Letters
Claiming credit for work during crisis nIn the past few weeks we’ve seen two graphics from Wiltshire Conservatives claiming credit for the hard work done by Wiltshire Council employees during the coronavirus crisis. Given the Conservative Government’s repeated calls not to politicise the public health crisis, we condemn the local Conservatives’ actions – which are politicising the crisis. We all should be rightly proud of the massive efforts over many months by local volunteers and officers at parish, town and Wiltshire councils which has, so far, led to a relatively good outcome compared to the country as a whole. By attempting to claim credit for work which is not theirs, the Wiltshire Conservatives reduce trust in public authorities, trust which is essential to continue to keep people and jobs safe. We trust we will see no more of these awful attempts by the local Conservatives to claim credit for the hard work done by many others. Wiltshire Liberal Democrats nPerhaps Simon Hoare missed my letter about housing standards in the previous issue (Letters, October 9), but it would have been good to have some positive news on this topic amongst his “reasons to be cheerful” (October 23). Nearly 2,000 houses in Gillingham, apart from thousands more nationwide, should surely be built to the highest possible thermal standards if we are to conserve energy and reduce global warming. Anyone can check what is possible by doing an internet search for the Norwich housing 64
I just wanted to share this photo with you that I took last week on a glorious autumn morning as the rising sun caught a spider web in my garden. Feel free to use it in the magazine if you wish. It is so lovely to have the Blackmore Vale magazine back again, you have all done a tremendous job of bringing it back to life in the format we all love. Thank you! Bev Jones development given a RIBA award in October 2019. Colin Marsh Gillingham nA quick email, long overdue, to say congratulations on getting the BVM back out. I was delighted to learn that it was going to be up and running again. Well done to you all, and best wishes for it remaining with us for a long time to come. To all the team, good luck. Deborah Purdue Iwerne Minster
nMay we send our congratulations also on such a terrific publication. Little tweaks here and there, no major changes for the readers, and so interesting with such varied, good articles, reporting and photography. But this has caused a problem: A battle between who gets to read it first. Anonymously Us nCongratulations on a really good read, I found your latest edition such an easy magazine to read. The larger font and colour
make every page interesting and exciting. The style of many of the adverts having been given a new makeover look much more interesting too. It is a great privilege to have the BVM back in circulation. We have all missed you. But how you could go to print without a letter from your infamous contributor? Must have been difficult. So here goes... Good dry spring, or good wet spring, global warming or climate change I’m not sure which, but I do know my eight-year-old olive tree has borne fruit this year, not enough to ‘do’ anything useful, but if things continue, wowee! for next year. When ready, Giles Herschel from Olives et al, has offered to harvest the fruit and prepare them for eating. So I can hardly wait. This fantastic news is a true sign of brighter days to come. So stay safe and keep smiling Della Jones MBE nNot everyone uses social media so I would like to use the letters page to inform all Shaftesbury Swimmers that there is a movement to lobby the council for the installation of a retractable roof at the Oasis pool so this great facility can be used all the year round. If you are passionate about swimming and willing to support this then please contact Claire Commons, the clerk to the council at townclerk@shaftesburytc.gov.uk. For future communication it would be useful if you could email me too on bathurst08@btinternet.com. Janice Jackson nWith leisure centres closing
