Those who are members of the Labour Party who are currently deciding who to vote for as their party leader, may I recommend Lisa Nandy?

Ms Nandy has previously stated that the most important issue facing us is climate change, and of course she is right.

The Labour Party, having refused to deliver Brexit, then allowed 43% of the electorate to appoint a climate-illiterate Boris Johnson to the supreme political position in this country.

At the last election, Labour had good environmental intentions and badly-thought-out ideas, building a giant scrapyard outside Workington on the banks of the Solway Firth being one of them.

The Prime Minister will have to be told emphatically how important the climate issue is, and only the leader of the opposition can do it.

Scientists tell us we have only a dozen years to make substantial progress towards a zero-carbon economy or it will be too late.

As we look into the future of rising sea levels in West Cumbria, the harbour wall in Whitehaven will fail, and the Penrith West Coast Rail Line will have to be reconstituted to provide Sellafield with a railway connection. The river systems of Cumbria will see more erratic flooding. Flood defences are almost irrelevant – only politicians prepared to do the political thinking necessary to produce a zero -carbon economy can save us.

Now is the time for Labour to step up and appoint someone to speak for the survival of the human race.

ROY IVINSON
Silloth

The thin blue line

REFERRING to the piece headed “Policing” (Times & Star, February 7), the writer says there has been extra money from council tax payers and Boris Johnson, yet no more police seen on streets.

As someone with experience dealing with police, I can say it’s not more police that’s needed, it’s better police.

My property was plagued with litter every day for two years, and the police spent thousands fixing cameras, repositioning cameras, visits in cars, on foot, during the day and at night.

When it came to light who was doing it, the police would take no action. It was left to me to put a stop to it. This resulted in my arrest, a court case and 12 months probation.

I have taken the matter up with Police & Crime Commissioner Peter McCall. His advice to me? Take the matter up with Citizens Advice.

I would respectfully suggest if Mr McCall wants to screw more money from the council tax payers, he should ensure the police deserve it.

P HILLAND
Workington

Voters will judge us

I READ with astonishment the diatribe launched by Coun Michael Heaslip against Coun Stephen Stoddart (Times & Star letters, February 14).

During the past few decades whilst Workington suffered an exclusive series of inadequate administrations, the problems of litter, derelict buildings and general ‘scruffiness’ accelerated and became more widespread. Important buildings, such as Curwen Hall were allowed to fall into decay to the extent that they became unsafe.

Over the last few months since Coun Stoddart was re-elected, he has personally become involved in recruiting volunteers to clear up specific blackspots, which had been neglected for years.

I can inform your readers that, along with other independent councillors, including myself, he has identified other areas which will greatly benefit from a concerted effort in revamping their locality.

I would remind Coun Heaslip that, both on Allerdale Borough Council and on Workington Town Council, the independents have been in control for less than a year. It will take many years to reverse the neglect resulting from previous poor administration. All we ask is that you give us one period of office and then allow the electorate to judge our efforts.

Coun DAVID KING
Stainburn

Turn out the lights...

Devolution? (Politics Column, Times & Star, February 14). Conservative Mark Jenkinson’s proposal to shut down our local councils and transfer jobs and services to Carlisle, like they did with our health services, is centralisation, the opposite of devolution.

Last one out of West Cumberland turn the lights out.

MICHAEL HEASLIP
Workington

Bin there, done that

Storm Ciara tore the lid off our paper recycling bin. On Tuesday my wife reported the loss to a very helpful lady in Cockermouth Library.

Two days later a smiling giant delivered a new bin and took the old one away.

Excellent service from Allerdale Borough Council.

RICHARD SMITHSON
Cockermouth