So Canatxx made a "non-political" donation of £3000 to Jack Straw's party? (The Gazette November 11)
If they had £3,000 sitting about in the
petty-cash tin, why not donate it to a
children's charity or (particularly at this time of year) to the Royal British Legion?
A sum of £3,000 is serious money to most of the people in my ward.
Do they seriously expect anyone to believe that they weren't trying to buy influence with a Government minister?
And isn't this yet another example of New Labour snuggling up to big business in
return for cash?
Has Jack Straw been taking lessons from Peter Mandelson?
Coun Don MacNaughton
Bourne Ward
Wyre Council

I see from a Canatxx spokesman the £3,000 contributed to the Jack Straw event was a "non political donation".
This being the case can they please
confirm a similar amount was contributed to events organised by other political parties?
If not then Jack Straw's £3,000 was certainly not a non-political donation.
They surely were not crass enough to only contribute to a party for a senior cabinet minister, with power and possible influence.
In the spirit of openness, perhaps we can also know what contributions have been made to local charities and institutions such as schools, playing fields and other local
community projects.
M Jeynes
Acres Lane, Preesall

Hospital care so memorable
I have recently been a patient in the cardiac unit at Blackpool
Victoria Hospital and would like to say the care and treatment I
received was out of this world.
I feel I had the best team in the world looking after me. I owe them my life!
The professionalism,
understanding care and attention shown by everyone, I will remember all of my days.
I would also like to say a word about the catering staff and how they work tirelessly to feed all the
thousands of staff and patients with such a variety of good
wholesome food at any time of the day or night.
We hear so many times criticism levelled at the NHS that we fail to
appreciate the enormity of the
work carried out 24/7 for our
benefit.
We are so fortunate to have this
facility and teams of truly
dedicated people available to look after us when we really need them.
Only when you are in their care does this really become apparent.
Mrs M Kirk
Address Supplied

Shut-down not on
The people of Feetwood are right to kick up a stink about the smell emanating from the sewage works.
With regeneration plans, the last thing the folks need is a town that reeks of effluent.
The good folk of Fleetwood deserve better than this.
However, Coun Hamer
appears to believe that DEFRA should shut the operation at Jameson Road down.
It is quite evident Coun Hamer has not thought about the consequences.
Where do you send the sewage if the plant is shut?
How long would it have to be shut down for?
If it is allowed to continue to take effluent but not treat it
because of the smell, what should be done with it?
It cannot be held in store until an answer is found to the smell.
I presume it would have to be discharged, untreated, into the sea. Not a smart idea!
Al Davies
Park Lane, Preesall

Bonfire night not so green
We are supposed to be "thinking green"– so why are we still
polluting our sky with bonfires and fireworks?
My friend and I came home from holiday, landing at Heathrow Airport .
At first we couldn't understand why it was murky and foggy, until we realised it was November 6, the day after bonfire night.
And the bangs of the fireworks continued over last weekend and no doubt will cause noise over New Year celebrations and birthday parties.
How can we be setting a good example to our children to
reduce pollution while we still set off fireworks and have
bonfires?
Surely it is time to bring an end to this rather archaic and polluting celebration.
H Melrose
Layton

Parking rip-off at shopping centre
I would like to respond to
Christina Hayes (The Gazette, November 10) and warn others about the parking rip-off at Blackpool's Houndshill centre.
I too had been shopping, with my two little girls for Christmas
presents.
We parked up at 1.10pm and
returned at 5.35pm. I knew it cost £1 for up to two hours, then £3 for up to four hours so never thought it would cost much more than £4.50 or thereabouts for just over the four hours.
I was horrified when the charge jumped up to £9 if you are over four hours so subsequently was charged an extra £6 for 25
minutes extra.
This is daylight robbery
considering I had already spent £250 in the shops. Another case of Blackpool residents being
penalised.
I will not be parking in the
Houndshill again.
Mrs T Hall
Blackpool

Way to ease traffic chaos
I write regarding the problems at Bispham roundabout.
Traffic coming off Bispham Road northbound has to stop and give way to traffic coming out of the village and off Devonshire Road. Some don't indicate and this causes problems.
Would it not be possible to have a look at putting traffic lights with a similar set -up to St Walburgas Road/Plymouth Road?
This works very well and would alleviate traffic chaos.
Clive Carman
Limerick Road,
Bispham