Why back this?

FURTHER to Bruce Beckley’s letter (October 1), I fully endorse his views.

With regard to the latest planned development of land at Boat Lane-Abbey Road, I cannot understand how Wychavon District Council and Evesham Town Council can seriously consider this proposal.

Without wishing to labour the points, how would this enhance/benefit the town?

Where is the infrastructure to accommodate additional residents to an ever-increasing population?

If this proposal is to be given any credence then Wychavon District Council and Evesham Town Council need to provide fully transparency as to why they support it.

I fail to see anything other than detriment to the town should this application be approved, and if it is given the go-ahead surely we must ask who benefits from this and how.

Edward Wilson Pershore

More guests

AFTER reading the letter Treasured Guests (Journal, October 1) I felt I must write as I also live in Honeybourne.

I have at least one hedgehog that comes every night, sometimes two.

They don’t live in my garden, despite me putting a hedgehog house out six months ago (I thought it was best to put it out early for them to notice it).

I have had visiting hedgehogs for about three years.

I love my garden and all wildlife are encouraged to visit.

In the summer I sometimes have to stay up till midnight to see the hedgehogs, but now I have to rush to get out by 7.30pm because they arrive soon after and I like to watch them foraging.

I did try the hedgehog food but they didn’t like it. I guess worms taste better.

I’m hopefully going to get a camera for next year and just see if there are actually more than two that visit.

Sue Williams Honeybourne

Wings appeal

THE Evesham branch of the Royal Air Forces Association wish to thank all those customers of Morrisons supermarket who contributed to our Wings Appeal at the Battle of Britain weekend.

Thanks to their generosity £1,681 was donated, which together with street collections etc resulted in a grand total of £2,116 being forwarded to headquarters for distribution to convalescent homes and supporting air cadets etc.

David Lee Chairman Evesham RAFA

Talking papers

THROUGH your letters page may I thank all those who kindly donated to the street collection in Pershore on October 3, in aid of Pershore Talking Newspaper.

Due to their generosity, I am pleased to report that the amount collected totalled £298.67.

Pershore Talking Newspaper is highly valued by the blind and partially sighted people in the town and surrounding villages who receive it.

Run entirely by volunteers, we are very grateful for the support we are given by the town.

It enables us to record and distribute local news to those who are unable to read it for themselves.

Susan Hartley-Bennett Pershore

Parking idea

ON VISITING a friend in hospital in the town of Buckingham at the weekend, I noted the hospital car parking was free and the town’s car parks charged just 50p for three hours.

Could this work in Evesham?

Dave Wicks Evesham

School walk

A RECENT poll has revealed that children hugely value walking to school for the social time with friends and family, just like their parents and grandparents did.

But less than half of children now get this opportunity.

Walking is a free and healthy option for children yet walking rates continue to decline.

It’s not too late to turn things around if we act now.

Walking to school can help children and parents build activity into their daily lives and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

We need to invest in the walk to school now, before the inactive children of today become the unhealthy adults of the future.

I have pledged my support to Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, and I’m urging Prime Minister David Cameron to prioritise walking in the upcoming spending review.

I would encourage others to do the same through the Living Streets website.

Terry Reid Worcester

Rural crisis

AS WE enjoy the first days of autumn in our beautiful countryside, the pressure on those who care for rural Britain is continuing to mount.

On average a farmer is forced out of business every day because of severe downturns in the price for milk and lamb.

This, coupled with a younger generation disillusioned with a future in British agriculture, and the disappearance of shops, pubs and rural services, means the countryside is facing a crisis this autumn.

This is why the Prince’s Countryside Fund is offering £725,000 to rural projects across Britain to improve livelihoods and communities and find our farmers of the future.

See our website for more details.

We would love to hear from you.

Claire Saunders Director The Prince’s Countryside Fund

OAP shoppers

I READ that once again Worcester’s CrownGate shopping centre is staging a “Student Takeover” on the evening of October 18, with loads of special offers exclusively for them.

In view of this, can we expect CrownGate to follow this up with a similar event for senior citizens?

Then we can all stagger away from there with armfuls of goody bags, discounted offers, etc, for a night out on the town to spend our pension money provided by the government on booze and entertainment in the same way that students dispose of their grant cash.

However, I feel that for most seniors it will be all a bit too much and that after a couple of shandies most will be off around 10pm to catch the bus home – if there is one!

Maurice Francis Worcester

Traffic chaos

TRAFFIC congestion in Worcester is becoming intolerable.

Within the last 15 years or so Worcester City Council has increased the off-street parking available in the city centre by some 1,000 spaces (Asda, Croft Road, Old Sheep Market etc) and recently closed the two park-and-ride sites, which has caused an enormous increase in the volume of traffic, especially along the northern routes, both in the morning rush hour and the evening too.

These two short-sighted policies are responsible in no small way for the increases and traffic jams that now blight the city.

Rob Peachey Worcester