs.

Claiming for swimming pools, moats and non-existent mortgages is simply unacceptable. I have supported tough action against MPs who have acted improperly and agree that those who have made unfair, excessive and unnecessary claims need to be reprimanded.

As many readers may know, partly because it was widely reported in the local and national press, the claims I have made are amongst the lowest of any MP in Parliament.

So it came as somewhat of a surprise to see that a local councillor has tried to smear me with inaccuracies about my claims.

I have never claimed £757.78 for cleaning services, despite what the Tories say.

The truth is, whilst the average claim in the last financial year on an MP’s personal living allowance was £17,960.39, mine was £7,045.

This means I am in the bottom 11% of all MPs. It is a matter of public record that I don’t claim anywhere close to the maximum amount.

ANGELA EAGLE MP