Greatest show on earth? No!

SIR – I have had earache off people banging on about how great the Olympic-opening ceremony was. People who didn’t watch it, people who fell asleep half-way through, people who cannot think for themselves, who just believe the hype the TV coverage and other media opinions have fed their absent minds...

Last updated 9 August 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

Edward and Victoria

SIR – I read Margaret Crosby’s interview with Bernard Hanratty (besides Mr Hanratty’s own contribution) with much interest (The Whitehaven News, July 26).

Last updated 9 August 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

It’s time to make us councillors obsolete

SIR – After years of living off the back of cheap credit and the magic money tree under the last Labour government, it’s true that there’s now less cash to go to local authorities and other services. We all know that.

Last updated 9 August 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

Invest in broadband and public transport to solve traffic issue

SIR – Surely building yet more big car parks is the wrong approach (“Sellafield traffic ban”, The Whitehaven News, August 2). The London Olympics give us a good example of how to do it.

Last updated 9 August 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

Rural communities and the elderly ‘easier targets for cuts’

SIR – We try to recycle as much of our refuse as possible. Little food waste is placed in our bin as it either goes to the chickens or dogs. Vegetable matter is composted and paper or cardboard is either composted, used as fuel or recycled.

Last updated 2 August 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

Pylons debate: what happens next

SIR – Over the last ten weeks, National Grid has asked local authorities, important organisations and interested members of the public for their feedback on our initial proposals for connecting new energy generation projects in Cumbria and the important issues they feel we should consider.

Last updated 26 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

Can’t we help our youngsters by paying them to clean our town?

SIR – I write to you to try and find out what our council has spent the £10million on, that was given to them from the LLWR (Drigg) Plant.

Last updated 26 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

A new library when other places are losing theirs

SIR – Re Mrs Mavis Gaskell’s letter about the new Egremont Library (The Whitehaven News, July 5), I hope that Coun Gary Strong was able to address her concerns to her satisfaction. However, I would like to pick up on a couple of statements she made.

Last updated 19 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

It’s no life of luxury living on housing benefits, Mr Cameron

SIR – Once again our Prime Minister David Cameron has instigated yet another attack upon working class people by threatening to withdraw housing benefits for the under-25s.

Last updated 19 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

Wind turbines 'are an eyesore'

Last updated 12 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

The nuclear waste debate

SIR – I write in reply to a letter from Coun Tim Knowles (The Whitehaven News, June 28), in which he discusses the results of public polling by MRWS [the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely partnership] to promote continuing with investigations for radioactive waste storage.

Last updated 12 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

Do we really need seven council leaders – and 359 councillors?

SIR – It was interesting to read the response by the director of service for Copeland Borough Council, Pat Graham (a paid council adviser), to my letter (The Whitehaven News, June 28) referring to changes to bins collections in order generate further savings.SIR – I recently wrote in The Whitehaven News about motorcyclists passing through Bigrigg village where I live.

Last updated 5 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

Thanks to midnight walkers

SIR – I am writing on behalf of Hospice at Home West Cumbria to thank everyone for the massive support we received, yet again, for our Ladies Midnight Walk. We are all extremely grateful to everyone involved in helping us on the night and before , in so many different ways.

Last updated 5 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

A mum’s special word of thanks

SIR – I would just like to say a HUGE thank you to all the people of Whitehaven for the warm welcome you gave my son James Simpson and his family when he ran with the Olympic torch last Thursday through Whitehaven.

Last updated 28 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

A county approach to refuse services would be more efficient

SIR – I read your report “More changes to bin collections” (The Whitehaven News, June 21) in which the council is to consult on efficiency savings which will affect every householder in Copeland to save the council £120,000, or nine per cent of the current £1,3200,000 cost of the service, which of course is quite a lot of money funding a frontline service.

Last updated 28 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

Big Society do, big thank you

SIR – I am writing to ask if you would print this letter in your newspaper to say a big thank you for all those who helped at the Sneckyeat Fun Day on June 6.

Last updated 28 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

‘GPs are well rewarded but by striking they lose our respect’

SIR – On Thursday our GPs will not be working. They are on strike. At a time when we all know that the economy of the world, the country and most importantly the area is in crisis, they choose to strike to support a pension provision that most of us can only dream of as a salary, much less a pension.SIR – I find I am not alone in expressing disbelief of Seascale Parish Council being so insensitive as to draw attention to the West Cumbria shootings by mounting what is, to all intents and purposes, a headstone, in a children’s play area.

Last updated 21 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

A mystery no more

SIR – The photograph of Braystones Tower in last week’s Whitehaven News helped me solve a mystery of where a family photo was taken.

Last updated 21 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk

Tower of strength – and joy

SIR – What a delight it was to see the Union Jack flying from Braystones Tower over the Diamond Jubilee weekend – and for the tower to be lit at night.

Last updated 14 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk