Our treasures
I REFER to your the article “Council finds £75k” (Hereford Times, November 9), which is rather misleading and fails to inform of the real situation.
In 1998 when Herefordshire became a unitary authority, Hereford lost all of its property save that of its charters and silver artefacts to the present administration and the then city council became “charter trustees”. 
It was not until two years later that the Queen restored our city status with our latest royal charter, and in effect gave us back our heritage. We remain trustees of this so important identity.
As trustees we look after 18 royal charters which are actually “priceless” so we have a definite duty of care to keep them safe.
I would draw your attention and that of readers to a quote from Howard Zinn: “History is important. If you don’t know history it is as if you were born yesterday. And if you were born yesterday, anybody up there in a position of power can tell you anything, and you have no way of checking up on it.”
It is a question of identity. I have often said: “ people know where we are but have forgotten who we are.”  This is why history and heritage is so important to all of us. 
It is also very important that these eminently priceless charters remain in our care because our city status will remain even if Herefordshire as a county disappears or is absorbed into another administration. These charters belong to the people of Hereford.
What we as a city council are doing is making them much more accessible to all by creating this museum in the town hall and the “cabinet” referred to is only part of the £75,000 proposed cost of the venture.
Cllr CHARLES NICHOLLS
Hereford

Stop speeding
AS I pulled out of a Wormbridge side road onto the A465, not for the first time, a car came around the corner behind me, approached my car at speed, then overtook just before the right-hand corner, as the speed limit changes from 50mph to 40mph.
He broke the speed limit all through Wormbridge,and beyond, but he had to stop at roadworks within a few miles for a considerable delay. 
I caught up, got out and asked why he had been driving so fast. 
He denied speeding, saying I was all over the road.
I guess I was straightening up after pulling out.
He said someone like me, driving slowly, had caused him to have an accident! 
I am quite disheartened that so many drivers like him do not respect the speed limit, both on single-lane A roads and in villages where old people, children and pets are especially at risk on the roads. 
When are the police going to do something to enforce Herefordshire speed limits? 
Until there are more cameras out on the roads, arrogant motorists will continue to break the law.
SELINA HAMILTON
Wormbridge

Parking cheek
THE street I live in is one of many under consideration for permit parking. 
I have no problem with the proposed plans and will happily apply for a permit.
My issue is that that we already have two residents who believe it is their right to park outside their house. Every time they leave the house, they put traffic cones outside to reserve their place and have been doing it for months.
When permit parking comes into use, I can only see it getting worse and it is unfair.
I am on a mission. Anyone who puts out cones to reserve their parking place will find they have been removed. This could be construed as theft, but I am sure the cones were nicked in the first place.
I would encourage other Hereford residents to do the same. 
If you are paying for a permit and have neighbours who reserve their space with traffic cones, just remove them and have a bonfire.
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Evacuee tale
I’VE just had a trip down memory lane.
In September 1939 I was sent by my parents with my sister to live with my aunt, who was a district nurse and midwife in Moccas. 
They thought we would be safe if the Germans invaded the island.
Moccas hasn’t changed much. We lived in Daw Cottage behind the forge, which now I see called the Old Smithy.
The Payne family lived next door and had an agricultural business. I used to watch the horses being shod by my uncle – my aunt married one of the Payne brothers.
Moccas Court was closed up and we played on an old coach in the mews and we were friendly with the Wittals at Court Farm.
A visit to the church where my sister has the job of pumping the organ showed many great stories with names I remembered.
I walked to Staunton school, no longer there, from Moccas via the toll bridge (no longer there) through an area of tall trees I found scary as a small child. The revisit brought back memories of my walk to Monnington and on to Staunton.
The whole area hasn’t changed a great deal and is still very rural. 
My aunt had a wide area and I went with her at times to remote farms and houses in the middle of a field in the course of her work.
Many memories came back during my trip.
BERYL HOBBS
Isle of Wight

Road rage
MY warmest congratulations to Herefordshire Council upon the success of their new car scrappage scheme, as a result of which, I am very happy with my new car.
To participate in the scheme is easy. All you have to do is try and reach Halford’s in Holmer Road from Edgar Street by car.
By the time you get there, your car will be an old pile of scrap and you’ll need to buy a new one. Brilliant!
Wish I’d thought of it.
LAURENCE MEREDITH
Lower Maescoed

Bypass urgent
JUST as our county council has ensured that Hereford will get both city and southern link roads before planned new house building adds greatly to current levels of congestion in the city, so should this approach be taken with regard to the building of large numbers of new houses in Leominster.
There is no real proof that there is a need today for 600 new houses in Leominster, houses that could accommodate (say), or so new residents, or that there are enough school places for their children, sufficient teachers, GPs, dentists and nurses to cope with this expansion, let alone capacity on the A44 being able to cope with an increase in traffic volumes and associated pollution. 
The fact that Leominster needs an east-west bypass to take traffic and pollution off the A44 cannot be denied, but delaying construction of it until the houses have been built, and the council have received their section 106 money from the developers (which, apart from so called “affordable” homes, could be as much as £20 or £30,000 per house built, a sum that the developer will obviously pass on to house buyers) is to deny Leominster what Hereford has been granted.
Unfortunately, the leader of Herefordshire Council has not allowed local views to be taken into account, preferring to allow council officers to make the decisions on this project, perhaps in the same way that officers planned and executed the refurbishment of Blueschool House in the city (ie without sufficient thought).
Our local Green party councillors are taking a stand against the county plans. Councillors from other political parties would do well to follow their example.
GRAHAM CARPENTER
Leominster

So let down
WHY am I feeling let down? Perhaps I am expecting too much from those whose job it is to provide a public service. 
Village residents received a letter from Balfour Beatty advising closure of the A438 at Bridge Sollers (note wrong spelling of Sollars) with a map giving alternative routes.
So why did residents not receive a letter about the closure of the only road in the village that affects all residents? 
Nothing from Herefordshire Council, Welsh Water, Yeomans bus services or the parish council.
No doubt they will all say that if you contact them they will advise, but they cannot be bothered to tell you what number to call or whom to ask for – so why do I feel let down?
BARRY MEGSON
Bishopstone

Paying tribute
I WRITE concerning the letters that appeared in the Hereford Times on November 2.
I appreciated the letter about the Soldier’s Tale and the recognition of The Unknown Warrior. 
I was personally unaware of the story behind this, and while I probably don’t count as one of ‘the younger readers’ I want to thank David Williams for bringing this important story to light at this poignant time of the year.
How sad that it is followed by Anthony Cotton’s letter 
which highlights the lack of concern that our generation is showing towards the ‘same’ veteran soldiers who have 
served our nation so bravely 
and loyally in circumstances which most of us can’t even imagine.
I also want to thank Mr Cotton for highlighting this and the brilliant work that SSAFA do.
Cllr DAVE GREENOW
Hereford

Team-mates
IN a recent issue of the Hereford Times Lee Hutchinson sent in a photograph of a Hereford United team with his father Dennis as mascot. The photograph was taken on April 11, 1950, before Charlie Thompson’s benefit match between Hereford United and a League Select team.
In the photograph – back row – Charlie Thompson, Bernard Rowley, Reg Chapman, Ellis Corbett, Jock Letham, Billy Watson, Bob McCall and Albert Bradley.
Front row – Paddy Woods, George Tranter, Frank Bowyer (Stoke City), Noel Kelly (Crystal Palace) and Bill Adams.
Despite George Tranter scoring twice, the League team won 5-2 with George Mountford scoring four times and breaking Jock Letham’s finger. Charlie took off his coat and kept goal until half-time in his best suit.
The League team was Dennis Herod (Stoke City), Joe Wade (Arsenal), Gordon Pembery (Cardiff City), Doug Farquhar (Arsenal), Roy Brown (Stoke City), Ron Wylie (Notts County), Eric Houghton (Notts County), Alex James (ex-Arsenal), George Mountford (Stoke City), Dougie Blair (Cardiff City) and Rex Adams (Blackpool).
The attendance was 8000.
TREVOR JONES
Hereford

Tax havens
READING your front page article (November 9), it just shows to me the callous disregard and contempt shown by Bill Wiggin for the job he is supposed to be doing as an MP in looking after British interests. 
During a period of austerity, with cuts in funding to all of our vital services and large numbers of people living hand to mouth, children and the vulnerable going without, people relying on food banks and the general quality of life in our country getting worse day by day because of lack of funding he is actively encouraging those who can afford it to take their money out of our economy and invest in foreign tax havens.
I consider his actions as an act of betrayal towards the people of his constituency and of Britain and I hope that the voters in his safe Tory seat will remember this at the next general election.
ROGER SHUTT
Hereford

Broken gate
LAST month I took my grandson to the Central Park play area, near Central Avenue.
There was a gate section of very heavy galvanised fencing, propped up and broken, just waiting for an unsuspecting toddler to be crushed by it.
I laid it down to avoid a disaster, subsequently being informed by another parent that this metal fence has been in this condition for weeks.
I contacted both the council and copied in the central ward councillor. The gate remains on the floor, allowing toddlers out and dogs in!
The councillor said he would sort it and the council work department appeared not to be able to recognise where the park is! I’ve emailed the councillor twice more, no reply. Also the council, no response. This is clearly a very public hazard being ignored.
DAVE CRAIG
Hereford

Ear services
I SUPPORT Dr H Daly Jones (Letters, November 9) in his complaint about the loss of ear syringing services. 
In addition to the problems resulting from the withdrawal of this service can I add the traumatic effects of social isolation, depression and the possibility of missed diagnosis and treatment through hearing loss and mishearing. 
Many medical professionals seem at aloes to understand the logic of stopping this service, unless it is as Dr Dealy Jones suggests it is to advance the cause of privatisation.
It has just cost me £60 to have syringing privately to alleviate about two months of hearing loss. Self treatment as advocated by NHS is not always effective.
and excludes patients from a proper diagnosis. Previously professional advice was for patients not to mess with such a delicate instrument as an ear. Was this rubbish?
The audiology service needs GP support if it is to provide a good seamless service. 
Can we now “hear” from the Herefordshire cog on this matter?
FRANK HARWOOD
Ex-chairman HerefsCHC (1988-1997)

Clear as mud
THE council’s link road video is as clear as mud, another waste of public money. 
How anyone is expected to follow the directions in this video beats me.
It’s another flight of fancy by Herefordshire Council. From what I see from this there is going to be an awful lot of confused drivers. And a lot of angry voters.
Can you not get anything right the first time?
Herefordshire Council should get some professional help, get in a good PR team and explain to the public in a manner that is understandable.
D DAVIES 
Hereford