Can’t be trusted on sovereignty
IF WE ever doubted that the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party are happy to say farewell to the UK as an independent sovereign nation state, we need only look at their support for the direct election of a European president in 2014.
If you don’t want a European State to exist, you don’t need a European President.
Conservative MEPs opposed the idea vigorously, but the Liberal Democrats are unashamed federalists.
They were joined by Labour in the European Parliament in voting this through. Neither can be trusted to defend British sovereignty or British interests.
SYED KAMALL
Conservative for London
Car park that is not user friendly
I SYMPATHISE with the complaint made by G Houlgate in last week’s Observer and am incensed by the arrogant reply from John Edwards.
I too had a problem with this car park a few weeks ago when I had to meet a colleague.
There is no indication on the entrance to the car park as to the minimum fee and he did not have sufficient change for the meter.
The meters do not accept new 5p and 10p coins or notes and there are no means of telephoning to register a fee.
He could not leave the car there while he obtained change because, obviously, there would not be any parking ticket displayed and he could have been fined for this.
He could not drive out of the car park because he would have been caught on camera and, similarly, received a fine.
Fortunately, I was at hand but I lost a pound coin as the machine adjacent to Gayton Road was not working.
I tried to complain to the council online but, while there are several options, none seemed to deal with complaints and I could not get a reply on the telephone.
Had it been my car I would have risked receiving a fine from the council and would have defended it in court and I am sure I would have been successful due to the poor signage.
GERALD COLLINS
via email
Concern over quality of care
I SUPPORT the concerns that A&E pressure on Northwick Park Hospital is increasing because of downgrading the A&E of Central Middlesex Hospital which has serious implications for the patient care.
In practice, the urgent care units at the Central Middlesex and other north west London hospitals seem to be dealing only with the sort of emergencies that a GP could deal with while other A&E related cases are referred to Northwick or St Mary’s in Paddington.
What NHS London has not spelled out is that systematically increased A&E activities at Northwick Park Hospital would help the hospital to become a major trauma unit, making it easy for the hospital to acquire the foundation status.
While all this makes a business sense, and Northwick could become the north west London hub, attracting A&E patients from other hospitals in the area, what about the quality of care for A&E patients in the mean time?
COUNCILLOR HUSAIN AKHTAR
Independent
Canons Ward
Some support on A&E consultation
There have been some claims made since the closure of the ‘Shaping A healthier Future’ consultation which we would like to address in order to reassure residents.
It is correct to say that 18 petitions were received during the consultation, but it is not correct to suggest that all were in opposition to the programme or any or all of its options.
Of the petitions, 12 opposed the closure of A&E and other departments in hospitals, while six supported various proposals in the consultation.
To say we are ignoring the feelings of residents is simply untrue. The consultation enabled thousands of people to hear about the proposals and we are very grateful to all the groups – whether they were for or against the proposals – who helped further raise awareness of the consultation and encourage the debate to take place.
We attended and/or arranged more than 200 events which included roadshows in every borough and events at all key hospital sites.
A consultation is not a vote – it is about listening to the issues raised and then considering them.
Everything we heard, the numbers responding to consultation, the volume of signatures to petitions, information from stakeholder workshops and much more are all being considered as we develop the proposals further prior to final recommendations being put forward by NHS North West London in February 2013.
DR MARK SPENCER
Medical director for Shaping A Healthier Future consultation
Roads inspected on a regular basis
In RESPONSE to Councillor Ashton’s letter in the Harrow Observer (December 13, page 15), Harrow Council’s enforcement teams work hard with the available resources to respond promptly and efficiently when concerns are raised with them.
The planning enforcement cases referred to by Mrs Ashton are being investigated and we will be updating her directly on progress.
The council continues to take planning enforcement matters seriously and has a track record of successful prosecution in court where enforcement notices are breached.
Officers are also aware of the concerns that Mrs Ashton raises about pavements in Drummond Drive. The northern section of the road will be included in the 2013/14 footway maintenance programme.
All roads in the borough are inspected three to four times a year and any areas considered to be hazardous are immediately repaired.
The council consults with local residents where new Controlled Parking Zones are proposed, or where there are changes to existing zones. This happened in the case of Green Lane, which Mrs Ashton also refers to in her letter.
While the council hopes to resolve the majority of issues for local residents, some concerns may remain and officers continue to work with residents in Green Lane on a number of proposals.
The authority cannot guarantee that motorists will always be able to park outside their property. When vehicles are parked on the pavement or obstructing the highway, drivers risk receiving a penalty notice.
COUNCILLOR PHILLIP O’DELL
Harrow Council’s portfolio holder for environment and community safety
Thanks for rising to the occasion
thanks to the independent bakers and public who helped to raise money for The Children’s Trust during this year’s National Doughnut Week. More than £20,000 was raised during the event held in May.
The money will enhance the lives of some of the UK’s most severely disabled children, who receive specialist care at The Children’s Trust.
In addition to thanking kind-hearted bakers and the public who supported the fundraising week, I would like to express my gratitude to Christopher Freeman from Dunn’s Bakery (London), who is the founder of National Doughnut Week, and also the sponsor CSM United Kingdom Ltd. During the last 21 years, over £750,000 has been raised for children’s charities.
2013 National Doughnut Week will take place from May 11 to 18 and we hope more independent and high street bakers will join this fun event and help raise more money for some very special children.
For details about The Children’s Trust see www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk.
KATIE ROBERTS
Head of Community Fundraising
The Children’s Trust
‘Rat-hole’ slums should be a worry
I AM in complete agreement with Planning ‘Supremo’ Councillor Keith Ferry regarding the Coalition’s supremely idiotic idea of allowing huge home extensions (Letters, December 20).
Experience has shown time and again that flouting of planning and oversized, intrusive extensions by greedy, arrogant and selfish residents, who don’t give a tuppenny damn for anyone else but themselves, are one of the biggest sources of neighbour disputes.
I would be in rather more sympathy with Cllr Ferry if he would likewise condemn and rule out any wholly inappropriate high-rise developments from being built in Harrow town centre and Gayton Road.
You may remember that these were the subject of several ‘mega-rants’ by Councillor Navin Shah, despite his being instrumental in the selling off of the Post Office site to Dandara and the subsequent botched planning applications that he, as usual, tried to blame on everyone else.
If Mr Ferry is genuinely concerned about poor developments and their social impacts, I trust that his agonizing will also extend to the numerous, poorly built, undersized, ‘sustainable’, overpriced, over-dense, rat-hole future slums that are springing up like mushrooms on a manure pile, with more to come here in Harrow.
I won’t be holding my breath.
JEREMY ZEID
UKIP
Harrow
Can you support Linda on her run?
This is an appeal for keen runners in Harrow to please support Linda.
Do you live in or around South Harrow and are a keen runner? Can you set aside one, or maybe two, hours each week?
Do you have the good will and humility to buddy and guide a blind 56-year-old wonderfully talented runner?
If your answer is ‘yes’ to all three questions, please email Linda runningsun27@gmail.com or richard@like2work.co.uk.
Linda is not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but has completed the London Marathon in 2009 and several 10k runs since. Linda is a shining example of positivity for everyone. All she needs is a little help, thank you in advance and Happy New Year.
RICHARD REID
via email
