Wirral News letters – December 2

Dec 2 2009 Birkenhead News

We can’t win over parking

I WRITE with regard to the clamp down on obstructive parking.

I live in a road which is narrow and could not have cars parked either side as vehicles would not be able to gain access.

A car would not be able to get past, never mind a bin wagon or, more importantly, an ambulance or fire engine.

People have been parking on pavements so as not to cause an obstruction. If people park on the road it is causing an obstruction! We simply cannot win.

On returning home from work on November 24 I was faced with a £30 fixed penalty notice on my car. I was shocked that it was for obstructive parking.

I have parked my car outside my house for the last three-and-a-half years without any problems whatsoever.

I did not realise I was committing an offence as I was not obstructing vehicle access, which I think is more important, after all there are two pavements but only one road.

When a bin was left outside the entrance to my property I had to move it to gain access.

Perhaps the police will bear this in mind too and the council can make a few bob on bin day!

A HOUGHTON

via e-mail

Accident fears

I TRAVEL to work every day on the M53 to Manchester.

Over the past few weeks, while the central reservation is being repaired at Ellesmere Port, a 50mph limit has been introduced.

Each day last week there was a police speed camera van parked on the bridge of the motorway.

When I returned to Wirral on Friday evening I witnessed a road traffic accident within the road works. Around seven cars were travelling in the outside lane, travelling at or slightly above 50mph.

The driver in the car at the head of the convoy appeared to notice the speed camera van and braked suddenly, resulting in an accident involving at least four cars.

I would like to know whether there have been any more accidents on the M53 while these roadworks have been carried out.

DAVE GREEN

via www.wirralnews.co.uk

Zero tolerance

YOUR report in last week's News was interesting. Judging by the number of drivers seen using mobile phones whilst driving, one might believe that very little enforcement was being applied and yet your report quotes significant numbers of tickets issued, and that the ticket issuers are working to capacity.

A couple of times per year the police will carry out an exercise at Heswall. An officer in bright uniform will stand outside the police station and pass information to a colleague waiting a hundred yards down the road, who will apprehend offenders.

Any driver who fails to observe the first police officer in his bright green/yellow coat would be driving without care and attention whether or not using a mobile phone!

On any of the other 363 days of the year drivers using handheld phones may be seen passing the police station quite brazenly. Zero tolerance needs to be applied if this problem is to be solved.

C J LORD

via e-mail

Passion for life

IN May I dropped out of sixth form. I found it a chore and I ended up going primarily for my EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance).

I studied, English Language, Biology, Philosophy and Ethics. At the end of my exams I came away with an A in English, a D in Philosophy and Ethics along with a U in Biology.

I feel as though schools/sixth forms are pushing students to go to university for all the wrong reasons.

I now study cookery, not because I couldn't find anything better to do, but because I enjoy it more than anything I've ever studied.

I also work part-time in the Nelson, Wallasey. However, because I enjoy what I do, and haven’t been brainwashed into believing it's the only thing I can do, I don't consider it “work”.

Still, none of this would be possible without the support from my family, not my school.

I'm being paid minimum wage and love every second of every minute.

DALE CHARLTON

via www.wirralnews.co.uk

Local heroes

ON Saturday, November 21, while visiting a friend, they suddenly became ill.

An ambulance arrived with crew members Alan and Lee at 12.30am.

The assistance and support given to all involved was second to none.

My friend needed admitting to Arrowe Park Hospital where nurses Sarah and Joanne helped support us. Their care and support was unbelievable.

They really are local heroes and deserve a mention in the News as well as all the other front line health staff.

MARIE NELSON

via www.wirralnews.co.uk

Lost and found

I found a parking card for people with disabilities in New Brighton on Saturday, November 14 belonging to Patricia Steele.

N HANAGHAN, 07544436636