Solihull’s education chief Ken Meeson effectively said in last week’s Observer that Solihull schools should focus on taking more money from other urban schools.
I find this attitude distasteful. I have friends, and relatives whose children attend schools in other urban areas.
Very few people would oppose having a fair system for allocating funding to schools across the country. However, our success as a nation depends on how well we educate all our children.
So, what is motivating our local Tory MPs and councillors to focus entirely on taking money from other urban schools? Is it because they are putting their own party interests before the educational needs of Britain’s children? Is that why they are unwilling to place any blame on the government’s failure over the last seven years to provide adequate funding for all our schools?
Phil Beyer Solihull
In last week’s Observer it was reported that Solihull Council is about to decide on whether to demand payment of council tax from our poorest residents.
This would be a cruel and mean burden on the most vulnerable.
The council should be calling on the government to allow it to introduce a higher band on houses valued above the current ceiling of £1.2 million. An additional higher band applies in Wales.
The extra income would not be a burden on those home owners compared to the terrible impact on our poorest residents.
Phil Beyer Solihull
I was saddened to find out that another independent long established shop in Shirley will be closing. Crash Bang Wallop will be closing its doors at Christmas. The reason – “Can’t compete with Parkgate”.
When we were sold Parkgate, it was with the understanding that it would increase the footfall on the High Street. WRONG. This has never happened.
Did you know? – On the High Street alone (not including Parkgate as I have never been in there) there are 11 estate agents, 16 charity shops, 14 take-aways, 28 restaurants and cafes, 17 hairdressers & barbers, and not much else.
Shirley certainly needs an injection of some kind. The only way forward, in my opinion, is for ALL the dusinesses in Shirley to get behind the “Shirley Bid”. The more that get involved the better chance for Shirley to re-invent itself, and continue to be the lovely place it has always been. In another 4 years my family will have lived here for 100 years, the “village” has grown but the friendly atmosphere has never changed. I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
A.Turner (by e-mail)
Driving along the M42 from Junction 3 to 4 today and back from 4 to 3, I was horrified to see several large signs for a Buisness Park (see below). Surely these should read ‘Business Park’ !!
Surely somebody should check these before they are erected.
Does nobody care any more?
Mrs P C Davies
In addition to the terrible human deaths and casualties that have been inflicted by indiscriminate use of air weapons, many pets have also been the unfortunate victims of air weapons.
Cats Protection’s air gun licensing petition has already received over 76,000 signatures and we would like to thank all of those who have signed the petition.
Cats receive life-changing injuries from air guns such as limb amputation or loss of an eye. A 2016 Cats Protection survey of vets found that 46% of reported incidents result in fatalities.
We welcome the government’s intention to review the regulation of air weapons licensing.
We are asking the government to licence air guns in England and Wales, bringing us in line with Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Our monitoring shows nearly four cats a week are reported as killed or injured by an air gun in the UK – the actual figure is higher as many remain unreported.
We would like to encourage those who haven’t signed up to show their support by going to our website: www.cats.org.uk/airgunspetition
Jacqui Cuff
Advocacy and Government Relations Manager, Cats Protection
With just six weeks to go until Christmas, Dogs Trust is urging people not to fuel a cruel puppy trade – albeit unintentionally – by purchasing an illegally imported puppy.
The warning comes after record number of puppies were seized in just one week during a covert operation at the UK border with many more expected to be smuggled into the country undetected as devious importers hone in on the Christmas trade.
As the UK’s largest dog welfare charity we exposed the horrors of the illegal importation of puppies earlier this year as the demand for in-trend breeds such as French Bulldogs and Pugs continue to help fuel this sickening trade. We’ve seen cases of bitches being smuggled across pregnant as importers find sinister new ways to get them through the border undetected.
Despite many people’s purchases being well intended, unbeknown to them the internet has become a thriving marketplace for advertising illegally imported puppies. As a result we’ve produced some buyer advice to help people make sensible choices and avoid being tricked into buying puppies which have been illegally imported from Central and Eastern Europe.
Illegally importing puppies needs to end now. We urge the Government to improve this failing legislation. This includes increasing penalties for those illegally importing puppies and a significant overhaul of the pet checking system at ports. Members of the public can support our campaign by visiting www.puppysmuggling.org.uk.
Paula Boyden
Veterinary Director, Dogs Trust
