I am glad that he had the decency to write initially about how sorry he was about Dorothy Barclay's sudden death, but how dare he finish his letter in agreement with a previous comment about putting a fence around Paston and renaming it Scumsville.

What does he know of Paston? Nothing, only what he has read. There are many families in and around Paston that are good, law-abiding people that despise people such as the muggers who make life hell for people like Dorothy.

Why should Mr Lindfield make the assumption that someone in Paston must know the mugger? Did he or did he not also attack people in other places too? Perhaps he commutes in from places such as Stanground. Do you know him, Mr Lindfield? No. Then why assume that we know him?

As it happened, Dorothy was a good friend of mine. I have known her for many years, as have many other people around Paston. We were all just as shocked as everyone else in Peterborough, and yes we all want the mugger caught.

We have been trying to build a new caring community for many years now. We have a lovely community building where the Paston Action Community Trust (PACT) does a wonderful job involving as much of the community as it can. We have residents' events, community outings, a lovely community café and activities for all walks of life.

I have lived here in Paston all my married life, so have most of my friends, and we have all brought up our families here and incidentally, none of them have turned out to be yobs or muggers.

So Mr Lindfield, why does that make us scum?

Why do we need to be locked away behind a metal fence?

Is it to protect people like you, that have no idea what you're talking about, or is it perhaps to protect us from people like you?

Mr Linfield, don't bother wasting your time making comments like that. The only thing you achieve is to show just how ignorant and rude you are.

S Janes
Chadburn,
Paston,
Peterborough


Petrol prices are high in the US too

I AM just writing to say all you people in England are not alone moaning about the price of petrol.

We here, in America, the normal everyday working people, not the so-called rich and famous, are having a very bad time of it.

Our petrol, as of today, is £2.20 a gallon (48p a litre).

I'm a waitress living on tips. A waitress over here relies on tips, not a pay cheque, so you can imagine what that's like.

No customers means no you get pay bills get behind, people lose their houses, and that goes for whatever jobs you have.

They said today on the news, the price will be going up again by the end of summer, so do you think we should get our bikes out again like we did years ago, when I lived in Peterborough and cycled from Dogsthorpe to Hotpoint, in Morley Way?

It was good exercise, and I didn't think anything of it, you do what you've got to do – right?

Ann VENTERS
Florida,
USA


We need an alternative to oil

THE present petrol and diesel prices are a giant rip-off, and we, unfortunately, only have ourselves to blame.

I am a great believer in alternatives, and again, as far as transport is concerned, there really is no adequate alternative to the car for people who like to travel.

There needs to be an alternative to oil that is suitable to power a means of transport that can replace the car.

There does not appear to be anything viable in the foreseeable future, so we shall all be held to ransom again for years to come, until, of course, the day when oil runs out.

Some estimates give predictions of as little as 12 years, and some say 50 years.

Oil will need to be rationed very soon if we are to have adequate supplies for essentials, and that will mean no doubt very little for the ordinary driver whose car is the main form of transport.

ANTHONY B L MARTYN
Elton Road,
Wansford,
near Peterborough


The blue badge 'postcode lottery'

mps have warned that disabled drivers who want a blue badge for parking face a "postcode lottery".

According to the Commons Transport Committee, a disabled person's chances of obtaining a badge often depends on where they live. The committee said that there must be more consistency in how councils applied the Government's operating guidelines for the scheme in England.

If you have been a victim of the "postcode lottery" and have been refused a blue badge you have the right of appeal.

For further information on the blue badge scheme and how to appeal against the refusal of a blue badge, call the Blue Badge Appeal Services on 0845 224 7542.

PAUL BRENNAN
Director,
Blue Badge Appeal Services,
Chorley,
Lancashire


How can people act so cruel?

I WOULD like to draw attention to something very disturbing which occurred on a recent evening.

I was out walking with my friend and her dog around the waters behind the Fleet, in Fletton, Peterborough.

We came across some couples who appeared to be perfectly normal. They were certainly not drugged up or drunk.

They were quietly watching a family of swans being protected by the male swan, while the poor creature was being stressed by a remote controlled contraption one of them was driving towards it.

I asked why they were doing such a cruel thing. The contraption was eventually taken out of the water when they realised we had no intention of leaving them to their entertainment.

It is such a pity such people can't be named and shamed.

K BARSBY
Bunting Lane,
Farcet,
Peterborough