SIR – Travellers turning up in Worcester and occupying any piece of land they choose is not news to your readers. It is an annual event recorded faithfully in this paper. It puts both ratepayers and private landowners to expense. 


It has been clear for sometime that the visits are the result of a decision by our political masters to preserve an itinerant lifestyle. What they will not do is provide the means of doing so in the form of enough designated camp sites. The politicians are quite happy that we pay the costs of eviction and clear up and push the problem onto the neighbouring authority.


I recall famous MP for Mid Worcestershire, Sir Peter Luff, announcing after a group of travellers had left Droitwich that ‘something must be done’ . He then retired, collected his knighthood and we heard no more. Peter Walker, MP for Worcester says he does not know what to say. I suggest he talks to Sir Peter and tells us what he is going to do about it.
John Lumsdon
Droitwich

Trident’s cost is crippling
SIR – It is interesting, if somewhat disturbing, to read about the ongoing debate about the future of Trident, which is completely unreported in here in UK. There is an enormous movement of more than 100 states globally demanding that a global ban treaty be introduced to outlaw nuclear weapons.

  
Thinking people have a genuine opportunity to resist the anachronistic approach of the government which insists that nuclear weapons are necessary for our security, when clearly they do not meet contemporary challenges such as terrorism, climate change, pandemics and cyber warfare.


 Last November, the SNP tabled a motion expressing concern about the amount of money being spent on Trident – newly reported by the Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee to be £167bn rather than the previous estimate of £100bn.


The Government’s new National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review was published last November; it included the news that the manufacturing costs of the four replacement submarines is  now expected to be £41bnn rather than £25bn. 


 Lord Des Browne who helped Blair push through Parliament in 2007 the first step towards Trident replacement made an important observation. He pointed out that cyber attack could render Trident obsolete and industry experts agreed that “any national public or private infrastructure service or defence facility” could be hacked.


 Despite significant opposition from financial experts and the right-wing press,  the Government announced a deal with the Chinese government that will see nuclear power stations built at Hinkley Pint in Somerset, Sizewell in Suffolk and Bradwell in  Essex.


I feel sure that I am not alone in regretting the backward step which this Government is taking.


One need not be a pacifist to hope that our defence needn’t be secured at this great expense and at the risk of global catastrophe.
Wendy Hands
Upton-upon-Severn


Grounds forreal concern
SIR – In response to Trevor Hughes’ letter in the Worcester News on April 7, in which he wrote that Perdiswell is the best site for a football stadium to be situated – April 4, 2014, I wrote a letter to the Head of Development Planning & Enforcement at Worcester City Council, which listed 22 concerns from residents regarding the proposal. 


As I have said to many residents who have asked me about the progress of the proposal, there will be an opportunity to share views, whether for or against, at the eventual planning committee meeting. 


I have also expressed my view that the proposed site at Perdiswell would be unsuitable as, in addition to the aforementioned concerns, there would not be enough space for the stadium to be expanded to meet league requirements if the club was to rise through the divisions. 
Neil Laurenson
Worcester Green Party

Bus is worth waiting for
SIR – Referring to the letters page (April 13), the Worcester to Malvern buses have been running for donkey’s years, as far back as I can remember. I would like to address Jasper Farr, as one in 100, as a continuous moaner, whose spectacles need upgrading, then perhaps he will see the 44 and the 44C more clearly?


I go to Malvern twice a week without any trouble, so really Jasper, if you can’t wait for a few minutes, your letter of protest is in vain.
LM PRESLEY
Worcester

On hunt for my cousins
SIR – As a reader of your newspaper since the 1950s, may I use your letters column to see if I can trace some of my long lost cousins. 


My maternal grandmother’s name was Elsie Evans and she lived in Pope Iron Road, Barbourne. There were three children Mary (spinster), Harold (bachelor) and Fred, who was father to five children, who are my cousins. Their names are Olive, Dorothy, Eileen, Marjorie and Fred.


If any of them are still alive and wish to call me, my number is 01886 821127.
ARTHUR KINGS
Broadwas on Teme