April 14: Tranquil area made poorer by vandals
May I use your columns to express my disgust at the vandalism of the small pet cemetery at Delapre Abbey and also to voice my support for Graham Walker's sentiments (Chron, April 7).
As one of many raised in this area who used these grounds as a recreational area 50 years ago, we enjoyed ourselves and apart from the odd broken branch when the swing collapsed and a temporarily flattened muddy piece of shrubbery where someone had fallen in the stream, we left no sign of our usage.
During their long existence, these stones had seen many momentous and tragic events including two world wars and vast political and technical changes beyond the comprehension of those who viewed them in their early years and had harmlessly endured as a small reminder of how part of life in England used to be.
The vandals who have achieved their brief moment of notoriety may possibly regard this in later years as their crowning achievement in life not having the basic intelligence to realise that, by their actions, they have made this tranquil area the poorer for future generations.
I have no connection with Graham Walker, nor his organisation Friends of Delapre Abbey, but, after Googling "Delapre Abbey" and seeing their website will, at the very least, go and have a cup of tea in their tearoom to support a worthy cause.
David Rosen,
Park Avenue, Duston, Northampton.
Harsh sentence for 'decent' man
In the Chron of April 9, there was a report on the terrible accident caused by a fence panel coming off the roof of a van driven by Christopher Johnson, which resulted in the death of William Inns.
My sympathy goes out to Mr Inns's family who lost their loved one.
However, I also feel very sorry for Mr Johnson who was devastated and feels deep remorse for this tragic accident.
His mistake has been labelled criminal negligence, which seems very harsh because he has no previous criminal record, he was not speeding, texting at 60mph, using a mobile phone, or driving under the influence.
The rope securing the panel snapped, it did not come undone.
Everyone in their life makes mistakes but this man will have this on his conscience for the rest of his life.
The judge said that Mr Johnson was "fundamentally a decent hard-working man who made a terrible mistake, which had terrible consequences". This kind of accident could happen to anyone and, while not losing sight of the loss to Mr Inns's family, this was sheer bad luck.
Mr Johnson has been sent to prison for 28 months, with the taxpayer now having to support his wife with their new baby and other child, along with the cost of imprisonment. Surely a suspended sentence with community work would have been sufficient?
If he had been a criminal, or peer or MP and knew the system, he would not have been treated so harshly. I sincerely hope he makes an appeal.
Peter Minney,
Irondale Close, Northampton.
Council needsto sharpen up
The letter from Keith Jackson (C&E, April 11) demonstrates exactly why Northampton Borough Council became one of the worst councils in the country.
Council employees need to be reminded that their job is primarily to serve the community who, at the end of the day, pay their handsome inflation-proof wages, with built-in job security and a nice pension at the end of it.
Collectively describing council tenants as "lazy" and "who couldn't be bothered to walk to their local office" is nothing short of disgraceful.
He goes on to whinge about the amount of work that council employees have to do, thus reinforcing the general public view that they are, collectively, a bone-idle bunch of wasters who sit round all day drinking tea and struggling with The Sun crossword.
I know this is not the case. Many are dedicated and knowledgeable and conduct themselves as public servants should, but unfortunately a few tin gods give them a bad press.
The story earlier in the week about Tory Councillor Harker trousering thousands a year in allowances, but only attending one third of Police Authority meetings, also reinforces this very dim view that the public has of councillors.
No wonder no-one bothers to vote and, when they do, out of sheer desperation, there are only the Lib Dems offering any kind of credible alternative.
The council needs to sharpen up its image by returning to good old-fashioned values, like dressing smartly for work (Guildhall front desk staff please note).
Borough and county councillors should wear a suit and tie to meetings, stand when addressing it, and all council staff should address both councillors and public as "Sir" or "Ma'am" as appropriate.
There's a county council election in June and, since all three of the main parties treat voters with the same disdain, I hope that all the independents and minority parties will put up first class candidates with the right standards of commitment and integrity and that voters will have the courage to support them.
David Huffadine-Smith,
Duston Wildes, Northampton.
Garden bins are needed by us
I have to agree with the previous letters regarding the idea of a glass collection. While it might seem a good idea, it cannot be at the expense of losing a garden collection.
As a household we amass three or four glass items in a month, which we take to the supermarket collection recycle point, on our visit there.
The lack of glass at our house is down to the fact that most containers are now of the plastic variety.
Our garden produces its waste every week and we could really use a weekly collection and not have it cut back to once a month.
I think this matter needs a bit more thought before the council makes another wrong decision.
Yvonne Balhatchet,
Obelisk Rise, Northampton.
Cat run down and left to die
I just hope whoever is responsible for running into my beautiful ginger cat on Good Friday and leaving him to die on a doorstep reads this and maybe has the slightest pangs of guilt for not stopping and trying to find out where he lived.
By the time the neighbour had found out it was our cat and we dashed to the emergency vet in town, it was all in vain and Clarance had died on the way in the car.
Needless to say the whole family (seven of us) has had an awful weekend and it was also Clarance's fourth birthday on Easter Sunday, which he never saw.
My main point is that the speed which many people travel down Longland Road is too fast and next time there is a casualty, it may not be a loved pet but a person that is run down.
Mrs Karen Worth,
Longland Road, Northampton.
We will miss Roy
Roy Connell was a community campaigner who worked tirelessly for Far Cotton . . . a man with no self-pity or personal gain.
With Roy, what you saw was what you got. He was a knowledgeable, witty, good and honest man.
He dedicated much of his time to the people of Far Cotton and the residents' association he was chairman of for 11 years. The whole community will miss him.
Our thoughts are with Kate his wife, and his family.
Daniel and Suzanne Jwanczuk,
Pleydell Gardens, Northampton.
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Man dies following motorway smash on Northamptonshire border
- BREAKING NEWS: Police inundated with hundreds of complaints over snowball fights
- Huge cigarette haul by masked burglars in armed raids at Northampton stores
- BREAKING NEWS: Police name man killed in crash on motorway in Northamptonshire
- Student flats planned for Northampton town centre revealed
- BREAKING NEWS: Fishmarket art gallery offered new home
- Student flats planned for Northampton town centre revealed
- New manager of Northampton’s Grosvenor Centre says ‘This is the beginning of a new era’
- BREAKING NEWS: Police inundated with hundreds of complaints over snowball fights
- Neighbours raise concern about bid to build new house three inches from their home
- Exclusive: Saints voluntarily move key Heineken Cup match to Milton Keynes
- Bird’s hilarious take on village life absurdities at comedy club
- Northampton commuters blast railway fare rises
- Sooty may be left with bullet in neck following senseless attack
- Ashton determined to end Saints career on a high
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to -0 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South east
