War memorial desecrated again
William Swain, Barnstaple Road, Harold Hill, writes:
To my dismay and that of several others of my generation, the Harold Hill War Memorial has yet again been desecrated.
Wreaths have been scattered about all over the place and little mementoes that were laid at the memorial on Remembrance Sunday by young children have been stolen.
Unfortunately, those honoured dead who made that noble sacrifice so that we can live in peace and freedom has not relevance for meaning for those vandals and ingrates.
As far as they are concerned, it is other times, other customs.
Some practical suggestions to help make lives better
David Hughes, media office, Barking, Dagenham and Havering Green Party, writes:
In last week’s Recorder Opinions, Andrew Rosindell, in response to criticisms regarding his views on the pandemic, writes that he is “considering all angles and attempting to take a balanced approach”, but other than opening the country up again to unrestricted activity, which would clearly be carnage and slaughter of apocalyptic proportions, he has nothing useful to contribute.
Yes of course he is troubled by the mental health and financial implications for some people as a result of the lockdown.
One would have to have psychopathic tendencies not to be!
I, too, am concerned about all aspects, social and economic.
About young people and lack of school time.
Domestic abuse.
Depression brought on by the lockdown.
The plight of the self-employed and those who have been hung out by this government.
Millions with no or inadequate financial help.
Millions more losing their jobs and looking forward to slowly distributed and woefully inadequate benefits.
If Mr Rosindell has the ear of the prime minister, here are some practical suggestions.
Broadband in every home free for anyone on any type of benefit.
Sure, it would have been so much easier if British Telecom were still owned by us British people, but, as a point of urgency, and anticipating this pandemic continuing far longer with other variants in the future, the government could now be training up installation engineers and rolling out the programme.
Oh! And not starving kids at school or at home would be another beneficial thing to do too.
Open up hotels for the victims of domestic abuse.
Helplines and practical support for people for whom the isolation has become overwhelming.
We’ve managed to create ‘Covid police’ what about ‘wellbeing monitors’, managed by a nationwide network of call centres, checking on vulnerable people, all appropriately distanced of course.
Readying the country for the much needed ‘green recovery’ which could absorb the likely three million unemployed by the end of the year.
Much more, of course, than there is room for here but that would be a great start.
Yes it would require a temporary reintroduction of a ‘nanny state’ and that hideous spectre of people not taking ‘personal responsibility’ for their fate, but we are in a humanitarian crisis created by and continually mismanaged by this government and people need help!
You can’t keep beating people to the ground and expect them to continually pull themselves up without a shoulder for support!
If we are truly concerned about peoples’ emotional and financial well-being, then temporarily suspending that particular mind-numbing ideology is a small price to pay.
If we really do care.
Yes it would cost. But 10 years of austerity has taken the nation’s debt from 0.8 trillion pounds to £2trillion as of 2020 and nothing to show for those 10 years of cuts.
At least we’d have a lower death rate, the start of a sustainable future and three million green jobs.
That would be a trillion pounds of our tax money well spent this time.
Planning applications must be advertised in local newspaper
Cllr Ron Ower, Derham Gardens, Upminster, writes:
Close on 48 years ago I came to Havering. There were several printed local newspapers including The Recorder. Another joined shortly afterwards, plus a number of printed free newspapers and magazines.
Sadly, over the years up and down the country many local papers have disappeared. National newspapers’ circulations have gone down at the same time.
I remember seeing a report that the number of journalists has gone down dramatically as well over the last few years.
We need the local media to keep a close eye on the activities of local councils and the services they should be supplying .
The Recorder has been active over the years in holding Havering Council accountable - leading to a number of proposals being dropped.
Any attempt to reduce the advertising of major planning applications in the local media, especially in conservation areas and building in the green belt, should be strongly resisted.
Well-organised vaccination experience
Roy Weston, Astor Avenue, Romford, writes:
I know I have written recently regarding ‘the bin men’ but another service I have experienced has made me so grateful for the NHS.
I had my first vaccination at Raphael House, Pettits Lane on Saturday, January 23.
On arrival, Pettits Lane was jammed with private cars desperately seeking somewhere to park. Fortunately, I had walked.
The area around Raphael House was packed to capacity with clients awaiting their turn for a vaccination.
There were wheelchairs, walking frames and many elderly clients being supported by a carer/family member.
The scene appeared totally chaotic. My heart sank as I wondered how long was I to stand in the cold awaiting my turn.
To my amazement the queue moved quite quickly, with staff directing the way. Staff on reception were very efficient and kept the momentum.
The actual vaccination was completed in a very confident and reassuring manner and further staff assisted your departure from the building.
What initially appeared a ‘nightmare’ was in fact a very well organised and supportive exercise. Well done to all the staff involved. Thank you.
Why can’t we be vaccinated locally?
Mr & Mrs Peter Maddy, Stanley Road, Hornchurch, wrote:
Just received our coronavirus letters to make an appointment by telephone or by the NHS website.
When trying to arrange an appointment the only places we could get the vaccine done were East Ham, Forest Gate, Stratford and Bluewater plus other places.
Why can’t it be done local as we are being told not to travel, surely traveling to another borough would be more of a high risk especially as we do not have a car and would have to use London Transport. Where is there sense in this?
Thank you for my vaccination
Barbara Bayford, Junction Road, Romford, writes:
I would like to express my thanks to all the people at Victoria Hospital, Pettits Lane, Romford, for the very efficient and friendly way they administered the Covid vaccination.
From the phone call from my doctor’s surgery to the completion, it was a very good experience.
Thank you.
Beware ‘pay for vaccine’ scam
Gerald Presland, Cranham, writes:
I would like to bring to you and your readers’ attention what appears to be a fraudulent attempt to extort money using this pandemic as a reason.
It is headed “Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination – NHS”
It offers the recipient an appointment subject to completion of a form. The form seems to come from the NHS and I completed the first page.
The second page asks for all bank details. At this stage I realised that it was a scam.
My National Health number was not asked for. I’m told that the NHS would not be asking for any financial information.
The sender was ‘info@tenryuline.co.jp’
Please be very careful. It is absolutely outrageous that at a time when so much suffering is being encountered there are people out there trying to capitalise on the situation.
We need fair road pricing system
Graham Potter, secretary, Havering Liberal Democrats, writes:
The Romford Recorder recently highlighted London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s proposal to introduce a boundary charge that would mean anyone travelling from outside the capital by motor vehicle would be charged a flat rate to cross into Havering.
The charge would hit many of us with relatives outside the M25 including poorer families.
It would also do irreparable damage to community and sports associations with ties which straddle the boundary.
The mayor should realise that London is not an island and has many connections with surrounding counties which are not served well by public transport links.
Instead London should adopt a smart, fair and green road pricing system that would mean better targeted charges and do more to tackle our climate emergency.
‘No deal’ would be better than this
Roger Loveday, Main Road, Gidea Park, wrote to prime minister Boris Johnson and MP Andrew Rosindell:
I am sorry to say despite being a lifelong Conservative voter, I am very disappointed with the current EU deal which has just been signed off. I have listed the reasons why ‘no deal’ would have been better.
1. Trade deal duty and tariff free is fine but exporters still have to complete customs paperwork the same as if we had a no deal, which makes it very easy for the French customs to disrupt the smooth passage of vehicles at French ports. For example, yesterday (January 12) a lorry from Scotland carrying £40,000 worth of shellfish was delayed too long at the French border and the load was ruined at a huge cost to the exporter.
2. We do not have complete sovereignty over fishing waters. After five-and-a-half years we get back 25 per cent of the quotas, but if the EU continue to allow super trawlers to fish our waters the 25pc quota will be 25pc of a lot less, as these trawlers have nets that cover an area of one mile and many dredge the bottom of the fishing waters, plundering an unbelievable amount of fish.
3. Cornish fishermen were on TV saying they go out fishing their waters and once they get beyond six miles of our coast, the waters are full of EU trawlers catching the fish that our smaller trawlers rely on.
4. In the south west of England, the repatriation of the cod quota, after five-and-a-half years, means a trawler from this region can land approximately 10 extra cod a month. Yes, one cod every three days. Even Jesus would struggle with that amount.
5. There are 186 MPs with coastal constituencies in the UK. Now, in view of the government selling
out our fishermen, this will definitely affect the Conservative vote at the next election especially as 90pc of fishermen voted for
Brexit and haven’t got what they expected.
6. This now means the French have won a victory over the UK after selling out our fishermen. Have you not heard of Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt, Blenheim, Trafalgar, Waterloo and in 1940, when France set up a Vichy government. We, the UK do not surrender to the French. Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher would be turning in their graves.
7. To make it worse, our lorry drivers are having their sandwiches confiscated at the French borders. I assume the French drivers are having their food confiscated by our custom officers. What a pathetic lot they are.
If they are supposed to be our friends, I do not know what our enemies are like.
8. Please get a grip. If nothing changes in the next week, put a complete block on all payments that are agreed with the EU as a divorce settlement.
This deal was not thought through properly and is now coming home to roost.
We’re keeping the roads clear of ice
Mayor Philip Glanville, Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, writes:
London boroughs are prepared for the winter season with 75,000 tonnes of salt available at key locations across the capital for quick and easy access to deal with the challenge of frozen roads and pavements.
In colder months, boroughs take responsibility for helping to ensure their most important routes are free of frost and ice and safe to use. Highway teams continue to monitor high-tech weather forecasts, ready to treat the roads and pavements with salt as soon as conditions demand it.
Councils will be keeping people up to date about forecasts, road conditions and salting activity.
London’s boroughs are working hard to ensure it is as safe as possible for all road users, including pedestrians, to carry out their journeys.
We are also asking that Londoners be vigilant throughout the colder months to make sure their neighbours are okay.
If you notice milk bottles left outside, newspapers stuck in the letterbox or curtains drawn all day, or any other activity out of the ordinary, it could be a sign that someone in your community needs help.
Help for people facing cancer
Emma Tingley, head of Partnerships, Macmillan Cancer Support, London and South East, writes:
The start of 2021 is proving to be an acutely challenging time for people with cancer, the NHS and for cancer care. Indeed, it’s clear that this is the most worrying time in recent history to get a cancer diagnosis.
At Macmillan, people are calling our Support Line every day to tell us about the heightened anxiety, loneliness and distress that they are feeling.
On our support line – open seven days a week, 8am – 8pm, on 0808 808 00 00 – specially trained nurses, counsellors and financial support advisors are available to help
anyone affected by, or worried about, cancer.
They can provide comprehensive information and advice, as well as emotional support, to help people with cancer cope with the additional strain of the coronavirus pandemic.
We know doctors and nurses are working in unspeakably difficult conditions and are having to make tough decisions every day.
Healthcare professionals are doing everything they can to keep cancer care on track, but we also know that some treatment – operations, for example – are being cancelled or postponed because essential services such as ITU are full of seriously ill people with Covid-19.
What is absolutely vital is that if there are changes to treatment plans, these must involve the person living with cancer and be communicated clearly.
Although some changes may be needed for treatment plans, this is not the case everywhere or for all treatments or tests.
Healthcare professionals are doing everything they can to make hospitals a safe environment so it’s really important that people with cancer who have been invited for tests or treatment do attend.
GPs are open if you are worried about possible cancer symptoms, and screening and other vital tests have resumed in a Covid-safe way. The NHS is still here for you.
As well as our Support Line, comprehensive cancer information and support, including our latest guidance on the impact of coronavirus on cancer care is also available on macmillan.org.uk and our online community is there to provide invaluable emotional and peer support.
We are doing whatever it takes to make sure our vital support continues to be available.
We urge the public to do their bit to reduce the spread of coronavirus, which will in turn relieve pressure on the NHS.
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