Published at 11:05, Thursday, 11 October 2012

SIR – At least the councillors had the correct idea to listen to the people they represent by refusing the wind farm at Whitehaven. I fail to see why it needs a second hearing though. Sir, – Readers will be aware that since 1995 GP services in the out of hours period have been provided by a local GP managed service formally known as CueDoc and now known as CHOC ( Cumbria Health on Call).

Anyway, wind turbines do devalue your property and a court case involving a property near Barrow-in-Furness has just won its case and been rewarded 20 per cent of the property value in compensation. So, everyone, get your property valued and should one or many of these hideous “mushroom” like structures appear – take the landowner and the agent to court for compensation. Better still do this as a community! Power in numbers.

The Cumbria Wind Watch website is very interesting as it clearly explains and shows that we, the consumers, are subsidising lazy landowners who want to sit back and rake it in.

People may be interested to learn that a successful campaign from Ireland has proved that the national renewable energy action plans are in breach of the Aarhus Convention adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit, by not properly informing and consulting the people, and the programmes were not properly assessed by the governments of the EU themselves. They just took the information provided by the wind industry.

The UN has ruled that the EU energy policy is in violation of the Aarhus Convention. So write to the Government and your MP and demand that all wind developments stop until it meets the convention documentation and not claims by salesman for wind companies as done to date. The Aarhus Convention protects people’s democratic rights.

Name and address supplied

Sir – St Gregory and St Patrick’s School, which both my daughters attend, is an outstanding school.

The teachers, teaching assistants, nursery and educare, and the rest of the school staff have all been very kind and welcoming and caring to my daughters and all they have in mind is the education and welfare of the children and how best to serve this.

The innovative ways Mr Dwyer has thought of generating monies for the school – such as the setting up of a community cafe where all the community can call to buy food prepared by the canteen staff – should be praised, not questioned. Those pointing their fingers are doing nothing but participating in the crude practice in the politics of envy.

Also, I do not believe there is any risk in people attending the school to use the business.

It is wrong to question the ethos of educare as a business venture. It is there to serve the needs of the community and as such the wealth generated goes into the school coffers. What is wrong with that?

There is a silent majority of parents who are well aware of all the good work Mr Dwyer and his team do at the school.

Mohan Dash Singh

Whitehaven

SIR – Regarding the story in The Whitehaven News last week about Cory Spedding not making it to the finals of The X-Factor in Liverpool. Our daughter was at the Newcastle arena and on her return home she was raving about the audition she had and the remarks from the judges.

As it said in the article, why did they never show her audition, and also, why did she get rejected for fluffing one line when other acts got through that mucked up half their songs?

Gary Barlow described one act as “awful” and then put them through. There is a lot of talk regarding X-Factor being “fixed” on the internet these days, and I really do wonder how close it is to the truth.

We in West Cumbria have a lot of musical talent for a backwoods as it is and I hope it doesn’t put young Cory and other talented locals off for future shows on television.

Let’s keep West Cumbria on the map. So do keep trying.

Ken JOPLIN

Tomlin Avenue, Mirehouse

SIR – Gosforth and District Royal British Legion are looking for an area poppy organiser.

The volunteer doesn’t have to be a Legion member. If you have a few hours to spare for this worthy cause please contact myself, Rod Kimber Branch Secretary on 01946 728723 or Tony Crane County Secretary on 01539 737831.

Rod KIMBER

Branch Secretary, Gosforth and District Royal British Legion

SIR – Unless he has already done so, it would surely be of interest to his constituents for Copeland MP Jamie Reed to state his views on whether Britain’s present ties to the European Union should be challenged by an In/Out referendum, something so far denied to the British public by the current Prime Minister – despite his pre-election ‘cast-iron’ guarantee, and also by previous administrations.

Or, more modestly, by a vote on whether the severing of certain links should be the subject of such a referendum. I have in mind the hitherto unchecked flow of immigrants especially from Eastern Europe, the numbers of which we are powerless to restrict; the European Arrest Warrant which is an apparent denial of our rights under Magna Carta (about which our Prime Minister apparently knows little); the actions of unelected, often unqualified European Judges – some from countries where democracy is a sham – in overturning centuries -old and well-proven British Laws; and numerous other petty interferences in our daily lives which hamper and restrict profitable trade for British manufacturers and businesses.

Brian PARNABY

Ullock

SIR – More than 200 British citizens, most with conditions that cause them unbearable suffering, have now travelled to Switzerland to secure medical help to die. Every month others follow. But what of those who don’t have the money, or the physical ability, or who don’t want their helpers to risk prosecution?

Right-to-die laws exist in a number of European countries, have very strong public support, and include effective safeguards that prevent abuse. A doctor who helped an elderly person to die because they were simply tired of life would risk prosecution.

Liberal Democrats at their party conference supported my motion calling for Parliament to allow people with intolerable suffering to secure medical help to die here, in their own beds. Of course, this is an issue that crosses the party divides and should always be a matter for a free vote not a party whip, but someone has to take the lead.

The opponents of reform are compassionate people who want to ensure that the best care is available to all. Palliative care in this country is generally good, and pain relief helps most people, but these are not options that will be chosen by everyone. Just weeks ago we remember Tony Nicklinson describing life in his paralysed body as “a living nightmare” and making clear his determination to die.

The wishes of competent adults should be respected. To force someone experiencing unbearable suffering to stay alive against their will isn’t compassionate, it’s cruel.

Chris DAVIES

Liberal Democrat MEP

Stockport

SIR – Back to Netball is competing in the final of The National Lottery Awards 2012 and is calling on your readers to help it win before voting closes on Sunday, October 28.

Back to Netball is a programme of activity to encourage women to return to the sport. Whitehaven Sports Centre hosts a session for local women every week. Back to Netball is competing against two other finalists in the Best Sport Project category of The National Lottery Awards, the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for Good Causes. The awards recognise the life-changing difference that Lottery-funded projects – both big and small – make to local communities. Anyone can vote for Back to Netball by going to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards

The winners of the awards will be celebrated at a special star-studded awards ceremony, which will be broadcast on BBC One in December.

Jackie O’SULLIVAN

National Lottery Awards

London

SIR – Police and Crime Commissioners (election, November 15) will be politically-elected officials.

They will swear an oath which, though promising to “serve the people” and be “held to account by the public”, leaves out allegiance to the Queen and her subjects, unlike the police.

The police are servants of Her Majesty and thus the people, not Parliament.

As Chief Constables appear evermore political themselves, isn’t the real purpose of this new officialdom not just to replace the police authorities with as many new members but to ensure political line-toeing such that police control falls firmly in the hands of the Prime Minister ?

We are increasingly to serve the State which is governed by an “elite” believing themselves above the law. The State is the law and it heavily influences the papers and TV media. Our children are state brainwashed by state syllabus and the state spies on us with “security” cameras and telecom surveillance.

Isn’t political control of the police another step in our mushrooming police state ?

Rex POULTON

Salisbury

SIR – I am urging the nation to share their professional skills and passions to support local charities, community groups and clubs. It’s vital we support these groups with our skills in a bid to help them survive during difficult economic times.

After-school and sports clubs, small charities and community groups urgently need people to share their skills and passion to help them survive. From web design, marketing or accountancy to a personal passion for photography, gardening or music – everyone has a skill they can use to help others.

This year’s Make a Difference Day on Saturday October 27 is the nation’s biggest single day of volunteering and we need you to start thinking about how to share your skills to benefit your local community. Nearly a million people have taken part so far. You can register now to receive free resources to help create an inspirational volunteer project. So whether you want to take part with your company, school, community group, or even go it alone, get in touch now by visiting www.csv.org.uk/difference or calling Freephone 0800 284 533.

Pete WATERMAN

CSV Make a Difference Day

As one of the GPs who led the introduction of CueDoc I can testify to the fact that local doctors and nurses were absolutely committed to providing high quality care delivered by teams who know our local area. Over the years surveys have consistently shown high levels of satisfaction and the number of complaints has been incredibly small. As well as providing consultations in centres and GP home visits where needed, the service has also provided a high quality telephone advice line, again run by local call handlers and specialist nurses. CueDoc and CHOC have also worked in close partnership with colleagues in Accident and Emergency units to ensure patients get the right treatment in the right place. The fact that the call handlers, nurses and doctors are familiar with Cumbrian patients and their needs as well as our challenging geography has been a major part of the service's success and safety.

All this is now at risk because of a decision by the Government to introduce a new out of hours telephone number for the NHS - to be known as the ‘111’ service.

Earlier this year the NorthWest Ambulance Service in partnership with CHOC and other GP led services in Lancashire made a bid to operate the 111 telephone service. the proposal would have allowed calls within Cumbria to be handled by our local call centre. However the bid was rejected by the Department of Health and the service will now be operated by NHS Direct from next April. This means that all calls for GP and other advice out of hours will be dealt with by a call centre remote from Cumbria – and this centre will also be taking calls from the whole of Greater Manchester and Merseyside!

Apart from the fact that we are disrupting an existing successful service, what I find absolutely unacceptable is the lack of any public debate about the decision. It has been made behind closed doors. Many local doctors are anxious about the change. Our local much praised GP commissioning's group appear to have had no influence. as far as I am aware our local County Council Health scrutiny committee do not appear to have looked at the proposals. If this change goes ahead patients will find themselves having to deal with a call centre and probably nurse telephone advice from either Bolton or Warrington.

It is yet another example of where big call centres and IT are the answer to everything. Given the NHS dismal record in managing big IT projects I fear the worst.

I would ask readers to contact their local County Councillors and their Members of Parliament and request them to ask the Secretary of State for Health to justify disrupting a successful local health service.

Dr Robert WALKER

Moor Road, Great Clifton, Workington

SIR – I wonder if your readers could help me trace my family tree? The name I’m interested in is O’Hara.

My grandmother on my mother’s side was called Susan/Suzzana Birdie) O’Hara. She sang in the church choir. She was born in 1890 in Castlerea, County Roscommon, Republic of Ireland. Her sister was Mary Ellen O’Hara Burke, brother Charles O’Hara, mother Mary Quinn, from County Wicklow.

Susan O’Hara married William Smith in 1912.

My grandfather on my father’s side was David William Gregg. My grandfather was born in 1879, brother Thomas 1875, Emma Lavinia 1867. My grandmother was Margaret Ellen White born in 1883 and my great-grandfather was Robert Gregg born 1827/1831, Kirkmichael, Ayr, near Maybole, Ayrshire. My great-great-grandfather was also Robert Gregg, date of birth unknown. He could have been an attorney.

I’ve been led to believe there could be relatives in the Cumbria area so if anyone can help please get in touch at the address below or telephone 0191 2869990.

James GREGG

24 Brockwell House

Sunnyway

Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE5 3SB

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk