THIS weeks Redditch Standard letters.
‘Why no more Palm Trees?’
THE NEW manager of the Kingfisher Shopping Centre is congratulated for arranging the free KINGFISHTORY exhibition.
Visitors have contributed comments, these include: fond memories of the palm trees, including requests to ‘bring them back’.
One comment card asks: ‘Why were they removed? Are the following just myths?
*They died because of lack of water or over watering.
*The management wanted more retail space in Worcester Square.’
There is a request for correct and accurate information ‘Why were the Palm Trees removed?’
Does anyone have the answer?
P Bladon
Via e-mail
‘Missing out on levelling up’
I FOUND your article on Redditch failing to get the ‘levelling up’ money extremely instructive.
I note shoppers ‘displayed an overwhelming sense of relief’ and a shop owner stated ‘I’m glad the bid was unsuccessful’.
These views match my own and the overwhelming majority of those I have spoken to about this.
Contrast this with the comments of Coun Spilsbury, for whom I have the utmost respect, when she claims
“[Residents] will feel very let down by this.”
I assure her we don’t, on the contrary, many of us feel we have dodged a bullet.
I usually agree with her on local matters, but on this issue, I believe her profoundly mistaken, not least as she finds herself in the same camp as Mr Dormer.
Now, I don’t say being on the same side as Coun Dormer is an infallible guide to error (in fairness he opposes Kaug) but it remains a pretty good indication as to being mistaken.
If Redditch Borough Council pushes ahead with the misbegotten idea of destroying top Ipsley Meadow, effectively the communal garden of Matchborough and Ipsley, especially for those of us who have no garden of our own, we will have quite enough building sites close by without our local centre being added to the mix.
As the shop owner commented, improved frontages, re-surfacing of roads and car parks, perhaps too, repairs and better lighting would be welcome, but wholesale demolition and reconstruction is not required.
K Wass
‘Send me your stamps’
I AM APPEALING for used postage stamps which help me raise funds which I then donate to the Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Recycling used postage stamps is such an easy way to raise money for the charity and I am always in need of all types of postage stamps, including British, foreign and Christmas stamps.
If you are able to help I would be grateful if you could cut the stamps from their envelopes (leaving approx 1cm margin around the stamp) and send them to the address below.
Guide Dog Stamps, PO Box 91, Virginia Water, Surrey, England, GU25 9AR
If you would like to contact me my email address is [email protected]
Thank you to everyone who has donated in the past – your assistance in helping me to support this very worthy cause is greatly appreciated.
M Chave
‘PM disastrous policies’
RESPONDING to the Climate Change Committee’s assessment of recent announcements on net zero from the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, I think the assessment highlights the glaring inconsistencies between the government’s rhetoric and action.
Rishi Sunak has said he would honour his commitment, made at the COP27 climate talks in Egypt, to cut the UK’s carbon emissions by over two-thirds by 2030.
His climate advisors are telling him loud and clear his plans just don’t add up and the target will be missed.
Instead, the Prime Minister is scrapping policies that would reduce harmful emissions and cut sky-high energy bills.
A government of integrity wouldn’t be trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes by pretending it can deliver on promises with a climate plan that’s just not up to scratch.
Building a green economy is the best way to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, boost energy security and strengthen the economy.
Weakening these green policies will simply undermine business confidence and put British jobs at risk.
The government is already being taken to court over its weak and feeble climate action plan, which we say is unlawful.
If this current package is weakened further, and in a way that’s not transparent about delivery risks, then further legal challenges are inevitable.
With the world in the midst of a climate crisis we need bold political leadership – not another Prime Minister posturing to a narrow section of his own party for perceived short-term electoral gains.
The consequences won’t just fall on people in the UK – they will reverberate globally.
Chris Crean
West Midlands Friends of the Earth
