South Cheshire Chronicle letters

Oct 27 2004 Daily Post

I WRITE firstly to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of John Bill, who last week tragically died after an incident with teenagers at Whee-lock in Sandbach.

I can't get my head around how things have changed in the last 15 or so years in the way parents have lost track of what discipline is.

I think we entered this vicious era of yob culture since the bans on smacking, compensation culture and political correctness. Parents now seem to just throw their kids out like alley cats at night and hope for a comfortable night in by themselves, while their louts cause havoc on others' doorsteps.

Furthermore, when these parents find out they have caused such anxiety to elderly people and the like they simply turn around and defend these youths and give the reply 'they are teenagers'.

Nowadays, teenagers apprehended by the police are more likely to stand there and quote their legal rights, and be encouraged to do so by their so-called beloved parents. They are a disgrace to society.

I wasn't exactly a good kid myself. I did the old bit of apple scrumping, and if I was caught I would likely get a crack across the head by the householder - that's if they caught me first. The point I am making is that I would at least run.

There's no way I would stand and claim compensation. I certainly was not in the habit of tormenting householders, intimidating, antagonising or hanging around the streets until morning came - that's after stealing people's milk and bread off their doorsteps! My parents knew where I was.

Sadly, John Bill was a victim of parents and kids' perception of what seems to be acceptable in society. I'm really sorry that there are no more youth clubs. Consider maybe entertaining your kids yourself, then you will see what they are up to.

Just don't throw them out and think that it is not your problem. As for the teenagers themselves, just think about the aggravating nuisance you are causing to people.

Think that when you get older, your natural instinct will be to protect your property and the people in it. Think if it happened to someone in your family - how would you feel?

John Bill has lost his life and a lot of people are going to miss such an important member of their family or close friend, all because those teenagers have never heard of respect.

To those who caused the hassle in Wheelock that night, I would say that once your are locked up behind bars with some other criminals you will finally find out the hard way exactly what respect is.

I write this anonymously, as I really could not do with the stress of giving these youths a really good hiding. Why should I be the one in the wrong? Parents, get a grip!
SANDBACH RESIDENT (name and address supplied)

I READ with interest the hunt supporter's letter in the Chronicle last week claiming hunt stereotypes are false. I recently experienced a very different view.

At 10.30am on Saturday, October 9, I was in my kitchen when I saw some of my cats frantically running across the yard. There was a lot of barking outside and I went to see what the commotion was.

To my horror, several large foxhounds were hurling themselves at my closed gates. I ran to the side gates and another four were doing

the same. I was absolutely terrified. I saw beyond the gates in my garden another dozen racing around the garden, barking furiously and chasing the cats.

I spotted a huntsman near the house blowing a horn but the hounds were entirely out of control and completely ignored him. I ran out into the lane to tell him to call the dogs as they were chasing my cats and chickens, but all I got from him was a bored-sounding 'sorry' and he continued down the lane.

I ran to catch him up and found him chatting to another two, one on a horse. When I demanded to know what was happening I received an indifferent shrug and a 'well they haven't done any damage have they?' Obviously petrifying me, frightening my animals and trespassing doesn't count as damage.

They were reluctant to identify themselves or their hunt. Finally one gave his name and telephone number. I gave my details and they went back to their killing fields, and I to calm my animals.

It is now over a week and not one of them has had the courtesy or decency to find out how I am or how much damage has been done.

This is not the first time this hunt has been reported. In January this year the entire pack was put on the police dog bite register after they attacked a man in his back yard (Chester Chronicle, January 15).

It is time these people came into the 21st Century. Their arrogance is appalling and their indifference to their hounds is shocking.
BARBARA WALLEY Nantwich

DESPITE the improved train services between Crewe and London, I don't endorse the idea that residents in London and the South East should relocate to Crewe or it's surrounding villages and commute daily to London (Chronicle, October 13).

Fresh4Homes manager Debra Rees says: 'Why buy a shoebox in London when for the sake of a journey on one of those tilting trains you can own a home in Crewe?'

If too many people do what she advocates, the result is predictable. Within a year we shall hear the complaint that London commuters have bought up all the good property in this region, forcing up prices and making it impossible for first-time buyers.

Estate agents ought to keep their mouths shut.
C D ALLEN (address supplied)

I FIND it hard to believe that the people in charge of the bus companies for the Cheshire area can't find the solutions to our bus problems.

Two members of our pensioners' committee attended the transport meeting with the hope of giving our members information about their transport problems.

But sadly, our two people came away as wise as they went in!

Why? Because their committee, including the chairman, couldn't answer any of the questions put to

them and didn't seem to care either - no interest whatsoever, but still, if they all have cars to get them from A to B they wouldn't be interested in the bus users would they!

Our committee members give up their time to attend these meetings to help our members with their bus problems, but find it a waste of time.

The powers-that-be don't care about the trouble people are having with their bus services.
DISGUSTED BUS USER (name and address supplied)