Readers' letters from Saturday 31 May 2008

Myths about fuel costs

 I WAS disappointed to see your editorial on fuel prices repeat the myth that higher oil prices will allow foreign hauliers to take over the UK market (MEN, May 28). It is untrue for two main reasons.Firstly, in France, fuel carries VAT at a higher rate than in the UK (19.6 per cent versus 17.5 per cent), so increases in the price of oil cause prices at the pump to rise faster in France than in the UK.Secondly, if there were an advantage to be gained from paying to travel to Calais, fill up a lorry and come back, UK hauliers would be just as free to do that as continental hauliers.Higher oil prices may cause a reduction in size of the haulage industry, but I don’t think that should be viewed as a bad thing.Congestion, pollution, road damage and oil depletion issues have created a need to reduce the amount of freight on the roads, by either moving it on to rail or reducing the distance goods travel. The upward trend in the price of oil is now pushing that to happen.If we are going to reduce the volume of freight carried on the roads, it will logically result in the shrinkage of the haulage industry. It may not be welcome news for the hauliers, but in this case, the maxim, ‘if it’s not hurting, it’s not working’, applies.If the government were to start giving handouts to hauliers now, they would reduce the beneficial effects while having to find the money to fund it, by doing something like abolishing the 10 per cent tax band and passing the cost on to the workforce.

Paul Lockett, Sale

Such pomposity

WHAT a stuffy response from Coun Roy Oldham (MEN, May 28) to the lady who found a stray cat and attempted to seek its owner by placing posters around Tameside. It’s odd that we don’t hear such condemn-ation when posters are put all over the place during elections. This country is fast becoming a mean and prissy place where even the most trifling offences are seized on by authoritarians who appear to lack any form of empathy. A child who drops a lollipop stick, an elderly man who puts cabbage stalks in the wrong bin, somebody who leaves a wheelie bin out a day early etc, are met with the full force of officialdom. Even tiny acts of kindness, such as this latest incident, are classified as criminal by petty diktat and pompous individuals. It is pitiful in this case that the council patrollers couldn’t have used just a teeny bit of discretion. And how bumptious of Coun Oldham to try to justify this nonsense with his sombre rant about lamposts and fly-posting regulations. His discourse verged on the absurd when set against the trivial indiscretion of a pensioner’s goodwill concerning a stray pussy cat.There was a time when occupations that involved instant decision making, albeit minor ones, were often held by individuals who possessed judgment and common sense. People who were employed in such positions were recognised as having worthy jobs. Sadly many are now more aptly known as jobsworths.

Geoff Frost, Saddleworth

Run-down area

HOW I agree with Barbara West’s letter (Postbag, May 20) concerning the state of the Rochdale canal.I have lived in Failsworth for most of my life and am saddened by the deterioration since we have been linked with Oldham. It was once a very pleasant place to live, but, unfortunately, the yobs have been allowed to take over.Councillors brag about what they have done for the area, but nothing is ever maintained. In fact, any work carried out is of a very low standard. Who ever passes the work should be fired.Instead of all the humps and mini-islands, which are numerous and a complete waste of our money, I feel sure people would appreciate it more if the roads were resurfaced. They are in a dreadful state.We used to attend the area committee meetings but the councillors weren’t interested in what people had to say.Too many people have been moved into Failsworth. It is far too crowded and cannot cope. Enough is enough.

Mrs M. I. Martin, Failsworth

Small is better

FURTHER to letters about pushchairs and buggies on buses – the problem is the size and number.Some of these buggies are the size of a small motorbike or seem so when there are four of them on one bus. When I had small children, it was usual to have a tiny pushchair with a hook on the handle for a shopping bag. The child was taken out of the pushchair which was folded up when it came to boarding the bus. Other passengers would help.Nowadays people feel annoyed because these huge contraptions stick out into the aisle, trip people up and prevent wheelchair users from getting on buses.In the street and shops, parents use them as battering rams to force their way through crowds, regardless of the safety of the child.People should really be encouraged to buy smaller buggies and there should not be more than two of them at any one time on the same bus. That way, we might all be able to travel in peace and harmony.

Regular Passenger, Manchester

Troops do more than 'rampage with guns'

IT is disappointing to read letters in Postbag promoting such narrow views on the armed forces which focus entirely on their offensive capabilities, so I will list just a few of their other activities. The military provides aid in times of national crisis, such as flooding and saves countless lives. It provides continuous search and rescue services, 365 day a year, 24 hours a day. The military patrols our waters to combat drug smuggling and piracy. As for not needing an air defence capability – need I point out what happened on 9/11? The military were tasked to help remove tons of dead animal carcasses following the Foot and Mouth outbreak. The military also came to the nation’s aid during the firefighters’ strike, in order that people were protected. The list goes on.Many sanctimoniously keep going on about Iraq and Afghanistan and brand our troops warmongers. In fact, the armed forces do as much for this country as they always have and it is disgraceful that people spout such vitriolic, venomous and ill-informed views. In response to the letterwriter who worries about young people being distracted from student life so they can ‘rampage around the world’ with guns and tanks – well perhaps if more young people were given the discipline, camaraderie and sense of purpose the military provides, we would not read so much about youths in violent crime.And to those students collecting petitions against our brave troops – you are quite entitled to your opinions, but as your teachers no doubt keep telling you, do your homework.

G. Leech, Cheshire