South Cheshire Chronicle letters

Oct 13 2004

REGARDING community wardens who fined a young mum £50 for stubbing out a cigarette in the street and a man the same amount for dropping chips. What checks are carried out on these wardens?

I was under the impression the Gestapo perished in 1945. I didn't expect to see them reappear in Crewe 60 years later!
A ROBINSON Earle Street, Crewe

I WOULD like to know if the ban on using mobile phones whilst driving does not apply in Cheshire?

I work on highway maintenance and am appalled at the number of drivers, especially HGV drivers, ignoring the law, some even drinking and using the phone.

It will not be long before someone doing the work I do will be killed or seriously injured.
CONCERNED HIGHWAYS WORKER (name and address supplied

MR W Gibson's love of animals, Mob secured hunt ban (Views , October 6), might be better served if he were to examine the evidence rather than vent his spleen about mobs and the usual false stereotypes about toffs.

The largest demonstration ever of more than 500,000 in favour of hunting was entirely peaceful and litter-free but to no avail, despite the conclusion of the Burns Report and much other evidence that hunting with hounds was the least harmful way of conserving the fox population.

Although not condoning the antics of the few, it is entirely understandable that some will get carried away in such circumstances. Their behaviour is, however, a far cry from 'animal lovers and activists' who see no contradiction in their willingness to harm animals such as horses.

Nor do they physically attack employees, their wives, children, and homes even when the connection to the use of animals in medical science is remote - such as bankers and builders.

Like the MP who boasted that banning hunting was the Labour Party's revenge for the miners' strike, Mr Gibson clearly shows reason and rational debate is not on his agenda but only deep and misplaced class hatred.

Without hunting, many foxes will die in agony because of wounding. Even Government marksmen say they cannot kill many outright.

Farmers will gas and snare foxes once the fabric of rural communities, the basis for their tolerance, is torn apart. Young breeding foxes will be exterminated. Older foxes culled by hunting will die of starvation and hypothermia.

Hunting conserves. The fox population will be decimated as it was during two world wars.

There is no analogy between fox-hunting and bear-baiting or cock-fighting where animals were confined and agonisingly torn to pieces over a long time. The fox is hunted as he hunts, killed with a single bite and dead before being thrown to the pack.

Yes, there are a few hunts patronised by toffs, but the vast majority are farmers, their wives and daughters, secretaries, policemen - people from all walks of life, many of whom scrimp and save to keep their horses. There is even a miners' pack in Wales.

I do not idly speak of the very deep injustice and grief these ordinary people feel, not at 'losing the argument' as John Prescott would have it, but at winning the argument and then being bewildered to find Parliament wants to punish them for something to do with miners or 'toffs'.

Abuse does occur but that should be dealt with. You don't stop all parents having children or anyone having dogs because a few abuse that privilege.

Although Mr Gibson can safely publish his name since hunt supporters do not exact retribution on those who oppose them, the same cannot be said for animal activists. I would be grateful if you would withhold my details.
HUNT SUPPORTER (name and address supplied)

I AM astounded businesses along Nantwich Road in Crewe are still operating, let alone making a living.

I believe assurances were that no humps were to be placed along the Nantwich Road in view of petitions.

It seems extraordinary humps should even be considered. Traffic, by reason of its volume, cannot be accused of speeding so why the humps?

The effects are surely going to mean long-term depletion of struggling businesses.

I remember as a child how West Street/Mill Street/Edleston Road/Victoria Street offered thriving businesses and now these area, with boarded-up windows and a lack of people, are seem-ingly destined to join the ghost brigade.

These pockets of business closures , and the road works that impede traffic flow cast a shadow of blight.

It is hard for the small shopkeeper to compete with supermarkets but is it not possible for the council to deal sympathetically with roadworks and offer some sort of help to keep shops open? I miss the friendly buzz of old Crewe.
JUNE M JINKS Manor Way, Crewe