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It's Your Shout

I WAS disgusted to read in your newspaper that Tesco is killing turtles in the name of food. I don't care what local traditions the store has to cater for. The fact remains it is a western European company which should maintain western European values wherever it opens its doors.
The Chinese may well enjoy choosing their dinner from a live selection - and that is there right to do so. But why not leave it to Chinese firms who really can defend themselves in the name of tradition? Remember Tesco - Every Little Helps.
M Taylor
Knowle

I am delighted for the residents of Kelvedon Grove regarding the approval given last week by Councillor Ted Richards concerning parking restrictions. This will rid the Grove of as many as twenty-one vehicles parking all day restricting access by the emergency services, ring-and-ride and refuse collectors. This unauthorised parking also affected residents in Nightingale Court. I was surprised that Councillor Widger (Lib.Dem.) spoke opposing the restrictions on behalf of two objectors when a total of sixty-three residents in the two Courts either supported or did not oppose the scheme. In the Lib.Dem. "Focus", Councillor Widger is claiming she has been in the forefront of getting the Council to put forward proposals for parking restrictions. As always, far from the truth! It was myself and Councillor Mrs. Susan Gomm who met with Mrs. Body and members of the Fernleigh Court Committee early in 2007 along with a Traffic Officer from the Council. It was agreed that a scheme restricting parking to "outsiders" was essential and that this was to be drawn up. Residents, including myself, were all consulted before the matter went to a Cabinet member. The parking availability for residents and visitors is private and the restrictions will not affect them in any way. Of course, a disabled badge holder can park in a restricted zone for up to three hours.  
Peter Hogarth
Ashlawn Crescent

No Thanks, Mr Hawkins
So Conservative Councillor Ken Hawkins thinks he and his mates are going to make Shirley great? (letters 19 July). They will more than likely travel to the new Shirley centre (Asdatown) by car – but they never came to meet and discuss with the residents at the time they railroaded this Shirley “Centre” through. Sure there is a need for development and regeneration, but not on the proposed scale.
The whole viability relies on influx of visitors – by cars, the vast majority of which will have to travel along the very busy Stratford Road, Hurdis Road and Haslucks Green Road. This latter road is already unable to cope with traffic at certain times of the day and will be further gridlocked when you add the articulated lorries that will be constantly supplying Asda, turning off between the houses. I am sure that if this extra traffic came along Felgate Close he would be less enthusiastic about the project!!
Will the car park will be adequate to cope with the required visitors? – I guess not, especially as we have been told that the “centre” is to be a catalyst to support all the other small traders on the High Street. So it will stay overcrowded and cars will then be parked on the surrounding roads – and then yellow lines will be put down, causing further aggravation to locals who will not be able to park outside their own homes.
So you may get your chance to shop and buy trousers, shirt and tie from George – but at what cost to the locals. In the meantime all the money spent on this “centre” – which is actually quite near to the edge of town and not the CENTRE – is for people to spend money. Other than some minor changes to the park, there is very little for the youth of the borough from this major investment, other than a nice warm dry place to meet up on mall corners and in hideaway delivery areas.
Thanks?? – No thanks.
Ian C
Local Shirley Resident

It's pleasing that Cllr Mackiewicz is keen for Solihull to have a low impact on the environment but claims our carbon footprint is already among the best.  I would be interested to read any evidence of Solihull having a low carbon footprint as I was recently alarmed that the recent WWF report comparing the ecological footprint (includes resource use as well as CO2 emissions) of West Midlands local authorities shows that Solihull has the 6th worst footprint of 34 areas in the study.  Can any Councillor confirm what we are doing to improve our footprint?  I very much look forward to seeing what the Council's Leadership will be proposing to meet its commitment to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change.
Phil Burrows
Cheswick Green
Birmingham Friends of the Earth

I write in response to Cllr Ken Hawkins letter which appeared in the 19th July edition of the Solihull Observer.
In his letter Cllr Hawkins reveals the Tory criteria for selling off Solihull's Parks. According to Cllr Hawkins if there is a large Park in an area where he cannot currently buy a new shirt, tie and pair of trousers then it is ok to build an 80,000 sq. foot supermarket, 100 apartments and a 200 space car park on 5 acres of it.
Cllr Hawkins represents the Elmdon ward, where as far as I am aware, it is not only very difficult to buy a new shirt, tie and pair of trousers but also not very convenient for the weekly shop as there is no giant superstore. Elmdon also currently has a large Park. So residents of Elmdon you have been warned by your own Tory councillor!
However, should the worst happen rest assured the Liberal Democrats’ policy remains unchanged – no to building on Solihull's Parks.
Cllr Howard Allen
Liberal Democrat
Shirley West

I refer to recent letters from Tory writers. What is interesting is how defensive they are when it comes to the Heart of Shirley redevelopment. Tories from anywhere but Shirley seem to be doing their best to defend it at length despite the huge opposition from the many Shirley residents. If there was anything good about a regeneration scheme so huge that it threatens to take 5 acres (when the temporary car park is included) of Shirley Park once it is underway, one would think the Tories would have more than one Councillor out of nine in Shirley.
What I have found most disappointing is how some Tories personally attack anyone or any group who does not share their viewpoint, for example stating that the Oak Tree Circle has no value to Shirley residents. They have now resorted to making personal jibes and insults about KSA (Keep Shirley Alive) whose members have always worked hard for Shirley. KSA is a non-political group who as recently as 2004 probably considered they could depend on all political parties to do what was best for Shirley. Let’s not forget both Tory and Labour claims at that time, ‘No Loss of Parkland or Trees’. The Tories and Labour have done a huge "U" turn and appear more concerned about the money they can extract from Shirley rather than delivering something the residents and traders can be proud of.
Politics is about having a difference of opinion on important issues such as the Heart of Shirley and it is clear the Tories and the Lib Dem’s differ. Policy differences are healthy for our democracy. However, Shirley people have a right to expect Tories to engage in sensible debate rather than resorting to personal dismissive jibes towards individuals and groups who do not share their viewpoint.
The Lib Dem’s have always supported sensible redevelopment of Shirley Town Centre. The difference is that we feel the development should be on a smaller scale incorporating and improving the existing shopping centre without the need for any destruction of Shirley Park. Had the Tories listened a scheme could already be in place that complemented the existing High Street, without any loss of Green Open Space and with less likelihood of traffic gridlock. Unfortunately due to Tory greed we now have further delays as they go on a compulsory purchase order land grab.
Councillor Simon Slater
Shirley West (Lib Dem)

Who are these people J.K. Wilson and C.D.Collier? Almost every week either one of them or both seem to have letters printed in the local press that always slam the Lib Dems for the most ridiculous reasons. They never give any of their own opinions and their letters are so alike in style that either they are twins or else the same person. Obviously they are conservatives but neither of them ever tell us what their thoughts or policies are? Please 'Solihull Observer' give them a rest and let us have some sensible letters.
Ann Cole
Elmdon

Dear Bridle Path resident. With reference to the letter in the Observer dated July 19 and Redstone Farm Road. We have used the bridle path for years, we can not get through with our shopping trolley or our buggy. And as for walking around Robin Hood island - you try it in a few minutes. P.S. We know what goes on up there so we know what the council is up against - but there must be a better solution.
Redstone Farm Road resident.

I think everyone would agree that some minor inconvenience may result from Solihull Council's gating off of the bridle path. But isn't an extra one or two minute walk with no major roads to cross a small price to pay to save lives.
If you had seen the motorbikes riding on the footpaths outside the houses of elderly people and almost kncoking down young children in the process you couldn't possibly disagree.
Shirley resident

I am a non-smoker and think the current legislation is way over the top. The current law has been introduced to protect the health of bar staff, but many members of the profession are smokers themselves and do not object. It would make sense to re-introduce the old smoke room/bar to public houses where the bar staff would be smokers themselves or have smoking and non-smoking pubs.
What about pipe smokersd who enjoy a pint or two? A pipe emits very little smoke and what there is is usually quite fragrant and not unpleasant, but it takes about an hour to smoke. So is the smoker is going to have to sit outside or in the smoking shelter in the winter for that length of time? Of course the pipe could be put out and smoked again later, but I have been told this is like smoking a nubbed cigarette and tastes most unpleasant.
I would have thought there were far more important things to legislate so strongly about, such as drug taking and vandalism. Smokers today, drinkers tomorrow. They have already outlawed the happy hour and there are rumblings of discontent about the supermarket bottled beer deals where one can buy six for the price of five etc. There has been publicity about governmentakl concerns about drinking by the elderly for goodness sake - also that alcohol is too cheap!
Working men and women have traditionally enjoyed a pint and a smoke for many, many years. The two go together. And if a minority of youngsters are now binge drinking then raise the age limit for consumption to 21 - or would this affect votes?
Wendy Parker
Acheson Road
Shirley

I'm just about fed up of whinging smokers who can't smoke in public places anymore. Tired of the words 'draconian ban', 'civil liberties', 'human rights violation'.
This ban isn't just to make your lives a misery, it's more to do with cost. The cost to the NHS which will need to treat you all when you are in your 50s, 60s and possibly 70s if you live that long.
The tax you pay on your cigarette is not nearly enough to pay for the 101 smoe-related illnesses. This ban is the only decent thing this government has done in ten years in office. if you all need to smoek in public places to be happy you are a sad lot.
Name and address supplied

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