Do not let centre become a waste

WE refer to the open letter to Keith Barlow, leader of Shropshire Council ( Ludlow Advertiser, March 20), which questioned just how much scrutiny there is over the workings of the council.

We are concerned at the withdrawal of services from the Helena Lane Centre, a privately funded initiative, intended for the use of Ludlow citizens, which when opened, was described as “an inspiring new building”.

We wonder just how many citizens realise the potential of this building, equipped as it is with auxiliary medical equipment, full kitchen facilities, ample parking, pleasant meeting rooms and computers.

The only information as to its future use has been gleaned from our councillors who tell us that the services are to be hived off to private interests.

It is difficult to discover when this is to occur, or who is to scrutinise the cost or provision of these services.

It is clearly unacceptable to expect councillors to undertake any more duties when they are already under stress.

We wonder just how many citizens are aware of the present position and just how many feel frustrated at being refused any contribution to the present situation, even from those who would offer their services voluntarily.

John and Dori Ericsson

Henley Road

Ludlow

 

Fire engine pump

IN the Ludlow Advertiser of March 27, Steve Gould (of the Fire Brigade Union in Herefordshire and Worcestershire) accuses me of getting my facts wrong about the use of the “pump” at Tenbury Fire Station.

I am not wrong.

The facts I stated are as quoted on the Tenbury Wells Fire Station website.

So either he is wrong or its own website is wrong.

Their site states: “This appli - ance attends one-pump inci - dents that do not involve res - cues, for example, road traffic collisions where no people are trapped, such as make vehicle safe or fuel spill incidents, chimney fires, small fires etc.

“It is second appliance away to all multi-pump incidents.”

Without the “pump” if the “rescue pump” needed addi - tional assistance that would be supplied from other local fire stations.

This happened recently at Lindridge where six appliances were in attendance.

Alec Wall

President

Tenbury Wells Branch

West Worcestershire Conservative Association

 

Council tax rises

IN 2012/13 Tenbury Town Council raised its precept on my property by 16.2%; in 2013/14 by 8.7% and now for 2014/15 by 7.6%.

How on earth can the Town Council justify these increases?

The council will know that, were it a district or county authority, it would have been unable to make increases of this size without public consul - tation.

As far as I know, there hasn’t even been an attempt at public justification.

Perhaps the council would like to do so through the medium of your newspaper.

The Rev Ian Williams

The Oaklands

Tenbury Wells