Giving a voice to vulnerable people
I used to regularly speak at council meetings about the cuts from as far back as 2005.
I became so angry that I took the trouble to arrange to speak at these meetings and as I spoke I looked directly at the councillors and I reckon about half of them did not even look up for one second of my allotted three minutes and most of these were Tory councillors!
I once made a note when I got back to the public gallery of how many of them were reading documents and passing notes to each other and even checking texts. Some were whispering to each other and I came away with the feeling many of them felt ‘we are in charge, we have to allow the public to address us but we do not have to listen if we choose not to’. As a speaker you do very much get the feeling that ‘it’s a done deal’.
When they had a consultation over cuts in respite such as Quarry House, even though thousands signed a petition against closure of this vital rescource they closed it anyway. When consultations were first used many people really thought if enough people said no to a new proposal it would not go ahead. History has proved it may never have been the case at all.
My sense of outrage over the lack of compassion shown to vulnerable people in this county has never diminished. Millions are saved in this county by carers doing a superb job of looking after loved ones but still it seems the first place to look for savings by those lucky enough to be free of caring for someone 24 hours a day, leaving them free to decide the fate of those who do.
I am still angry that many disabled people are more and more isolated as day centres close and the lights are switched off to prevent them getting out in the evening. I worry about parents coping with lifting their heavy disabled children up and down stairs while they wait to see if they can get help with financing a stair lift, downstairs shower or bedroom.
The ‘You Choose’ campaign by NCC was incomprehensible to those with learning disabilities, dementia or some mental health problems. How were they supposed to respond to it and say please don’t cut my services?
Chris Kinsey,
Carlow Street, Ringstead, Kettering.
Is now time to save the planet?
I would like to announce the safe arrival of my slop bucket, a very nice brown colour that will blend nicely with the brown and black wheely bins and the green and blue recycling boxes I already have. Don’t misunderstand me, I am more than happy to ‘do my bit’ to save our planet and I recycle all that I can; paper, plastics, glass etc.
I also donate to various charitiy shops with any unwanted clothes, furniture and household items that could be sold on to others.
My concern is with the introduction of these slop buckets and the cost to us, the taxpayers, at a time when vital services are being cut to the bone. Now is not the right time to put even more pressure on the public purse.
Money should go to maintaining care for the elderly whether it be at home or in care, respite for carers, voluntary organisations such as the hospices who do so much to help those in need, and other worthwhile services.
I don’t understand the priorities of our council when they can sanction such a scheme whilst cutting more necessary services. Waiting until a more ecomomic time will not doom our planet to instant obliteration but the lives of those affected by the cuts deserve more consideration now.
Carolyn Barnes,
Billing Road East, Northampton.
We’re still paying more for less
Great news for all council tax payers, our politicians are freezing council tax for 2012-13.
And this is the second year they have done this for us.
But what they are not telling us is that we are the ones paying for this. Yes, this is coming from our national taxes, i.e. income tax, VAT, etc.
Our national government is generously paying extra grant to all those local councils that do not increase their council tax for 2012-13. This is expected to cost £805m.
As Government gets all its money from tax, this means from you and me, then we are paying this £805m.
Why is our Government being so generous to us with our own money?
Simple, to keep inflation price increases down. Council tax is included in the inflation calculations. Lower inflation gives the Government a good news story. And price indices affect our benefits and pensions, leading to lower increases.
So, unknowingly, until now, you are paying to freeze council tax and keep the inflation price indices down. At the same time, all our councils are cutting your services. So you still pay more for less. A double whammy!
And all the politicians get good PR from keeping tax and inflation down.
The old adage “never look a gift horse in the mouth” definitely still applies.
Trevor Robins,
Links View, Northampton.
Immigration can be beneficial
AM I alone in beginning to feel like a stranger in my country of birth and origin, Great Britain? I have purposely resisted the title “United Kingdom” as “Disunited Kingdom” would now be more appropriate!
Controlled immigration is without doubt both desirable and beneficial. However, admitting those of other faiths, cultures and traditions is acceptable, providing their adherents do not despise and oppose what we stand for whilst seeking to impose their way on us.
Do you remember the well worn slogan “It’s a free country.” No it isn’t, which is why I’m choosing my words carefully, for whilst we still have (up to a point) freedom of speech, it is conditional on not criticising a certain non-Christian faith.
On the positive side however, I found both the Queen’s and the Prime Minister’s Christmas speeches encouraging.
So let’s be more assertive, otherwise we will lose the freedoms, rights and privileges we fought two world wars to retain.
Jim Price,
Moulton, Northampton.
Listen to the bus station users
Will someone in authority please listen to, and take note of, what regular public transport users have to say, before it becomes too late.
I read all articles, letters and texts in the Chron, and I believe I’m correct in saying, that no-one who uses public transport wants the bus station resiting.
All seem to say (including bus drivers) that the Fishmarket site is too small and too open. They also say Greyfriars just needs brightening up, new toilets and escalators etc which is a cheaper, safer and better prospect.
I believe the only people who agree with resiting the station, are people who don’t use public transport!
On one hand, people who realise the potential problems, and on the other, people – and I’m sorry to sound disrespectful – who are clueless!
Brian Lovesy,
Willow View, Kislingbury.
Poor scores over Hester affair
None of the three main political parties of today comes out of the “Stephen Hester Affair” with much credit.
I would award the Conservatives five out of 10 for at least recognising Stephen Hester’s worth even as they blame the last Labour government for employing him.
I would award the Liberal Democrats only two out of 10 for meekly following in their master’s footsteps.
Labour deserve zero out of 10 for their failure to recognise the wisdom of Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown in bailing out RBS in 2008/9 and appointing Stephen Hester in the first instance.
Peter Brown,
The Green,
Great Houghton, Northampton.
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