Buzz in city

SALISBURY is buzzing! Over recent years Salisbury has, in my opinion, been in decline both economically and culturally, presided over by Wiltshire Council.

I have long held the view that parking charges have become a colossal barrier to both visitors and local people visiting the city for any prolonged period.

Surely the recent decision by Wiltshire Council to suspend parking charges and the incredibly positive impact this has had on footfall in the city in recent days cannot have been missed, even by elected members of Wiltshire Council, who have long overlooked the needs of the county’s city; choosing rather to ignore the economic and cultural impact of excessive parking charges.

Surely it is time to review the charges in order that parity is achieved across the county and the long term viability of Salisbury’s economy is secured?

Alison Herbert, Salisbury

Leader visit

WITH reference to ‘Leader in Westminster but too ill to visit Salisbury’ (Journal, March 22), having picked up an ‘unpleasant disease’ in South Africa poor Baroness Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council, has been too ill to visit Salisbury.

Funny that she’s not too ill to sit in the House of Lords, three times recently – at £300 a time, which of course is on top of her enormous leader’s salary.

When allowances were increased by 22 per cent a couple of years ago she said ‘it is not for me but for those who come after me’ well, it’s time for someone to come after her.

She should go. She takes far too much of taxpayers’ money and doesn’t seem to be giving much in return – absolutely nothing to Salisbury but then she’s never shown much interest in our lovely but currently lonely cathedral city.

Merrin Holroyd, Salisbury

Free parking

IT was so interesting to see the massive increase in footfall this Saturday due partly to the public support for the city but mainly because of the free car parking.

I therefore wonder if parking charges should be suspended indefinitely to save the Council operational costs and to improve trade and retail sales.

Ron Colquhoun, Amesbury

Trip booked

LAST night I booked tickets for a day trip to Salisbury. It’s not for a couple of weeks, but we are coming and we will spend some money.

Barbara Smith, London
 

It's a privilege

I WAS interested to read Annie Riddle’s article on what is wrong with Salisbury (Journal, March 22), but I have to say that I totally disagree with her impression of our beautiful city.

Yes, there are problems, and there is certainly social deprivation in some areas, but I still feel very privileged to live in such a lovely part of the world and to benefit from the warmth and kindness of Salisbury’s inhabitants.

We may be losing some of our “blissfully rural” views but hopefully the new housing developments that Annie decries will ensure that there are more affordable homes for local people. We can’t have it both ways.

We are fortunate to have wonderful medical practices, a superb local hospital, quality NHS dentists... and dare I mention the great array of local hostelries!

Having moved to Salisbury from London 13 years ago, I know that there is nowhere else I would rather be.

Debbie Mallett, Salisbury

No cars here

I AM writing to highlight a growing issue in Salt Lane car-park. There are a number of motorcycle bays that are increasingly being used by drivers of four wheeled vehicles. This reduces the available motorcycle parking within the city and is forcing riders to start using the car bays which in turn reduces the amount of car parking.

The motorcycle bays are sited in an area that is deemed too small for cars, hence they overhang the marked bays and make it much more difficult for drivers parked opposite to exit safely.

I would urge any rider who encounters problems parking here to contact Wiltshire Council in the hope that something can be done to alleviate this situation.

Nick Hancock, Salisbury

Thank you

A WEEK ago I visited Salisbury to see for myself how badly it was being affected by the Skripal affair.

I was appalled at what I saw, inspired when a shopkeeper told me of your #SalisburyIsOpen campaign, and really impressed when I got a copy of last week’s Journal - 12 pages of factual and speculation-free reporting.

I was able to match up and confirm what I saw and heard by what I read in the Journal. So thank you!

Lesley Docksey, Dorset

Moral duties

ERIC G Hart seems to think that Sergei and Yulia should have been handed over to the Russians for them to kill and that British officials should be humiliated and scapegoated simply for carrying out their duty (Journal, March 22).

Does it not occur to him that the British Government has a moral duty to protect those who put their lives on the line working for Britain?

Quite frankly I am absolutely appalled at his blatant selfishness and lack of any sense of honour and decency.

Russia under Vladimir Putin is a serious threat to our peace and freedom and we cannot shut our eyes to this. Neville Chamberlain shut his eyes to the tyranny of Nazi Germany with catastrophic results.

If we care about peace, freedom and justice we must be prepared to stand up to Putin’s Russia even if this comes at some risk to ourselves.

Alec Toynton, Damerham

Event axed

THE Salisbury Journal reported that Wiltshire Creative is currently proposing to close the Big Band Brunch (March 15) which features the Girls Only Jazz Orchestra (Gojo) at Salisbury Arts Centre.

The Gojo provides very high quality live music and as testament to their talent, Salisbury’s Rosemary Squires recently donated her entire library of original musical arrangements by some of the great band leaders to the Gojo.

The Big Band Brunch originally started with the Chris Holmes’ band ‘Centre 17’ from which Dave and Elaine Andrews evolved the acclaimed Gojo.

They have performed for over 10 years at the Arts Centre which provides the perfect ambience for their sound.

The event is virtually always a sell-out, generating much income and profit from ticket sales, food and drink.

Why then is the newly formed Wiltshire Creative wanting to close it all down? Do they not want a hugely popular and profitable live music event?

We have written to Wiltshire Creative’s Chairman Tim Crarer and Director Tim Croall and they say they are monitoring all feedback about the Gojo.

If Wiltshire Creative closes down a profitable live event how many others will face the axe? Their member only ‘tick box’ questionnaire currently out for consultation will not reflect the passion of the Big Band Brunch audience for this event so we all need to write and tell them now’ Fionne and Martin Harrington Fordingbridge NHS crisis THE current crisis in the NHS has come about for many complex reasons including larger numbers of older people living longer, the uncontrolled entry of vast numbers of immigrants and health ‘tourists’, hugely expensive drugs, some waste of resources (disposable items now abound in hospitals/ surgeries and could be re-used) and the use of costly agency staff due to poor government future proofing.

Whatever your view about where we are, we need to act to control immigration so that we recruit only the workers we need alongside UK-trained future staff, plus find more money.

Brexit will allow for at least some of the money we send to Europe to be redistributed to health and education, for example, in the UK. We know the number of people over 65 is rapidly increasing, due ironically to medical improvements, and statistics show that this age group is overly representative of beds taken up in hospitals.

Then why not restructure National Insurance contributions so that people continue to pay them for life? Most people over 65 could afford £2 a week or so and should have to pay for the considerable service they are receiving. I also think councils cannot afford to subsidise free transport (where I came from in Somerset it was costing half a million pounds annually) and that older people should have to pay something for their journeys.This is just a start and there will be other innovative ways of paying for services.

Maureen Lawrence (A senior citizen), Alderbury

Poet’s corner

HOMELESS soldiers in the vaulting, under Sainsbury in the Maltings, where Skripal parked his gas filled car, saw him walk to Bishops Mill bar.

So why do you think I picked Salisbury?

to rub your nose in your failed history?

This pot holed heart of your friendless nation, with no real working police station.

Didn’t know you’d turned on CCTV.

But not even that will prove it was me.

Cathedral Magna Carta, old Stonehenge.

Will never deal with on line revenge.

Your cuts went too far, you’ll never regain.

Post Brexit defences are cellophane.

Stop me? There’s more horses in your ranks, than helicopters or modern tanks.

Your leaders close factories, they favour banks, and wallow in my oligarchs’ thanks.

My gravy train has them weak and corrupt.

Your housing shortage is bound to erupt.

This managed decline in a Wiltshire town, stokes NHS fears at Porton Down.

You’re out of EU, your head’s on my block.

I am strong. I dare use Novichok.

Edwin Hopper, Porton