March 25: Councillors need to get a backbone
Do people elected by the general public ever listen to their views and wishes? I doubt this very much.
On Wednesday last week, I attended a council meeting at the Guildhall and sat there disgusted by what some so-called intelligent councillors were saying to one disgusted audience member after another.
Firstly, the residents residing in an area around an apparently disused quarry were dismayed when informed that the council would not strongly object to it being reopened.
Councillors Varnsverry and Mildren were, along with Councillor Collins, the only ones I noticed, along with councillors of the parishes, who were against the blot on the landscape.
At the second meeting, Councillors Hadland and Clarke were the only noticeable objectors to the now-confirmed "revamp" of our historic market, despite a massive vote of no confidence to Councillor Church's proposals.
Councillors should stop acting like sheep and get a backbone and disagree with each other now and again.
This town is dying and in slow decay.
Strong independent decisions are needed.
Mr M J Baker,
Windyridge, Kingsthorpe, Northampton.
We might as well be in Russia . . .
The stubborn, arrogant, foolishness of this Liberal Democratic administration has to be seen to be believed.
It was very evident at the Northampton Borough Council cabinet meeting on March 18 when scores of market traders packed into the council chamber and were told they must not speak or comment.
I had managed to collect 11,000 signatures for Save the Market petition and even then I was not allowed to speak.
It's not Russia is it? It just feels like it when the Lib Dems are around.
I would like to thank everyone again who helped in our "Save the Market" campaign so far, and especially all those shoppers who signed our petition.
It is a sad day for democracy when the signatures of 11,000 people are seen to be cast aside as nothing, in favour of the wishes of a half-dozen paid, nodding councillors.
It doesn't matter how it affects other people's lives.
But the fight goes on and it isn't over till the lady sings, as they say.
The gravy train for the Lib Dems is going to come to an end eventually and when it does I hope to see them wiped out in the elections.
Talking of elections, I intend standing against Richard Church in his own ward come the county council elections, just to liven things up a bit.
Meanwhile we shall be watching them.
E Fitzpatrick,
Ridgeway, Northampton.
Parades should be regular events
Shipmans Forces Aid was proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the good citizens of Northampton witnessing the parade of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers.
A proud day for us all!
While the soldiers may have been ordered to stay focused on the parade, there can be no misunderstanding of how happy they were with the support that they received.
Many smiles from the marching troops, a hand in the air from the tank crew as a recognition of support.
I am sure, on behalf of Shipmans Forces Aid and the citizens of Northampton that we are proud of our armed forces, their commitment to defend our realm and to protect those who need protecting.
Parades, as the one on Wednesday, should not be an occasional matter. They should be regular events.
Well done to all our armed forces!
Paul Scully,
Secretary, Shipmans Forces Aid, The Drapery, Northampton.
Soldier's smile took years off me
What a great parade to see the lads marching through Northampton.
I felt so proud to be there and show how great it was to welcome them back.
My special thanks to the young guy in the second vehicle.
When I held my card up saying "well done lads", he gave me a lovely wave and smile.
He knocked 50 years off my 78 years.
Best wishes to them and all their families.
Mrs Joyce Marrison,
Woodhall Close, West Hunsbury, Northampton.
Well done town
What a lovely turn out for those soldiers.
I didn't think there would be so many people and I was proud to be one of them.
Well done Northampton.
E Clarke,
St Michael's Road,
Northampton.
Planners right to enforce rules
Your recent article states that the advertising banner erected by Felix Yu outside his restaurant has upset the council and that he is the victim of killjoy planning regulations.
My view, together with many others, is that the council should be applauded for trying to stop the obvious decline in standards in our town centre.
A huge number of shop fascias and shop fronts are of poor standard, both in design and in materials.
This tackiness is definitely contributing to the continuing decline of our town centre.
There is no reason for shops to look tacky, even if the products they sell include budget items.
We must give the council our full support on this issue.
Joe Castello,
Earl Street, Northampton.
Samaritans want some feedback
Samaritans is currently undertaking a research project to investigate caller and volunteer views of the organisation and we would encourage readers who have contacted Samaritans by phone or email to take part in the study, particularly men, as this group is currently under-represented.
The confidential nature of Samaritans' service means that volunteers rarely receive any feedback from callers regarding their experience of contact and how they feel it has helped them, or could have been more supportive and effective.
In these times of economic uncertainty, it is vitally important that the service offered by your local Samaritans branch is as relevant and beneficial to as wide a group of people as possible.
There are nearly 17,000 volunteers in 202 branches throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland who respond to callers via phone, email, face-to-face meetings and correspondence.
The results of the evaluation, being conducted by independent researchers at Nottingham University, will enable Samaritans to improve the service it provides and develop the most appropriate and effective means of supporting callers in the future.
All information gathered will be treated in strict confidence. The research aims to:
Examine the nature of the support offered by Samaritans services
Explore the views and experiences of Samaritans volunteers in delivering services
Identify and explore callers' in-depth experiences of making contact with Samaritans' services
Investigate the needs of callers and the help they expect to obtain from contacting Samaritans and how this differs from other sources of support across the voluntary and statutory sectors.
For additional information please visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/nursing/shelp.
Kate Redway,
Public Relations Manager, Samaritans.
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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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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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