Readers' letters from Tuesday 17 Apr 2007

Safer with the Queen

 I  AGREE with the comments by the correspondent from Moss Side (Postbag, April 12) about the continued existence of the monarchy being entirely due to the consensus of our elected politicians. I feel that our system of government is far more effective than, say, the French or American republics where some dictatorial president has smarmed his or her way up the greasy pole to make completely arbitrary decisions that go unchallenged by parliaments and opposition groups that are little more than talking shops.  If you look at all the most democratic countries of Europe (Britain, Spain, the Low Countries, Scandinavia and so on) they all have power almost completely vested in an elected parliament with a popular constitutional monarchy as a ceremonial figurehead. Here we have in Queen Elizabeth a well-loved and non-political head of state who, as her recent visit to Manchester proved, is still held in great esteem by people of many different backgrounds. I very much doubt whether a President Blair would receive the same amount of adulation from ordinary members of the public.And as countries like Russia, China and Iran have proved, the sort of people who eventually get into the position of being a presidential candidate are by their very nature the sort of people least suited to the job.

Rob Chilton, Sale

Thin blue line

I RECENTLY witnessed a worrying incident at Manchester Airport. A man picked up a glass in the departure lounge and slashed his neck. He was prevented by staff from harming himself further, but it took at least 15 minutes for the police to arrive. Where were they?Then last week I landed at the airport and joined a large queue at passport control. This was was being monitored by a policeman. A large group of Roma fans were singing as they got off a plane and as soon as the policeman heard their chants, he disappeared.This led to an angry and potentially explosive situation with holidaymakers being barged out of the way as fans ignored the queue and ducked under barriers. Customs officials agreed it was farcical and did a sterling job to keep order.Holidaying passengers should not have been placed in a position where they had to carry out any type of security function on the airport or police’s behalf. While fans were well policed once they arrive at United’s ground surely given their reputation it isn’t rocket science to expect them to be greeted by our boys in blue on arrival?  

Matthew Gibbons, Prestwich

Just be grateful

I must respond to I. Proudfoot (Postbag April 13) regarding mother (surely this should be parent?) and child parking spaces.Stop moaning and be grateful that you have these spaces. When my children were small there were no such things and we had to struggle trying to get a pram or buggy – which were a lot clumsier then – out of the car. I have seen parents with children of 10 who could use ordinary parking bays using these spaces. I have taken aged parents shopping and used normal parking bays and believe me, that can be just as stressful.As a full-time worker I am fed up with parents and to some extent pensioners who just have to do their shopping at weekends or late at night. Go when it’s quiet and then you might be able to find a space more easily. 

Old-fashioned mum, Tyldesley

Hunt for truth

I WRITE in response to the article about the trial of soldiers in relation to the death of Baha Musa in Basra (M.E.N., April 14). The trial apparently cost the taxpayer £20m – enough to provide body armour for 15,500 British troops. This implies that the trial was a waste of money. An Iraqi civilian convicted of nothing, was apparently tortured to death. He had 93 injuries to his body. Somebody must be brought to justice for this death. The only waste here was the death of a human being. I hope that the Opposition can put some pressure on the government regarding this sorry matter.

D. Stott, Stockport

No comparison

THE letter from B. Spencer (Postbag, April 9) highlights the concern of many thousands of people over the treatment (or lack of) by the NHS of their loved ones with Alzheimer’s, dementia, cancer or age-related conditions, compared with the choices offered expectant mothers.My wife, since her initial dementia diagnosis has received no treatment, tests, examinations or drugs to stabilise her condition (a cost saving for the NHS).On her admittance to a care home, I learned that there was a six-month wait for incontinence pads, the inference being that the patient or relatives should bear this cost and that this was normal throughout the system (another saving for the NHS).Shortly after that she was diagnosed with cancer, given a prescription and then forgotten about some 12 months ago by her GP, psychologist and cancer specialist. This is a vast difference in the choices and treatment given to expectant mothers.

Just another Carer, Cheadle

Get your skates on, city council

THANKS to Coun Pat Karney for his response to ‘ASBO’ – the April Skate Bonanza Ohyeah – in the M.E.N. article on our skate marathon (MEN, April 10). You said: “In Manchester we have provided facilities that most other cities haven’t”. Most cities in Britain have multiple skateparks of some description which have been provided by the council. While some skate facilities in Manchester are good (eg. the Mancunian Way Skatepark, Platt Fields), some are shockingly bad (eg. Chorlton Skatepark, Crowford Park). Manchester is like most other cities in that it has provided only a few quality facilities. A number of local towns have built concrete skate plazas including Clitheroe, Crewe and Stoke. Manchester has a much bigger skateboard community than any of these towns, yet does not have a concrete skate plaza and instead, the council’s largest skatepark is far too small for the number of skateboarders in the city. Coun Karney, you went on to say ‘unless the skateboarders can come up with a scheme that doesn’t involve harming the public or damaging places it will be very unlikely we will rescind these bylaws.’ We welcome your suggestion that the bylaws are not set in stone and that there is a small chance they may be rescinded. We believe that it is the bylaws that are anti-social, not those criminalised by them. We appreciated your comment ‘but because skating is a big part of Manchester culture’ since it affirms skateboarding has an important place in this city and it is refreshing to hear the council admit it.Your final comment ‘I am quite prepared to meet with SkateMCR to talk through the issues’ is very welcome and we look forward to meeting you.

Ben Gibbs, SkateMCR