MY brother and I went to a wedding in Berkshire at the weekend, in his electric car.
Granted, he forgot to bring the charging cable, but what a to do to get there!
We were running low on charge and had to keep slowing down, 56 miles an hour is apparently the most economical, and my brother said going behind lorries can also help eke out the miles.
The journey back was awful.
We left the wedding a 10.15pm but couldn’t find anywhere to recharge the car.
Two places the charger was broken and a third was Tesla only.
Eventually we got a ‘quick’ charge of half an hour which got us almost back to Redditch before we needed another to see us home.
He eventually dropped me off at 2.30 in the morning!
What a journey, and it had been a lovely wedding but all we could speak off was the terrible journey home.
E Fraser, Redditch
YOU seem to be giving a lot of attention to our MP’s so far unsuccessful attempts to get a guaranteed return of the Garden Suite to the Alex.
I remember when they built the Alex. It’s modular design was meant for easy expansion with units capable of being added as demand grew.
Now we have all the land at the back of the hospital a housing estate and plans to build more along Nine Days Lane and using the now empty staff accommodation on the site.
So, all those dreams of an expanding service back in the 1980s have gone.
So too have the maternity ward and children’s accident and emergency and now the Garden Suite.
I’ve no doubt the health trust want to keep the Alex, but what about the all facilities?
We’re a major town with a young and growing population with more houses being built all the time.
We need a decent hospital with all the facilities and it’s time our MP realised that.
J Robinson, Greenlands
I WOULD like to congratulate Matt Dormer on his appointment to the Worcestershire County Council cabinet post for the communities portfolio. As this includes responsibility for open spaces in Worcestershire, I look forward to him honouring the Council and Borough Green Infrastructure and Local Plan commitments.
However, won’t he be conflicted balancing his new role as a protector of green spaces, with his voiced support of the proposed change of use of Ipsley Meadow into a cemetery?
We look forward to developments.
M Jones, Redditch
LAST week I took the opportunity of being one of the speakers during the public participation slot at the Council meeting held at County Hall.
My issue was Worcestershire’s poor Trading Standards’ Department.
I provided specific details with regard to important weights and measures regulations.
It’s a problem which has been going on for years. My concern is Trading Standards’ continuing failure to bother to check and enforce consumer protection regulations.
P Bladon, Southcrest
CAN I say something about how crowded Arrow Valley Park was on Sunday?
The nice weather is all well and good but the footpaths were crowded and no one seemed to be stepping out of the way of anybody.
There were pushchairs, dog walkers, families the lot and anyone would think there had never been a pandemic.
The new play park was just as crowded too.
If football clubs have to restrict people going to matches shouldn’t the council be thinking the same for its parks?
D Lawrence, Matchborough
IT’S Volunteers’ Week! The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on national healthcare charity, Sue Ryder, has been immense.
Not only did it have a financial impact on the charity but it also meant that our incredible volunteers were unable to support us because of the national lockdowns.
Sue Ryder has over 5,500 dedicated retail volunteers across the country and since our shops reopened, we are welcoming 125 new volunteers to Sue Ryder every week.
Our volunteers have given over 200,000 hours to us since the reopening of shops in April 2021 and this week, we want to recognise the fantastic contribution they make to Sue Ryder.
In fact, our hospices are only part funded by the government, with just 30 per cent of their costs covered on average, so our team of retail volunteers play a critical part in helping raise the rest of the funds needed.
To make a difference as a Sue Ryder volunteer, please visit: www.sueryder.org/Volunteer for more information.
S Mitchell at Sue Ryder
IN THE UK, we’re fortunate to have running water at our fingertips and food that can be delivered to our doorsteps. But many of the world’s poorest communities rely entirely on working animals to transport water and provide food, through ploughing and carrying produce to market.
Around the world, more than 200 million working horses, donkeys, camels and elephants do the jobs of trucks, tractors and taxis in developing countries. These animals are a lifeline for poverty-stricken families and ensure basic necessities such as food and water are available.
But all too often, working animals lack the food, water and vital veterinary care they desperately need themselves.
At the animal charity SPANA (the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad), we are carrying out emergency feeding programmes for malnourished animals and providing free veterinary treatment to working animals in 28 countries.
On International Working Animal Day, June 15, please your support for these hardworking animals by visiting www.spana.org/workinganimals
Dr Ben Sturgeon, director of veterinary services, SPANA
