Readers' letters from Saturday 28 Feb 2009

Schools on the move

 I AM writing to clarify matters in relation to a letter printed recently about the merger of Our Lady’s RC High School with Meade Hill. Our Lady’s RC High is not merging with Meade Hill. It is co-locating with North Ridge Specialist Needs School, but each school has its individual space. Meade Hill will be located in September 2009 in a building that Our Lady’s has vacated and will be entirely separate with fencing around the entire perimeter.The move date was determined by the duration of the building project and not by Our Lady’s. Furthermore, the school did not have three weeks’ holiday. It was necessary to close the school for one week to allow staff to pack up the old school and unpack in the new school. The students then had their normal half-term holiday of one week. Year 11 students have been given opportunities to come into school during the ‘decant week’ to work on a range of subjects to support their GCSE work.The move to the new school could not have happened while the school continued to function. This would have been a serious health and safety matter for our students, who continue to be our main priority.

T.K. Dervin, headteacher

Much to do

THE new GMP Chief Constable says that meeting the expectations of the public is an absolute priority. Unfortunately, there was no mention of bringing in an open and transparent complaints process that is not utterly self-serving. For the public who had cause to complain in one recent year for which figures were reported, (perhaps just a proportion of all those who might have complained if they felt brave enough), I wonder how many were exposed to the ‘sweep it under the carpet’ approach I came across a few years ago? This is especially evident over senior rank complaints. The public and the rule of law requires that all GMP force members of whatever rank are held accountable to a standard. There is much work to do to introduce genuine accountability.Simon Pearce, BoltonPerfect recruitWHAT a wonderful policeman Mr Michael Downes would make (MEN, February 18). Citizen’s arrest, no lock-up, no endless paperwork, the culprits he found driven by himself to the police station. Wonderful. Why doesn’t Chief Constable Fahy employ Mr Downes? Even in a civvy role he would be an asset to the police and the citizens of Manchester. Forget the bonus system to chief superintendants, get Mr Downes working for the GMP. 

John Stevenson, Gorton

Be kind to pigs

AN advertising campaign for British pork has been banned for misleading the public with claims of very high welfare. ‘The pigs are worth it’ adverts were deemed unacceptable by the Advertising Standard Authority following a complaint by Compassion in World Farming.Still too many fattening pigs in the UK are kept indoors in crowded pens with little or no straw and around 80 per cent are routinely tail-docked. This clearly shows that not all British pigs are having such a good time. We do need to support our pig farmers, but only those who rear their pigs to truly high welfare standards such as organic, outdoor bred and reared and RSPCA Freedom Food.Whilst we agree that British pigs are treated better than many of their European counterparts, there is still a long way to go before the industry can claim that British pig farms have very high welfare standards. We believe animals should not and need not suffer. If you agree, please help us stand up to those who put profit before animal welfare. For more information please contact Compassion in World Farming 01483 521 953 or compassion@ciwf.org

S. Power, Oldham

Best thing I did

I DISAGREE with the letter from S. Marsden (Postbag, February 18) about MRI. I saw a consultant there who suggested that, at the age of 84 and with bad knee pain, I should have knee replacements. I said I wondered if it was worth it at my age and his reply was: “Go for it, you look good for another 10 years yet”! I had one knee done and the other six months later. I am now free of pain, a bit unsteady on my feet and can’t walk too far, but what can you expect at my current age of 87? I keep my disabled badge for that reason. When I was younger I didn’t resent blue badge holders; I was glad to be able to walk. Anyway, many thanks to MRI for a successful job.

E. Marsden, Glossop

Culture shock

THE criticism of the bonus culture in banks and certain building societies is fully justified. The target culture of staff has also been a contributory factor to their poor image. The financial institutions do target their staff and many in the financial services sector are paid a bonus based on targets. They would probably argue that this is prevalent in many firms outside the financial world. They would further argue that they need to make a profit so they need to sell as many products as they can. Staff are in an invidious position because they need a job to pay their own bills.The animosity of the public to financial institutions will have a salutary effect as they desperately try to rectify their image. But the public must understand they will not necessarily get integrity from banks and certainly not impartiality.

Harry Singleton, Ashton under Lyne