This weeks letters to the editor.
WE are all aware of the National Health service in crisis and complain about waiting times but, in the same vain we must never ever forget to praise them for what they do for us.
On an emergency visit to The Alex at Redditch my Husband of 86 was taken in by some wonderful Paramedics.
From the start of his treatment to when he was discharged the following lunch time, the staff were superb and dedication in their duty to looking after him of the highest anyone could wish for, even to the nurse called Robin making me a lovely cup of tea when he was so busy he could see I was worried about my husband.
Alexandra hospital a big big thank you for what you did for him. We praise you.
Patricia.
P. Meredith
I WAS very pleased to see the result of the local elections (May 4) in Redditch. Labour gaining 5 seats tells the controlling council what people really want – the Library to stay where it is, an outdoor market and a Council who works for the Borough.
Well done to everyone who not only won, but everyone who stood and took part. Congratulations to Coun James Fardoe for winning in Church Hill Ward at the age of 18, but condolences to former Mayor Ann Isherwood for her marvellous service to the Ward and Town.
We look forward to the year ahead and hope for the right result at next year’s all-out elections.
Jack Fardoe
Redditch
APROPOS, Andrew Scott’s letter about escooters in last week’s edition.
Our esteemed MP (Rachel Maclean) promotes their use in our town.
This is despite a Government report expressing major concerns.
Here are just two of the concerns in this report:
(i) Page 68
‘Almost half of resident survey respondents felt that people riding e-scooters were not respectful of pedestrians and/or rode in a way that was unsafe for other pavement users all or most of the time’, ‘and travelled too fast’.
(ii) Page 76
‘Riding on the pavement is illegal. Most users understood this, including 80% who admitted to doing it’.
Reasons for doing this included NO enforcement (page 77).
It is a menace, which Mrs Maclean and MANY others continually resist dealing with.
Yours faithfully,
P. Bladon
Southcrest
I FELT driven to correct Mrs Macleans claims that a £58.5 billion education budget is “more than ever before”.
In fact, in 2010, the education budget was £104 billion. Even under Cameron, the budget was £97 billion.
The proposed budget for 2024 is just £107.5 billion yet, inflation from 2010 to 2023 lies at 35 per cent and the number of children being taught has increased from 8.1 million to 10 million.
Applying these figures to the 2010 budget, the education budget should now be £157 billion.
Just taking the school funding figures mentioned by Mrs Maclean, we have had 10 per cent inflation for the last two years, so even taking the £58.5 billion and deducting the increase of £2 billion, I apply 10 per cent to £56.5 billion, and wonder why the budget is not £62.15 billion….oh yes, the teachers are undervalued at only 5 per cent wage increase, but fuel costs were 50 per cent plus.
Minimum budget should therefore be ….erm…..£59.33 billion.
Maybe Rachel Maclean, the education minister, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer need a few more maths lessons!
Margot Bish,
Abbeydale
