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Council must re-think this

I WAS astounded and upset to read of the family whose 25 lovely chickens are to face eviction from their loving home by Rugby Borough Council. (Last week's Advertiser)
I believe under Rugby council we already have intensive bird farming units including battery hen farms, which I find deplorable, especially when in 2012 eggs from caged birds will be unlawful.
Also, major supermarkets are facing increasing demands from their customers for free range eggs and chicken, bearing in mind the birds suffering and healthy options.
I would sincerely hope that Rugby Borough Council will reconsider their position in letting the hens stay.
I have immediately written to the Chief Executive with a copy going to the head of the Environmental Department asking for common sense to be used and respect given to the chickens and their very environmentally friendly family.
Perhaps other readers could write!
Janet Cummings,
Tower Road,
Rugby.


The truth is the opposite

I WAS surprised that Dave Fisher (Rugby Advertiser letters, July 3) took issue with Janet Cummings's letter where she described how racehorses are sometimes killed on the racetrack if they fall and are injured.
She used the word 'slaughtered' and he says she should have said 'put down'.
Well, quite frankly, I don't think the horse cares what word is used, when he collapses in agony and is then killed. What matters to him is that he dies – along with more than 400 other racehorses every year. His death is due to horses being selectively bred for speed not strength, just so that they can all run a little faster.
Horse racing – and particularly this selective breeding – is both cruel and unnecessary.
I was also surprised to read Mr. Fisher's bizarre claim that vegetarianism is bad news because there is not enough farmland to sustain a non-meat eating population.
The truth is the complete opposite. It takes more land (and water and energy) to feed a meat-eater than it does to feed a vegetarian, because when we eat meat, we take in only 10 per cent to 25 per cent of the protein and energy value of crops that we would have obtained had they not been fed to animals first.
That is because animals are inefficient converters of plant food into meat: they use up most of the protein and energy in the day-to-day workings of their bodies – just as we do.
One reason why food prices have risen so rapidly recently is the growing demand for grain in India and China as those countries start to consume more meat.
And as for Mr. Fisher's complaint that animal rights campaigners might slaughter insects on their windscreens when they drive their cars, this is the kind of thing that people raise when they are running out of arguments.
Personally, I usually cycle to work, but it is still impossible to completely avoid harming any animal life. However, that is no excuse for doing nothing to prevent suffering.
I would urge Mr. Fisher and everyone else to cut down on or give up meat and other animal products, to boycott medical charities that use animal testing, and to avoid supporting horse racing, zoos and circuses.
Richard Mountford,
Development Manager,
Animal Aid,
The Old Chapel,
Bradford Street,
Tonbridge,
Kent.


Easier get harder

MY dear one, being a kind man, he says to me: "I'll make a little shed to hide all these 'ere bins we have to have for the rubbish."
And it was done.
Then he says: " I'm not getting any younger. How am I supposed to lift all this stuff out to the front of the house?"
So I made a notice for the front door - 'no junk mail, take-away menus, leaflets or catalogues'. But they keep coming and the boxes are still so heavy.
He tries to stay calm does my husband, unlike one of the binmen, who had to be requested not to shout the F-word loudly in the street. He responded by leaving our green bin slung on its side on the kerb. I didn't tell my husband - he often has to play that frustrating game of hunt-our-bins when they haven't been returned to the place where he left them on collection day.
I felt so cruel when I broke the news that we are to get three bins now. He held his head in his hands and says to me: "But my little shed will only take two! And it's getting more confusing by the week to remember what goes in which bin."
He used to be such a calm man.
Now I know they think all these bins will make it easier for us to recycle, but I heard my dear one muttering that 'easier is getting harder every day.'
Me? Oh, I'm off to make a multi-lingual sign for the front door to try and reduce the junk mail. I can't have him hurting his back lifting the paper recycling box - he's got a bigger shed to build.
Fay Wheat,
Hunter Street,
Rugby.


Town's state of apathy

Rugby as many things it can be rightly proud of, the world famous and highly prestigious Rugby School, its relevance in the development of the early jet engine, and of course the game of Rugby, to name but a few.
How sad then that today our town has slid into a state of apathy and quiet resignation whilst the very fabric of our neighbourhood is slowly destroyed by the very people who we elect to enhance our community.
We quietly accept massive disruption to the road system in our town as if it is the norm throughout Britain to shut down over the past year almost every road, junction, pathway and bus stop.
We waste countless hours sitting in traffic jams all over the borough, frightened to complain just because the council has decided to spend thousands of our hard earned money. They repetitively drone away on the local radio that 'it will be great when it's finished' and why do we accept this?
Well maybe we have been browbeaten into submission by a council that wealds too much power. Maybe we just sat back for too long and to quote George Orwell, the pigs have now become more equal than the other animals, or maybe, we just stopped caring.
We have seen the council spend 30 years deciding on the provision of a museum and art gallery, only to witness them spend a fraction of their time and brain power allowing a dirty great food store to be built in front of it!
Who's the genius behind that one we should ask?
We allow a cement works to irrevocably destroy the skyline and drive away any chance of attracting to the town any of the new cutting edge 'green' business ventures. We much prefer to quietly tut under our breath after yet another soot fall-out from the plant, followed by the inevitable half-hearted and mostly unbelievable excuses from the Environment Agency. Just how stupid are we judged to be?
Perhaps the saddest indicator of our collective lethargy has been the treatment of Lillian Pallikaropoulos. This woman has spent many years and many thousands of pounds earnestly trying to highlight the issues relating to the health impact of a cement plant in the centre of our community, along with the massive transport and air quality issues this operation produces.
She has been black-balled by the borough council, largely ignored by the councillors and the local MP. Requests through the freedom of information system have been fudged and ignored in various forms by almost every so-called responsible body involved.
Her good name has been systematically destroyed by the very people who in any other market town in the country would be clamouring to utilise her vast and detailed knowledge, and what do we do? We ignore her pleas to be heard.
Having fought, using her own money, and lost against such insurmountable odds in the Court of Appeal, the Environment Agency have now argued that she alone is the only person in Rugby with any interest in the health and wellbeing of the residents. They say she should pay the legal bill of £100.000. And still we sit back, shake our head and tut under our breaths.
Just one final point - last year we paid our 47 borough councillors £330,000 for what are jokingly referred to s expenses. Does any of this make any sense?
G C Prewett (Mr),
Railway Street,
Long Lawford,
Rugby.


Last birth in Moat Street

WITH reference to the July 10 edition of the Rugby Advertiser, regarding the Word on the Street feature on Regent Place.
I was probably the last person to be born in Moat Street (the street's former name), being 85 years old.
Eileen Newman (nee Ingrouille)
Street Court,
Brownsover.

Do you know anyone older who could be the last person born in Moat Street? Please write to us at the usual address or click here to email us.


Christian Aid nets £25,000

Many thanks to the people of Rugby for their generosity during Christian Aid Week 2008. A total of £25,161.75 was raised.
This money will be used in many countries in the developing world to help the poorest and most needy, regardless of their religion.
Mrs. Angela Goodman,
Secretary,
Rugby and District Christian Aid.


What a great street!

WELCOME to Railway Terrace, where if you are lucky, you might get knocked over by children being taught to ride a bike on the pavement by their parents.
It's a road where 90 per cent of the drivers don't wear seatbelts and child passengers don't wear them either.
There is a lot of rubbish around the James Court flats, but the council refuse lorries drive past too fast, or sit in their vans because it's too cold to get out.
My, what a lovely place it is.
Incidentally, I know the silver Corsa driver who empties their ashtray on the road and throws beer cans out of the window.
You are on camera.
Name and address supplied.


Heartfelt thanks for help

I WRITE to thank your readers in Rugby who supported the British Heart Foundation's (BHF) Help a Heart Campaign in June by generously donating either time or money to help us fund more heart research.
The aim of the Campaign was to raise £1.5m nationally for pioneering research into the causes, prevention and treatment of heart disease, and whilst money will continue to be remitted over the coming months, we are confident that the campaign has been a huge success.
As a charity in urgent need of funds, we rely on our supporters in the community to help generate the money we need to continue saving and improving the lives of people like Mr. Wood from Rugby.
Mr. Wood is a member of the Rugby Heart Support Group. He and 13 other volunteers from the group helped to raise over £1,218 for the charity at a two day collection at Sainsbury's, Rugby.
The group is affiliated to the BHF and work together to support heart patients. Many of the members have benefited from the vital heart research funded by the charity and are aware that the charity plays a major part in the development of surgical techniques.
Mr. Wood himself had a heart attack three years ago and had stents fitted to help improve his condition.
The BHF is totally committed to preventing lives from being devastated by heart disease and our research will help save and improve more lives in the future.
If you would like to support our lifesaving work by volunteering, organising an event or giving a donation please call me on 0121 353 2087 and help beat heart disease for those who live today and for those who will live tomorrow.
Donna Stokes,
BHF Fundraising Volunteer Manager,
British Heart Foundation,
PO BOX 11771,
Sutton Coldfield,
West Midlands,
B74 3WH.