PETER Dicken is right to point out in his letter on July 10 "Road scheme would be no relief to residents", that the proposed Gedling access road was originally supposed to be a relief road.
Like many other residents, I attended a public meeting and asked questions. I was particularly interested where the 900 or more houses were going to be built in Gedling – but unfortunately their maps were short of this detail and the presenters could not confirm.
These 900-plus houses will bring more than 900 cars to Gedling and, from what I and many other residents can see, this "relief" road will be no more than a service road.
The proposal fails to demonstrate how it will relieve current congestion experienced by commuters.
After more than 60 years of planning the Gedling access road, we deserve a better thought-out plan than what is on offer.
CLAUDE-FRANCOIS LOI
Phoenix Avenue
Gedling
ON Friday, July 4, along with many others, I attended the opening of the refurbished King George V playing fields in order to give further support for these long-awaited improvements to what had become a much-neglected park.
However, despite having targeted funding in excess of £300,000, there are still concerns being expressed by users.
The park, now attracting many more visitors, has no direct access to public toilets, or information for the location of the nearest toilets available to members of the public. Indeed, complaints have been heard from residents who neighbour the park, of hedges being used for toilets.
There is no shelter available within the field, to protect park users in the unexpected event of a sudden downpour, to which we are being more frequently exposed.
Riders access the ramps directly from the field, for no hard surface barrier or separation has been provided.
An increase in detritus is already obvious, within and around this facility.
While our parks and play areas should not be sterile, they should stimulate activity insofar as reasonably practical, a safe and secure environment.
PAUL KEY
Castleton Avenue
Arnold
PROMISES of £50 million government money to kick-start our local economy and help create the few thousand jobs as reported in Monday's Post will be welcomed by most. Let's hope more money comes our way.
However, the exaggeration of job creation targets per se for Nottingham as an excuse for setting aside the land to build 50,000 new homes, as our local authorities have done in their "Core Strategy", does few of us any favours.
Frankly, it's embarrassing to simply repeat the same targets for housing and jobs used in the former Government's much-derided Regional Plan.
I've no doubt that saying in greater Nottingham's Core Strategy that 37,000 new jobs will be created in Nottingham in the next 15 years might earn a little kudos, a few bob or even a promotion or two for those that say it.
It may even fool a few bureaucrats in Whitehall that it might actually happen, because that's what they want to hear.
But the likelihood of creating three times as many jobs in Nottingham as those currently actively seeking work over the next 15 years, and using this as the excuse for designating building land to house the hordes that it is assumed will flock to Nottingham from goodness knows where to fill these imaginary jobs, is pretty feckless.
For goodness' sake, let's inject some reality into Nottingham's job creation targets and housing plans before we become a national laughing stock.
COLIN RAYNOR
Tomlinson Avenue
Gotham
REGARDING the letter "Hobby bobbies should be the target of cuts" by Tony Morris, the term "hobby bobby" is a term used many years ago in a derogatory manner by some members of the regular police force towards members of the Special Constabulary based on their voluntary status.
It is in my experience an offensive phrase to special constables and therefore, with Tony Morris's background, I'm surprised he used it at all, let alone in an incorrect context.
If someone is a volunteer offering a service to the public, it seems an absolute nonsense to suggest cuts that would save very little. However, Tony Morris, although misleading, is not suggesting this – rather, I think, suggesting cuts to community protection officers, who, as paid employees, in no way can be referred to as "hobby bobbies".
Police community support officers were the idea of David Blunkett when he was Home Secretary and were referred to as "Blunkett's Bobbies". Community protection officers and the like are a spin-off.
I hope this clears up any misinformation and helps your readers to make up their own minds.
JOHN PRITCHARD
Hardstaff Close
Kirkby Woodhouse
THERE is a demand building up in Australia for reform to their MPs' pay and privileges. The talk is of fairness; David Cameron take note.
A key demand is that political pensions should be scrapped and MPs should purchase their own retirement plans.
Another important demand is that, as MPs are on a high salary, they should not be paid any salary when they are out of office but should go through the same process as the rest of us.
Personally, I think there should also be league tables for MPs. Their pay should be linked to their position in the table.
RL COOPER
Harlequin Close
Radcliffe-on-Trent