SIR – I should like to try and respond to Dr Malcolm Nixon’s letter, “Who exactly will this housing boom benefit?” (Worcester News, December 2). 
The bottom line is the electorate has been lied to by the Conservatives. They said in pre-election campaigning that they would get immigration down to the “tens of thousands”. The fact is George Osborne is basing his latest economic figures on bringing at least another million immigrants here by 2020, because immigration, and its associated house building, is the only way Westminster’s politicians can get “economic growth” into our economy. That’s why our last Labour Government poured 8 million immigrants into our country, and explains why current immigration levels are more than half a million a year.
Worcestershire’s countryside is therefore being concreted over for immigration. It’s not just Worcestershire however; the entire nation is going under concrete because Cameron has said he wants another 2,000,000 homes (for immigrants) by 2020.
It’s about money, especially with a government run by bankers and banker’s buddies – more vast profits for the few, misery for the rest of us. As we see from the Worcester News pages, and letters, traffic gridlock is a huge bone of contention. Our roads simply cannot cope with cars from the numbers now living here, and by the time the SWDP is built our traffic will have doubled. 
And they are going to add another 100,000 people to our city for “growth”. From roundabouts to “strategic planning” those who manage our affairs are utterly stark raving bonkers!
N TAYLOR
Worcester

Huge scale of cuts have consequences 
SIR – In the light of the inflation-busting near 4% rise in local council tax, it must be remembered that this comes after a 40% cut in central Government funding. 
The huge scale of Government cuts has consequences. The Green Party agrees that we have to protect the most vulnerable in our society. However, with staggering hypocrisy, the Conservatives plan a regressive local council tax rise on Worcester residents. Many of the people paying for this increase will be the very people we are intending to help with their social care costs. 
The Green Party would instead raise the money needed centrally by introducing serious measures to reduce tax avoidance and evasion as well as changes to corporation and capital gains tax.
LOUIS STEPHEN
Worcester Green Party

There can be a health risk with cooked meat
SIR – I was hardly surprised to read that “superbugs may be passed on to humans through undercooked meat” (Worcester News, December 9).
In fact, even when meat is properly cooked, it can be a health risk, as the consumption of animal products has been linked to osteoporosis, kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
One of the main reasons for high level of antibiotic use in farming, which creates the risk from superbugs, is that most animals reared for food are kept in crowded and squalid factory farm conditions, which provide a perfect breeding ground for infection and disease.
Such intensive conditions also cause appalling suffering to the animals who are forced to spend their short and miserable lives in them - almost one billion creatures in the UK every year.
There is, however, an easy way to avoid the health risks, suffering and slaughter, and environmental damage caused by eating animal products, and that is to go vegan.
ISOBEL THORPE 
Worcester

A knowledge of first aid is useful in winter
SIR – While sitting in the doctor’s waiting rooms and on the media we are constantly asked to think twice before attending A&E Departments for treatment. Alternatives are to visit your chemist, doctor’s surgery or if there is one close a minor injuries department. A knowledge of first aid is also useful.
Accidents can be divided into minor or major. As major accidents are also emergencies it follows that the word accident could be dropped from the title and just know them as Emergency Units.
This may go some small way in helping reduce the pressure.
ARTHUR H COOPER
Voluntary Ambulance (retired)

A Christmas message for friends and family
SIR – Unfortunately my husband is very poorly and I can’t get out to post any Christmas cards this year.
I would like to wish a Happy Christmas to Martin and all the girls at Housewife’s Choice, in Church Street, Worcester, for the wonderful help they give me with my shopping - they are so kind and all the doctors and staff at Spring Gardens Health Centre.
To all my friends and family everywhere God bless you all for the new year.
JOYCE FISHER
Worcester

There is still hope of saving the planet
SIR, Sir David Attenborough said “Science needs to use the massive energy coming off the sun.” 
There is still hope of saving our planet, as long as our “macho” politicians don’t blow us all to kingdom come.
GEORGE COWLEY
Worcester