This week's Bromsgrove and Droitwich Standard letters......

THE Bromsgrove and Droitwich Standard letters page made a welcome return for many this week. Here is today’s selection.

More should be have been made of Cummings’ wife’s birthday

WHY hasn’t more been made of the fact that Dominic Cummings’ apparent practice drive was made on his wife’s birthday?

The information is available on companies house and on Wikipedia and as such, really casts a shadow over the original story.

I don’t think any reasonable person would take a 60mile journey simply to test their eyesight and whether they were fit to drive – it makes zero sense – it’s a fifth of the way back to London and yet not in the same direction.

Taking a loved one to a tourist spot on their birthday with your child does however seem far more reasonable and likely…

Ryan Harewood

Questions over how ‘supportive’ town was to asylum seekers

I QUESTION the headline that Bromsgrove is ‘incredibly supportive’ over temporary asylum seeker placement’ and ‘the overall reaction has been incredibly supportive’ – the words of the Serco contract director about the emergency placing of asylum seekers at the Bromsgrove Hotel and Spa.’

They would say that, wouldn’t they?

The company is making an absolute fortune from this Government by taking advantage of our lax immigration policy which is playing into the hands of traffickers and crime syndicates and making a mockery of our so-called Border Force and Immigration Units.

How could Jenni Halliday could say she had worked extensively with the local community through the local authority officials, the police, NHS and charities to prepare for the arrival of the vulnerable asylum seekers into the community?

None of these so-called bodies represent the local community, the actual people who will be affected by this.

Coun Karen May even admits the move was a contract between the Home Office and Serco and that the Home Office usually consulted local authorities but – because these were emergency measures in response to the pandemic – there was not time to do so on this occasion.

So much for working extensively!

And ‘vulnerable?’ This is a complete joke, they are nothing but illegal immigrants, mostly I suspect here for economical reasons, taking advantage of the fact that they know they will never be sent back by a spineless Government.

I suggest you weigh up residents’ opinions before printing a headline like this.

Anita Hill

Bromsgrove

We all need to show solidarity – plea

I THINK it’s incredibly important that we express our solidarity with asylum seekers currently being accommodated in Bromsgrove, I understand that the community has welcomed them with open arms.

‘Now more than ever, as our country comes together to battle Coronavirus, it’s massively important that we invoke the very British sense of solidarity that we’ve seen displayed in other times of crisis such as the Second World War.

It’s that sense of duty to help others, regardless of where they’re from that defines us.

Coun Harrison Rone-Clarke

Rock Hill

We should be protecting our heritage, not vandalising it

I WANT to express my sadness at the recent vandalism of the Churchill memorial in London.

Winston Churchill is a hero of mine – he was, in my opinion, the most courageous Englishman of the modern era.

At a time when Britain was staring down the barrel of defeat, Churchill rose to the challenge to inspire our fight for national survival and lead us to victory over the forces of evil.

Like many, I was moved by Gary Oldman’s magnificent portrayal of Churchill in the 2017 film ‘Darkest hour’ – where the entire cinema rose to give a standing ovation in recognition of this courageous individual.

As a nation we should embrace our heritage and be thankful for the freedom we presently enjoy – paid for with the blood, sweat and tears of our grandparents and great-grandparents.

Coun John Hartley

Droitwich Central

Wychavon District Council

Hagley speeding needs sorting before someone dies

HAGLEY has been turned into a race track since the Government lockdown rules have cut traffic almost entirely.

What we have now seen is the excessive speeds that motorists are doing along the main carriageways through Hagley.

It’s become like Silverstone with some speeds only usually seen on motorways.

These have not gone unnoticed by the general public.

I’ve had an increase in complaints from residents which I have supported and passed them onto the Police and Crime Commissioner.

I again repeat that the whole road infrastructure has been under-invested in leading to race tracks, rat runs and congestion hotspots.

Whilst the Covid-19 has pulled police resources to frontline emergency services there is a need for active fixed speed cameras at strategic points throughout Hagley.

This then removes the need to pull police resources away from emergency activities.

The speeding problem in Hagley must be taken seriously before there is a fatality.

Heaven knows we don’t need any more tragedy in our lives.

Coun Steve Colella

Hagley West

Thanks for keeping us informed during the lockdown

THESE have been challenging times for everyone and I would like to thank the Standard for keeping us up-to-date with all the news and developments locally.

It has always been a good paper but has been especially important at a time when so many people are isolating and cannot get out.

Janice Boswell MBE

Belbroughton