Plenty of loos

AS ORGANISERS of the Moreton Show, it was disappointing to see the letter from Linda and Roy Garwood (September 10) about an apparent shortage of toilets for our disabled visitors.

There were five locations on the showground with toilets for the disabled.

These were in the home and garden area, members enclosure, the horse area, the retail zone and at the pedestrian entrance at Gate 3 in the family fun area.

A further facility was added this year in the craft marquee specifically for exhibitors.

The public facilities were marked on the showground map in the show guides, catalogues and You Are Here boards.

We have also heard subsequently from Mr and Mrs Garwood that they had only heard of there being only two toilets for disabled visitors from a member of the general public.

I hope this can put the record straight. I should add that the show continues to develop year on year and any feedback we receive is used to make improvements for the following year's event.

Sarah Taylor General Secretary Moreton Show

Show donations

ON BEHALF of Marie Curie may I use your columns to express our gratitude to the Moreton Show for offering us this year's exit gate charity collection.

Thanks to this opportunity, with the help of all the volunteers and, of course, the great generosity of the public, we raised an amazing £2,998.45 – an excellent conclusion to a most enjoyable day.

Hilary Sutton Draycott  

Sermon jarred

THERE is a time and a place for everything, including debates about Britain's nuclear deterrent.

A church service to commemorate victory over Japan is, arguably, not an appropriate occasion for such a debate.

So imagine my disappointment when Pershore's new vicar decided to use a service in the abbey to condemn those who used the bomb and argue for unilateral disarmament.

Her argument was that the bomb is an abhorrent weapon (as opposed to nice conventional weaponry) and that if we divested ourselves of nuclear weapons then maybe other countries might be inclined to follow suit.

There are two problems with her analysis. Firstly, the historical consensus is that if Okinawa was any indication of the mortality rate liable to follow an invasion of Japan, then the deployment of the bomb almost certainly saved lives – on both sides. Secondly, disarmament should only follow a guarantee that doing so would enhance, or at least not diminish, security – the vicar’s recommendation that we rely on wishful thinking strikes me as utterly irresponsible. We know that the bomb convinced Hirohito to capitulate and that the bomb deterred the Soviets – on several occasions – from invading the West. Does anyone doubt that Crimea would still be a part of Ukraine had that country retained its nuclear weapons? With the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader seemingly inevitable, it is necessary to expose these hollow arguments and remind people that arms races develop because security requires having superior weaponry to those who might potentially do us harm.

We are an island nation dependent on global trade. We need these weapons to protect ourselves, as well as our interests.

That the vicar doesn't seem to understand this explains why she is a priest, and not a soldier.

Rex Jonathan Hyke Pershore

Don't ruin town

I WAS delighted to see the letter (September 10) about the traffic chaos in Winchcombe and the need for a bypass, which has my full support.

Traffic in the Town is getting worse and the pathetic, expensive attempts over the past months to improve the roads have only made matters worse.

Years ago the council considered a bypass to the South of the town, but with the declassification of the road through the town to a 'B" road, our masters thought this would solve the problem but it hasn't and every year it gets worse.  Is our council going to allow our town to be ruined?

Something must be done now to plan ahead and demand the government supports a bypass from national funds.

The town council and Friends of Winchcombe seem to think it is a lost cause and refuse to consider it.

The present infrastructure cannot support the amount of traffic caused by more and more large lorries and increased traffic from the massive new housing estates being built and there will be more whatever our objections.

The whole town is concerned about this but their council refuses to take the problem seriously.

Most residents will have received notice of the intention of the Sudeley Castle estate to release land for developers to apply for more housing on Vine Street, which will only put more burdens on our medieval roads, and on current thinking will probably be approved.

Their major reason for the sale seems to be to raise funds to support the castle, which we should support as it is a major attraction in the town.  But the sale of land for a bypass would help the estate and solve the problem of town traffic.

It could serve a hotel which is needed in the town. Shops are closing every day in the town and more visitors should be encouraged.

A bypass for the town is essential and the town council must be urged to investigate a route now and enter into discussions with the  county  council and the Ministry of Transport. Any develoment to the south of the town must determined by such a route and development should be conditional on a contribution towards this.

Michael Lashford-Spinks Winchcombe  

Such obstacles!

I WONDER if our councils have any common sense.

I have taken rubbish to the tip to be told: you can't bring that here, wrong ticket, or no licence etc. All because I drive a van!

If people are willing to take rubbish to the tip there should be no obstacles.

This all boils down to money and politics.

A Lauer Evesham

Hospital fair

THE Friends of Evesham Community Hospital and the hospital staff would like to thank the generosity of the public in supporting the hospital fair when just over £450 was raised.

The money will help buy items of equipment for the benefit of patients.

This generosity proves just how much Evesham people value their local hospital.

We never know when we will need to use it, so we are very grateful for their continuing support of local people.

Sincere thanks to all the volunteers and members of staff who gave up their time to support the fair and members of the social club who also assisted on the day.

Frances Smith Chairman The Friends of Evesham Community Hospital

Bridge money

I HAVE recently been on holiday and missed several editions of the Journal.

Perhaps someone can enlighten me if an announcement has been made that Wychavon District Council has received the bridge penalty clause money while I have been away.

If it has received it would it not be prudent to offer a payment to those businesses forced out by this fiasco, and to others who suffered financially?

Peter Long Chairman Evesham Ukip

Best in world

WE HAVE, arguably, the best health service in the world.

Joyce Phillpot’s heart-warming account (Journal, May 7) of truly excellent service comes as no surprise.

My wife is currently recovering from a major life-threatening NHS operation, and the professionalism, care and attention she has received at every stage of a vastly complex set of procedures has been nothing short of superb.

As in all organisations things can and do sometimes go wrong. When this happens in the NHS the consequences can be serious and sometimes tragic.

When this happens it is right and proper to examine in minute detail the causal factors with a view to preventing a recurrence, thereby improving future performance.

But for most of the time for most of the people the NHS get it absolutely right and we should use every available opportunity to celebrate this, loudly and clearly.

Which is exactly what Joyce Phillpot has done, and I applaud her for it.

Jack Lloyd Fladbury

Surgery first

WITH the growing population of Pershore and surrounding villages, Abbottswood Medical Centre needs to expand its consulting rooms and car parking facilities.

As an a patient of Abbottswood patient and a resident of Nogains, I see on a daily basis the problems  staff and patients face when trying to park on the car park or nearby.

Surely the surgery needs should come first, and ground surplus to their requirements sold for redevelopment?

Jane Smith Pershore