Last updated at 12:11, Thursday, 25 October 2012

SIR – In the wake of all the furore expressed in your paper and media sites in relation to the enormous decisions Copeland Council are being forced to make as a result of Government policies, we have to accept that the buck has now landed in our constituency.

No amount of finger pointing is going to change the job in hand because the realisation of having to make vast savings is a stark reality. Coun Elaine Woodburn and her team are absolutely determined to give the general public a fair hearing through a consultation process and at this stage there is no point in shooting the messengers.

Understanding the difference between discretionary services and compulsory services first and foremost is the main aim to fully comprehending just how much we have taken for granted in the past. There are no cakes left in the tin and nobody to bake anymore.

The consultation period on all the proposals will give this community an opportunity to realise the extent and seriousness of austerity on our doorsteps and an opportunity to appreciate exactly what it entails to have such a drastic budget cut.

Our MP Jamie Reed has succinctly outlined all the positive aspects of what we have here in Copeland, future projects in hand, the prosperity which he is ‘willing’ industry to fight for on our Energy Coast and not lose sight of all that has been achieved. It would be wonderful if the savings on an alternative scaled-down Pow Beck Scheme could benefit wider regeneration schemes, albeit outside the remit of Copeland Council, but certainly a morale-builder from the nuclear purse would be welcomed.

We cannot crumble in Copeland at the hands of this Coalition Government’s decisions. Whilst extensive cuts are a rude awakening, we must not allow them to be a death knell to this community.

Ms Eileen WEIR

Queen Street, Whitehaven

SIR – I am utterly appalled after reading last week’s front page of The Whitehaven News, after it was unearthed that Copeland Borough Council propose to close some of Whitehaven’s amenities by 2015.

Included in these proposals are The Beacon centre, the Civic Hall and yearly Christmas lights.

How dare they even think of proposing such ridiculous and preposterous ideas. There has been thousands upon thousands of pounds of the citizens of Copeland’s money ploughed into each of these amenities over the past five to 10 years. The Civic Hall and Beacon Centre are the top two amenities in Whitehaven that attract tourists, as well as being used for various activities. To lose these would be a tragedy for the community. It would also have an adverse effect on the number of tourists that these two amenities bring into the area, and inevitably local businesses would suffer.

I do not understand the council’s reasoning behind these decisions – yes, they have to save a supposed amount of £2.6million from their budget, but surely this is not the way. Perhaps they might think about sacking some of the council officials to start with, this would be a better idea of saving money.

What I would also like to know is what happens to all of the money gained through the maritime festival, where is this channelled? I don’t believe that the council should be allowed to close these amenities and would be interested as to what our MP Jamie Reed’s opinions are on this.

Is it not just a case of bad management by our council officials? And therefore should they not be more closely scrutinised over some of their decisions? Questions also need to be asked – are they the right people for the job?

I see a very bleak future for Whitehaven if the council are allowed to close these amenities, we already have numerous shops vacant, and not to mention all the pubs that are closing down in Whitehaven and this would just add petrol to the fire. Whitehaven is in danger of becoming a ghost town if the council are allowed to get their way. It’s about time we stood up for what we believe and petition against these proposals and carry out demonstrations if necessary. I also believe that the government should intervene and prevent the closures from happening.

Christopher SPEDDING

Bigrigg

SIR – Instead of a few muted apologies from Copeland Council, it would be commendable if those councillors responsible for the current debacle, especially the so-called ‘Cabinet’ members, were to acknowledge that some of them have not given of their best over the past years – or if they have , their best has not been good enough.

Some resignations would also serve as a timely message that the council has not served the true interests of the people of Copeland; indeed, it might be appropriate for all councillors to relinquish their expenses for a while and serve the borough without remuneration. Even though the total savings in that respect would be miniscule in relation to the accumulated black hole of debt, it would serve as a penance and an incentive to ‘try harder’ in future.

Brian PARNABY

Ullock

SIR – Last week’s news was full of reaction regarding the cuts in services which were enforced upon copeland council by the Con-Dem coalition government.

A lot of the anger seemed to be directed towards councillors, for example Mr Gerard Richarson asked why pay councillors travel expenses when all meetings are at the council offices in Whitehaven. This fact is untrue – often councillors travel to meetings all round the county and if it’s a joint meeting with the county council it often takes place in Kendal – a round trip of 117 miles – hardly down the road.

The real question is do we want a council full of retired people? Which would hardly be a representation of the whole community, so by giving councillors an allowance it enables working people to become involved without losing income, and people who become councillors do so because they have a desire to help the community that they live in, working quietly in the background.

Let me ask you all this: do you really think that councillors like having to cut services? But councillors stood up and became elected – remember that? It’s called a democracy.

However if you still feel that we are all on a good thing, how about this for a good job – it comes with a house, so no mortgage like the rest of us, your answerable to nobody and you can appoint yourself as a community leader. Fancy it? Well the Rev John Bannister has already beaten you to the job.

Coun Mike HAWKINS

Cumbria County Council

Hensingham

SIR – Everybody has had enough of this stupid government.

I’ve been with the Labour party for years.

I don’t know what they are doing. Nobody is doing anything for Copeland: Christmas lights; Civic Hall; fares for old folk; The Beacon; brown bins; parking charges; public toilets; flower displays; Bowls Centre; Tourist Information Centre; doorstep recycling.

I’m sick to the teeth, but one sticks out with me – Christmas lights. What have the kids done wrong that our council needs to do this?

If the Labour party was good at its job it would go to Mr Cameron and tell him what these cuts are going to do.

I say if we can’t have our lights on at Christmas everybody in the country shouldn’t have theirs on.

Come on Copeland, speak out on these stupid cuts.

I’m writing to Mr Cameron on this matter. The kids don’t need to be treated like this.

Come on, Labour party!

Joe SAVAGE

Meadow View, Egremont

SIR – The planned cuts are a joke.

1 We need a public toilet for visitors.

2 The Beacon is an attraction for visitors and blends in with the marina.

3 Flower displays are always a welcoming site on coming into town.

4 Closing the Civic Hall would leave us with no focal point.

5 No Christmas decorations. What will the children think on coming into a drab town at Christmas?

Going back a few years, Whitehaven was a busy little town with a great market on Thursdays and Saturdays. Now there is lucky to be eight stalls. What caused this? The council’s high rent did.

Our high street would be deserted if we did not have food shops and charity shops. We have some good stores on the outskirts of town but very little in the town centre.

If making cuts is the answer then why do we not start with the councillors? I am sure we do not need 52 of them to run this small area and by the expenses I am sure we can make a big saving, especially if we start at the top.

There is a lifeline and that is proposed work to be carried out relating to Sellafield, ie the new power stations and the new underground store. For reasons beyond belief, we still get people who are prepared to object.

I am not against these people as they do keep the hierarchy at Sellafield on their toes, but their objections are many years too late. The buildings that are erected now are built to last and will stand up to anything that is thrown at them compared to the buildings that were put up in the early days when objections would have been justified.

The amount of work that is proposed would definitely put the life back into Copeland and other areas, so, come on you councillors, this is your last chance of saving this great community.

John RICHARDSON

Meadow Road, Mirehouse

First published at 11:11, Thursday, 25 October 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk