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Letters: Do we need 57 councillors? - 05/06/2008
Once again, a new full council year begins or does it? The Conservative administration has deemed it necessary only to have five full council meetings in the 2008/2009 year.
Once again, a new full council year begins or does it? The Conservative administration has deemed it necessary only to have five full council meetings in the 2008/2009 year.It beggars belief that the majority of our parish councils have at least 10 meetings in the same period and the members of these bodies are unpaid, yet the city of Peterborough with its ambitious growth agenda and all the problems associated with running a city can only manage half as many. Why?
The Conservatives will tell you they have been efficient and are being prudent by cutting the amount of meetings, therefore saving money.
So the question I ask why do we need 57 councillors on the payroll especially 43 Conservatives no less?
As individuals, the majority of my Conservative councillor colleagues are intelligent, diligent people, but when it comes to voting, well that's where it seems to go wrong.
I think this point has been clearly illustrated recently by the controversial vote to approve the appointment of Cllr Gul Nawaz for the office of deputy mayor.
Did we need a show of 43 hands for that endorsement?
One would have been one too many – and do you like the idea of your ward councillor being told to stay at home if they disagree with the whip? Where is the value in that?
These comments are not meant to reflect what councillors do for their respective wards, and I am certainly not pointing any fingers at individuals or parties on this issue.
If true democracy is to work it has to be seen and heard to work, and the only way to achieve this is by having more meetings and letting the public see and hear that we are worth our keep.
Cllr David Harrington
Independent ,
Newborough ward
Welfare issues around dog racing industry
I read with interest the article Freedom Of Speech Has Gone To The Dogs by Kev Lawrence (ET, May 27) who, to be offended by protesters shouting "shame on you" must have a very sensitive disposition.
Personally speaking, I don't think he was offended in anyway at all, but rather, as someone who enjoys greyhound racing, simply saw an opportunity to support the industry's propaganda machine.
And if Kev believes there are no serious welfare issues surrounding greyhound racing he has, in my opinion, like many others, been hoodwinked by the same propaganda machine.
I speak as someone who ran dogs up until four years ago when I decided to quit because I simply couldn't stomach what was happening to so many greyhounds any longer.
Graded runners that sustained a wrist or hock injury (both very common) were often put-down solely on economic grounds. Dogs that retired through age would usually face a premature death, and little has changed in four years.
It is true the Retired Greyhound Trust (RGT) homing figure has gone up, but largely at the expense of the independent rescue homing figure.
The fact remains trainers and owners still want to dispose of greyhounds as quickly and cheaply as possible when the animals are judged no-longer fit to race.
Kev is right, however, in saying the dogs love to race. Perhaps I should say the dogs he watches love to race. Some greyhounds will not chase, many of which are disposed of, along with thousands of others that fail to make the grade.
Wendy Mitchell
Sallows Road,
Peterborough
Attacks on smokers are unfair
Can anyone explain why the Government is proposing more draconian measures to ban the colourful cigarette packets on the false belief that they encourage young people to take up smoking and cause ill health?
Why not ban alcohol as this is responsible for the terrible rise in admissions to accident and emergency and the rise in liver disease, stabbings, crime and domestic violence among all age groups?
I have yet to hear of someone having a cigarette then going out to kill someone.
It's about time we had a bit of fairness and stop this under hand way of denying people their pleasures.
The closing of social clubs, bingo halls and pubs leave nowhere for us to go.
I don't smoke, but to allow MPs and prisoners to smoke indoors but not us is grossly unfair.
If all smokers would stop buying for one month the treasury would lose so much tax it might stop this nonsense.
Just imagine denying the troops on D Day of their fags for health reasons.
R Lane
Franklyn Crescent
Peterborough
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