Letters, Friday, June 19, 2009
Why are they still waiting for help?
CONTRARY to the response of JobCentre bosses who say that there is no backlog of benefit claimants waiting for their claims to be processed (Echo, June, 17), several frustrated applicants asked me if I could intervene on their behalf in their presence.
Following several phone calls plus a letter sent, I was told that the people to whom I was referring were in a very long queue and they would have to wait their turn.
When I told the JobCentre staff that these people were in dire financial straits having waited two months for a response to their claim, the reply was that "they would be flagged up as being urgent cases".
Consequently one asks the question, if the JobCentre is coping with the increase in demand for services, why do applicants have to wait for two months before any action is taken?
Coun GE Howe,
Fulwell Ward,
Sunderland
Support for troops
AS the role played by UK combat forces in Iraq draws to a close, I would like to pass on my sincere thanks to all the employers in the North East who have supported, and continue to support, members of our Reserve Forces.
Over the last six years, over 17,000 Reservists have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. They have shown tremendous courage and selfless dedication, whether serving on the frontline or providing vital support services.
Their contribution has been critical to our success in Iraq and continues to be essential to our operations in Afghanistan.
Their contribution would not be possible without the support they receive from their civilian employers, enabling them to balance their civilian and military careers.
I know from speaking to employers in the North East, that many recognise the valuable skills and experience Reservists bring to the workplace. I also know that employing a Reservist is not always without its challenges.
If any employer would like any further information or advice about employing Reservists, please contact SaBRE on 0800 389 5459 or visit www.sabre.mod.uk.
Arthur Charlton,
Regional SaBRE Campaign Director,
North of England RFCA,
53 Old Elvet,
Durham
Extend the Metro
IT was recently announced that 300million is to be spent "sprucing-up" Tyne and Wear Metro.
If I remember correctly it cost 100million to build the Metro extension to Sunderland a few years ago and, as I predicted, the South Hylton section turned out to be a white elephant, underused, as buses can be reached more conveniently by most residents living along its route, resulting in a shortfall in revenue and creating an adventure playground for bored youth.
With 300million to spend and with many residents of Tyne and Wear still several miles from a Metro route/station, instead of revamping the existing system the money would be better spent extending the system to those areas not now served by the Metro.
Extension 1 should be to Doxford Business Park via the existing rail line to Ryhope and then on to Doxford.
Extension-2 should utilise the Leamside line to extend the Metro into the "coalfields" areas via Washington and with the cooperation and support of Durham council southwards to Belmont with its park and ride' facilities.
Extension-3 should provide a Metro link to Team Valley industrial estate/retail world where many thousands of people work and visit.
George Parkin,
Wear Independent
Join me on run
ON September 20 I'll be taking part in the BUPA Great North Run and I am asking readers to join me and sign up in support of Leonard Cheshire Disability, a fantastic charity that I am a keen supporter of.
In April this year I took part in the Flora London Marathon for Leonard Cheshire Disability, not long after completing an ultra marathon in Namibia as a Blue Peter challenge. I know first hand what a tough challenge a race can be, but nothing compares to the sense of achievement when crossing that finish line.
A year ago I was just a fun-runner and I never thought that I could take part in marathons! But I did it, and so can you. So why not give it a go and run along side me and our Great North Run team this September?
It is really easy to join our Great North Run team. You can register your interest by emailing events@LCDisability.org or by calling 0870 420 4301.
Helen Skelton
Thanks for cash
AT the final home game of the season against Chelsea FC on May 24, we had a collection for Boldon Girls Football Club, where I am team manager and coach.
Supporters of both Sunderland AFC and visiting fans donated 3,006.42 and we would like to thank all involved for making such generous contributions.
Our thanks to everyone else who helped, from the Licensing department at the Civic Centre to Tom Wright of TCB Accountancy at Pennywell Business Park who acted as auditor.
John Weaver,
Vice-Chair/Secretary
PCSOs doing good work in our city
AS a resident of Sunderland for over 70 years, 47 of them spent living happily in the High Barnes area I now feel I am forced to speak out at the lack of respect given to members of Sunderland Police Force in particular the much-maligned Police Community Support Officers.
This lack of respect is not coming from our younger members of society but from people of my own generation who should know better.
These officers do a good job and I am amazed when people say "well I never see them", "they cannot do anything", "they cannot arrest people". Well let me tell you, I see them.
I see them taking alcohol from youths in the parks. I've seen them out in weathers that I would not put my dog out in.
No, they cannot arrest. But who is out on the streets reporting crimes, detaining criminals, providing a presence on the streets, preventing shoplifters and such like? Not us who hide away behind our drawn curtains, and yes, I do include myself in this. It's police officers, more specifically it's Police Community Support Officers.
To all those who want to see the real Bobby (and I'm being a little sarcastic here), back on the beat, forget it. It isn't going to happen. Society has changed.
Be grateful for what we have. Talk to these people. They don't bite. Find out exactly what they do and you'll be surprised. I was.
Miss Sheila Routledge,
Barnes Resident
Fantastic show
CONGRATULATIONS to Gary Hutchinson, the concert's manager and SAFC for bringing up the wonderful Take That concerts.
My family and friends attended on Friday June 5 and had a fantastic night.
What a venue, what entertainment. There are not enough superlatives. It's the best show I've ever seen and I've seen many pop acts including Michael Jackson and The Beatles.
But these boys are no longer just pop stars, they are multi-talented show performers and the whole cast, set and effects were magical.
What a coup for SAFC and a great fortnight, the team staying up and a new manager.
Here's hoping the team will do well with Steve Bruce and that Take That continue to "rule the world".
Ann White,
Ambleside Terrace,
Sunderland
In the bushes
I AM writing to you about the disgusting behaviour of some of the so-called fans at the Oasis concert.
Where I live the bushes are 5-6ft tall and some of the women and men were urinating among the bushes. Some of the young women were quite barefaced.
I don't want to look out of my window to see this sort of behaviour. It was foul.
I am over 80 years old and love where I live. There were others who were drinking out of bottles and just throwing the empty bottles anywhere.
I pay my rent and am no bother to anyone. I wrote to you about two or three years ago, but of course nothing was done about these bushes.
A Disabled Pensioner
Not fit for use
I AGREE with the letter in the Echo recently about the disgraceful state of the ladies' toilets at the Cat and Dog Steps. I looked in to see if any changes had been made, none had. They are dark, dismal and are not fit for use.
I would suggest the council liaises with neighbours at South Tyneside Council and seek its advice regarding how to upgrade the toilet facilities and ensure that they are fit for us by the citizens of Sunderland and visitors to our city
Mrs N Walsh,
Beckwith Woods,
Sunderland
Chaos created
WELL done to the authorities for the chaos they created after the recent Take That concert.
They brought the north of the city to a standstill for hours after the concert ended by closing Keir Hardie Way and Southwick Road, which are major routes away from the Stadium. Also they had four-way traffic lights on Shields Road which caused everywhere to be gridlocked for hours.
The local licensing department put a temporary hackney rank outside a private hire rank, which has been established for over 20 years in Monk Street. They made Monk Street one-way which made access to our office difficult due to the hackneys parking down Roker Avenue and along Monk Street.
Us private hire drivers did not have a good night due to shambolic organisation.
G Taylor,
Primrose Crescent,
Fulwell
Trouble on C2C
GOOD new for the cyclists of Hendon with the news (Echo, June 10), that 180,000 has been secured for new cycle ways
I just hope that it is money well spent and not wasted by creating private parking spaces for local businesses such as the one outside the Mayfair building on Durham Road at Eden Vale.
This particular cycle way is part of the C2C route but it is never free of parked cars during business hours, Mondays-Fridays and often Saturdays.
Nothing is ever going to be done to keep this path car-free so I suggest the council finally put their hands up and admit defeat.
Let these businesses have the car parking at our expense, but the council must tell cyclists on the C2C route that there is a gap on the route.
D Robe,
Royal Courts,
Sunderland
WINTER GARDENS' MAGIC
IN peacetime in Sunderland,
Before Hitler's wartime scare,
We went to the Winter Gardens
To warm ourselves in there.
The place was moist and steamy,
The birds were bright and rare,
The ferns exuded essence,
Their perfume filled the air.
Coloured fish swam in the pool,
Parrots called from above,
And all around that warmth and scent
Was mystery and love.
It's back again from bombing
But never quite the same,
The Winter Gardens' magic
Still lays it claim to fame.
Mary Taylor,
Robert Wheatman Court,
Grangetown,
Sunderland
Hendon on my mind
I WAS brought up, lived and went to school in Hendon. Alas the Hendon I once knew has gone.
I now live in Australia but I often sit and think fondly of old Hendon, old friends and the shops on my part of Hendon Road. So I wrote a poem and I hope all my neighbours and friends from those days in the 1950s will enjoy reading it.
HENDON ROAD
If I could have a time machine
And travel back to when
I was a little girl again,
Maybe nine or ten,
To see the shops on Hendon Road
With everything to buy.
Comics from Metcalfe's paper shop,
Pryde's bakery for a pie,
At Bernstein's we bought sandshoes,
Harry Sinclair's sold us fruit,
The chemist for some cough sweets
And a stick of liquorice root.
At the sweet shops we bought sherbet
Or a penny bubble gum,
Sometimes a high gob stopper,
Changing colour on your tongue,
Atkinson's sold records
Of singers old and new
And you could buy a couple
For a bob or two.
Into Wood's the butchers
To get some sausage meat,
Mum's made us sausage rolls, then
A very special treat,
Then into Balbach's pork shop
To buy a savoury dip,
Then off down to the chippy
We'd set off with a skip.
Ann Hansen (Pike)
Casuarina Drive,
Bandra Point,
New South Wales,
Australia
WHO WOULD BE A BEE?
THE bee finds flowers rich with nectar and good food,
His tapping dance is understood, dancing lies in his blood,
Then to the hive he does speed,
In the honey-comb there is a need,
Young want nectar and they plead.
Among our bees no avarice or greed,
To lose our bees food supply would shrink,
It could happen it's time to think,
To our farm lands, chemicals are applied,
Does this false feed make us slide?
Just with nature, should we abide?
And let caution be our guide,
Now at the orchard he seeks a fertile mate,
And with pollen fills your plate,
All the flowers patiently wait,
They all know he's seldom late,
For all our bees give such delight
With their cargo make their burden very light,
In their need and future plight
For our food line just hold it right!
AD
PROBLEMS WITH POETRY
The craft of writing poetry is hard to understand
especially the funny names that really sound quite grand.
I've tried Sonnets and Haiki, along with couplets too,
but ideas that come forward are really very few.
Quatrain and Rondeau maybe penetrating
but Rondel and Calligramme I just can't find a rating.
Villanelle is haunting and really quite a curse
while Triolet and Kyrielle I find is surely worse.
Clogyrnach and Rubai to me is such a strain
but Pantoum as we know is definitely Malayan.
Mention of Cinquain and Terza Rima is now overdue
but if I had to explain it - I wouldn't have a clue.
This poem is quite long and really quite wearying
but before I go I've omitted - the sonnet Shakespearian.
Alex Branthwaite,
Friarsfield Close,
Sunderland
SUNDERLAND is dropping to pieces! The Vaux site is, and has been for years, a damned disgrace. The future of Seaburn is in the lap of the gods and the multi-storey car park is beyond belief. People running a business there in Jacky White's Market, don't know if they are in a job or not.
Citizen
BOB Price (June 8), in support of the Labour Party, uses the expression "We know".
The best figures available at the moment comes from the return or Euro MPs, 25 Conservatives to 13 Labour and would suggest that the "we know" know something that Bob Price doesn't.
N Bohill,
Seaburn Dene,
Sunderland
BIG thank you to friends and family in helping us raise 406.35 for Grace House North East Appeal. You all made our 25th wedding anniversary very special. Thank you for all your donations.
Heather and Doug Howe,
Cricklewood Drive,
Penshaw
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Friday 10 February 2012
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