13/12/2007

Woking

Letters from December 13 2007

Everyone is welcome at shopping centre

EDITOR — The Peacocks Shopping Centre is non-discriminatory, is open to all members of the public and operates wholly in accordance with employment, equality and diversity laws.

In December 2006 The Peacocks Shopping Centre was contacted by Chris Collins of Gay Surrey asking permission to hold three charity collections during 2007. The Peacocks Centre willingly granted permission for Gay Surrey to do so.

It became clear in subsequent discussions with Gay Surrey that their intention was to promote gay issues and safe sex and that this would include the handing out of LGBTQ (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Questioning) literature and free condoms to the public.

It was felt to be inappropriate for contraceptives to be freely distributed in the centre, where children and young people under the age of consent can be unsupervised or unaccompanied from time to time.

Gay Surrey claimed that it had handed out free condoms at a Terence Higgins Trust collection day in August 2006 which was organised directly with the trust, South East branch, based in Woking.  The Peacocks Shopping Centre informed Gay Surrey that it had no report of any such activity being carried out by The Terence Higgins Trust. Had this been the case, it would not have been authorised by the centre management.

Gay Surrey and The Peacocks Shopping Centre agreed to cancel the February and the two further bookings, however at this time the Peacocks Centre stated that it was happy to try to work together in a way that would suit both organisations.

The Peacocks Centre received no direct contact from Gay Surrey following these conversations in February.

Since the cancellation of these bookings The Peacocks Shopping Centre was not approached by Gay Surrey in respect of a World Aids Day promotion in December 2007.  Had an approach been made then the Peacocks management would, as previously offered, been happy to discuss ways in which it could contribute to the very important fight against HIV/AIDS in a way that complemented the family nature of the Peacocks Shopping experience.

The centre will continue to make space available for events and charitable activities from time to time, where it is considered appropriate.  The management of the Peacocks Shopping Centre prides itself in providing a safe and clean family friendly retail destination.

We reiterate that we are happy to discuss with Gay Surrey suitable ways we can work together.
Tim Keeping
Centre manager
Peacocks Shopping Centre

Shocked by cost of publicity

EDITOR — We are pleased that the News and Mail published the report regarding the council’s publicity budget ‘spinning out of control’ and the £496,350 paid out marking a hike in the council’s publicity budget of 166% in 10 years — the highest rise in Surrey.

Since 2002 I have been raising my concerns about the way that Woking Borough Council wastes money.  It is offering a poor service which does not maintain the interest of the community while spending our money promoting these services.  Money is being wasted whilst important services have been cut back.

If the  management on the front line dealt with the existing problems they would not need to spend this amount of money promoting services.

From 2008 the UK Community Issues Party will assist the community in preparing petitions calling for the removal of those who fail in our public services and enabling the community to have a voice. I strongly believe that unless the community takes action our services will deteriorate while we pay for the privilege. 

Why are our elected councillors not dealing with these issues when time and again during elections they promise to curb increases in council tax?
Michael Osman
UK Representative and Spokesperson for Woking
UK Community Issues Party

EDITOR — I was shocked to read about the huge increase in the publicity budget of Woking council.
I am sure that there are better things to finance other than their ‘trumpet blowing’.

I hope that the News and Mail will lead a campaign to see that our money is prudently spent in future. The tax payers should not be regarded as easy money.

Times are getting harder for many, I for one, have had only one pay rise in five years (2.5%) and it is a worry to see how much the tax has risen in that period.
Name and addressed supplied

Abide by the spirit of law

EDITOR — Thank you for highlighting the issue of smoking in the seated area at Woking Football Club in your last two issues.

Can I say how pleased I am the new chairman, David Taylor, will raise this issue at the next board meeting on December 19.

I had hoped to keep my protest “in house” when I wrote to the chairman on October 11 this year. But the lack of response and reply to my telephone call in November that the directors had decided and would not review until the next annual meeting prompted my public interest.

I do not think the directors have broken the new no smoking laws, I feel they have missed the spirit of the new legislation. It was designed to separate smoking from non smokers and primarily to encourage people to give up and young people not to start.

I thought a sporting club with a large family image  and one that strives to encourage young supporters through Kids for a Quid and Football in the Community would have jumped at the chance to improve health generally.

I would rather we lost a handful of dedicated smokers as supporters than give the impression to youngsters that smoking is a smart move.
As a parent and grandparent and governor of the club’s nearest infant school, I am appalled at the director’s view that bums on seats outweighs the damage of passive and actual smoking.

I do feel however some provision should be made in discreet areas for those that find the new legislation difficult.
Could I therefore urge the directors to review their policy on smoking in the Leslie Gosden stand when they meet.

We currently have sweets thrown to these youngsters seated in this area by the club’s mascot at half time. If we do not review our policy we have to erect the following sign on these seats: “Sitting in these seats may damage your health”.
Bill Greenwood
Staveley Way, Woking

Derelict house has not been abandoned

EDITOR —  The state of a house and garden in Orchard Drive has been reported on in the editions of News and Mail of November 29 and December 6, and as I have known the owner personally for many years, I would like to make two comments.

Firstly, your headlines imply the property has been abandoned and that your newspaper report stirred the owner’s conscience. In actual fact a planned programme of restoration was prepared some time ago, with a builder appointed, and work was due to start earlier this year, and could well have been completed by now, but a sudden and very serious illness of the owner’s wife regrettably forced the work to be put on temporary hold.

Secondly, with regard to the comment made by a neighbour which was quoted in your report as to why the property had been left for so long, it is not for me to say, but I believe a major contributory factor could well have been that the owner and his wife had for many years been living with an extreme and deeply worrying family situation.

The concerns and frustration of neighbours of the property in Orchard Drive are quite understandable. I believe it would be helpful to all parties for the above comments to be put on record.
Name and address supplied

The ‘don’t care’ party is winning majority

EDITOR — As I go about my work I visit many properties and residents in and around the village of Chobham.
I am surprised and rather disappointed by the number of people I meet who say they don’t bother to exercise their right to vote in local elections.

If their democratic right to a free vote were to be taken away, there would be rioting in the streets, but for some reason they won’t use it.

Last week there was an election to select a new parish councillor. One group managed to achieve an enormous majority, that was the ‘Don’t Care’ group who outnumbered the voters by four to one.

If the elected councillors don’t respect your views and don’t do what is in the best interests of the village, it’s no use complaining if you didn’t vote.
Tom Cooper
Windsor Court Road
Chobham

It’s an idea that sucks

EDITOR — I cannot believe what I read in last week’s Woking News and Mail, that lollipops are being used as a weapon in the council’s war on after-dark drink-fuelled rowdiness.

Do these councillors live in the real world? Have they ever been to St Peter’s Hospital A&E department on a Friday or Saturday night after the pubs have closed. I can only hope that none of them need any hospital treatment at such a time.

I really do think that the councillors should go one step further and issue them with balloons as well.

Also I think it could well be appropriate for the councillors to have dummies to suck during their meetings and contemplate how they are ever going to get back to planet earth.
Name and address supplied

First printed in: Woking News and Mail