I AM writing to ask what led to the editorial decision to print the letter from D Hartley in the Solihull Observer “Where is MP on the immigration issue?” The letter was printed in the issue published on November 5, 2020.
By printing this letter you have made the decision to mislead the readership of the newspaper and add to the sensationalism around immigration led by the right wing press and Conservative party narrative.
D Hartley claims, incorrectly, that three million Hong Kong citizens will immigrate to the UK.
This is simply not the case.
The upper bound estimate of the Home Office is that 500,000 people could make their home here over a period of five years, and their estimate of the most likely scenario is that between 258,000 and 322,400 will arrive in the five year period with around half of these arriving in the first year.
Putting these figures into perspective, the total immigration in the year ending March 2020 was 715,000, so we are expecting an average of nine per cent of the immigrants over a five year period to be from Hong Kong.
If you took the time to read the Solihull Local Plan draft submission published in October 2020 that is referred to in the published letter, you would find that there is no mention of immigration anywhere in the report, so it’s clear that D Hartley’s linking immigration with housing in the borough is unfounded and disingenuous.
Name and Address supplied
THE construction of the Tudor Grange cycling and wheeled vehicles track has been a wonderful resource for Solihull but it is being abused largely through ignorance.
For the third time in two months I have witnessed an accident on the one kilometre track when casual walkers have collided with cyclists whilst thinking that it is safe to wander aimlessly on the track.
One of these accidents also involved a dog allowed to roam off lead.
At the entrance to the track there is a large notice board giving good and clear advice to all indicating a clockwise direction of travel but so many people go anti-clockwise and allow their toddlers to travel without supervision.
We think the council needs to do more to tell people that this is not a track for pedestrians, after all it is surrounded by many acres of open park land.
It would also help to paint direction markers at regular intervals on the track.
In our estimation, there might soon be a terrible accident on the track unless there is clearer guidance through notice boards not just at the site entrance but in one or two other areas.
G Malon, Solihull
ALWAYS early – must be something in the genes.
I hate being late for anything same as when I was at work, always early, although often it caused me grief.
I can remember working for Weathershields in Bishop Street – a great little company, great range of products.
One morning there I was at 8.30am when I was approached by the boss who demanded to know where some components were, and why was I at my desk.
I informed him I started at 9am not 8.30am and the person he needed to see was the person who never turned up until after 9am.
But here we are again, I had a vets appointment at 11.10am. I turned up early, duly presented myself and Buster the cat. ‘You’re early’ they said, yes I know I replied, at this I was given a pager and ordered to my car, where me and a forlorn Buster along with the missus sat until 11.10am.
At this I again presented myself only to have the finger sternly directing me and Buster back to the car.
Well, not to labour the point, at 11.30am my bleeper went off and told I was next.
Strange really, isn’t it. I arrived early but was seen late so it seems in life you are better to turn up late because early is no good and on time irrelevant as now the latecomer takes precedent.
ST Vaughan, Yardley Wood
AT Barnardo’s we know that families in Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities have been hit hardest by the virus.
Official statistics show Black people are four times more likely to die of the virus compared to white people, while the pandemic and recession are worsening existing inequalities.
As a result, children in Black and Asian communities are suffering bereavement, mental health problems and fear for the future – yet many remain hidden from essential support services and have often been left to suffer in silence.
They urgently need support to deal with a complex and unique range of issues which is why Barnardo’s, in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust, and with the support of the Covid-19 Support Fund established by the insurance and long-term savings industry, has launched the UK’s first specialist helpline of its kind for Black, Asian and minority ethnic children and families impacted by the pandemic.
Call our helpline on 0800 151 2605 or visit https://helpline.barnardos.org.uk.
H Sherriffe
Barnardo’s Regional Director
