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Rangers help in all sorts of ways
 
I AM very annoyed at the letter in last week’s Advertiser with the headline was ‘Rangers make no difference to my safety’.
I understand you need to show a balanced view. However, when things are not factual and filled with inaccuracies I must complain.
Firstly, the whole incident mentioned is to do with Clock Towers Shopping Centre. We have no cleaning responsibilities in the shopping centre neither do we any responsibilities with the car park doors. Clock Towers have their own cleaning staff. Should they require any support we will assist.
Secondly, our Rangers very rarely go in there, let alone sit down on a bench. Again Clock Towers have their own security to deal with any issues. We do work in partnership, should any support be required.
Lastly, your dissatisfied shopper mentions ‘bring back the old security men’. If she had opened her eyes the old security men are still there, but they have changed their uniform. In relation to the shoplifter I cannot comment, but had my Rangers being aware they would certainly have dealt with it. It is their job.
We are not very good at blowing our own trumpet. Neither are all the customers who praise us for the good work we have done. But one inaccurate comment does not support our cause. How about mentioning the time when:
First Aid - Sheep Street - an elderly man fell off his disability carriage and was assisted by Ranger. First aid was given until Ambulance arrived.
Evereux Way Rangers attended a car accident, controlled the traffic, gave first aid, supported the emergency service. We were first at the scene.
Anti-social Behaviour - Moultrie Road kids throwing stones at passing cars, Rangers intervened and stopped anti-social behaviour.
Caldecott Park youths were throwing stones at a lady and Rangers responded immediately, giving police direction of travel of youths who dispersed and attended lady who had cuts to her face.
Assisting Police - Gentleman in town centre collecting, by selling items for Oxfam. Rangers questioned person and found he was unauthorised. The collection was handed to Oxfam shop once the police were involved.
A person who had been involved in a shoplifting incident and who was wanted by the police was seen by a Ranger. Using the radio system the police were informed of the offender’s location and was arrested by the police.
Lost Child - Rangers Incident Report:
‘Whilst talking to a member of the public in High Street outside News Express, I was approached by an extremely upset little lad about four years of age. He kept repeating: “I’ve lost my mummy.”
It was difficult to obtain any information from him, other than that his mum had curly hair. Within three minutes his mother appeared on the scene obviously very relieved.
She said that she had always told him to find a Ranger if he was ever lost and couldn’t believe he had actually done so!
Considering the state he was in, I too was surprised that he had had the presence of mind to do so.
These are only a few of the hundreds of incidents the Rangers deal with every day along with their colleagues in CCTV and other agencies, for the businesses and people shopping and visiting Rugby.
Aftab Gaffar,
Operations Manager,
Rugby BID Co. Ltd.


They’re as competitive as all of us

AS AN avid reader of our local election literature, Cllr. Roodhouse knows full well that Labour has proposed a positive and realistic agenda for the council.
Our priorities are sorting out the Tory financial chaos and service cuts, combating anti-social behaviour, and delivering an exceptional recycling service for Rugby.
The cuts agenda has received a lot of press and that is natural given the high level of concern within Rugby about cuts this year and in future years. But we are not a one-club party. We also propose to create a high quality recycling service in the borough. We will take more speedy action to combat anti-social behaviour such as by closing off alley-ways to prevent the public nuisance of ‘mini-motos’ on the town’s parks. It was our campaign that persuaded the council to finally take action against graffiti.
Let’s hope our focus on combating other anti-social behaviour will have a similar impact.
Listening to Cllr. Roodhouse anyone would think that the Liberal Democrats were somehow above electoral politics. But we all know that they are just as competitive as the rest of us. However, I do agree that it is important that positive proposals are presented as well as holding the Tory council to account.
We have done that. I’m sorry if Cllr. Roodhouse does not think that we should hold the Tory council to account for spending cuts that are going to hit vital services such as the provision of public toilets (whatever the Tories say about not implementing this policy) or the cashier service at Town Hall.
But Labour will continue to both hold the Tory council to account AND propose our own alternative proposals. That is what good opposition is about.
                     Councillor Ish Mistry,
New Bilton Ward.


It’s why I was elected


I SEE Cllr. Jerry Roodhouse has stuck his head above the parapet of local politics and accused us in the Conservative and Labour parties of Punch and Judy politics.
If he means those of us who fight for better and affordable services and will make the difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions when needed for the residents of Rugby, then I own up. After all that’s what I was elected for.
And it’s is more than be said for the Liberal Democrats, who seem to specialise in sitting on the fence on most big issues, sitting on their hands when tough decisions have to be made, and then when they see which way the wind is blowing, run to the press with a populist point scoring story.
So Jerry, please don’t try taking the moral high ground come election time, or is that too many political analogies for one letter?
I enjoy the banter between the parties come election time and as long as we stick to the truth, it is healthy and it is democratic.
Councillor Peter Butlin,
Member for Admirals Ward.