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Letter: Failings not due to immigrants
I have noted recently that there is a widespread belief that the problems within Peterborough are the result of our immigrant population.
It doesn’t seem to matter what the subject – be it lack of jobs, our failing hospital, lack of school places, litter, or indeed, lack of pride – as between certain councillors and many citizens alike, if your face or accent doesn’t fit, you are solely to blame.
I’d go as far as to say that some seem to be under the illusion that Peterborough would become a far greater, more community-based and thriving city in which to live, were we to rid our streets of such “undesirables”.
Come off it! Who are you kidding?
I have lived and worked in various parts of this city for more than 35 years, and, in that time, Peterborough has always been made up of hugely diverse communities, be they Italian, Asian, Polish, Irish, or any other for that matter.
Since the closure of many of our largest employers and factories, and the current worldwide financial crisis, the job situation has been dire, to say the least.
In fact, it seems that unless you have a huge amount of skill, have previously held managerial or senior positions, or are at least willing to break your back working the land in all weathers, there are, in fact, very few jobs for the average person of workable age.
I also believe there has been a huge need to create more schools for years, not helped in the least by the closure of many of our existing secondary schools in favour of academies (or when it comes to primary places within the Hamptons, lack of foresight and common sense.)
As for housing, apart from those that are left half-built, there are, if I recall correctly, almost 2,000 homes standing empty or rotting at the hands of private landlords that could be taken over and used to alleviate the problem.
So why aren’t they?
I’d also like to know why it is acceptable for immigrants to be used as an excuse for the failure of a council to do its duty to its citizens, to be blamed for the lack of amenities, the cuts to services, the redundancies, the fact that, every week, shops are being boarded up, businesses are declaring bankruptcy, people are being made homeless or are struggling to survive, keep warm, or indeed feed themselves.
The list is endless, and I feel it is about time others stopped with the excuses and realised our city is being run into the ground through incompetence and financial mismanagement at the top, not solely because people moved here from other areas.
I’d also like to ask those of you who continue to see this city through those intolerant and excuse-ridden spectacles, to think back to a time when it was genuinely all you imagine it to be?
Maybe it was in your little bubble, but it certainly wasn’t for a great many of us.
One more question: who did you blame then?
R ROBERTS
Peterborough
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
