Letters: May 18, 2016

Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

A subtle connection

THERE was a subtle but interesting connection between a short report “Cyclist arrested” and the letter from Guy Green, “Shame on the PCC” Swindon Advertiser, May 10.

The report said a 20-year-old man from Swindon was arrested on suspicion of dangerous cycling after an 85-year-old woman was knocked down in the Wharf Green area.

We were told she received minor injuries. At her age it is likely she suffered from shock. I hope the injuries she sustained were not too severe and she makes a full recovery as soon as possible.

I have noticed reckless cycling on footpaths appears to be on the increase.

In Wroughton “No cycling” signs have appeared at various locations on footpaths but are often ignored by inconsiderate and dangerous cyclists.

I have been involved in and seen a number of near-misses where youths and adult cyclists have ridden dangerously on footpaths.

They have almost hit pedestrians, including elderly people. Unlike car drivers, cyclists are not compelled to have insurance.

When I turned to the letters page I noticed Mr Green’s letter condemning the now re-elected Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner for his lack of public communication.

Mr Green went on to say, “Mr Macpherson needs to be much more visible and must engage with the public.”

I believe Mr Green is justified in saying he feels ashamed 3,500 electors spoiled their ballots in protest at their lack of knowledge about the post of PCC.

In Wiltshire turnout for the PCC voting was just 25 per cent. Of this, Mr Macpherson received 45 per cent of first preference votes.

This means just 11 people out of every 100, of the total electorate, chose Mr Macpherson as their preferred candidate.

I suggest Mr Macpherson should start to gain some public recognition by campaigning for safer footpaths.

Inconsiderate and dangerous cyclists should not be allowed to jeopardise pedestrian safety.

He should also do something about pavement parking which is another on-going problem for pedestrians.

Mr Green uses the term “gravy train” for the post of PCC. If Mr Macpherson started to take a more pro-active approach he might help to give some justification for the high salary which he receives.

K KANE

Wharf Road, Wroughton

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Explain, Mr Green

IN REPLY to Guy Green’s recent letter “Shame on the PCC” he says that Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire PCC, should feel ashamed 3,500 people spoilt their ballot paper in the recent election. Please explain that statement Mr Green.

You also say he needs to be more visible and engage with the public.

May I suggest Mr Green clicks on to “news archive” on Mr Macpherson’s website to see how visible Angus is across Swindon and Wiltshire.

Mr Green is a regular reader of the Adver, so I’m amazed he hasn’t seen Mr Macpherson on these very pages attending events/meetings, likewise he is also very often on BBC Wiltshire informing the Wiltshire public of his public meetings where we can ask questions of his role and Wiltshire police in general.

Having met Mr Macpherson on several occasions at different events I’m sure he would be more than happy to discuss any issues Mr Green may have if he were to attend a public meeting.

MARK WEBB

Old Town,

Swindon

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Warning from history

DON’T vote for an Eton-educated Prime Minister, a “warning from history” words I have written many times in these pages.

I am right about David Cameron, leader of the Tory party since 2005. He didn’t get a majority vote from his Parliamentary party, it was the Blue Rinse Brigade who voted him in, and then fell out with him over gay marriage.

Past leaders of the Tory party must be turning in their graves when they see a Tory Prime Minister call for an in-out referendum on a policy of such importance.

We need foreign investors. The financial committee of the Bank of England say Britain relies on them, to fund a balance of payments deficit on our current account that has reached a dangerous high by historical and international standards.

The country is stagnating, the pound has fallen by 10 per cent, investment is at a standstill and things will continue to deteriorate until June 23 and, if it’s leave, there will be more deterioration for two to 10 years.

A remain vote will restore the status-quo, but the stupidity of Cameron calling a referendum will put the country back years.

It’s what you get with a Chancellor who says austerity is a growth policy, a Prime Minister who is not fit for purpose and an electorate with a masochistic tendency when it comes to voting.

If Leave should win the referendum I would advise young people to learn another language, or even two, and don’t listen to grandad, we are no longer the land of hope and glory, we don’t rule the waves and gunboats will get us nowhere, we can’t afford them.

This is the 21st century, the Victorian era is gone, the best thing we got from them was Albert’s Victorian Chutney - Baxters do a good one.

MJ WARNER

Groundwell Road, Swindon

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No basis in truth

IN HIS quite ridiculous and utterly inaccurate letter “Risks of leaving the EU” Alex Hegenbarth made several claims which, quite simply, have no basis in truth.

“The British Government still determines the vast majority of policy” - no it doesn’t. EU Commissioner Viviane Reding confirmed on February 13, 2014 that the EU made “some 70 per cent of all UK law” while a separate, independent, survey on March 2, 2015, found that the figure was “around 64.7 per cent.”

Whichever is correct it’s all a long way from your figure of two per cent, Alex.

“The UK would be excluded from the EU decision making process.” Yes, but our influence is one voice in 28 (about eight per cent). We have lost 40 of the last 40 attempts that the UK has tried to influence the decision and that “influence” falls as more nations join.

Better to get out and return 100 per cent of the decision making to UK hands.

“The UK is unlikely to strike better trade deals outside the EU.” Another economy with the truth.

Under the Treaty of Rome the UK has no power to enter into any trade deal, so any we can do outside has to be far better than at present.

Outside the EU we can resume our seat at the World Trade Organisation, something we have not been permitted to do since 1975.

“The EU is our largest market and leaving will affect thousands of jobs in our local area.” Two things wrong here, the EU is not “our largest market” and we have a trade deficit of £67bn a year with it while our trade with the rest of the world is at “£31bn in credit” (House of Commons Library).

The other thing wrong is that Professor Iain Begg, who first came up with the ‘job loss’ theory, has distanced himself from it saying it is being “misrepresented and misquoted” by the in-siders.

“Leaving would have a destabilising effect on the rest of the EU.” The truth, at last. The EU is like a fragile house of cards - pull one out and the whole lot collapses.

This is why the leaders are so against Brexit. If we leave their cosy sinecures will fall too.

But one other point on this. France, Greece, Holland, Belgium, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Italy; the electorate in all these nations increasingly have their minds set against the EU and anti-EU parties, like our own UKIP, are on the rise as people realise the EU is on its last legs.

The EU will most likely fall in a year or two and it’s better to get out on our terms than be kicked out on theirs.

GREG HEATHCLIFFE

Okus Road, Swindon

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Read your letter first

TO REPLY to the letter from Mr Hegenbarth, can I first say he should read his letters before he sends them in - he says that the people who want to leave are trying to get a third world war going again with Germany.

If he reads the comments from the PM, if we leave, we will have world war three anyway, so that’s one problem out of the way.

He goes on about how we run this country, at present around 50 per cent of all UK laws come from the EU, and we just go along with it.

Just watch if the vote goes your way - then kettles, irons and the rest will be subject to new EU laws.

Did he read of the six men who have been fighting deportation for about 10 years?

Because of their human rights they won and can now stay in this country. Think of the costs of that court battle.

We have no control of our borders, did you read the latest figures on immigration? Can you explain how we can provide all the necessary back-up for that, like housing, medical treatment, education? We are being overrun.

Can you confirm that the majority of our exports go to countries outside of the EU? This should show you we can live on our own.

Can you confirm if the OECD, or the IMF, obtain funding from the EU? You say that leaving the EU would destabilise the EU, do you mean such stable countries like Greece or Spain, or the new ones coming in, like Turkey, Slovakia?

Get your pen out Mr Hegenbarth, ready to vote out...

Perhaps you can explain how all these learned people from the banks and the IMF, or former PM Mr Brown, can tell us what will happen if we leave, but couldn’t see or do anything about the recession in 2008.

T REYNOLDS

Wheeler Avenue

Swindon

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Woodbine Terrace

IN REPLY to Steven Blanchard’s letter on May 13 regarding “Woodbine Terrace.” The road at Coate has been named “Woodbine Terrace” for as long as I remember and I am now nonagenarian.

Woodbine is another name for the scented Honeysuckle.

MARJORIE SHEPPARD

Kingsley Way,

Swindon