Last updated 10:10, Thursday, 03 July 2008

SIR – Your front page story “Academy plan for Whitehaven” (The Whitehaven News, June 26) reports that Jamie Reed MP has won government approval for an academy in Whitehaven.

This smacks of a political bulldozer being driven through a community without any consideration of those who will be affected most by any change to the school’s status.
Have the parents of the present and future students at the school been consulted? Have the staff been given detailed information about how their employment might be affected?
Has the community that the school serves been asked if it wants to surrender the local accountability of the school through elected governors and elected local councillors?
Academies are part of the government’s erosion of locally controlled public services; in academies the sponsors dominate much smaller governing bodies. Decisions about the academy are taken without the opportunity for local democracy to call the decisions to account.
The Government once trumpeted a “Choice and Diversity” policy for public services. If Whitehaven School were to become an academy what choice would the parents of North Copeland have? An academy at Egremont, an academy and a Voluntary Aided Catholic School at Whitehaven. What if parents do not want their child to attend an academy? What choice would there be?
Decisions about major public sector services need to be carefully considered. The people of North Copeland, the parents of young people in Whitehaven and the staff of the school need to have their voice heard before change is forced upon them. And they need to be shown overwhelming evidence that changing to an academy brings the change and improvement that is always claimed.
Jamie Reed must make sure that he is acting in the best interests of the community.
David CORNWALL
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
Loweswater Close, Cockermouth
Should council have say on PBO?
SIR – With reference to John Kane’s letter (June 19), the impending announcement is for a contract winner, not a preferred bidder.
The bid process will have been running for 18 months and now at the 11th hour the local council decide to ask: what’s in it for us? The reality is that Copeland, Allerdale and Cumbria County Council have all been involved in the bid process – in fact some have been out to America, paid for by us taxpayers, to see what is in it for us.
The councils and other local stakeholders’ input will have a 20% weighting on the bid process but we have heard nothing from Copeland as to what they have been looking to get us. Why should we believe that councillors interviewing the potential parent body organisation (PBO) add any value or give the people who live and work here a secure future? Did this same Labour-controlled council interview Marchon, Kangol, Millers Shoes, Cross paperware, Fishers Headboards, Sekers or Smiths, to name but a few ?
The NDA are running the competition and it will be them, through that process, who decide who gets awarded the contract, unless this Labour government intervenes.
Has the NDA not really integrated in the local community? Its offices are here, it employs people who live and spend money here.
The fact is we do not have a certain future supported from a nuclear industry. The Government sold our new-build capability off then weeks later announced a new-build strategy.
Local councils have little to no influence in government decision- making – just ask the people who live in the villages whose post offices are now closing: hardly surprising with the mixed messages from Copeland’s MP who votes to close them then starts a campaign to keep them open, no doubt paid for by us again.
Remember, it is only a year ago that the leader of Copeland Council criticised a pay rise in line with RPI for Sellafield workers.
Yes, a really good question: what is in it for us ?
Paul SHAWCROSS
Sellafield Section Vice Chair
Prospect Union
Environmental issue of our time
SIR – with the ever-important controversy over the building of an underground nuclear waste repository, there are a lot of important issues to be taken into account. For example, any of the ex-miners round here will say that it is a well-known fact of geological faults in this area.
Another element of danger would be with the rapid melting of the ice caps at the Antarctic and Greenland. The rising of tides could be a serious threat and, as The Whitehaven News pointed out, where would the most suitable site be with so many serious problems to be considered?
We only need look at what happened at Egremont where a large hole caved in where the houses are, through underground ore mines in the past.
So this is one of the most important environmental issues of our times in Cumbria, and should be treated openly and seriously as possible.
James TAYLOR
Midtown Close, Distington
MP criticised over PO fight...
SIR – I must write to thank Coun John Kane, his committee and all the people who gave evidence, for their hard work fighting the post office closures in Copeland.
These people gave their time and effort trying to hold on to what is a vital amenity for many communities in our area. Alas all their efforts were in vain.
But surely the fight should have been made in Parliament by our MP Jamie Reed? If Mr Reed had thought a little bit more about his constituents instead of his own political career and fought for Copeland, then we may have had a chance to save the odd post office.
Eric Martlew, (Labour, Carlisle) did vote against the closures and managed to save a post office in his constituency. Mr Reed’s decision to vote for the closures in the House, then dash back to Copeland and pretend to try and stop them, smacks of hypocrisy. If Mr Reed had been a little sincere he would have argued one way or the other, but no one can argue for two opposites.
John A JACKSON
Church Street, Frizington
...and praised for achievements
SIR – May I offer a word of advice to Clive Jefferson, who in last week’s letters page informed us that Labour MP Jamie Reed has no answers to “the increasingly dire problems facing the people of Copeland” and that the BNP would be fielding a candidate to fight in the next general election.
Try reading The Whitehaven News, Clive, before penning letters to the local press. It might keep you up to speed with recent events – always useful if you’re trying to win an election.
Recent reports have included news of a new hospital, a university, and, in last week’s edition, hopes of a £1 billion order for Sellafield and possibilities of further investment, including next month’s launch of Britain’s Energy Coast, a £2 billion, 20-year programme of projects to boost the area’s economy.
In reporting plans for a second academy for Copeland, the editor offered deserved thanks to our MP, who is honest enough to recognise that he doesn’t have all the answers to the challenges we face, but whose actions and these achievements speak for themselves.
As has been demonstrated in the past, our community is at its best when we stand together, led by an MP who is there to represent us all, unlike the BNP which represents exclusion, division and race hate.
I look forward to campaigning for Labour and against Clive Jefferson and his friends.
S POLLEN
St Bridgets Lane, Egremont
Mayor’s thanks to volunteers
SIR – I thank all the volunteers who made the Queen’s visit such a success. One of the Queen’s attendants told me it was the biggest crowd they had seen this year and another said it was the most enthusiastic crowd they had seen this year. Well done volunteers for giving us all a great day.
To the volunteers who organised and made the ‘Open the Box’ and the continental market on the harbour such a success and made the Sea Cadets very happy, well done.
I understand from one of the Sea Cadets’ organisers that the boat they were presented with will give them the chance to offer water-based sport to other youth organisations.
To the volunteers who organised the Town Criers Competition thank you. You gave us all a wonderful day out and a chance to hear about other parts of the country from the 15 criers. It was also interesting to hear their slant on Whitehaven’s history.
A big thank you to the school children and teachers from Whitehaven schools, Whitehaven in Bloom team and staff of the Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Department for providing us with such a beautifully designed and colourful display of flowers in Trinity Gardens. A number of residents from Trinity Court said how much they appreciate the work done to make the gardens look so pleasant. One said: ‘It’s the best place to live in Whitehaven’.
Thank you again, volunteers: we in Copeland value all you do and without you we could not enjoy as much.
Keith HITCHEN
Mayor of Copeland
Time running out for Saltom
SIR – It was great to hear that Copeland Council is looking to do a U-turn over Saltom Pit. It’s not before time that our industrial heritage was recognised.
Saltom Pit has huge potential as a tourist attraction.
I have run an online campaign via my website, myWhitehaven.net, and have also been in touch with several government figures over the fate of this relic from Whitehaven’s past. Because Saltom Pit is a scheduled ancient monument, Copeland’s decision to allow it to fall into the sea would have been reckless and potentially illegal.
I would like to think that my campaigning had helped to save Saltom Pit, but from what I understand, time is very short. Contractors need to be mobilised within the next two-three weeks. The 50% European grant towards the works must be spent by September, and if the money isn’t spent, it will be lost. There can be no delays from Copeland Council in pushing this project forward.
The National Trust have been magnificent with their site investigations, preparation work and bidding for the European Grant, now it’s up to Copeland BC to get the work done. Inaction is not an option.
Sean DUFFY
Scalegill Road, Moor Row
Vandalism at the Brows
SIR – Can I bring to your attention the mindless vandalism of the Arrowthwaite Wood (known as the Brows). For those people who are not familiar with the wood, there is a brick laid path that connects town with Kells. But I’ve noticed lately the large amounts of bricks removed from the path, which could be a danger to the elderly or young children.
Obviously the mindless yobs who remove the bricks have no thought to the people of Whitehaven who need to use the woodland walk.
Name and address supplied
We don’t need a parish council
SIR – In last week’s Whitehaven News, Copeland Council published plans for establishing a parish council for Whitehaven. Why on earth do we need a parish council? It is an unnecessary tax on local people as services are already provided for by the borough council.
We have not asked for one, we don’t need one and we don’t want one should be the cry from the people of Whitehaven. We already pay enough through our high council tax bills for these services, why pay extra for something we already have?
In other areas of the country people are trying to abolish parish councils, seeing them as an unnecessary cost. Before it’s too late send your objections to Mr Martin Jepson, The Copeland Centre, Whitehaven.
Name and address supplied
Support for Aidon’s fight
SIR – I read with delight about eight year old, Aidon Sol Davison, who has taken the time to complain about the litter in Cleator Moor.
I would like to add to his comments and say the litter and dog mess on our pavements is unacceptable. The pavements themselves are a disgrace and hazardous, especially to the old like myself.
Driving my mobility scooter locally on the pavements is extremely painful: there are rough and uneven areas, numerous uncovered gullies for drainage to the road and the fact that having got so far on the pavement you often cannot get off the other end because the kerb is too high. Reversing such a long way back is also hazardous.
Perhaps someone from the Council or Highways could look at these problems to see if anything can be done to improve them?
Mrs L THOMAS
Earl Street, Cleator Moor
A secure and homely place
SIR – I am writing regarding the letter by R Stoker (June 19). Johnson House (Whitehaven Abbeyfield) is very well run by a dedicated committee and staff who create a truly secure and homely place in which to live and visit.
I visit regularly as I am a sponsor of one of the residents. I was pleased to hear of the new extension that has been planned as I am convinced it will provide comfortable, secure, worry-free living for a further number of local people.
Johnson House is in a delightful quiet area with wonderful views over the town and the sea. It also has beautiful, well-maintained gardens.
In all respects I believe it to be an asset to Whitehaven. I was very saddened to hear of the numerous objections raised and I cannot understand why so many have been made.
Jenny YOUNG
Billing Road, Coventry
Thanks for help
SIR – May I, through your columns, thank the customers of Morrisons who came to my rescue when I had a fall lunchtime Saturday? Fortunately no damage was done, except to my pride!
Name and address supplied