A round-up of Monday's letters

In Worcester we haven’t yet reached the tipping point seen in large cities where few would dream of driving into central areas unless unavoidable, and the whole population therefore demands safe and efficient public transport and cycling facilities. It may be that nothing much will happen until we reach that tipping point in Worcester.

A US-style school bus system might have been an answer when all the children from a neighbourhood went to the same school, but having choice of schools has probably increased the volume of traffic zigzagging across the city. However, there may be possibilities here as traffic is much heavier on school days, any suggestions from other readers?

Anyone who has waited in the daily A449 Northern Link tailbacks will be aware that a northern bridge isn’t the simple solution that it sounds. There are often queues on the Blackpole slip road and almost always a mile-long queue for the M5 Junction 6, so the cost of re-modelling both of those junctions would have to be taken into account in addition to the bridge and associated new roads.

Have any readers got exper-ience of other small cities with a road network from a bygone age where new approaches have worked?

DEREK FEARNSIDE

Worcester

Don't be fooled by the pro-EU arguments

SIR – One of the main arguments which the pro-EU camp will make in the debate over the EU Out Referendum will be the importance of trade with the EU and its implications for jobs.

However we need to clear up some facts. Up until the end of 2005 about 60% of our exports went to other EU countries since then trade with the EU has rapidly and steadily declined and continues to do so. Today only 45% of our exports go there. This is important but world economic forecasts indicate that the EU will experience slower growth than any other region of the world for the foreseeable future so our share of trade with the EU will continue to decline. In the meantime because the European Commission represents and negotiates on behalf of all EU countries, including us, we have little say in the proceedings unlike the many independent countries which are members. This has meant that our interests have been overruled time and time again. It is argued that as an independent country we would lose negotiating clout. This is rubbish. Independent countries such as Australia, Malaysia, Norway, South Africa and Brazil have their own very good trade deals with the EU, also with the USA and other WTO countries.

Turning to the other aspect of trade, 53% of our imports come from the EU, Germany is a major exporter to the UK . In other words it is very much in the interests of EU members to negotiate a favourable trade agreement with us when we leave, they have four-and-a-half million jobs dependent on trading with us.

Don’t believe the nonsense and fallacies pro-EU sympathisers will argue, look at the facts.

MARK STARR

Leigh Sinton

So we really do have a congestion problem

SIR – I can’t actually believe what I am reading in Worcester News, June 1. Councillor Matthew Jenkins, speaking during a meeting of the economy and environment scrutiny panel (whatever that is), said: Worcester has a bad reputation for congestion at peak times. Well, thank the Lord he was there to point that out.

Chris Holloway, development and planning officer (whatever that is), then pointed out that our park and ride would never work in Worcester without upping parking charges and making it a lot more difficult to park, so he has blatantly admitted that they make things worse purposely to force us on to public transport.

I actually noticed this a long time ago but I am glad they have now confessed. I thought it was incompetence.

JOHN MATTHEWS

Worcester

Eight horses died last year at our racecourse

SIR – A number of your readers may be considering attending upcoming meetings at Worcester racecourse. Before doing so I would urge them to consider the following facts which the venue does not include in its glossy marketing material. Since 2007, 40 horses have been killed at the course in the name of entertainment.

Just last year, eight horses died, making it one of the biggest killers of horses across all tracks in the country. Horse racing survives through ticket sales and from the support of betting industry. If you pay to attend meetings at Worcester or any other course, that is condoning horse deaths in exchange for a few hours’ ‘fun’.

I would ask any readers thinking about going along , if that is something they really feel they want to support.

PAUL CROUCH

Worcester

Finally I find that I can agree with George

SIR – Hooray for George Cowley!

At last I do agree his comment in the Worcester News, Wednesday, May 27. He said bring back the 50s.

Although my dad moaned because petrol was 10 bob a gallon, two bottles of Corona pop were 6d and beer 16p, and there were teddy boys and bikers in leathers outside The Swan with Two Nicks.

Sadly those days are gone when a policeman would clip you round the ear and send you home. Now on go the cuffs and it’s a night in a cold cell.

Well done George.

MR L PRESLEY

Bransford

Hypocrisy in about-turn on vote over the EU

SIR – The hypocrisy of the Labour Party is unbelievable.

For nearly 20 years Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Ed Miliband etc all refused Britain a vote on the EU.

Now due to verbal doorstep battering by voters they say yes you should have a vote and even 16 and 17-year-olds.

Why is that? Well they know young people are more likely to vote yes to stay in the EU.

That’s exactly what the pro-EU Labour Party fanatics want, and if that destroys the freedom of the British people to make our own laws and govern ourselves, well that’s the very least of their worries.

Is it any wonder Labour have been wiped out in Scotland and defeated in England?

K HEMMING

Worcester