Readers’ letters from this week’s Journal

Two letters caught my eye in the Journal of June 16.

Firstly, from Allyson Barrow who asserts that 'Waveney Constituents will be unsettled by the national election result as we wait to see how a new Government will be formed'. Personally, far from being unsettled I was absolutely delighted that there is now at last an effective opposition to this government who are responsible for the imposition of the 'doom and gloom' that Allyson Barrow refers to and that 'we can now at last really move forward'.

The second letter from Peter Aldous our MP to whom congratulations on being re-elected. I am sure he will try and do his best but it will require a change of heart from being in favour of the EU and the austerity measures. To ensure as he says 'that Brexit benefits the area and that and the NHS, schools, colleges, the councils and the police to deliver high quality public services' will require a dramatic change in policy. All we have seen up until now are the cuts in all these public services plus the magistrates courts, coastal watches, border controls and the fire service, the adverse results of which are now becoming apparent both nationally and locally.

Never mind, we can always trust that the post Brexit resurgence of the fishing industry from the miasma of plasticised and over fished oceans will see us through.

NORMAN CASTLETON

York Road

Lowestoft

Appalled at state of town

Yesterday afternoon I and my husband walked through the Lowestoft shopping centre, something we do on occasion when there's not been too much of a hold-up at the bridge, and we were appalled at the filthy state of the pavements and shop frontages in the town centre.

Being a seaside town I understand that it is nigh on impossible to prevent the gulls from leaving their excrement all over the pavement and seats etc but that is only part of the problem as everywhere has a great lot of rubbish consisting of cigarette ends, food cartons, and spillages of all shapes and colours spread all across the walkways.

The shop doorways are dirty and the shop frontages are dilapidated and seriously in need of redecorating.

We noticed that M&S have renovated the frontage of their store but unfortunately the effects of this are lost being surrounded by the filth and decay of a lot of the neighbouring shops.

What has happened to this once lovely town? I was born and brought up in Lowestoft and I have to say that I felt disgusted and very sad to see it in this state. Where's the hardship of employing cleaners with high-pressure hoses to swill down the pavements early each morning, and the shopkeepers to smarten up their doorways and frontages? Trouble is, dirt and rubbish will only encourage people to add to it all because it's apparent that 'Apathy Rules OK?'.

I want to be proud of being a Lowestoftian again!

MRS P BLOWERS

Silverwood Close

Lowestoft

Three holes is not enough

I am glad to have had a response regarding the perceived lack of any archaeologists survey carried out on the recent building projects in the area of old Lowestoft and the Town Hall.

Obviously the gentleman from All Saints road was part of the team which carried out the investigation on these sites. However when he use the word investigation, it means to me, they investigated, a site of which we know is covered from back to front with history. Three 10ft square holes is an investigation, but on a site, known by all, for its history, digging three holes is not good enough.

You mention rubble yes there would be rubble, you mention medieval, yes there is over one thousand years of buildings on that site.

Now the difference between those sites and our sheltered housing site. Although our site was situated in the vicinity of a church there was no evidence of any prior buildings or history, but we felt, when told we had to have a archaeological survey carried out, okay we understand.

The site was approximately 2 acres, some trenches were dug, but nothing was found. It was then decided, they would have to take off 2 feet of earth from the whole 2 acres, we still said okay, although we did not have choice. The whole 2 feet from the complete site was removed and heaped onto an adjacent field.

Nothing of interest was found apart from some stones which the archaeologist thought was an old path, also the remains of a shed, all these things were recorded for history.

To make matters worse we were left to put the - I forget how many thousand tonnes the earth was - back. Just to pay me back for all the wrong things I have done in my life, the heavens opened and we had the worst September for rain in resent history.

We were left with a 2 acre, 2 feet deep lake, neighbours were worried they might be flooded, but at the end of the day, you just get over these things I hope you will understand why I wondered if there was one law for the council and another for private developers.

There are no bad feelings in this letter and I respect Mr Durbridge's views, but like my dad used to say, it was a lick and a promise, not a complete survey, which it should have been and now its history is gone forever.

GERALD BAXTER

Email

My dog attacked on park walk

On Sunday afternoon, while walking with my dog in Normanston Park, two dogs broke away from their owners and attacked my dog.

Whether they were on leads before they pulled away I know not. My dog was badly bitten and in her agonised panic she bit my hand, which bled profusely. Neither of the owners said sorry, although one did ask if I wanted an ambulance. Various friends have asked why I didn't the call the police.

Firstly, I was in shock, and 'two shirtless men' hardly provides a very helpful description. Dog wardens? Does Lowestoft have any? I've lived here for over 20 years, and most of that time have walked a dog, and once, yes only in all that time, did I see a dog warden.

However, several lads went out of their way to offer help, one wiping the blood off my hand with the handkerchief I proffered, and the next day one approached and asked how I was coping. He and the ones the day before referred to the dogs and their owners by nouns I couldn't possibly use here. However, their concern and solicitude was almost a redeeming feature of a very upsetting experience and I am deeply grateful to them.

My hand swelled but is receiving medical attention, the dog is healing but is very subdued.

JOHN WREN

Email

Amazing garden was opened to us

We would like to thank Mary and Gary Edwards for opening their amazing garden for the public to visit on Wednesday, June 14, It was absolutely fantastic, It was a beautiful day and it was hard to believe we were in the middle of residential houses.

The garden, the exhibits, the gorgeous cakes and craft items on sale were fabulous, and I am sure they would have raised a lot of money for their charity.

Well done to all involved and looking forward to next year. Fantastic.

Mrs CHRIS NALLY

Email

Town needs new attractions

Re the council's deciding about the car park.

We already have a Marina and Seagull Theatres plus a Hollywood Cinema. We don't need anymore as they would probably lose money from customers.

How about a roller-skating rink and a swimming pool with our inclement weather. It will be good for tourists and locals, good for exercise and very healthy. A car park as well and dare I say the charges not too much. I hope they will really have a good think about this and take notice of the public's opinion.

M BROWN

Beech Road

Carlton Colville

Park and ride idea is sensible

With regard the closure of the multi-storey car park, Graham Jarrett (Postbox, June 16) describes Waveney Labour parliamentary candidate, Sonia Barker's suggested solution of Park and Ride and an electric bus as 'very amusing.'

I describe it as very sensible. In these days of the Internet it is easy to find the information proving it is a nonsense that the only way town/city centres can survive is for cars to be able to get right into them. It is the opposite.

While I agree with Ms Barker, I have mixed feelings about her saying it. As historically it is Waveney Labour party who have been misguidedly – I accept that is my view - really pushing for a third crossing. I am pleased the parliamentary candidate recognises there are alternatives to the car to be encouraged. At the same time, it makes me feel even sadder Waveney Labour party is pushing for a third crossing. I think it possible it has cost it the last three general elections.

Pre-2010 it was very much Labour councillors pushing for the third crossing. Conservative councillors were showing little or no interest. Indeed it was Conservative led Suffolk County Council (SCC) saying people need to be encouraged to use alternatives to the car. There were letters to the Journal complaining that Waveney's then Labour MP Bob Blizzard was not fighting hard enough.

That put me in an ironic position. Despite disagreeing about a third crossing I found myself defending Bob.

As a transport activist having dealings with SCC I realised what he was up against. Then came the Conservative u-turn on the third-crossing and Bob's defeat in 2010. Newly elected Conservative MP, Peter Aldous, starts making some progress on the third crossing. Come the 2015 election campaign, then Prime Minister, David Cameron, promised a third crossing by 2020 – nicely when it was expected the next general election would be!

Whatever one thinks of Cameron's promise (it probably persuaded some to vote Conservative), since 2015 Peter Aldous has made decent progress on the third crossing.

I therefore suggest the third crossing was a significant factor for the recent general election. Particularly so as Waveney constituency possibly 'bucked the trend' with the Conservative candidate getting an increased majority. I accept that in 2010 and 2015 there were certain national political factors but is anyone brave enough to say the third crossing had nothing to do with it?

In conclusion, I believe Waveney Labour party 'shot itself in the foot,' ie backed something that will harm not help Lowestoft and ultimately caused its defeat by classic devious political manoeuvres. All the more unfortunate when the candidate was not frightened of telling voters there are alternatives to the car.

JOHN THOMPSON

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