1/5/2008

Local News

Letters from May 1 2008

We should be proud to fly national flag

EDITOR — April 23 is St George’s Day, the day upon which this country of ours should be proud to celebrate, England’s day.

St George is the patron saint of England and stood for bravery in the defence of the poor and the defenceless and of the Christian faith.

The flag of St George, red cross on white background, is England’s flag and belongs to us all. It should not be looked upon as the sign of racism or hooliganism.

This being said, I find it very sad that as a proud country we shy away from celebration of our own and yet find no problems with other nation’s rituals and traditions as we would hope they would ours.

My son, being proud of his heritage, went to school at Woking High School on April 23 with the flag of St George wrapped around his shoulders, as indeed he did last year. He was duly told to remove it as it could cause offence.

This kind of attitude can only bring racism into a child’s mind and situation that has no right being there.

On a birthday is it now not permitted to wear a badge saying ‘16 today’ etc in case someone takes offence? Ought we not celebrate Christmas either?

My son’s great grandfather, like many others, fought for this country of ours so that we may have freedom of speech and to make it a place where everyone no matter what background or belief can enjoy a peaceful existence.

Our very own mayor and MP both attended a service to mark the day and the flag was flying over the civic offices.

Isn’t it about time April 23, St George’s Day, was recognised as a bank holiday and celebrated in true English style, not frowned upon or thought of as some attack on other people’s beliefs.

We are English and we are proud, God for Harry, England and St George.
Alan Nelless
Fenwick Close
Woking
Editor’s note: Jane Abbott, headteacher at Woking High School, said: “Mr Nelless has not been in contact with me at the school on this matter.
“His son arrived in school wearing a large St George’s flag that was pinned by safety pins to his school blazer.
“Flags are not part of our school uniform and for this reason, he was asked to remove it. The flag was returned to him at the end of the school day.”

Police are here to protect us not act like social workers

EDITOR — I would like to comment on two articles that appeared in the News and Mail on April 17.

Firstly, regarding the article on yob behaviour in Goldsworth Park. I am appalled at the way the Surrey Police reacted to the complaint.

I was a police officer until 1994 and, I believe, was the last beat bobby on Goldsworth Park. This sort of yob behaviour did not happen then because I and my colleagues were about 24 hours a day.

If I had incidents such as the ones in your article reported to me I would have made damned sure that I and a couple of extra officers were about. We would have caught the offender, arrested them and had the evidence with which to charge them.

If they had been juveniles their parents would have been inconvenienced by having to attend Woking police station that night while I interviewed the yobs and charged them to appear at the magistrates’ court, again inconveniencing the parents.

For Surrey Police to say that all their officers were tied up elsewhere indicates one of two things to me: either there were no police officers on duty or they could not be bothered to get off their backsides and deal with some “minor vandalism”.

I would remind them that they only have a job at all with the consent of the public and that it is we who pay their wages.

It is time that Surrey Police started acting like police not social workers, and began protecting life and property, their first and fundamental duty.

Secondly, I cannot believe that we are even considering honouring the members of a rock band just because they were born in Woking.

They had international acclaim and amassed a small personal fortune from their job. Surely this is enough, and what have they done for Woking?

I can think of dozens of Woking citizens that deserve recognition far more than The Jam and a million more deserving ways in which our council tax money can be spent.

To waste our money on this idiotic idea is worse than the astronomical clock or canopy.

Robert A Shatwell
Lime Grove
Woking

Not a matter for council

EDITOR — I am completely opposed to the closure of all post offices. They should all be saved as they all perform an invaluable service to the local community.

However, I am appalled by the idea of  Woking Borough Council stepping in to save the Oriental Road Post Office.

This post office is on the doorstep of Woking’s main post office, and should be the last to be saved in this area.

Many post offices that have already closed or are scheduled for closure are in outlying areas and leave the local community that they serve a much greater distance to travel to a post office.

Why should Woking Borough Council single out the Oriental Road Post Office? It must not be allowed to use the money provided by the council tax payers of the borough to support one individual post office that provides a service to a small number of Woking tax payers.

It is not the council’s area of responsibility or expertise, so what makes it think it can make it profitable when the experienced businessman who runs it obviously cannot, otherwise it would not have been listed for closure.
Susan Cooper
Triggs Lane
Woking

Road closure not a trust proposal

EDITOR — On April 17 the Chobham News and Mail published an article headed: ‘Anger over scheme to close road’.

Within it was a quote attributed to Terry Prescott of Crest Nicholson: “The plans for the possible road closure have been put forward by the highways authority and Surrey Wildlife Trust”.

Surrey Wildlife Trust would like it made clear that we have made no such application and would never contemplate taking any such action without extensive prior consultation both with the local community and the landowner, Surrey County Council.

Mr Prescott is misguided if that is his interpretation of any documentation relating to developments adjacent to Chobham Common.
Nigel Davenport
Chief Executive
Surrey Wildlife Trust

Recycled fabric’s cool reception

EDITOR — Am I the only one who has noticed the lack of warmth in recycled fabric?

It can only be assumed that the recycling process destroys all the natural fibre which is the warming element of materials.

I have not seen any mention of this factor, which I feel is rather strange.

I am told the secret is to wear layers, but I find this restricting and uncomfortable for general wear.

Can we hope that the manufacturers will find an answer?
Lydia Newnham
Bowling Green Road
Chobham

First printed in: Woking News and Mail

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