Last updated 19:41, Thursday, 26 June 2008

FOR the vast majority of people, whether as individuals or as a family, the largest investment by far they are likely to make in their lives is the purchase of a home.I MUST express my disappointment at the biased, unfair article (Times & Star, June 13) which shows a total lack of understanding of Beacon Hill School, Aspatria, and the current education regime.RE your front page article “Planners insist shop sign must abide by their rules,” (Times & Star, June 13) the planners refused permission as it was felt the sign had an adverse effect on the character and visual amenity of a conservation area.WINSCALES residents take heed. Do you think for one moment Allerdale councillors will take any notice of your petition to object to this proposed caravan park?WE went to see the Bogus Woman at the Theatre by the Lake. This is a stunning piece of one handed drama lasting about 85 minutes without an interval. COUNCILLOR Alan Clark’s disgust at the withdrawal of the Ministry of Defence’s objection to the Fleeter Wood wind factory project is shared by many of us. His reference to Cumbria having “fulfilled its European Quota” especially interested me.HOW glorious is the month of June!WHAT are the meanings of “college” and “academy”?I’VE been cleaning windows for several years in and around Workington and was approached by a few new customers requiring my services. I was quite taken aback when I discovered they wanted me to clean a new self cleaning glass.

It is therefore extremely disturbing to see the housing market in such disarray, and it will continue to deteriorate.

The Construction Products Association believes only 147,000 units will be started in 2008, down 27 per cent on 2007. This would be the lowest figure since 1945.

However, the House Builders Association are suggesting only 110,000 units in 2008 and a drop to 80,000 in 2009.

Here in West Cumbria we have already seen the largest national house builder by volume put a scheme on hold in Workington, while a regional builder has placed sites at Harrington and Carlisle on the market. In all three cases there is planning permission to build.

These situations are being replicated across the country, yet all the housing minister can say is she is monitoring the situation!

The root cause of this unfolding tragedy is New Labour.

The tax levied on most homes when purchased and the cost of the notorious HIPs have made it more costly both for first-time buyers and those wishing to change their property.

But the biggest single factor has to be the virtually uncontrolled immigration since New Labour won office in 1997, as the population is increasing substantially year on year.

New Labour could have delayed the advent of immigrants from some new EU member states but chose not to, and they are also allowing far too many to come from non-EU countries.

Housing is yet another field in which New Labour has been found wanting.

Electors in the Workington constituency should bear this in mind when the next General Election is called.

JOHN PAYTON

Bitterbeck Close

Cockermouth

This is the second article in the same vein in as many weeks which is extremely damaging to the school, the teachers, pupils, parents and the well being of the local community, most of whom support the school and the work of the head teacher and her staff.

Last year the school did not achieve the arbitrary government figure of 30 per cent A star - C including English and maths, and there are a number of complex reason why that was not achieved but your reporter failed to give the school the opportunity to explain.

Statements attributed to the head teacher were not included in either of these reports.

Beacon Hill School is in the top half of the county league tables for their value added scores and above the county average.

The students range between A star and G and every student who left last year achieved at least one GCSE, and the school was ranked at number one for this achievement.

Your reports have unfairly singled out Beacon Hill School, particularly when using such emotive headlines.

I did not respond to the first article because I felt that you were entitled to report matters how you saw them (albeit ill-informed).

However, the second article shows how determined your reporter is to damage the reputation of the school, the hard work of the teachers and the achievements of the pupils.

If Beacon Hill School was required to close at some time in the future it will in some part be due the effect of being singled out for unfair reporting by the press.

TREVOR GEAR

Chairman, Beacon Hill School Governors

Aspatria

Editor’s Note: We reported a matter of public interest based on the Government’s published list of 638 schools in England which were told to improve or face the threat of closure or merger. Our opinion column in the same edition stated this newspaper’s view that the Government report was “harsh” and “unfair” in singling out improving schools which included Beacon Hill.

Mr Crossman made the mistake of siting his shop in the wrong place. He should have chosen premises in one of the vacant properties in Cockermouth Market Place.

His sign would have blended in nicely with the coloured seats and “spaceship” lighting.

Perhaps the planners haven’t visited our Georgian Market Place yet, or do they have double standards? Or maybe, hopefully, they might decide to change these new additions for more appropriate seats and lighting.

MEREDYTH BELL

St Helens Dental Practice

Cockermouth

For 100 caravans, they’ll need restaurents, car parks, a function room and a bar. In fact they’ll end up with another village.

These councillors are only interested in petitions which will support their views. Take Great Clifton, for example, where we have new estates, houses waiting for buyers at £276,000.

We opted for a few houses for only half that cost. The whole village and parish council petitioned for them. I doubt if they even looked at them.

They did look at the petitions though stopping the building of an estate on the Clifton Moor area. These objectors had more signatures than the number of people on the voting list. Where did all these people come from? Certainly not Clifton.

They thought more of a couple of red squirrels’ needs.

Dig your heels in, you’ll need to.

K CARRUTHERS

Clifton Lodge

Great Clifton

Krissi Bohn who plays “Young Woman" is truly incredible and deserves to be nominated for an award of some sort. Outstanding is too mild a word to describe her performance; brilliant and peerless might come closer.

The play should be compulsory watching for any social worker, politician or government official. Such is the quality of production and acting that it deserves to have the audience hanging from the flies and queuing half way around the theatre for the privilege of seeing it.

Sadly, on the night we attended, there were only about 16 in the audience, and I felt strangely guilty about this. Please go to see this magnificent play, and urge your friends to do the same.

I don't know Krissi Bohn, nor the director of this play, but I do know excellent drama when I see it.

MARTIN A CHAMBERS

Greenbank Lane

Cockermouth

We have recently returned from a Great Rail Journey holiday which took us through France, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium.

How many great white wind turbines did we observe in our 10-day tour around the heart of Europe? None.

LINDA M HUGHES

High Rigg

Brigham

Nature’s generous gift of sight and sound begins at 4am. Trees are resplendent with leaves, birds are in full voice.

High summer flowers transform our gardens. Warm breezes invite us. Taste buds are sated with strawberries and cream.

It is the time of year to savour the good things of life which are all around us; medicine without price to permeate and soothe our share of tragedy and sorrow.

Free for each of us - if we stop, look and savour. These long summer days are ours to enjoy and be thankful.

RAYMOND HALL

Isel Road

Cockermouth

Since the minister of education is not anxious to explain, perhaps the chairman of Cumbria education committee can explain to your readers.

D WILLIAMSON

Low Seaton

Seaton

This product is advertised quite extensively on TV, and window cleaners throughout the land will be thinking this is the death knell for the profession.

Good news my fellow pros; this glass needs cleaning. The ones I cleaned, and still do, were covered in bird droppings and hardened grime. It took more elbow grease that it takes for the more conventional glass to get the same result.

DANYAL REID

Workington