YOUR LETTERS: March 4 2010
Letters to the Editor
'Junction will be dangerous'
HAS anyone considered what the possible consequences might be for community safety if the application to build an abattoir at Onley is given the go ahead by Rugby Borough Council? Given that Warwickshire County Council is considering plans to close fire stations in the area and the likelihood that there will be cuts in the local policing budget, what would happen if there was a serious disturbance at the site which required attendance from all of the emergency services?
The previous abattoir at Crick was regularly the target of attacks and protests by animal rights activists. How ironic then that a new abattoir may be built right next to the prison containing an extremist imprisoned for five years for planting incendiary devices under the abattoir vehicles at Crick! Should the proposed abattoir be built, what will be the effect on the prison population especially if it brings along with it problems of public order? Prison Officers have enough difficulty as it is keeping control of volatile and dangerous inmates without the problems that come along with an abattoir making their position even worse.
The chances of increased accidents along the A45 due to a huge increase in the numbers of large slow moving vehicles coupled with the proposed new junction onto the road will only act as a drain on local community resources by putting further pressure on the local police force and emergency services. Since Christmas there have even been three accidents along the A45 - one accident at the exact spot where the new junction is planned!
Increased problems for the majority in the community but increased profits for the minority in the community will be the outcome if the plans for the abattoir are given the go-ahead!
Dawn Cotton
Onley Park Residence
Association Action Commitee
Public were left in cold
SHOULD we be surprised at the level of indifference towards local government, typified by the low turnout in local elections? Last Thursday I sat in the public gallery at Rugby Town Hall, along with just one other person and the doorman, to witness the full council meeting where the council tax decision was
approved.
An early item was an interesting debate on whether the public should be allowed to speak at meetings of the planning committee, a move encouraged by central government and already implemented by many other councils. It was clear the ruling party in Rugby saw this as an unnecessary inconvenience which could extend meetings into the early hours. No concern as to whether it would improve the decision making process.
It was ruled out on the basis that the council chamber could not accommodate public speakers without expensive alterations. That of course is the nub of the problem – the public are not important. In the public gallery it is impossible to see or hear more than a dozen councillors without hanging over the edge of the balcony. When it came to the council tax decision the papers provided did not contain all the information, with many figures merely shown as XXXX.
There was some yah-boo behaviour amidst a rather boring debate, with councillors looking to score political points before the inevitable decision was carried. Not a moment too soon we reached the stage when the public gallery was cleared so that confidential matters could be discussed. I had a particular reason for attending the public session, but was confused until I realised the pages of interest in our papers had been omitted, a fact later confirmed the next day after consulting one of the councillors.
Unfortunately the council's website, both before and after the meeting, was even more economical with its information so no help there. No wonder the political parties find it difficult to recruit motivated individuals to stand as candidates.
Laurie Bird
Bilton, Rugby
Thank you after fall
May I, through your column,thank the very kind lady who stopped to help me after my fall in Regent Street last Saturday lunchtime. It was greatly appreciated.
Mrs. S. Roberts
Address supplied
Flooding idea needs sense
Colin Mills' idea for the prevention of flooding is brilliant! (See last week's letters page). This is a great way of spending loads of money in the eradication of all running water wildlife. All genres of breast would be affected: insects, crustaceans, fish, birds and mammals. They are annoying after all!
Severn Trent, and other water companies, had a program of dredging and abstraction back in the late 1980s. This did not work. It did successfully make a mess of the countryside for a long while. Thankfully, nature and rivers having their own minds, they have largely recovered. Surely we don't have to go through this all again, and again when the rivers and streams have silted up, or started meandering, and trees grown up again (explain that spending to Ofwat!).
Surely the answer is not to build on flood plains as they have a tendency to flood. Hence the name. People forget that rivers have been flooding for quite a long while.
Something like time immemorial, I think.
Ian Martindale
Poplar Grove
Rugby
n Thank you for all your letters regarding the performance by Jaide's Stage School. Unfortunately, we cannot print them all due to space, but here are a couple we received:
Cast gave 100 per cent
I WOULD like to say a big thank you to Jaide's School of Performing Arts who put on a fabulous performance of Oliver "A bit of a Twist" last week.
I attended on a cold Saturday evening, but that was all forgotten when the cast took to the stage. The whole cast gave 100 per cent. Whilst all the adults were great, a Brummie Mr Bumble and mesmerising Nancy, where outstanding. Slightly biased, I do think the true stars of the show were the children who have committed several months of rehearsals to make sure it all went right on the night. "Oliver" sang like an angel and the dancers helped bring the entertainment factor to the show.
In summary it was a lovely evening out and I can't wait for the next one.
Marie Cooksey
Braunston, Northants
Perfect night out
I WOULD like to share with your readers the pleasant time we had at the Macready Theatre in Rugby last week.
Last Thursday, February 20, I took my friends out to see A Bit of a Twist with their daughter and mine, aged four and five years old. All we knew is that it was a sung and danced adaptation of Oliver Twist by Jaide's School, where my daughter takes ballet lessons. Having seen other productions by this school I expected we would be well entertained. And it turned out to be brilliant!
My friends who did not know Jaide's School before that evening commented on the high quality of the acting and were surprised when I said that the cast consisted of students of Jaide's drama class. To my amazement and that of my daughter we also recognised a few parents among the cast!
What was great is that there wasn't a boring moment even for the children, and that was probably due to the frequent dancing and singing. We loved the actors who played Oliver, Nancy and Bill because they had such beautiful singing voices. But the best performance was probably that of the artful Dodger, played by such a graceful young dancer who turns out to have equally great acting skills.
The costumes were also impressive considering that the school tries to keep its production costs to a minimum. I especially liked the clothes of the street vendors with their frilled corsets and ankle-long bouffant skirts.
I was surprised to hear that this pleasant adaptation was written by Sandra Ellery, the Director of the dance school. That woman has so many talents! The choice of the Macready Theatre for the production was also excellent, since it was very accessible. The play made an interesting use of its cosy atmosphere by having the actors walk down the aisles onto the stage. It even involved spectators like when Bumble offered to sell Oliver to a mum who declared she already had a girl that this was well enough!
Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience, and not expensive at all at 8 per ticket. The representation ended a little before 10pm and there was light snow falling outside when we came out of the theatre. This was just the perfect closure for such a pleasant evening.
Chantal Chevrier
Benn Street
Rugby
Transport club's appeal
WE, The Rugby and District Historic Transport Studies Group, are appealing for anyone with any stories, photographs, cine film or video taken either in the town or elsewhere relating to bus or coach trips undertaken.
Before cars became so prevalent on our roads, bus and coach travel was the accepted mode of transport for the vast majority of people. These items may be from a school trip, a family outing or holiday, or you may have driven one of the vehicles or worked at one of the companies. The town had many companies running day trips, evening tours and holiday services. A few that spring to mind are the Midland Red, Marvin's, George Morris, Cotton's, Lloyds, Lewis's, Clarke's, Rugby Co-operative, Express Coaches and Presstoon. We wish to create a record of this heyday of bus and coach travel for exhibition at events and talks.
You can contact me on Rugby 813531, or John Bird on Rugby 562119. or via email at rdhtsg@hotmail.co.uk or alternatively you will be most welcome to join us between 2 and 5pm at Newbold Methodist Church Hall in Main Street, Newbold on the second Thursday of each month. Next meeting is March 11.
David Holton,
Alwyn Road, Bilton
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Weather for Rugby
Friday 25 May 2012
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