Thoughtless, dangerous, inconsiderate idiots

CYCLE helmet: tick. Haversack with day-glo strips: tick. Lycra leggings: tick. Cycling shoes: tick. Cycle: tick. Cycling on the pavement: tick – oh wait a minute – shouldn't there be a road involved in all this?

Well, no matter, people don't seem to bother much when we practically run them off the path, so, happy cycling experience: tick.

Thoughtless, dangerous inconsiderate, idiots: tick.

J K WILSHER (having been run into yet again)

Redwood Crescent

Beeston

I WOULD like to make the following comment on a proposal to increase council tax to recruit 150 replacement officers for the police: What a cheek!

They get rid of experienced officers on good salaries that we, the taxpayers, were funding and not a word about a reduction in council tax for what we are no longer getting.

Then they have the cheek to expect us to pay again for new officers on lower wages and fewer in number.

Do they think the public are stupid? Let's have that reduction we are due.

GEOFF WOOD

Clifford Avenue

Beeston

I AM sorry to read that this is the final week of the Post's 'Inside Your Hospital' features.

Here in Nottingham we have two hospitals giving world-class service which affects so many of our citizens in so many ways.

I feel that the public should be kept informed on some of the good work done in our hospitals by the dedicated staff.

DENYS RIDGWAY

Malvern Crescent

West Bridgford

Editor's note: Watch out for more health features in your Post every Tuesday.

IT has been proposed that an attempt be made to revive Erewash Film Society.

It would be located at a new venue, The Silver Prize Band Club, in Salisbury Street, Long Eaton.

It would be helpful if any former society members and other interested individuals would contact the organisers to enable an assessment to be made of the potential level of support for the viability of the scheme.

FAY AND JOHN BLACKBURN

Quorndon Crescent

Long Eaton

Telephone 0115 9732710 or e-mail: fayandjohnblackburn @googlemail.com

TWENTY years from now a high-speed railway will be built in the East Midlands with a station for Nottingham and Derby at Toton.

This station will become a major transport interchange, served by an extension of the Beeston tramline from Bardill's Island.

The Clifton tramline also has potential for an extension, in this case to the East Midlands Airport, with an intermediate interchange at East Midlands Parkway railway station.

This project can only proceed if thousands of houses are built on Clifton Pastures.

That development will be well-nigh impossible to resist after the A453 is dualled.

GEOFFREY BENNETT

Ruddington Lane

Wilford

AS one of the few people who actually got out to vote when the police commissioner job was up for grabs – eventually won by Paddy Tipping – I would like to say that I am very disappointed in his performance so far.

Recruitment: Mr Tipping is being said to have helped keep his pledge regarding the recruitment of 150 new officers. But, as we all know, the implication was that this would be on top of the existing force – not to replace it, with loads of police made redundant who are now nearly all complaining to an employment tribunal about their enforced retirement!

From what I have seen of Nottingham over the past 27 years of living here, I do not think the force can do with getting rid of so many experienced police.

Police horses: I have written to Graham Allen MP expressing my support for police horses to come back.

But Paddy Tipping, having asked for the public's opinion through the Neighbourhood Watch website, amongst other places, has arbitrarily said that £425,000 is needed (where on earth does he get this figure from?) and it can be better used elsewhere.

Let us examine this situation more closely...

Premises for horses: The premises, presumably empty since June 2012 or used for storage, could be easily brought back into use.

No new premises would be needed. Basic refurbishment would be of the painting and decorating type only.

Horse bridles and horse tackle and other equipment used to saddle up and maintain horses at the basic level: All this equipment, I have no doubt, will be gathering dust in a police store room, or at worst, given away to a riding establishment.

Replacements would not be that expensive to purchase from new.

Also other forces that use horses, and yes there are some, may have surplus equipment that they could sell to Nottingham.

Supervisory management and horse handlers/riders: The officers would no doubt have been allocated to other duties, if they are not some of the 150 complaining about losing their jobs.

HR could re-allocate them to recreate the equine management team that existed before. This can be achieved by internal moves. That is part of their job, after all.

Running costs: These can be clawed back from the unused budget for the Equine Centre during the second half of the budget year 2012/2013.

I am talking about the money that would have been unused from the budget for the period July 2012 to March 2013.

What I am saying here is that Paddy Tipping needs to look more heavily into this, and not just accept what council and police officials are telling him.

I think Paddy Tipping has more work to do on this issue.

BRIAN GEORGE

Nottingham

SINCE MP Chris Huhne resigned his Eastleigh seat there is much speculation on who will win the by-election.

The Liberal Democrats have a proven record for winning by-elections and are masters of being re-elected in marginal seats.

Mr Huhne's majority was 4,000, making it an exciting challenge.

The three main parties ignore the wishes of the populus, hence they are out of touch with public opinion and deluded if they seriously believe the electorate will rally to their phoney election pledges.

However, there is a spectre eclipsing the process in the guise of Nigel Farage's UKIP party, as Eastleigh forms part of his European constituency.

Considering how constituents mistrust their parliamentarians and the EU is taboo, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that a UKIP candidate (whomever that may be) could win, giving the party their first Member of Parliament.

If any readers want to bet on the result, UKIP must be worth a punt.

NIGEL J STARBUCK

Carnarvon Close

Bingham

I HAVE received notification from the pension service of the increase to my pension in April.

At the bottom of the letter a note states that as I have my 80th birthday this year I will get an additional 25p per week! Is this a cruel joke?

Anyway I wondered what I could buy with this additional sum?

I thought about a second class stamp but was told I had only enough for half a stamp, and would have to save for two weeks to purchase this.

Perhaps your readers would give me suggestions on how I could spend this increase?

PJ BRELSFORD

Nuthall