Bury Free Press readers' letters to the editor
Dozens of residents have been fined
When will the person responsible for the recent dramatic increase in parking fines in Bury St Edmunds’ Zone D be dismissed from their job for not informing the relevant parking permit holders of the suspension of parking bays.
Dozens of residents in Zone D who were not informed received multiple parking fines after innocently parking their car in the usual way. Signage in the bay was either very poor or placed after the permit holder had parked.
Suffolk County Council has a list of parking permit names and addresses but someone chose to entrust Telec, the telecoms company, to do a shambolic letter drop on December 9, 2021, that was supposed to inform permit holders of bay suspensions, but the majority did not receive the letter.
Anyone who decided to appeal the fine received a ‘rejection of challenge’ notice stating that all residents of Zone D had been informed.
John Wall, Bury St Edmunds
Health hub a brilliant idea
The suggestion made by Roderick Rees to use the empty Debenhams store in Bury St Edmunds as a health hub (Letters, March 11) is brilliant.
Has the NHS looked seriously at that possibility?
To think that all clinics, now held at Moreton Hall, would be back in the middle of town near the bus station with a large choice of buses to surrounding villages. Pensioners and others with bus passes would not be faced with long waits for a bus or large taxi fares they can ill-afford.
At present there is a 20-minute walk from the nearest bus stop to Drovers House in Hillside Road. Too far for most elderly or people with walking problems.
If it were only possible to make this change, it could be a long-term solution and make a lot of people very happy.
Anne Van Woerden, Bury St Edmunds
PM’s utterings are an insult
I am appalled – and I appear not to be alone – by the latest utterings of the Prime Minister, in which he compares the situation in the Ukraine with the Brexit vote.
There is no way that the situation in the Ukraine can be compared with people voting in a referendum. He said that people voted in ‘droves’ to leave the EU; he should also remember that people voted in ‘droves’ to remain. That, however, is by the by when one considers the comparison he was making. Such a comparison is an insult to Ukrainians, Russians and all those who oppose the war.
I suppose that I have grown cynical under this present government and its ‘spinning’; however, I cannot believe that a man so intelligent would make such a crass statement without an ulterior motive; the motive being to lead us to forget other examples of his crassness - ‘partygate’ to name but one. I like many people have not forgotten.
Martin Webb, Bury St Edmunds
These nations wanted to join EU
My usual reaction on reading Steve Britt’s (the self-proclaimed ‘businessman, libertarian and Brexiteer’) columns is either hysterical laughter or barely containable anger. So it was with some surprise that for the first few paragraphs of his latest (Bury Free Press, March 11) – on the war in Ukraine – I found myself more or less in agreement with him. The blame for the ghastly war in Ukraine placed squarely with Putin. No equivocation, no attempt at ‘understanding’ Russia’s ‘concerns’.
But alas, all good things must come to an end, as he soon returns to form.
Apparently, all the poor Russians want is to ‘be accepted as part of the civilised western world’. Perhaps, if they acted in a civilised way, they
would be welcomed with open arms.
It seems also that we’re to blame for not buying enough goods from them.
Perhaps if they made anything worth buying, except their oil and gas, we might.
And, of course, the real villain is Britt’s bête noir, the ‘protectionist’ EU. Its ‘speedy expansion’ into eastern Europe has ‘certainly alarmed Moscow’.
Of course, the fact that the liberated nations of central and eastern Europe have wanted to join, and have joined, the EU (itself a concept that’s beyond Britt’s comprehension) alarms the tyrant in the Kremlin.
What he could not tolerate is the example of a prosperous, civilised, democratic union of nations governed by the rule of law showing up his repressive kleptocratic regime for the economic catastrophe that it is.
Zigurds G Kronbergs, Barrow
Wonderful chance to celebrate
I was delighted to see that the first stage of the Women’s Cycling Tour of Britain will be finishing this year on the Angel Hill on June 6.
Several years ago I watched the British Stage of the Tour De France on its route near Cambridge. All of a sudden the sight of helicopters in the sky following the cyclists indicated to the large crowd spread out along the route that the Tour was coming. All too soon the peleton arrived and flashed past, followed by the posse of team support vehicles.
On another occasion, I was present on Angel Hill as a volunteer at the start of the Women’s Tour. The excitement amongst the crowd built up and all of a sudden the riders started and were off.
The fact that the tour stage is this time finishing on the Angel Hill is probably the best option of all. Not only will the excitement be tremendous but there will be the opportunity to see the winners on the podium celebrating their success.
A wonderful opportunity as well for the beautiful Angel Hill area to be featured in any coverage, and for local businesses to benefit from increased trade from spectators.
All at the same time as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Celebrations are certainly in order.
A fine finish indeed.
Graham Day, Ridgeway, Stowmarket
Online payments are a headache
After a bill has dropped through my letterbox, I can safely say that, within a day or so, a cheque has been written out for the appropriate amount and posted to the sender of the bill without delay.
I have stuck to this routine, not to be anything other than clear in my own mind that I am not – knowingly – in debt.
Having grudgingly agreed to receive and pay bills online, this has proved to be a headache of monstrous proportions, as I have spent the last 48 hours (and counting) trying to pay an energy bill without the slightest sign of success.
The problem arises because I have changed my mobile provider but want to retain my original mobile number and, would
you believe, they seemingly cannot cope with such an everyday occurrence.
Perhaps by next week’s edition of the Bury Free Press I will have succeeded in paying this, now outstanding, bill – but I’m not holding my breath.
Name and address supplied
Join us for Walk of Witness
Good Friday is a very special day for Christians worldwide, when we commemorate the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
This, though a serious and solemn occasion, is a glorious one in that Jesus, God’s Son, gave His life as an atonement for the sins of humankind, available for all people, and for all time.
This makes a way for all to come to God and receive forgiveness and new life through Jesus’ death, and His victory over death, in the resurrection, celebrated on Easter Day.
The Churches in Bury St Edmunds and District are holding a special event on Good Friday, April 15, beginning with a service in the Cathedral at 10.30am, after which there will be a procession, starting at about 10.55am, from the Cathedral across Angel Hill,
up Abbeygate Street and along Buttermarket to the Market Square.
The walk will be behind a large wooden cross and be accompanied by a single drum beat.
At the Market Square there will be a stage, where, at about 11.10am there will be a short service of songs, and dramatised readings. This will finish by about 11.40am. with coffee and hot cross buns then available.
Churches Together is grateful to the town council for its support for this event, for police security and road closures, and to First Aid.
Our purpose is to identify with the basic facts of the Christian gospel on this special day, in the Good Friday Walk of Witness, to communicate the great message of Easter, and to be a united witness to our town. All are welcome to come, to any or all parts of this event, to watch and/or to join in.
Heather Corbell, Chair, Churches Together in Bury St Edmunds and District
Some excellent entertainment
Re Thurston College Year 11 Dance.
The lights dimmed, the curtain went up and an evening of ‘Ballet Dance’ by the students of Year 11 treated the audience to musical tracks from Romeo and Juliet, Adele and others. The dancing covered every aspect of emotion – love, abuse, slavery etc. Excellent ballet movement and of the highest standard.
Many thanks, students for your devoted work.
Many thanks, teachers and staff, you are appreciated for your time and effort, especially in these troubled times.
Many thanks for a wonderful evening’s entertainment.
Anne and Michael Torode via email
Help us to beat this disease
In the UK, 1,000 people die from breast cancer every month – that’s 1,000 too many.
Most of those deaths are from secondary breast cancer, which occurs when breast cancer cells spread from the first (primary) cancer in the breast to other parts of the body. Secondary breast cancer can be treated but not cured, so we urgently need to do more for people affected by this incurable disease.
Breast Cancer Now is calling on readers to pledge to raise £1,000 by December 31 – from bake sales, to getting sponsored to walk or run, however you choose to raise the funds you’ll make a difference by supporting research, care and campaigns for anyone affected by incurable breast cancer.
We need more research.
Every day in the lab brings us closer to a future where everyone with breast cancer lives and is supported to live well. Help us get there faster.
We must ensure no-one faces secondary breast cancer alone.
There are an estimated 35,000 people living with secondary breast cancer in the UK, but without an accurate, up-to-date figure, we’re missing insight and much-needed information about their experiences and outcomes.
Help us create a future where people with secondary breast cancer get more precious moments with the people they love, and to do the things they love – sign up to our £1,000 Challenge today at https://breastcancernow.org/1000_challenge.
Rachael Franklin, Breast Cancer Now
