Letters

Sadly, far right is alive and well here

What a wonderful start to the New Year it was to read my copy of the New Stour & Avon magazine dated December 31. The letter, ‘We’re too soft on illegals’, cannot go unchallenged. The far right is on the rise all over the world and here was clear proof that it is alive and well in our area as well. I am almost 71 years old, born and bred in Bournemouth and have never before been ashamed to be British. That has changed in the last few years though. This country is full of wonderful people, of all nationalities, races, religions and colours, but there is also a large minority who are selfish, ignorant and racist. In the final paragraph of her letter the writer attacks immigrants for wanting to ‘keep their customs, dress, religion’. She appears to fear ‘other’ people who don’t look or live like her. I have no religious belief but I’m perfectly happy for those that do to worship in any way they choose, as long as they don’t try to impose it on me. Why shouldn’t I be? Although the letter appears to be about illegal immigrants, in her final paragraph the writer shows that she is talking about immigrants in general. In my opinion, that has to be challenged. John Hancock Wimborne

n I write as I find myself angered and saddened by Christopher Chope’s recent article on a ‘surge of immigrants’ and the defence of his position in a subsequent letter by Mrs Brown. Whilst I fully appreciate that migration is a massive world issue at the moment, it is not going to be resolved by racist rhetoric, generalisations and blanket persecution of people already made desperate by circumstance. We have to start from a place of compassion and stop dehumanising people as ‘illegals’, ‘them’ or ‘surges’. They are first and foremost people: Human beings who should be treated with respect and dignity and given a fair hearing. May I make some points in relation to Mrs Brown’s comments: She says: ‘most of his constituents would agree with him (Mr Chope)’; I know plenty of his constituents who most absolutely do not agree with his position. ‘Billion pounds a year to keep them’’; Unsubstantiated and fails to acknowledge the

Do any readers have friends or relatives who have lived in Moorhills? We moved in July but in September we started experiencing mould and damp. This is a ground floor retirement flat. Shoes and boots have been ruined and myself and hubby had to move a wardrobe to save it from being ruined. What we would like to know is whether there are any underground streams here as my neighbour was flooded. An elderly neighbour told us that many years since, a manor house stood here with two wells, so there must be water? Any help would be appreciated. Maggie and Brian Rickards Wimborne

OFF THE WALL...

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk

massive contribution migrant workers pay in tax. ‘This is against the wishes of the people of our country’; This is an unsubstantiated generalisation. We cannot ignore the fact that most migration is due to factors that we have contributed towards, including a colonial past of exploitation and subjugation, our contribution towards climate change, the west’s ongoing exploitation of cheap developing world markets and our contribution towards civil war and unrest through our arms trade. Let’s continue to work to resolve worldwide migration issues, taking responsibility for our role as part of a global response underlined by a fundamental compassion for all people. There but for the grace of God go you or I... Mark Grayson Wimborne

Why is our retirement flat damp and mouldy?

‘People are really good at heart’

Having read the letters page in your edition of December 17, 2021, I would like to add my name to those who found Mr Chope’s words on illegal immigrants offensive. I could not believe you had not vetted it before it was published. Mr Chope makes assumptions that all those crossing the Channel are illegal immigrants – how on Earth does he know? I’m so glad he is not my MP. I would very much like to hear the opinion of other political parties – we did not all vote Tory. I hope you will consider not giving this man a platform for his mis-informed and offensive views. Phillipa Hammond, Wimborne n Tony Horitz is not alone in finding Christopher Chope’s comments on asylum seekers offensive. To describe refugees as ‘a surge’ is dehumanising. Until recently, we had a proud history of welcoming refugees, and the majority still want to show compassion to those seeking sanctuary. After a recent Red Cross appeal for winter coats and old phones for refugees living in Dorset, many responded by donating new coats and phones. Child refugees no longer have the right to be reunited with family members in the UK, yet a recent IPSOS/MORI poll found that more than half of people believe a child should be able to rejoin family living here. Only a small minority dissented. We would echo Anne Frank’s words, ‘Despite everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.’ Richard and Ruth Bush Ray and Susannah Kipling Astrid McKiernan Wimborne

n The New Stour & Avon magazine is here to serve our community, not to judge it. We give space to the sitting MPs so they can communicate with the constituents that voted for them. Anyone is invited, indeed encouraged, to respond through our Letters pages –Ed

Learning how not to do it?!

Your cover picture for December 31, 2021, asks ‘What are they doing?’ The answer is that they are being ‘educated’ by the traffic geniuses that brought you Canford Bottom, traffic lanes that split on the approach to traffic lights and then remerge immediately after, and light-controlled crossings about 10m beyond a roundabout. With best wishes for a safer 2022. John Garnish Sturminster Marshall

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