Coventry Telegraph Letters - November 15
THE council and the communities of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, but more particularly the community of Aberfan, will always be indebted to the citizens of Coventry for raising the £4,000 so shortly after the disaster, which allowed for the construction of the Coventry Playground.
Aberfan bond with Coventry will continue
Unfortuately, time has taken its toll on the play equipment and while the council has carried out routine maintenance, much of it was eventually found to be unfit for use and a health and safety hazard and had to be removed.
In 2010, a proposal came forward to redevelop the site for housing to be used to relocate residents from Taff and Crescent Street in Aberfan, where there have been serious flooding issues.
Contrary to what was stated in your recent article, council officers made contact in 2010 with officers of Coventry City Council and apprised them of the proposed development and the former leader of the council made contact with the then leader of Coventry City Council and had a similar conversation. The council received no adverse comment and proceeded with the proposal.
It had already been agreed that the development would be named 'Coventry Gardens', and a plaque installed to commemorate the generous contributions made by the people of Coventry – something which had not been done in the past.
No pressure whatsoever was needed from any action group to implement any of the above proposals.
We are pleased that it has been acknowledged that in 2012 the need for new housing for our ageing population is a priority and clearly 11 two-bed bungalows in the community (five of which are to be occupied by elderly people or people who are disabled) will be invaluable.
We sincerely hope that the citizens of Coventry will appreciate that there was no intention to offend them for their previous kind generosity, but times have moved on as have the community's needs, however the bond of friendship between our respective communities forged back in 1966 will continue.
GW Chapman (chief executive),
B Toomey (leader),
Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council.
Help vulnerable people survive winter
TODAY the Heart of England Community Foundation is launching the Surviving Winter Appeal for Coventry and Warwickshire.
Winter can be a lonely and desolate time for those older, more vulnerable people who often face the awful choice of food or fuel. Last year there were over 25,000 deaths nationally that were linked to cold weather.
The Surviving Winter Appeal aims to help those who suffer most in the winter months by supporting local projects that provide things that most of us take for granted, such as a hot meal and a warm place to meet and socialise, combating isolation.
Last year over £1million was raised nationally through this appeal, helping over 35,000 people make it through the winter.
Whether you can donate all or part of your Winter Fuel Allowance, or you don't receive it but are prepared to donate, please give what you can. You can help an older person to survive this winter.
Donate online at http://localgiving.com/donation/warwickshire or send a cheque, payable to The Heart of England Community Foundation to The Heart of England Community Foundation, c/o PSA Peugeot Citroen, PO Box 126, Torrington Avenue, Tile Hill, Coventry CV4 OUX.
Sue Heyes,
Community Foundation.
Road repair job needs finishing
RE: M T Hancock's comments on the council spending nearly £7million on cycle paths.
What about the roads? On October 29 workmen and machinery arrived in Moat Avenue for road repairs and resurfacing.
On the Monday morning there was clanging and banging and the smell of Tarmac.
Three days later they were up and gone. Where are you, surely it's not finished? Half the road is not touched, there are still holes and no surface.
Coventry council, please send someone to view this awful patch-up job which we have paid for in our rate and car tax.
It's an insult against other roads in the area, like Woodside Avenue for example.
Mr Cole,
Moat Avenue,
Green Lane,
Finham.
Commissioners vital for police
I'D like to urge readers to vote in today's very unseasonal election for police commissioners.
The recent fatalities in Manchester are a vivid reminder of what police face on our behalf. So I'd submit that the future direction of policing in this country is very important.
Your readers may well recall demonstrations in London by the police against the coalition's savage cuts to the service.
The government are ready to contract out more of the police's services to private companies. We have seen the effects of this in the fiasco of G4S being involved with the Olympics
It seems essential that commissioners are elected who will mitigate these effects of government policy in the best way they can.
Kevin Hennessy,
Hen Lane,
Holbrooks.
Holbrooks
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