Is our home schooling less important in rural Cumbria?

I would like to explain some of the problems I face due to our poor/lack of internet connection.

Since March 2020, the introduction of restrictions and school closures due to the Covid 19 pandemic it is almost impossible for me to keep up to date with my school work. I am unable to take part in Zoom lessons and meetings, meaning I can not keep in touch with my friends.

This is having an impact not only on my education, but also my social and mental well-being.

I was unable to participate in the virtual open evenings for my secondary school selection, unlike my classmates, and had to view them days later when our internet allowed.

I have written to my local MP Trudy Harrison and now plan to contact Matt Warman who is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Digital Infrastructure following the three tier meeting and attitude of ‘tough, it’s too expensive’.

On the news Boris Johnson often refers to how many laptops and devices the government have supplied to children affected by the digital divide, but what of those of us who have the devices but poor internet and no mobile phone coverage?

Yesterday we had the ninth engineer out to our internet in just a few months.

Is my education/well-being and that of the other young people in the Ennerdale Valley less important than those in the towns and cities across the UK?

ANNABEL GREGGAIN

Aged 11

By email

Who’s who

I WAS amazed to see the article in last week’s Whitehaven News about Anneliese Dodds, Shadow Chancellor, attempting to mitigate the damage done by Ed Miliband on behalf of the national Labour Party when he said the mine shouldn’t go ahead.

Indeed, whilst she is aware of the local elections in May, the whole piece was designed to protect local politicians. My own view is locals know who supports the project and who doesn’t and will vote accordingly.

However, on part of the article I do need to touch on, she says “new information meant it had to be referred back for consideration”. That’s not true. The information was known about in December. Indeed, the minister Robert Jenrick was aware in January and made his decisions to give Cumbria County Council the right to go ahead in the belief that the new information didn’t make a great deal of difference to the project.

It is being used by those against the mine, the bulk of whom don’t even belong in the area, to stop the project once and for all. I sincerely hope they don’t.

GRANT CATTANACH

Cleator Moor

Illogical

Global emissions of C02 need reducing; our government is making considerable progress compared with other countries. We need the commitment of industry, government and us to do this.

If 10 million homes reduced their thermostat by one degree we would save 3,000 tonnes of CO2. We need to wear a jumper with our T-shirts, reduce our consumption of meat, go vegan once a week, take fewer foreign holidays and walk more.

We should support the Woodhouse Colliery and save 20,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions globally. Reducing the UK’s emissions by cancelling this project thus increasing global emissions because it will be perceived as virtuous isn’t logical!

ALAN BELL

By email

Cash point

While the controversy around the proposed new deep coal mine centres on climate change and carbon emissions, I’ve seen little about who will work down the mine if it gets the go-ahead. While the decline of the once great mining industry was a cause of great sadness for many it also meant the end of a lifetime of dangerous working followed by a retirement blighted by lung disease. Do we want to inflict these things on a new generation?

I suspect none of the MPs, councilors and mayors lobbying in favour of the mine would ever put a shift in underground themselves or want their children to either.

As ever, Johnny Cash sums it up best:

It’s dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew,

The danger is double, the pleasures are few

Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines –

It’s a dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.

MARK COLMAN

Cockermouth

Will William Wallace get his way?

I HAVE always believed that everything in life comes full circle no matter what it is. So I hope this letter is food for thought.

In 1305 William Wallace, who literally fought for Scottish Independence, died. Twenty-three years after his death Scottish independence was granted. Then in 1801 the United Kingdom was officially adopted.

The last word William Wallace spoke before he died was “Freedom” and this is exactly what Nicola Sturgeon wants for Scotland. First of all, for the record, I am completely against splitting up the United Kingdom. However, this is why I believe she stands a very good chance of gaining Scottish independence.

First of all, on the pandemic she has acted like a real leader should, going into lockdown at the right time and being 10 steps ahead of the Prime Minister who leaves everything too late and allowing the virus to spread like wildfire.

Indeed, Nicola Sturgeon did not formally back the UK government’s “Eat out to help out” scheme last August. In fact, she later said it might have been better if it had never happened, but this decision was taken by the Chancellor. I myself thought this was irresponsible and stupid.

The virus spread shortly after this. It will also cost the taxpayer £400 million but that’s the Conservatives for you.

Then, on the subject of the European Union, Scotland voted to remain in the EU, as I did myself. This is another argument for Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish independence. I believe the EU would welcome Scotland with open arms and they would prosper. After all, they have a lot to offer with their fishing industry, whisky, industry and of course oil.

I argue with Nicola Sturgeon that the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Scotland was not essential. I believe his visit to Scotland will him more harm than good.

So when Scotland go to the polls in May, I think they will vote for another referendum on Scottish independence. And when the General Election comes my own party, the Labour party, better start thinking outside the box, in what could well be a very different election campaign because the last thing I want is another Conservative government and one of the most annoying and indecisive Prime Ministers since John Major – and that’s saying something.

PETER ROTHERY

Woodhouse, Whitehaven

Target the litter louts

So the Copeland borough council officers said scattering bird seed was classed as littering? (The Whitehaven News, February 3).

Really? Maybe they should be employed as part of a cleaning team to clear the piles of real litter that is almost everywhere in Copeland.In fact the whole borough looks like one big rubbish tip. It is shocking and depressing.

The people who dump cans, plastic, bottles etc in the streets and open spaces are the real criminals, not a bird lover who does not want the wildlife to starve.

LISA SWAINE

By email