Chester Chronicle letters

Oct 15 2004

I AM writing on behalf of Chester City Council regarding the sad loss of a local resident - Andy Wynn of Newtown.

As chair of Newtown Residents Association, Andy gave many years of service to his community.

He represented residents on many issues and his quiet but impassioned approach was much appreciated by both local people, council members and officers with both the council and the Housing Trust.

His work with the Newtown Neighbourhood Partnership ensured that he and other residents' voices were heard and more importantly acted upon through the Neighbourhood Action Plans.

One of the concerns in the plans was that of green space and facilities for local residents. Andy and his friend, colleague and local resident John Jorgenson worked with city council officers on a bid for funding to improve the St Anne's field. This involved many months of consultation and planning.

Despite both of them suffering from poor health they organised meetings and events which resulted in Newtown being awarded over £100,000 towards new facilities. The field now has a new children's play area with a mosaic, fresh plants and trees, plus football goals and basket ball hoop for older children.

Without Andy's drive, determination and commitment it is unlikely that this greatly improved community space would have been realised.

It stands now as a testimony to how a community's vision can be realised when residents get involved and make sure their voices are heard.

I, my colleagues and council members of Chester City Council offer condolences to Andy's family and the residents of Newtown on the loss of this good man.
STEPHEN COX, Area facilitator, Chester City Council.

Copy of a letter to Chester MP Christine Russell
I WAS wondering if you could give me an answer to these questions now it has been proved beyond doubt the British people were lied to by this Government.

Having fought in the second Gulf War, my son is due to return again this month for a six month tour. He has not received his first Gulf Medal yet. Why?

Now that Tony Blair has declared the troops are again at war and not peacekeeping, will they receive another active service medal or bar and not a peacekeeping medal?

If he has to kill someone, will he face a murder charge like the Royal Tank Regiment soldier? Please do not quote the rules of engagement, I know them well and so does my son. If it has been proven there are no WMDs, why are the troops being given anthrax inoculations, even though they had them before fighting in the war? And why are these inoculations being given by medics and not doctors?

How can the British electorate believe a Labour Government on anything when they so obviously lied?

We have created a hot bed for terrorism in Iraq. Will you stop these defence cuts?

Think about what you are doing in Iraq. Enough troops have died defending your mistakes. Correct them and be honest with the public and the troops.

My son swore an oath to defend his Queen and Country, not to serve thousands of miles away where they are not respected as human beings.

Mr Blair has always said he has a debt of honour to the servicemen and women of this country, yet many lose money when they go on these Blair Crusades. Why?

He has stated in the last few days that British troops will again be deployed in Africa alongside a European force. Is this the start of the European Army the EU wants?

If this Government is so sure this war was right, train your sons and daughters of fighting age in the art of warfare and send them to fight. If they don't want to fight send them to fill the bodybags and coffins and see the real horrors of your war.
DES DODD, Carlisle Road,Blacon.

WITH the Government under extreme pressure to put through legislation making live animal hunting illegal, and two thriving drag hunts in Cheshire, clearly it is time for the Cheshire and Cheshire Forest Hunts and beagle packs to accept that this idea of sport is no longer tolerated in a civilised society.

Nobody who has recently visited the International Fund for Protection of Animals website, and viewed the appalling footage of a fox desperately running for its life from a pack of baying hounds amid energetic yells and rhythmic 'encouragement' only to be caught and worried to death by hounds engaging in a game of tug of war, would deny that this is a brutal idea of enjoyment.

One cannot argue with veterinary reports on post mortem examinations of two vixens killed by the Cheshire Forest Hunt in December 2001 and October 2002 revealing horrific but entirely typical 'extensive injuries', 'large wounds to central abdomen' and internal organs exposed and pulled out.

League Against Cruel Sports investigations in the past 10 years have found hunting has made little or no impact on what recent field studies have established as a fox population maintaining a stable level for 25 years. Recent records of livestock indicate that as little as 0.5% of lambs lost annually are killed by predators.

Cheshire is a dairy farming county where fox control is a smaller issue. Hound packs are known to have run out of control, chased ponies in a private field, invaded a garden and sunk their teeth in a man's arm with hounds running on busy A roads and through gardens. They have chased and scattered sheep, killed cats and on one occasion led the hunt into an act of mass trespass, bringing farmers out in an angry reaction.

If the public protest against that kind of behaviour was not based on solid factual documented evidence and sound moral judgement, would the great majority of MPs have repeatedly voted for a ban - including 60 MPs in the North West?

Tolerance in a civilised society does not extend to deliberate cruelty, and when enough people (76% of the population) are disgusted and concerned enough to support the Hunting Bill, the Government has a clear duty to act.
KATHERINE WATSON, Stockport.