THIS weeks Redditch Standard letters.
‘Education funding disadvantaging a generation’
WELL, doesn’t that just beat the Dutch!
Having drastically slashed local authorities’ funding by around 40 per cent over the last 13 years, and education funding both directly and indirectly accordingly, already disadvantaging a whole generation of children and young people, the government now has the gall to announce that it won’t fund repairs and rebuilding work necessitated by RAAC unless risks and faults have specifically been reported in previous buildings inspections.
The costs must be met out of existing budgets and then only if they’re run by local authorities, excluding academies altogether.
It’s been perfectly apparent from the outset that Tory governments hold children in deepest contempt, but isn’t this carrying it a bit far?
Already we’ve been through times when schools have lost much-needed classroom assistants, new books and computers and other resources (headteachers begging parents to fund A4 paper and loo rolls, anyone?).
Now they’re being expected to club together to fund repairs to schools on top.
Would the government perhaps like us to form our own militias to replace the armed forces and police, mend our own roads, unrepaired because of the LA cuts, staff our own schools with whomever we can find who knows anything about anything?
Maybe we should set up Calor gas lamps to replace the street lighting?
I’m sure we can pool our community spirit to help the government out of all manner of messes it’s got itself into through ignorance of both a sense of responsibility and of compassion, and (for heaven’s sake!) of the workings of economics.
All they do seem to have a thorough knowledge of, is lining the pockets of themselves and their cronies (10billion quid squandered on inadequate PPE now thrown away). Meanwhile, our children are missing out on a proper education yet again.
Val Gaize
Studley
‘Politicians can’t tell the truth’
WHY do politicians of all parties seem incapable of telling the truth.
Coun Woodall referred to government cuts contributing to the bankruptcy of Birmingham City Council.
I would refer him to a report commissioned by Labour’s National Executive Council which found blaming the councils woes on budget cuts ‘does not stand up to scrutiny’ and the report found ‘ a dysfunctional climate’ with the authority suffering from ‘ long-standing and persistent issues in getting the basics right’.
Please can we have a balanced view when politicians comment on major issues impacting many people.
Iain Baker
Riverside
‘Taxpayers have been lied to’
AS the Redditch library was purpose built to take the stresses and strains of hundreds of books, plus all of accompanying fixtures and fittings etc, can we the public presume that all of the floors in the Town Hall have been structurally examined and surveyed to establish whether the said floors are strong enough to withstand the extra tonnage to be placed upon them.
These points should be addressed immediately and are of vital importance, seeing the scandalous crumbling cement (RAAC) in many buildings has just come to light.
Can Matt Dormer, assure the public that all of the aforementioned measures have been put in place and that the health and safety of the users have been considered.
As we the taxpayers have in the past been misled and constantly lied to, I would like the leader of this illustrious council to reply to these vitally important questions through this letters page.
Do not hide your reply on the Internet as you did with the closure of the library, the information concerning the closure should have been posted in the library itself for all in sundry to see, the fact that this was not done shows a total lack of integrity.
Could you also please tell us if the guestimate concerning the rebuilding of the library area has spiraled out of control, fact not fiction please?
Margaret Drewell (Mrs)
Redditch
‘Take the council into ruin’
IT concerns me that the Redditch Conservatives are heading down a dangerous road that will take our council into financial ruin.
Coun Joe Baker,
Redditch Labour Leader
‘If you want a better Redditch then Rachel Maclean is not on your side’
SO OUR MP Rachel Maclean refuses to ‘talk down’ Redditch.
This is a lovely sentiment, but the real intention is clear to see.
Rachel Maclean will fail to acknowledge there is anything going wrong. Just look away at the lovely clover interchange!
She is basically saying ‘shut up and stop moaning’ to all of the people who want to see a better Redditch – a town with more shops, a hospital with more services, a place where we can afford to live, work and play. A place with our lovely library in the centre of town!
If you visit Redditch every day there is plenty to appreciate.
This does not mean there is nothing to improve, simply that if you want a better Redditch then Rachel Maclean is not on your side.
Sharon Harvey
Southcrest
‘Be Sepsis Savvy’
SEPSIS is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs.
It occurs when the body’s immune system – which normally helps to protect us and fight infection – goes into overdrive.
It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and sometimes death, especially if not recognised early and treated promptly.
It affects a staggering 245,000 people in the UK each year – with 48,000 people losing their lives to sepsis-related illnesses.
This World Sepsis Day (September 13) we are asking the public to spend five minutes reviewing our ‘Sepsis Savvy’ resources which were created in partnership with Iceland Foods and the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation.
By watching a short video on the signs and symptoms of sepsis, and then testing your knowledge with a game, you could equip yourself with potentially life-saving information.”
Visit sepsistrust.org/savvy for more information.
Dr Ron Daniels
UK Sepsis Trust Founder and Joint CEO
We welcome your letters…….
What pressing issues do you feel need addressing in Redditch, Alcester or Studley? Send us your views to [email protected]
