SIR – I remember how appalled my mum and my grandfather (both had lived in Worcester all their lives) were with the infamous Lych Gate redevelopment in the 60s.
This gave us the City Walls Road and, in return for vandalism of many beautiful and loved black and white buildings opposite the cathedral, the Giffard Hotel!
That hideous monster was soon taken over by a cheap chain, the luxury shopping centre closed and now it is being redeveloped once more. But the opportunity to preserve the Lych Gate is lost forever.
Elgar apart, our Worcester heritage is the Royal Porcelain, please don’t throw that away. (My grandfather sat next to painter Harry Davis at school; he did Grandfather’s art and in return Grandfather did Harry’s maths!) It took years to build up that incredible company with a world-wide reputation and like the Lych Gate will take a moment to destroy; but for what?
I was born in Worcester nearly 70 years ago and I’m proud of our heritage but we seem to be very unlucky with our planners!
DICK STOCKFORD
Malvern


MPs need to break their silence on EU
SIR – People who support EU membership say they want it to be comprehensively reformed. So the onus is on them to answer a crucial question. These are the PM’s four renegotiation requests:-
Make EU workers here wait four years to claim benefits (but people come here to work so it’s a non-problem).
An end to ‘ever close union’ (which actually requires treaty change)
A ‘red card’ to strengthen national parliaments (also needs treaty change to be effective as getting 55 per cent of EU parliaments to agree when most are in the Euro-zone would be impossible).
Increasing trade and competition (more pious hopes)
Do they constitute comprehensive reform?
Over the last six years the Prime Minister also promised treaty change, reform of the Common Agricultural & Fishing Policies, to return powers over social and employment laws, reducing the powers of the European Court of Justice, stopping the growth of EU powers over Britain, much less bureaucracy, safeguarding the City of London from Brussels rules, more power to deport foreign criminals and a cap on our contributions to the EU budget.
Not one of these is part of Mr Cameron’s ‘renegotiation.’ It is Worcestershire Conservative MPs’ duty to explain why not, to state clearly and publicly whether they think the four points equal comprehensive reform and if migrants are actually attracted to the UK by our welfare system. When will they break their silence?
FRANCIS LANKESTER
Worcester

Our football club is stuck on sticky pitch
SIR – WCFC helps to define our city
I know there are many strings that pull on the city having a football club. I feel that together with the cathedral, the river, the cricket club, rugby, racing and the history, Worcester City helps to define a lovely place to live in.
Not everyone likes football nor some of the other activities that go on, but for a hundred years we had a club which was a part of city life.
It seems that houses and other sporting places can be added, and it is a good thing. It seems, however that WCFC is stuck on a sticky pitch and is not being pulled out.
JH GILLIARD
Worcester

Mis-shaped food should not be wasted
SIR – I must agree with the article “Fair Point” by Alicia Kelly (February 8) when she says that ugly food is not put out for sale by the supermarket chains.
As Jamie Oliver and James Doherty in their TV programme last year and again in the recent series have been encouraging retailers to sell mis-shaped food at reduced prices for over a year and have been fighting to stop the perfectly edible fruit and vegetables going to waste. 
I firmly believe it is not what it looks like but how it tastes that really matters. 
One retailer was shown offering box of mis-shaped mixed fruit and vegetables for £3 which was enough for a week. 
Also if the supermarkets do not want to offer the food at a reduced price, why not offer it to the likes of the Maggs Day Centre and other similar outlets that offer meals to the needy.
NM DUNKLEY
Worcester


Migrant situation is an utter nightmare
SIR  – So   where are we on the migrant crisis?   A few bullet points  needed here.
So Brussels   says  we, the uk  must take 11.5 per cent of all predominantly Muslim migrants coming to Europe with their different value system and utter disdain for western ways.
As  a threat, Brussels says  failure to agree to the 11.5 per cent will mean we  won’t have a right to deport asylum seekers to their country on arrival in Europe – utter blackmail!
Austria is to cap the number of asylum  seekers  it accepts this year at 37,500 – half of what it took last year.
The whole situation is a nightmare and only getting worse, with 1,800 a day arriving in Europe, and getting EU passports. They are never going back-would you? And it’s estimated in the summer 4,000-5,000 will be heading to the continent .
GB DIPPER
Leominster