| Your Letters |
Look after old bridge
Sir, — With the ever-increasing amount of heavy commercial traffic that uses our town as a through route, we ought to consider the creeping damage that is being done not only to our roads and infrastructure but also the river bridge.
When it was built in 1786 there was no possible concept that upwards of 100 tonnes of static traffic would be sitting on a bridge that is now nearly 225 years old — plus the tonnage of moving traffic, which is enormous.
The bridge, as we know, sits on wooden foundations and surely it is only a matter of time before it goes the way of Sonning, Cookham and Marlow (at least there is a bypass here) bridges, which all now have to have contra-flow access to try and alleviate the stress on them.
Can you imagine the effect on Henley if this was to happen here? The town and surrounding roads would be permanently gridlocked.
This through traffic does not need to come through the town. The A404, which links both the M4 and M40, is in place for exactly this purpose but HGV drivers are either too lazy or think they are saving time and money by using our town as their own personal “rat run,” which is condemning our bridge to its slow and eventual destruction.
So what can be done? I have spoken with many people about this issue and the overwhelming consensus is that a maximum gross vehicle weight limit of 7.5 tonnes must be placed on the bridge.
This will stop those heavily laden articulated lorries and the like using Henley as a short cut.
Those who need to deliver to the town can, of course, be exempted where required or perhaps these operators can be persuaded to use smaller vehicles.
I feel the Standard should launch a campaign to rally the people of Henley and save our bridge because within 10 years we may well be facing the sort of problems that the surrounding towns with river crossings have had to come to terms with. — Yours faithfully,
Ron Date, Valley Road, Henley
Shocked by state of roads
Sir, — Since moving to this area, my wife and I have been shocked at the condition of most roads and verges.
It took us a long time to realise why many people drive in the middle of the road — it’s to avoid damaging their cars on badly disintegrating surfaces, horrendous potholes and sunken manhole covers that are often worse than deep potholes.
This is not a problem caused by the recent snow — these conditions were there before.
What’s really shocking is that this applies to heavily used main routes, for example, the Henley to Marlow road (unbelievable condition), and the road through Checkendon to Stoke Row, where manhole covers are so low that they’d wreck a car’s suspension if you drove over them regularly.
People don’t do that so they drive all over the road with attendant safety issues.We’ve also been appalled by the amount of litter on roadside verges, such as along the A4074, most of which seems to have been there for years.
Yes, it’s shocking that people drop litter but until that can be sorted there needs to be better action by councils to clear it.
Just what are motorists getting for their road and council taxes?
No doubt “the recession” will be used as an excuse but, where safety is concerned, it can’t be and local councils need to fix these road problems as a priority. No excuses, just do it. — Yours faithfully,
Richard Cuthbertson, Checkendon
New path is much better
Sir, — Kate Ashbrook, general scretary of the Open Spaces Society describes the new fence alongside the recently built houses in Deanacre, Henley, as “pernicious” (Standard, February 19). Surely she can find more worthy causes to complain about?
Did she ever use the footpath before the houses were constructed? She refers to it as a “lovely, open short cut.”
I remember it as a narrow, often muddy, scramble alongside a gloomy, untidy and overgrown area of scrubland.
The path is now wider, has a good solid surface and makes for a much easier short cut than previously.
Once planning permission was given for the houses, then it was totally understandable that the new homeowners would want to give themselves some privacy.
The fence on the other side of the path is not only higher but is topped with barbed wire and there are many other much longer, narrower and gloomier paths in and around Henley.
May I politely suggest that Miss Ashbrook needs to get out more. — Yours faithfully,
Jon Lock, St Mark’s Road, Henley
Our recycling stays in UK
Sir, — I’d like to reassure residents about the integrity of South Oxfordshire District Council’s recycling services following Barbara Scrase’s incorrect suggestion that our rubbish and recycling is sorted abroad (Standard, February 12).
All the recycling we collect goes to a Greenstar Materials Recovery facility for sorting, while the food waste goes to be composted.
Wherever possible, all materials will stay in the UK to be reprocessed. Paper and card, for example, are turned into newsprint and glass into asphalt for road surfacing.
The increasing commitment of our residents to recycling is hugely impressive. We currently have the highest recycling rates in the country, which is gaining national attention as well as keeping council tax down.
I encourage everyone to check they are putting the right materials out for recycling and to not get disheartened by scare stories.
Let’s make 2010 a bumper recycling year for the district. — Yours faithfully,
Councillor David Dodds, Cabinet member for waste, South Oxfordshire District Council
Travel coins are measly
Sir, — As senior citizens, we have to re-apply to South Oxfordshire District Council for either our free bus pass or the measly £20 travel coins for the forthcoming financial year.
Will someone from the council please explain why the £20 has remained unchanged for at least the last 25 years during which time bus, train and taxi fares have risen by at least the rate of inflation and very often by much more?
So, too, have our council tax bills which for most people, especially senior citizens, represent a major expense.
I have kept records of council tax bills from the last 10 years and in that time they have risen, on average and including the forthcoming year’s increase, by 5.85 per cent. If we apply this same increase each year to the £20 allowance, then over the same period, the £20 should have risen to £41.60.
This calculation only covers the past 10 years, yet the £20 allowance has been paid for at least the last 20 years without change.
Will the council please respond with an explanation, or will it be a typical politician’s excuse or, more likely, no answer at all? — Yours faithfully,
Keith Wilson, St Andrew’s Road, Henley
Foxes are not my priority
Sir, — I read Bea Bradley’s letter about the pro-hunting lobby with interest (Standard, February 19). There are terrorists trying to blow up innocent men, women and children. We are at war in two countries with our troops being killed or maimed almost every day. Britain is in a deep financial crisis. There are a great many people wondering if they are still going to have a job in the near future or even sufficient money to live on.
These are the types of issues concerning most of us but it seems Ms Bradley is far more concerned about foxes. I wonder how many spring lambs will be killed or eaten by foxes?
I think some of us need to consider our priorities. — Yours faithfully,
Mark P Hatt, Broad Street Farm, South Stoke Road, Woodcote
Faith schools segregate
Sir, — No matter what your opinion on the changes in our society due to large-scale immigration in recent years, it is only reasonable to want all sections of society to live happily together.
To achieve this, it is important to be given the opportunity to know people from other backgrounds. That is why faith schools are not a good idea.
By the very nature of these schools, children are segregated and will not be given the opportunity to meet children from other backgrounds.— Yours faithfully,
Howard Thomas, Common Sense Party, Cardiff Road, Reading
Leisure centre is a disgrace
Sir, — I rejoined the Gillotts Leisure Centre in Henley after it was rebuilt. I spent the first few months complaining about the issues mentioned below but gave up as it was all falling on deaf ears.
However, almost two years on, nothing has changed, so here I go again:
1. The showers have been out of action on three separate occasions since before Christmas and it has taken weeks before they were/are operational again. No notice is put up to inform users of the facilities and when I enquired last Friday, I was asked to go and check if they were working”
2. The cleaning seems to be non-existent. Apart from someone sweeping in the main entrance area, I have not seen any cleaning at all.
3. There is no notice to insist that clients using the pool must wear overshoes and not walk in the changing area with outdoor shoes. There is no seat supplied next to the bin containing the overshoes (thought by some to be rubbish bin) to comfortably comply with what should be a condition of using the pool.
4. There is no footbath supplied before entering the pool and the mud and dirt is walked into the pool itself.
5. Light bulbs are not replaced for months.
6. Hanging hooks are either non-existent or broken.
7. A ceiling panel in the pool has been missing for months.
8. Water quality is not always as it should be, particularly when Peter is away.
I spoke to the manager about these matters earlier this year. He should be interested in maintaining standards. Leisure centres are supposed to be good for our health and we should come out all aglow. On the contrary, most of the time I leave stressed out and angry that people can be so inefficient and careless.
Gillotts Leisure Centre is a positive disgrace but I should add that the staff are always very polite.
I an disgruntled that I paid for a year and have already lost any benefit and I have recently seen a notice offering a deal to encourage new members. I for one will not be renewing my membership unless something is done about the very serious deterioration of this centre. — Yours faithfully,
Andrea Smith, Henley
Pulled from the mud
Sir, — Last Saturday, I had the misfortune to get my car stuck in the muddy car park at the Sue Ryder Care home in Nettlebed while attending one of the sales of furniture and other household goods held there every three weeks.
I had not heard the torrential rain which fell overnight.
I wish to thank the very kind gentlemen who came to my assistance and towed my car to the driveway. I do not know their names but one was one of the wonderful volunteers who give their services at the sales so willingly and cheerfully.
The other two were visitors like myself and I cannot praise them enough for their help. I am so sorry that they were spattered with mud.
I do hope that if they ever need help themselves that someone will come to their aid. — Yours faithfully,
Miss A M Burge, Crowsley Road, Lower Shiplake
Delivered by kindness
Sir, — Thank you for publishing my letter about the bin bags (Standard, February 19). I am glad I’m not the only one without any.
The funny thing is I had been waiting for over a month for a bottle of champagne to be delivered and had given it up for lost.
But, unbeknown to me, it had been residing at a neighbour’s house the whole while. The lovely couple who live there had been trying to find the rightful owner and had asked everyone in the street without success.
They even sent the bottle back to the company, which then delivered it back to them.When they saw my name in the paper they finally found me. How kind — and restrained. I think I would have drunk it.
Thanks to this couple and to the Standard for connecting people. — Yours faithfully,
Janet Wood, Boston Road, Henley
Thank you for honesty
Sir, — I wish I knew the identity of the person who found the purse I lost in the deep snow of early January because then I could thank them personally. As it is, the Henley branch of HSBC sadly took no details when it was handed in to them, almost two months after I’d lost it.
I’d long since cancelled all the cards, of course, but to find all my money still inside it was unbelievably heart-warming. — Yours faithfully,
Julie Bradshaw, Chazey Heath
Support hepled me climb
Sir, — May I say a big thank you to all my customers, friends, colleagues and family for all the support, kind help, backing and donations I received for my climb of Kilimanjaro.
My target is close to being reached and you should pat yourselves on the back for contributing to the Thames Valley and Chiltern air ambulance because who knows when anyone of us may need it.
I reached the summit at 9am on Thursday, February 4 after leaving Barafu camp at midnight.
Aside from the fact that I could hardly breathe and felt like I had drunk three bottles of whisky, I was fine.
The climb was by far the hardest thing I have ever done but I was driven on by your thoughts and kindness. Thank you all so much. Yours faithfully,
Chris Irvin, Newtown Car Services, Henley
Thanks for the lovely spring bulbs
Sir, — Last year, I saw a group of people busily planting the grass verges approaching the Tesco roundabout in Reading Road, Henley.
This week, all their handiwork has blossomed. The gorgeous crocuses and snowdrops make such a difference to my frequent trips along that road.
Thank you so much, whoever you are. Someone also deserves a pat on the back for the upkeep of the planted Henley Standard boat on the roundabout. — Yours faithfully,
Carol Lewis, Gillotts Lane, Henley
Editor’s comment: The crocuses were planted by members of the Gardening Buddies on behalf of the town council’s Henley in Bloom committee.
MORE than 130 invited guests attended the annual Henley civic dinner on Saturday night.
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