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Bad idea for dog walkers

COPY of a letter sent to the Head of Democratic and Legal Services, Rugby Borough Council:
I have just read your report relating to the possible ruling that dogs will have to be walked on a lead in the future in Winfield Recreation Ground, which is a usual walking place for us and our two dogs.
I agree with Mary Ray that this is absolutely the last straw. Soo you will be banning us from keeping dogs at all.
You keep moving the goalposts, which in my opinion is most unfair.
We, like so many other responsible people, do pick up our 'doggie-doos' and we do make sure that they behave correctly around other people. We have kept dogs for the last 50 years and have never had any trouble with their behaviour and they have never been allowed near children's areas, or for that matter have never been allowed to use football pitches as a toilet.
Why should we be penalised because of the minority of people who are irresponsible? It is them who you ought to be looking to penalise.
Can't the clever person in your department who has dreamed up this latest scheme, think of a way to catch these non-conformists, instead of punishing the majority of law-abiding citizens?
I also see that you have removed the bins containing disposable bags. What is that about?
Many people have relied on the disposal bags to clear up the mess.
It does not prompt them to pick it up if there are no bags in sight.
Please reconsider this silly idea and come up with a better solution.
Ann Boult,
Vicarage Hill,
Clifton-upon-Dunsmore.


Waiting for crunch time

RE: LAST week's letter comments on the Dunchurch Road speed camera.
It reminded me of a lively conversation over the phone with someone at Warwickshire County Council.
I had phoned to object, too late as it happens, to the speed reduction on Ashlawn Road. (which has subsequently, simply criminalised thousands of what were law abiding motorists).
However, in passing it was mentioned that this speed camera had been installed because of some minor collisions of which the person I had had the conversation with was one!
The fact that these minor collisions had most likely occurred at less than 30 mph; and were not due to speeding traffic, was lost on the person!
I am coming to the conclusion that a review of speed cameras can only meaningfully take place when the budget of the road safety partnership is hit by the credit crunch.
Only then will money on camera vans at Butler's Leap and tens of thousands of pounds on cameras such as that in Dunchurch Road be curtailed and what is left, spent on real accident blackspots.
Mr. K Polley,
Address supplied.


Good care at home

I WOULD like to say a very big thank you to all the staff at Willow Tree Nursing Home for taking such good care of my mother for the four years she lived there.
I was particularly appreciative of the care and attention in her last months and also the kindness shown to me.
We never hear about the good nursing homes that make such a difference - only the bad ones that may have no respect or concern for eldery people that cannot take care of themselves.
Ann Aird,
Address supplied.


Token given instead of £1

Last Thursday I gave a friend who is an elderly gentleman a lift to do some shopping and we called in to the Lidl supermarket, Bilton Road.
While I was packing the car, Jack Wareham (87 years young) returned the trolley to the front of the store.
A man tapped him on the shoulder and said that he would take the trolley from him and placed a £1 coin in his hand.
It was only after we left the store that I realised the error and Jack cannot stop thinking about the man left out of pocket, unless of course he is happy with the token that I purchased to help a charity!
If he would like to contact me I would be more than happy to give him a full refund.
Mrs. Sally Bragg,
School Street,
Church Lawford.
(02476) 543377.


Generous Rugby folk

ON BEHALF of Rugby and District Multiple Sclerosis Society, I would like to thank the generous people who donated money to our cause during our national collection at Sainsbury's supermarket in Rugby on August 15 and 16. We collected the impressive sum of £1,108.80, which will be used to help local people who have this disease.
I would also like to thank the manager and staff at Sainsbury's for the kindness and consideration which they showed to all our collectors.
For more information about our society and what we do, please either ring me on (01788) 537841 or visit our website www.mssociety.org.uk/rugby.
Margaret Ackroyd,
Fundraiser


Cafe offers me comfort

FURTHER to your article regarding the lifting of the enforcement notice on the Caffe Nero (Advertiser, September 18), I was delighted to note that the council has now granted the appropriate planning permission for the cafe to remain in business.
Clearly, this is a wise decision.
The staff there are efficient, welcoming and friendly.
For me, a recent widower, I have found much comfort in my visits to the cafe and have enjoyed the company of its customers of all ages, who share similar feelings for the cafe.
I was delighted to sign a petition along with hundreds of other upset customers. In this particular regard, the apparent incredible reason for the council's closure notice was that the cafe harmed the vitality and viability of the town centre and required its use to cease in its current form.
But now the business has thankfully been saved.
This is a blessing, given that certain retail premises in the town centre are boarded up or closed and clearly they do affect the vitality and viability of the area.
R.W. Batchelor,
Lime Tree Village,
Cawston.


Memories flooded back

I WAS pleased to read Mr. Webster's letter about the Lawrence Sheriff Song.
I only knew the words 'As long as the griffin has wings.' The Griffin was the name of the school magazine.
He will also doubtless remember most of the masters and their nicknames.
There was 'Beaky' Ray (chemistry), E.J. 'Eggy' Lay (maths); 'Taffy Evans (Latin), W.W. 'Wheezy' Baker (woodwork) and divinity; A.M. 'Bonzo' McLeish Smith (senior maths master and organist at assembly and William Jeremiah 'The Bish' Moffatt - divinity, now RE).
I would be pleased to meet Mr. Webster to talk over old times.
He can contact me at the address below or by telephone m on (01788) 568865.
B.D. Vincent,
66 Beechwood Court,
Rugby.