Your letters this week (April 24)

Cyclists flout the law with impunity

MR DOLBEAR’S comment demonstrates the selfishness of many cyclists [Pavements can be safer for cyclists, Letters, April 10].

He has another option: get off and push his bike when on the pavement.

Most cyclists I see appear to have a total disregard for the law, as Mr Dolbear admits.

The majority of those who I see on a daily basis also ride with no lights in the dark, ignore road signs and traffic lights at ‘red’ and cycle at a furious speed.

If I disregarded traffic laws in the same way most cyclists do when I was driving my car, I would either cause a major accident or be up before a magistrate pretty damn quick.

No, it seems that, just like motorists using their mobile phones while driving (I’ve seen plenty of this, as well ), the police seem to take no notice whatsoever

Pehaps it is time for the pedestrian to aim a swift kick at these selfish cyclists in retaliation?

I have tried reasoning with them on occasion, but the message just does not seem to get through and merely generates a stream of foul langage from the rider’s mouth.

PETE WILLIAMS

York Avenue, Hayes End

Bring it on you patronising oafs!

I HAVE lived in Harefield since 2006 and feel that there should be a boxing club/fitness centre for the village youth to attend on a Friday night.

Harefield has, in fact, access to far more sporting and social events and outlets than most other communities but there is a real problem of a disconnect.

Those who preach in this paper about initiatives and ideas are completely remote from the youth; they do not communicate with them or anyone else for that matter.

It strikes me that they are all political party activists who believe that making a statement and then attacking any idea not their own is sufficient.

I am sick of these condescending oafs.

I hereby offer to run a boxing club in Harefield, I am trained and qualified in that field. All I need is a venue.

Bring it on you so-called community leaders.

GERARD BARRY

Via email

Borough is helping first-time buyers

I AM a supporter of the Yes To Homes campaign. It is the duty of government, both central and local, to help assist young people to make their own way in the world, whether that be providing them with school places and access to education or supporting them with the realisation of the dream of home ownership.

The housing shortage is a problem that has not been addressed by successive governments, and action must be taken to rectify this.

That is why I was pleased to hear the Chancellor’s announcement in this year’s budget that the government is committed to tackling this problem with the launching of the Help To Buy scheme, which will enable first time buyers to take a mortgage of 75 per cent of a property if they can provide a five per cent deposit, with an interest free loan topping up the difference.

The Chancellor also announced the mortgage guarantee scheme to enable more people to obtain a home loan without the need for an impossibly large deposit.

In Hillingdon we have played our part, with our own first-time buyer scheme for residents, which includes a grant of 7.5 per cent of the price of the property you buy, therefore reducing the amount of mortgage you need as well as the annual household income required to access mortgages.

Home ownership is a dream that all young people should aspire to, and while there is much more to do, I believe that these schemes are a step in the right direction for the young people of Hillingdon.

COUNCILLOR SCOTT SEAMAN-DIGBY (Con, Northwood)

Cabinet member for central services

Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge

‘No’ to a statue for a man of no stature

WITH reference to the article in the (Ruislip, Northwood and Eastcote) Gazette of April 10, I fail to understand the council’s reason for the ridiculous suggestion of erecting a statue of Elton John at Northwood Hills station [Bronze tribute plan to honour Sir Elton].

Why should a person from the shallow talent pool of popular music be honoured in this way?

He is only famous for being famous and epitomises the celebrity adoration of the last 60 years, an era of hysteria over the inferior.

The money would be better spent on repairing road potholes.

BRIAN GRISDALE

Eversley Crescent, Ruislip

Ex-GI in a search for his 1960s son

I AM not sure whom I should be contacting, but I have been approached by an ex-serviceman who was stationed at South Ruislip in the 1960s.

He is trying to trace his son, Paul Martin Edwards, born October 6, 1967 in Hillingdon Hospital. His mother is June Edwards.

I have tried to do some tracing on his behalf and found that June married another GI – John Phillips Sousa – in 1968 and went on to have another son, also named John Phillips, in 1971. They then divorced in May 1971.

She then married a William Ian Banyard in 1978 but again divorced a few years later.

From there my search has gone cold.

In speaking to someone in the Banyard family, they told me June only had the one son, John Phillip Sousa, when she married William. So what happened to Paul?

I have searched death records but nothing shows up. His birth certificate isn’t marked as being adopted.

Paul’s father is Marty Best and lives in Florida. I have kept in touch with Marty over the years and he has often talked about finding his son.

DOROTHY RICHENS

Via email

Anyone who has any information please call the newsdesk on 01895 451 036.

Pothole spots that could catch you out

THE pothole problems in the area have quite obviously been made worse by the winter weather but perhaps you have helped to improve them [Another car goes to pot on danger road , Ruislip, Eastcote and Northwood Gazette, March 27].

I reported three sets of holes just over a week ago after your story broke in the paper.

All three sets were filled within two days.

A good result.

However, I reported some over a month ago. The first set have paint markings around them, so maybe they’ll be filled in soon. But they are taking ages.

So be cautious at Dawlish Drive/Chelston Roadd in Ruislip Manor. I’ve yet to see any kangaroos but the road’s bad.

As for Chestnut Avenue/Pinner Road in Northwood Hills, expect to bump around when turning into the road.

If you ae walking or cycling, take appropriate precautions and wrap yourself in cotton wool!

MARTIN WISE

Filey Waye, Ruislip

Sports shop told my child to leave

MY DAUGHTER is a regular customer of Sports Direct.

She went with a friend to the Uxbridge store and were on their way in to buy some jogging bottoms when they were told to leave.

The only explanation given was that they did not have a parent or guardian with them.

This was very disappointing, and understandably my daughter is wary of returning to the store in case she is again refused entry.

Janet Tyas

Waterloo Road, Uxbridge

n Sports Direct writes in response to Mrs Tyas:

‘I was sorry to read that your daughter was refused entry to our Uxbridge store.

I would like to take this opportunity to explain that this is not our usual company policy.

When stores experience high levels of theft or disruption from youngsters they may occasionally take the decision to request that the children are accompanied by adults, but only in extreme cases.

In this case, it appears that the store was overcautious and we can see no reason why your daughter was refused entry.

Please pass on our sincere apologies to your daughter for any distress that may have been caused.’

No ‘local’ interest in eulogy to Thatcher

I WAS under the impression that the purpose of a local newspaper was to give local news and act as a forum for discussion on local issues and not to eulogise and sanctify a former national political figure.

Therefore, I was surprised by the publication of Keith Saunders letter (Thatcher was just keeping her word, Letters, April 17).

I can only assume that Mr Saunders didn’t lose his job as a result of Thatcherite policies.

Not only did Margaret Thatcher create massive unemployment but did untold damage to public services by scrapping established, accepted, independent pay bargaining because she disagreed with it.

When whole industries are closed, the former employees end up on the dole at the taxpayers’ expense, so the country is worse off. Not only do we have to pay vast sums to the unemployed, but we have to import those products from abroad which has a negative effect on our trade deficit.

Margaret Thatcher was intolerant, arrogant and patronising. ‘We are a grandmother’, is a classic example of her condescension.

She even managed to die in bed at the Ritz Hotel. How many ordinary working people manage to achieve that I wonder?

Margaret Thatcher privatised public services.

Now these former utilities make colossal profits and pay exorbitant bonuses to their board members, all at our expense.

No wonder some people struggle to pay their bills and we still have to put up with burst water mains

However, seeing how Margaret Thatcher was such a champion of free enterprise and privatisation, I naturally assume free enterprise will be meet the cost of her £10m funeral, thus eliminating the burden to the hard-pressed taxpayer at a time of economic recession and cuts in public services.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Recalling 1970s ministerial visit

I HAVE just read your news item, Mrs Thatcher’s top secret church visit [Gazette, April 17], and can tell you that Margaret Thatcher also came to Uxbridge in the early 1970s, as education secretary, when she attended an election hustings for the late Michael Shersby MP.

My recollection was that it was held in the old Greenway School [now Uxbridge High School], but my memory might be wrong.

I do know that I chatted to her for a short time after the main meeting because, at that time, I was the local secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters and had had an interest in the then composition of the Burnham Committee that negotiated teachers’ pay and conditions at that time.

There was not a huge turnout for the meeting, but it was an interesting one.

The then members of the Hillingdon Teachers’ Council were also present to hear what she had to say.

DAVID CRANE

Via email

Driver’s thanks to alert theatre goers

FOLLOWING a visit to the Beck Theatre I would like to thank the two people who reported to the theatre manager that the hazard lights were flashing on my car in the Beck car park.

As a result of his announcement, I was able to go my car to check it out.

Luckily, it was nothing more than the hazard indicator on the dashboard which had been accidentally activated.

Worst case scenario would have been to come out after the show to find a flat battery.

Thanks again to the public spirited people for saving me a lot of possible inconvenience. It’s good to know there are still people like that about.

It restored my faith in human nature, which can be sadly lacking these days.

Hayes (name supplied)

Via email

Forties Shop closure a sad loss

WE received a letter from a friend in Uxbridge recently enclosing an article from your newspaper on the closing down of the ‘Forties Shop’.

We went to this little shop/cafe whenever we were in Uxbridge on a visit to the UK last year, and it always seemed busy.

We found it most interesting.

It brought back memories of growing up in wartime Uxbridge, our home town.