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Well done our planners!

WELL, our town Planning Committee have really excelled themselves this time. Not that long ago, a developer wanted to build a small hotel attached to the Butler's Leap restaurant. Planning permission was refused until the developer agreed to enlarge the existing car park to accommodate the anticipated increased traffic that the hotel would generate. Well-done planners!
Then our town planners really put their feet in it by giving up a possible £200,000 plus annual income by not insisting that the developer of the Cattle Market site provide a minimum 100 space car park on the Murray Road-Craven Road corner of the site. Where do the council think that the 100 or so cars that currently use this site every day will park when the development gets under way?
Not in the giant Meccano set being built on railway land in Mill Road unless the railway reduce considerably the current extortionate daily car parking charges. Now the bees knees of all decisions – a 35 bed hotel with bar and restaurant, a four storey office building and a leisure complex with indoor swimming pool and the possible creation of 300 new jobs - Wow. Wait a miute, what is missing? If only two thirds of those employees have cars and no visitor arrives by car then at least 200 car parking spaces will have to be found. How many have our town planning committee approved – none. Well done to the three members who realised this omission but were out voted.
The developer, Herby Holdings, must be laughing all the way to the bank knowing he has pushed through a centre of town development with no car parking space included on the plans in exchange for some remote idea of signage to tell us that all town centre car parks are full.
Well done planners!
Howard Finch,
Cook Close,
Brownsover.


Rugby was a prosperous town

I SIMPLY had to write this article to air frustrations on how Britain in general is going, controlled by big money and politicians with apparently no awareness of what's happening outside their sphere.
Rugby, several decades ago, was a prosperous market town where even Graham White, the famous aviator, dropped in during one of his treks up north (yes he landed where the radio station is).
As the years rolled by recognition and global acknowledgement for its industry, British Thomson-Houston and Willans works dominated. Rugby School was the cream and Rugby Football was to become the sport of nations. Then, as the war years approached, the radio station was born from an old WW1 airstrip. Later, Sir Frank Whittle developed the Jet engine at Boughton Road alongside Radar, all at BTH.
As time rolled by successive governments encouraged foreign investment in British Industry, which proved to be in a number of cases nothing more than asset stripping, and industry in Britain noticeably, to us in this area, reduced. The once famous factories, which made Britain great, were demolished, with the work and jobs going abroad.
The Radio station, sited among other reasons on wet land giving a good ground plane for the aerials, where over the years people have come to view the masts and the lights as a landmark from miles around, a beacon when approaching home.
Alas though, just another Tourist attraction and old friend slowly being removed from the landscape.
Consider for a moment the future, full of debate and controversy over the proposed wind generators near Lillbourne!
If houses or warehouses were to be built on the old Radio station site, the flood plain not only has to be drained, the water has to go somewhere. At the same time, if it rains, that has to go somewhere as well. Surely the answer is, build the wind turbines on the Radio station site, it will be in keeping with giant structures with lights, generating power, and is also eco friendly. Now, some might "say what about the wind noise"? I have taken the trouble to find a generation site in Scotland, operating in high wind. Standing in the middle, I detected minimal noise certainly nothing of annoyance. Modern turbines are quiet.
I hope this has given the people of Rugby something to think about and maybe set them to notice what's happening around them. You never know, if enough people question planners, and the Chamber of Commerce brings pressure where they can on company asset stripping, Rugby might rise once again from a building site full of empty shops and Happy Eaters to a place which our descendents might find desirable to live in.
Rugby reviewed by D J Groom, address supplied.


Who is behind the crossings?

WHO is the idiot who is responsible for locating new crossings in Rugby just off roundabouts?
We now have another of these on Newbold Road near the Benn Hall. What was needed on Newbold Road was for the crossing near the Police Station to be moved perhaps 70 metres north. This would have obviated the need for this insanely located new roundabout. Where a new roundabout IS immediately needed on Newbold Road is near Wood Street.
It is almost impossible to cross Newbold Road at this location and I believe that if a crossing is not located there soon it is only a matter of time before someone trying to cross the road at that location is seriously injured or worse.
What a wasted opportunity to put a new crossing where it is really needed. At Wood Street it would have been a great addition to safety, at the present location it is unnecessary and causing complete and utter chaos.
The new crossing on Newbold Road is only five car lengths from the roundabout. Every time the lights on the crossing are red the traffic backs up on to the roundabout causing complete chaos on the roundabout, on Corporation Street and on Oliver Street - Madness!
Neither will there be any less traffic on Corporation Street when the relief road is opened - Thanks to the appalling, hideously ugly new ASDA monstrosity that is being foisted upon the citizens of Rugby. Or do Rugby Borough Council now believe that this will be such a white elephant that it will generate no extra traffic on Corporation Street ?
Brian Wainright,
Shakespeare Gardens,
Rugby.


Fears over abattoir plan

FOLLOWING raising the issue of the proposed abattoir at Onley, at the Dunchurch Division Locality Panel meeting I was asked to request that this item be included on the agenda for their next meeting.
It has been quite evident from attending Grandborough, Barby and Dunchurch parish council meetings, the strength of feeling of those people that could either end up living only approximately 250 yards from the abattoir or slightly further afield.
I was interested to hear a parish council chairman say that he had actually carried out a survey among local farmers asking if they needed the Baker Brothers' abattoir and a high percentage said 'No' - they already had the services of Joseph Morris at North Kilworth, and other slaughterhouses in and around Warwickshire.
The already hazardous junction from the Daventry Road into Onley will be compounded by the extra heavy lorries entering and leaving the proposed abattoir site.
After all, there have been many deaths and minor injuries as a result of car crashes along this stretch of road in the last three years.
Also, a resident of Onley spoke passionately of the peace and beauty of the local countryside, even having seen over 40 species of birds around and about the wildllife pond.
In fact, that is what encouraged them to buy their house.
What a disaster the siting of the abattoir at Onley would be.
Janet Cummings,
Tower Road,
Rugby.


Please help with Alzheimers study

CAN you help with Alzheimer's study?
I am doing research into any links there may be between Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease and people who are vegetarians and would like to know of any illness readers may have experienced in the time they have not eaten meat, or indeed if they have felt perfectly well throughout.
The research is for my dissertation at university, where I am studying for a degree in journalism and politics.
If there is anyone out there who feels they can help me, I would be very grateful if they could spare a few minutes and make contact.
Stuart McKay,
Corby, Northants (email stuart.mckay47@ntlworld.com or telephone 01536 352745).


Thanks from Colette's family

THE family of Colette Lynch would like to thank any staff or readers who have signed either the on-line petition www.petitionline.com/030205 or signed the paper petition, or written letters to the Ministry of Justice or the Mental Health Review Tribunal, opposing the application for release by Colette's killer, Percy Wright, from the Medium Secure Mental Health Clinic in Fromeside, Bristol, where he is currently held on the grounds that he still poses a danger to the public.
The Under-Secretary for State for the Ministry of Justice, Shahid Malik MP, told us in a letter, March 10, 2009, 'Our officials in the Ministry of Justice have provided representation to the Tribunal on behalf of the Secretary of State, stating our resistance to conditional discharge in this case'.
Jeremy Wright, MP for Rugby, has also written to the Mental Health Review Tribunal, opposing Percy Wright's application for release.
The Daily Mail newspaper journalist and lawyers have strenuously argued for permission to attend the 'Secret' tribunals.
They were denied permission to attend as also was Percy Wright's other victim - Colette's mother.
All of Colette's family are infinitely grateful to all who have supported them in this struggle to protect Colette's children and themselves, and any other future potential victim of Percy Wright from the danger that he still poses.
The 'Diminished Responsibility Pleas' appears to have been abused by Percy Wright.
And the Mental Health Review Tribunal appear to be guilty of being so blinkered that they do not seem capable of even considering this face.
It is crucial for the safety of anyone at risk from Percy Wright in the future (and anyone at risk from any Percy Wright copycat who might likewise choose to abuse the diminished responsibility) that continued pressure is put on both the Ministry of Justice and the Mental Health Review Tribunal.
Anything less to condone the legalising of murder.
Colette's family therefore would be deeply appreciative of any further support for either the on-line or on-paper petition.
The Tribunal will now be held on March 31.
Thanik you very much indeed.
The family of Colette Lynch,
Address supplied.


My faith has been restored

THANK YOU Bill Medland for restoring my faith in myself and confirming that I do not have Alzheimer's after all!
At the time of writing this letter I have still not had any kind of reply, not even an acknowledgement from Alistair Darling (what has he got to hide?) and neither have I heard from James Purnell, MP, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to whom the Palace forwarded a copy of my open letter to the Queen
Jeremy Wright did reply, and actually referred to the autumn budget, but at no time in his letter to me did he mention this or confirm what Alistair Darling had said about bringing forward the increase in state pensions from April to January 2009.
Whatever my politics, and I am not afraid to say I have been a lifelong Tory, although I now disbelieve all of them, I did say to Jeremy Wright that the oppositiion should be picking up on such things as this, assuming I was correct in my assumption, which has now been proved.
I am seriously thinking of sending photocopies of all correspondence which has appeared in the Advertiser, to see if I can shame them into a reply. But I have little faith and am not holding my breath.
One thing I can confirm. I have already been advised of the increase in my pension as from April of this year, and this most definitely does not state that it will be backdated to January.
Sorry to disappoint you Mr. Medland, you will just have to delay your holiday in the sun.
Wendy Law,
Featherbed Lane,
Rugby.


I found service well below par

COPY of a letter to The Chief Executive of Coventry University Hospitals, Walsgrave:
I have twice had occasion to visit the phlebotomy service at St. Cross in the past fortnight and have found the service there on both occasions to be well below par.
This morning, at 9.35am there were 32 patients in the waiting room, with not even sufficient chairs for them to sit on for the hour or so before they were attended to. I was informed by a member of staff, who had been called from a ward to assist ion taking blood samples, that there were 45 people in a similar position yesterday.
These people are there because they are not well - the majority of advances years - and you will agree with me that this is a wholly unsatisfactory state of affairs.
The primary function of 'Hands off St. Cross', of which I am seceretary, is to protect the services at our local hospital and we should be grateful to hear from you what remedical measures will be put in place to bring this service up to an acceptable level.
Ron Ravenhall,
The Paddocks,
Stretton on Dunsmore.