Burning lights all night at car park a waste of taxpayers' money

This week a post appeared on Facebook from Wiltshire Council about the damaging effects of light pollution on wildlife and how residents should limit garden lighting.

Looks good on the surface, giving tips for people to consider you may think. I'm very much about not worrying what other people are doing and doing what I can to address the climate emergency through my actions but Wiltshire Council's hypocrisy on this occasion made me very angry and needs to be challenged.

For over a year since the Sadlers Mead Car Park in Chippenham opened the Gazette and Herald, Wiltshire Councillors, Chippenham Civic Society, Friends of Monkton Park and residents through MyWilts and Cabinet meetings have been reporting that the supposed sensors for the lighting which Wiltshire Council say was part of the contractors remit to deliver for the first floor and above don't work. The lights burn 24/7 and can be seen from miles around. So why haven't Wiltshire Council enforced getting this working to save light pollution and expensive energy bills which residents are paying for through increased Council Tax in a cost of living crisis?

The ground floor doesn't need lighting, this was bad design and may need to be paid for to correct, but surely that is better to invest the money Wiltshire Council is planning to invest in property in Japan (one of the approved countries mentioned at the last full council meeting), shouldn't this money be invested in Wiltshire in schemes like correcting these lights on the ground floor so we save money and help the climate emergency?

Also for Future Chippenham, Wiltshire Council's glossy brochures show taking one of the few totally dark places with great air quality and rich in wildlife and putting executive homes and light pollution along the canal to benefit a few at a cost to many residents and wildlife losing this area.

Wiltshire Council's actions and words need to match and then the Council finances, residents and wildlife benefit.

Melanie Boyle

By email

Britain must do better

As Russia intensifies its attack on Ukraine millions of civilians are fleeing their homeland and seeking sanctuary in other European countries.

As of 11 March Poland had taken 1.5 million; Hungary 225,000; Slovakia 176,000; Romania 85,000.

But what about Western Europe? Germany has so far taken in 80,000; Italy 24,000; France 7,500; Spain 6,000? And the U.K.? About 1,000. It’s a disgrace.

When it came to awarding lucrative PPE contracts in the face of the Covid emergency the Tories happily fast-tracked these for their mates. But when it comes to processing visa applications from desperate Ukrainian refugees seeking a place of safety there is no fast-tracking. Our Government’s response has been bureaucratic and grudging.

Britain can and must do better than this. No one would question the humanity and generosity of the nations I have listed above. Our Government is failing the Ukrainian refugees and in doing so it is also failing the British people.

John Boaler

Woodland Park

Calne

Town hall heckler responds

I am the heckler as reported in this newspaper in the report about Danny Kruger’s Q&A meeting in Devizes town Hall. I did hold up an A4 piece of Paper, it said: “Putins Puppets = Boris & Trump.” I then waited quietly until called to speak, despite shouts of Sit Down from a very loud gentleman.

When called to speak I referred to a full page article in the i newspaper of 1 March entitled “How Russian cash corrupted this land.” A key message was that as Mayor in 2014 Boris was proud of being part of milking the billionaires. I left because someone was reading out a Boris adulation piece worthy of the House of Commons.

Coupled with recent reports of peerages for cash donations from people linked to Putin it all forms part of the familiar stories of shady practice from Boris.

I fear the consequences of giving Putin to believe that his corrupt influence gives him leave to act with impunity are all too shockingly apparent.

When will the Conservative Party act? We all know what rotten apples do when in a Barrel.

Terry Bazeley

Address supplied

Paying it forward

I would like to let you know that there are some very kind people in this area, despite all that is going on in the world today.

I went shopping at the Tesco store in Marlborough and when I went to pay for my goods it appeared that I had lost my wallet. I told the cashier and asked him to keep my shopping while I searched for it.

By this time a small queue had formed. A gentleman behind me then asked the cashier what had happened and the cashier told him. With that the complete stranger said I didn't have to worry and that he would pay for me, despite my protesting, my embarrassment and further protesting. He said he was a worker and had enough money. I couldn't let him do it. He insisted that he had already paid for all my shopping.

I felt so humble as I started the search for my wallet and felt even worse when I found it on the seat of my car. I immediately hurried back to the shop and spent a long time searching for this gentleman without any success.

To try and make things more event I have since made a donation at a charity shop. I would like through your paper to offer my sincere thanks to the gentleman who showed such kindness to an elderly stranger.

Dennis Lavis

Marlborough

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