January 9: New school scheme will halt progress
Regarding the proposal to close Unity College, Northampton, and open an academy, the local education authority (LEA) and the Diocese of Peterborough are already responsible for Unity College and they are the main sponsors for the academy.
Therefore one has to question the motivation for this proposal.
The unsavoury conclusion that I have come to is that the LEA's motivation is political, that it wishes to remove a failing school's results from league tables which would lead to an impression of an improvement of the education of the children in our community.
I also believe the following should be considered: It is indisputable that Unity College has had a troubled beginning and perhaps if this proposal had been made six months ago, I may have felt that it was a good idea. However, with Mrs Gwynne as the principal of Unity College, there have already been huge improvements in the educational environment at the school.
To stop Mrs Gwynne's progress at this moment in time would be to negate the positive impact she has already had and will stall the process of improvement for at least another 18 months.
This would have a disastrous impact on the education of the children at the school, and this should be the prime focus for the local education authority.
One has to question, if Margaret Gwynne was the outstanding candidate when she was originally appointed, why is she unsuitable now?
Her impact on the school so far has demonstrated how outstanding she is.
I say "no" to Unity College being closed to make way for a new academy.
Lorraine Batty,
Broadway, Northampton.
Only answer is to quit the EU
Keith Jackson (Viewpoint January 2), had it spot on and, I presume, would agree with me in answer to Emma McClarkin, who on December 29 asked: "How much longer must we keep paying hand over fist for this Government?"
The answer: "For as long as we are members of the EU".
Once again a Conservative is hiding the truth about the EU by blaming the Government.
Of course the Government has grossly mis-managed the Single Farm Payments but that's a Common Agricultural Policy scheme.
If we were not EU members it would not have arisen in the first place.
These CAP payments are included in the money the EU so generously gives us back every year, 15 billion in but only about 10 billion back.
Would anybody like to suggest what we should be doing with the 5 billion we never see again?
It will make no difference whether the Tories or Labour form the Government, since the Conservatives are determined to keep us in the EU with its thirst for our money.
So, as a candidate for them in the East Midlands next June, where exactly does Emma stand?
As for me, I am standing again as lead candidate for UKIP next June and my policy is crystal clear: get out of the EU and end this expensive nonsense once and for all.
Derek Clark MEP,
UKIP, East Midlands.
Volunteers make vital contribution
Are you looking for a totally new experience in 2009? Do you want to do something positive to escape the January gloom?
If so, then make volunteering your New Year's Resolution.
If you have a few hours to give, voluntary work can help you gain new skills, make new friends, boost your career options and increase your self-confidence.
Opportunities can include befriending, environmental work, providing legal advice and management.
But, whatever you choose to do, you will be making a vital contribution to your community.
Most organisations will provide training and travel expenses and you can decide how much time you want to give before you start.
So take a look at the volunteering opportunities available in your area by visiting www.do-it.org.uk
Alternatively, you can contact me on 01327 358264 for an informal chat or email:
nicola@snvb.org.uk for more information.
Nicola Shaw,
SNVB, Moat Lane, Towcester, NN12 6AD.
Israel must be stopped now
More than 700 Gazans, including children and women, have been killed in Israel's offensive on Gaza.
Israeli troops and navy have pounded the populated areas of Gaza, killing at least 42 people on Tuesday.
An Israeli strike killed children who had taken refuge inside a UN school in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
I condemn the Israeli attack on Gaza and I strongly condemn the USA's support for Israel. Under international law, civilians should not be attacked.
They are not only attacking residential areas but also targeting schools and hospitals.
I would like to thank Gordon Brown for speaking up for the Palestinians and voting for a ceasefire, against the wishes of George W Bush, although I would like to see British Government to do a lot more towards peace.
If we don't stop Israel now, this could lead into a serious war between different religions.
It's about time that Israel should be told to stop killing innocent children and women of Palestine.
Councillor Ifty Choudary,
Northampton Borough Council.
New kids such a disappointment
When the Lib Dems resoundingly won the last election, most people, including myself, welcomed them as the new kids on the block who were going to get something positive done about the way the town is run.
Alas, the honeymoon didn't last.
Instead of getting down to brass tacks they prevaricated, sat on the fence, leaned whichever way the wind was blowing, and even brought in expensive consultants to sort out Northampton's lovely Market Square, something they said they would never do before the elections.
Then when they eventually made decisions they were the wrong ones, apart from opening the public toilets again as things were getting a bit sticky in places.
To make matters worse, they gave us nice sounding phrases to conceal something which is the opposite of what they are telling you.
Breaking up and cutting down the size of the market, for instance, is disguised as "improvements" to the Market Square.
Frankly, I'm very disappointed with the Liberal Democrats in Northampton and the fight goes on because I won't let them destroy an 800-year-old market where many local people shop, including a large diversity of ethnic groups.
Read more at www.fitzynorthampton.co.uk
Eamonn 'Fitzy' Fitzpatrick,
Ridgeway,
Northampton.
Lights were a joy
I agree with the letter Scrooge is alive by Mrs J Jones.
On Saturday evening I was taken to see the lights in the small market town of Market Bosworth.
They were a joy to see and although they were all one colour, every shop and building had made an effort.
Come on Northampton council . . . don't let our town down again!
Mrs P Frost,
Bugbrooke Road, Kislingbury.
Parking charges key to recovery
Assuming Brian Hoare's figure is right (Viewpoint, December 30), Northampton Borough Council's income benefits from parking charges to the tune of 3million.
That is 3million that the public would otherwise have had to spend in Northampton's shops. I'm sure the market sellers and small independent shops could really do with a chunk of that right now.
The council is taking advantage of its parasitic relationship with the retailers, without whom no-one would come to town, penalising both them and the public.
It is contributing significantly to the death of its host and this has to stop . . . it has to be a symbiotic relationship beneficial to all parties.
The parking charges alone make it uneconomic to shop for smaller items in the town centre. If we want to save the market and the small retailers then there need to be fewer deterrents to coming in to town.
How about offering some free on-street parking first thing in the morning and late afternoon?
If we must be charged for on-street parking, then make it between 11.00 and 16.30, so that those of us who just want to pop in to town to visit the market and perhaps a few of our small independent shops can do so cost effectively, off-peak.
I stopped visiting the town centre regularly when the free one hour on-street parking was ended some years ago. I have never resumed these frequent visits, I just buy it all from the supermarket now.
If I could still park for up to one hour free, I would start coming into town again early in the mornings.
With these one hour slots, I would visit the market and bakery, the music shop and stationers, do a little window shopping and stop by for a coffee.
Not much profit in window shopping? Well, yes there is, because when I have gifts to buy, need new clothes, or have bigger domestic purchases to make, I have ideas and know who's got what.
I'm sure I'm not alone in this and that such a relaxing of the parking charges would make a big difference. The town centre shops need a level playing field with the out-of-town retail parks and it's about time the borough council did something to redress the balance.
For 30 years, at least, there has been no joined-up thinking applied by successive councils and – if it's not too late already – there needs to be a major rethink about how this town is served.
The parking charges are just one contentious issue, there are oh so many more examples of short-sightedness and incompetence.
Duncan Billingham,
Lyne Walk, Hackleton.
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Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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