Letters to the editor, August 4

IT was with much dismay I saw the heavy-handed measures taken to evict the pigeons from under the Fisherton Street railway bridge.

I work in this area, so pass under the bridge regularly, and for me, the pigeons are part of what makes the character of this old area of town.

Pigeons are, in fact, rock doves, so our buildings and bridges are for them the perfect emulation of nesting sites and resting places. It is human activity that brings these birds to our towns, so rather than this cruel and unnecessary wholesale destruction of their nesting sites, why cannot a solution be implemented, as happens in many other parts of the world, of pigeon lofts that are regularly cleaned and maintained? The Fisherton Street railway bridge was deemed ‘unsuitable’ only because of failure to clean and monitor the area, and because of the ill-informed belief that pigeons are disease carriers. Many intensive studies every decade since the 1980s in university laboratories around the world have proved repeatedly that pigeons neither contract nor transmit avian influenza, and furthermore, pigeon handlers and fanciers work closely with these birds with no consequence to their health.

I, for one, do not see the action taken at Fisherton Street bridge as either humane, or as victorious, as nothing was thought through to mitigate the displacement of the pigeons, other than palming them off to staff at rescue centres who then report that the adult pigeons simply flew back to be left confused and bewildered, and ultimately, to die from the stress inflicted upon them.

It is disconcerting, to say the least, to think that the idea and action of forcibly removing these peaceful and unassuming birds, and so drastically cutting off their nesting and roosting places is seen as a cause for celebration, and as some kind of victory.

Celia Merwood, Firsdown

I am delighted that I have been able to facilitate the humane removal of birds from Fisherton Rail bridge to a animal sanctuary and the effective pigeon proofing of the entire structure after over 40 years of complaints.

This work will make it much more pleasant for pedestrians as they walk under the bridge as they no longer dodge muck dropping down from our feathered friends! This was the number one issue in my ward by a calendar mile coupled with the slippery and unsightly mess it made on the pavement. I’ve had dozens of people thank me since the works have been done.

Naturally as I’m seemingly Journal columnist Annie Riddle’s bête noir, she authored a column in opposition. While Annie is entitled to her views, I suspect most Journal readers would agree with me that doing nothing wouldn’t be an option if she saw the number of birds that injured themselves while trying to roost in this unsuitable structure or the rainwater that passed over huge quantities of pigeon poo before draining down off the bridge onto hapless pedestrians.

The use of contraceptive in birdseed as she suggests in her article is also strongly discouraged by animal welfare charities such as the RSPB as they don’t want it to get in the food chain and stop other, possibly endangered, birds breeding.

Finally can I thank David Bradley at Salisbury City Council for coordinating the works and the contractor for doing such an excellent job. Success at last in resolving a long standing problem for Fisherton and St Paul’s ward!

Matthew Dean, Conservative Councillor for Fisherton and St Paul’s Ward

Balancing act

The phrasing used by Cllr C J Rogers and Cllr Corbin in last week’s letters together with Cllr Hocking the previous week shows all too clearly that Salisbury Council is indeed ‘rent with internal disagreement, blame, vitriol and name calling’.

It is appalling to refer (as Cllr C T Rogers does) to the proper use of the democratic process by colleagues as ‘cronyism or malice’ merely because they vote against him.

Politics is a difficult balance between the hard decision and the casual decision. Sometimes, there is a small but significant point which tips the balance.

Yet, Cllr Hocking believes anything other than bland, blind obedience to party direction is ‘pure hypocrisy’ or ‘a commendable exception’.

Mr McLennan writes with more skill - ‘that Cllr Walsh voted against his own Labour party’s chosen option’.

Cllr Corbin refers to Cllr Hocking’s disrespectful and inappropriate accusations ….. and on and on the Salisbury Parish merry-go-round will go.

I would be delighted to hear any Salisbury councillor defend the report produced by Cllr Roberts in July 2014 which seems to be a major trigger for this grubby money-based land-grab.

I spoke with ex-colleagues from Salisbury District at the Referendum count – several agreed that ‘We think Salisbury should have parts of Laverstock but they have gone about it the wrong way and we would not support their approach’. Fortunately for Cllr Rogers, they are not councillors in the Salisbury Parish being asked to willy-nilly support a palpably illegal and improper takeover.

What a wonderful example to set to the surrounding parishes. One might mention that a requirement of the Community Governance / Boundary Review is that a parish should be able to demonstrate ‘efficiency and good governance’.

John King, Laverstock

Teach more self-help

As well as the normal things that can be done around the Walk-in Centre, here are some others that might help.

Teach First Aid as part of the National Curriculum, starting with the simple things followed by annual refreshers to learn new skills. By school leaving age most 16 year olds would be confident and competent enough to work out what to do even in a fairly serious accident and would not feel the need to head straight for their GP or A&E when their little Jonny grazes his knee.

Basic dietary stuff should also be a given from early years, by which I mean practical lessons in how to cook properly, simple things first, anybody can do it, it’s fun, social, cheap, and a dead cert winner on a first date when you are older. Kids also learn planning skills, maths, multi-tasking (not girls obviously as they can do that from birth), health and safety and much more, all without knowing they are doing it.

Scrap prescriptions for paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen as it costs a fortune for something that is 20p a pack from your local supermarket. If the patient is really disadvantaged the doctor should just hand them out from a ready supply in his desk, paid for out of the surgery petty cash tin.

Deal with health tourism on a “show me your credit card first basis”, as is done elsewhere.

Then there would be some spare cash to keep places like the Walk-in-Centre up and running, ease the pressure on the local GP surgeries, A&E, etc, etc.

Sven Hocking, Salisbury City Councillor St Martin’s and Cathedral

D-Day doubt

In November 2014 you published a notice saying, the French Government was going to present an award of the ‘Legion d’Honneur’ to all D-Day survivors, apply via the MOD.

Being one of the first to land on the beaches, I naturally applied and received my medal on 12 March this year.

In your paper dated 14/7/16 an article headed ‘Veterans Receive French Honour’, the write up says they landed shortly after D-Day. A few weeks ago you showed a photo of another DD survivor who landed on 18th June!!!

When the French said D-Day, I am sure they meant June 6th, not 7th, 8th or 18th.

They were overwhelmed when they received over 2,000 names sent by the MOD, thinking more in terms of hundreds and I blame the MOD for this. I only know of these three veterans but nationwide I wonder how many were similarly considered?

Knowing all these facts it has made me feel that my medal is not as significant as it should be.

As the Americans who landed, hugely outnumbered the British, over 2,000 seems a high percentage of survivors and I have written to the MOD regarding this.

John E A Witt, Laverstock

Serving her constituents

You report that Devizes MP Claire Perry quit as rail minister to “speak out” on government policy.

She said she wanted the freedom to speak up for constituents without being tied by a government role.

“I have been expected to support every aspect of government policy and vote with the government at all times,” she said, adding: “I want to have the freedom to debate crucial issues and speak up for my constituents without concerns over patronage and promotion.

I am very much looking forward to this freedom, and to have more time to help those I serve…”

Good for Claire Perry!

It’s heartening to see a Conservative minister quitting the government and going back to serving her local electors.

It’s also an indication of what happens in a constituency when a young MP gets a minor job in the government. Beliefs, and the constituency, go on the back burner - sometimes for lifetime.

Wouldn’t Britain be a much better place if every MP spoke up for their constituents, as Claire said: “without concerns over patronage and promotion.”

Paul Sample, Salisbury

Agree CCTV transfer It is clear that CCTV in Salisbury is highly valued by local businesses, BID, the police and judges.

So it is paramount that Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council achieve an asset transfer agreement soon.

The majority of City Councillors want this to happen but it doesn’t help when party politicians from both authorities blame each other for the delays.

It was never City Council policy to link the boundary review to the asset transfer.

So I was perplexed at the statement from the leader of the City Council saying the whole process was ‘dead in the water’.

This is not the case and I was pleased that the full Council are still in favour of the asset transfer.

We have to proceed with this transfer if we want to reverse the decline in local services. I think this can be achieved with goodwill on both sides.

A cleaner, greener and safer city should be our priority.

Michael Pope, City Councillor Green Party

Striking up the band

Salisbury City Band of The Royal British Legion believe in playing to a broad range of audiences. On Saturday morning we were in Old George Mall and collected £120.55 from shoppers listening in the sunshine.

At 12.15 we moved to St Thomas’s to play a concert of British and American music. This was the second in a series of concerts put on to raise money for the Organ Appeal.

Thank you to the many people who supported us at both venues. We will be back in Old George Mall on September 10 and will then be playing in Pewsey Carnival on September 17 and Salisbury Carnival on October 21. The band will be playing in Old George Mall for the Poppy Appeal on October 22nd and for Remembrance on November 13.

Wendy Oliver, Treasurer, Salisbury City Band of The Royal British Legion

Walk-in is vital

It is deplorable that the hours of the walk-in medical centre will be cut so drastically. My family and I have found the centre to be invaluable when GP help hasn’t been available.

This was particularly the case when our grandson, then aged 8 months, was very ill. Our daughter took him to the centre who assessed him and immediately arranged for an ambulance to take them to hospital. He had bronchiolitis and was treated overnight. Fortunately he recovered well.

The Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group must keep the centre open for 12 hours every day as it is at present.

Kathrine Sealey Salisbury Happy return I WOULD like to thank the kind person, who handed in my purse at Salisbury Medical Practice on March 18. I am most grateful. There are some good people out there.

Ms H Chesterson Salisbury Thank you I WOULD like to say a sincere thank you to the good samaritans of Salisbury for helping my wife after her heavy fall on the pavement outside Debenhams on Monday, July 21.

DW Bush, Fritham