OPINION: Letters to the editor of the Newbury Weekly News
Council’s decision over Swan is ridiculous
Like many other residents of the Lambourn Valley and beyond, I am puzzled, disappointed and angry at the decision by West Berkshire Council’s ACV Listing Panel to reject Great Shefford Parish Council’s application for The Swan Inn (aka The Great Shefford) to be listed as an Asset of Community Value.
The parish council’s application was so well-thought-out and comprehensive that it is difficult to understand why it was not passed unanimously.
It seems to be a case of unthinking bureaucracy, and one wonders why the WBC members couldn’t have been more supportive.
The Swan is, after all, the only pub in the village, and must surely qualify on that score alone.
In its comments, the panel states that while the application highlights a number of community events verified by the pub’s social media accounts, there is no supporting evidence to demonstrate that these events furthered the social wellbeing or social interest of the local community.
There are no letters of support from local residents or community groups, and no indication of community attendance at these events.
What planet are the panel’s members living on?
When someone has a convivial evening drinking with friends at the pub or has enjoyed a good meal, they don’t immediately dash off a letter of congratulation to the landlord – they vote with their feet by going back again.
There were many appreciative comments on The Swan’s Facebook page, but this closed with the pub a year ago.
And are we supposed to demonstrate our resulting social wellbeing before and after by visiting a psychiatrist and bearing our souls?
As for any indication of community attendance, was the licensee supposed to station a doorman at the entrance to count the arrivals and keep a log? Ridiculous!
Fortunately Great Shefford PC intends to re-apply for listing, but this time they will be need letters and evidence to support the claim that the pub provided a hub for community events and social wellbeing.
Anyone who has ever visited The Swan and enjoyed it should write to the council’s clerk at greatsheffordpc@hotmail.com
Photos as well as details of your experiences are welcome.
Roy Bailey
Great Shefford
Only enforcement will stop speeding drivers
I want to reply to Mr Gotelee’s letter in last week’s NWN (‘Avoid speeding cars by staying on the pavement’).
I think that Mr G was trying to be clever and belittle my endeavour to get motorists to drive at or near the speed limit.
My point was that putting up signs will make no difference; enforcement is the answer and until motorists feel it in their pockets nothing will change.
I do not profess or want to be judge and jury, I just want to appeal to their better nature and get them to keep to the posted speed limit.
Some 20 per cent of drivers break the limit and then get very angry when it is pointed out that it still against the law.
Perhaps if drivers kept to the limits, pedestrians could cross the road now and again safely.
Richard Baker
Newbury
Paddington deserves his own blue plaque
The enduring popularity of Paddington Bear has been evident since his appearance in Northbrook Street.
Perhaps the author’s birthplace in West Mills warrants a blue plaque.
Tony Fenton
Speen
Drivers should know how to gauge speed
Malcolm Weatherhead doesn’t have a cruise control that allows him to set it at 20mph and so he is worried about the introduction of low speed zones (Newbury Weekly News, October 17).
All the cars I have access to have cruise that can be set at 20 or slower, so perhaps he has older technology, or there is some law I don’t know about.
But that isn’t my concern with his letter.
At 20mph he states, without cruise, he has to spend all his time looking at the speedometer.
Did he not learn to gauge his speed by looking out of the window? Listening to the engine? The road noise?
And what does that imply when he is driving at 30, 40, 50?
I believe, as clearly a socially-minded individual, that Mr Weatherhead should publish his car licence plate number so that we can give him a wide berth.
Or maybe he can employ someone with a red flag to walk in front of his car?
S McKinnon
Newbury
Bravo for Beating the Bounds
On Sunday, October 13, these 12 intrepid walkers Beat the Bounds of Greenham and Crookham Commons and then enjoyed tea, coffee and a wonderful range of cakes in the Control Tower Café.
They were led by councillor Ken Neal of Greenham Parish Council and vice chair of the Greenham and Crookham Commons Commission and Sue Ellis, chair of the Greenham and Crookham Commons Commission.
Ken Neal
Greenham Parish Council
