SIR – So families will have “the chance to meet and make friends with a host of animals” at this Easter’s CountryTastic event at the Three Counties Showground (“All the fun of the farmyard at show”, Worcester News, February 4).
One wonders, however, how long many of these animals will be allowed to live once the show is over.
This is because most farmed animals are slaughtered at just a fraction of what would be their natural lifespan, so they can be consumed as meat or, in the case of dairy cows, when their efficiency as milk producers declines.
All this killing is totally unnecessary because it’s easily possible for humans to live without consuming meat or any other animal products, which is not only more humane, but also less harmful to the environment, better for our health and much more efficient in terms of food production.
RONALD LEE
Worcestershire Vegans & Veggies

Make an effort to read up on EU referendum 
SIR – I was a little surprised and disturbed to read today in Stephanie Preece’s Fair Point that a straw poll of people in her office showed that more than half of those questioned simply did not know which way to vote in the referendum in June.
“If a bunch of journalists who you can assume are pretty well read and up-to-date on current affairs don’t know, I suspect there’s an awful lot of others in the same camp”.
I’m not sure that everyone would opt for a bunch of journos as a yardstick to judge the nous of the rest of the nation but I am sure that there is plenty of information to be accessed and digested on this vital subject for our country.
It’s up to us thinking citizens to acquaint ourselves with what remaining or leaving the EU might entail as quickly as possible.
By contrast I was heartened to read that Con. MP for Redditch, Karen Lumley, has managed to develop an opinion on the subject; along with 138 Con. MPs actively calling for Brexit. Even Europhile Labour MP Mike Foster recognises that what Mr.Cameron is pleased to call ‘reforms’ are “a sideshow aimed at appeasing Tory backbenchers rather than any meaningful reforms.” 
He now calls for a reasoned debate with Eurosceptics; yes and without the scare tactics please.
Come on folks, shake a leg, apply those brain cells to the mass of information which is to be accessed if you have a will; our country deserves a little effort.
WENDY HANDS
Upton-upon-Severn

Improvements needed to passenger facilities
SIR – London Midland needs to improve basic passenger facilities as well as their train performance. 
At Foregate Street station the gents toilet was out of order recently for weeks and now it’s the turn of the ladies. How long would London Midland executives put up with not having a toilet at home? 
Their lack of action reflects the contempt that these kinds of monopoly companies hold for the unfortunate users of their services.
DEREK FEARNSIDE
Worcester

Companies want UK to remain part of Europe 
SIR – Having noted the spurious attack, using flawed logic, which Francis Lankester (Letters, February 12) made on the claim that Brexit would threaten three million UK jobs, perhaps he might be interested (or is that too much to expect?) in a very recent piece of research among nearly 800 companies (404 UK-based plus 378 German ones with UK operations).
They were asked about a “best-case” scenario in which the UK is no longer in the EU, but retains access to the market (by no means to be assumed as a foregone conclusion). Many companies complained about “burdens” which accompany membership, but, notwithstanding these, 30 per cent went on to say that they would reduce capacity in the UK or relocate altogether in the event of Brexit.
Moreover, although IT and technology companies were particularly open to a post-Brexit upping of sticks, there was strong cross-sector support for staying in the EU, with around four-fifths of firms in retail, manufacturing, energy, telecoms and finance also stating that the UK should remain in the EU. Only 21 per cent believe that we should leave.
DAVID BARLOW
Worcester

I am one happy patient
SIR – I would like to say I am so pleased to be a patient of Spring Gardens Health Centre for many years and find them kind and caring from the reception girls, nurses and doctors, especially Dr Tomlinson who is my doctor. I think he is the best. Thanks to all of them for looking after me and my family for many years.
BARBARA COUGHLAN
Worcester

Thank you to the staff
SIR – I’m writing to say thank you to all the staff at the Royal after my stay of six days on several wards. From the consultants down and especially the nurses and cleaning staff. I am an 80-year-old and was treated with kindness and respect.
So thank you all very much – and I even enjoyed the food.
ANNE JOHNSON
Worcester

Papers back up claim
SIR – Louis Stephen of Worcester Green Party is absolutely correct that there are plenty of academic papers to support the assertion that eating less meat would reduce the impact of climate change.
GEORGE RICHARDSON
Malvern