SIR – For what seems months, drivers and pedestrians have been confronted by road works in the city with very little warning.
This strange orange tubing would appear in most unlikely places, always handled by highway workers. Eventually I accosted one of them when he was not too busy directing traffic, and I discovered that the traffic lights were being upgraded.
I do not know how it will affect drivers but as a pedestrian I feel the new lights are a great improvement.
PHIL PEGLER
Worcester

Agreement is wrong in principle and practice
SIR – With reference to John Phillpott’s Worcester News column on 28th November – I’m pleased that he agrees with the Green Party that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal being negotiated by the EU with the US is wrong in principle and practice.
The TTIP agreement could see our government being sued if we bring failing privatised services back under public control, and could lead to lowering hard-fought environmental and social standards to bring them into line with the US’.
It would see private corporate business gaining a ‘legal right’ to have access to tax revenues being spent on government services without any accountability to the taxpayers – only an obligation to shareholders to maximise profits.
 The Green Party is against EU sanctioning big business measures like TTIP. However, the answer is not to “take our ball home” because we don’t agree with what has been reportedly agreed to date by Brussels.
Instead, we prefer to keep the pressure on sympathetic MEPs, and to stay and fight for a fairer and more just society worldwide.
NEIL LAURENSON
Worcester Green Party

Why did police ignore cyclists on pavement?
SIR – Further to my recent letter and legality question posed to the council and police. By chance I received my answer today (Sunday December 6th). Two police on the beat totally ignored a bike that passed them by on the pavement by the Cathedral.
So it would appear that there you have it, if you are fearful of the traffic on the roads then it’s ok to annoy pedestrians on the pavement.
C D LEE
Worcester


Air strikes on IS are nothing to be proud of
SIR – I regret to say I believe that the late Tony Benn must be turning in his grave after the melodramatic speech from his son Hilary Benn re: starting a war in Syria in order to rid us of the IS threat.
He reminded me of Margaret Thatcher ‘s speech (“joyous”) over the invasion of the Falklands.
I believe I am not alone in fearing that far from ridding us of the IS threat, invasion and violence from us will only serve to exacerbate an already volatile situation and increase the threat of violence, retaliation and further acts of terrorism.
 There is little to be proud of here.
Personally, I regard Jeremy Corbyn as sincere and this accounts for the press’s constant insistence in giving him a hard time.
 Hardly proud to be British at the moment.
 WENDY HANDS
Upton-upon-Severn

PM must ensure we control our borders
SIR – What a joke David Cameron is. He now claims he can’t seal a new deal within the EU due to the “scale of what he is asking for”? Did anyone understand this?
Officials in Brussels must have been somersaulting and high fiving one another when his puny demands landed.
For one, he missed out the crucial one - we regain whom enters our country. I don’t, or countless millions don’t, find that unreasonable, when you consider the borders hastily thrown up to keep out Syrian migrants.
More than likely these “temporary” borders will remain in place for years to come. Cameron has no stomach for immigration fights, he has simply surrendered. And now he is happy that turkey is to join our big happy EU family?
Given the “Allahu Akbar” chants that wrecked the minute’s silence for the Paris terror victims in Istanbul last month, it is chilling.
If turkey is allowed to join the EU, with 70% of its country in Asia and lots of support for IS within its borders, then the UK is wide open to more extremists - and we are powerless to stop them.
GB DIPPER
Leominster

Who to believe over polar bear numbers?
SIR – This week I read an article in the Guardian that claimed polar bear numbers are in decline and face a 30% drop by 2050. These figures come from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Shocking news. 
However, zoologist and polar bear specialist Susan Crockford has told us that worldwide numbers are actually increasing and have done so by 20% since 2001. 
Who am I to believe?
PAUL HICKLING
Worcester

Support farmers and buy new milk brand
SIR – I am pleased that Morrisons have introduced ‘for farmers’ milk costing 23p more than their other milk. Apparently, the additional 23p goes to the farmers. 
I hope that  Morrison’s customers will support this initiative.
Come on, let’s get behind the farmers. We need them and they need our support.
T M HAWKINS
Malvern