Centre not needed, says resident

SIR - I write after reading your piece last week headed ‘Inspirational centre will be a splash hit’ in which you say we ‘Can’t have failed to spot the immense structure which has now taken form on Stopsley Common’.

You are right - we haven’t failed to notice this monstrosity which is practically coming in my front living room and has blighted and ruined Stopsley Common.

Cllr Hazel Simmons, leader of Luton Borough Council, will forever be held responsible for this waste of money and should have been sacked for sanctioning it.

This building is not only a waste of money, it has blighted what was once the most beautiful green grass area in Luton bar none.

Along with that, it has been built right next to the cemetery/ crematorium. Is anything sacred these days? This centre is not needed in Luton, and even if it was, it is situated in totally the wrong place.

The transport infrastructure is not in place to get to the centre from town and I can guarantee that once you do visit you won't return once you have spent three hours trying to get home via Stockingstone/Hitchin Road.

This centre will only benefit those coming from the Hitchin/Stevenage side who will sail through on the dual carriageway.

As for the residents of Stopsley, you will rue the day you didn't put up more of a fight to stop this. When your house is being lit up by the centre's lights from 7am-11pm along with the noise, the traffic, and dare I mention the other things which will undoubtedly go on late into the night and early morning within the car park.

Finally, and you’ve heard it here first - how long before Wigmore Park is sold off for the Luton Airport expansion - a deal which I believe was done two years ago in return for the airport loan to build inspire? Cynical? Maybe.

Maxine Wraith,

Stopsley

Tips to lose weight

SIR - While on a shopping expedition in The Mall recently, I suddenly felt the urge to go to the toilet and opted to use the facilities at the top of the escalator leading to Silver Street.

As is gen erally the case, there was a considerable queue but what I noted in particular on this occasion was the number of obese women wanting to use them and it seemed pretty obvious that I would have to endure quite a wait.

I therefore decided to use the ones a little further down, which necessitates a short walk and a few stairs to climb.

There was no queue and only one trap was occupied so I was therefore able to do the necessary in comfort.

However, bearing in mind the present day obesity crisis, dare I suggest to any obese women that they use these facilities in future? They could do themselves a bit of justice by taking a short walk and climbing a few stairs, which if done on a very long term basis, could lead to the reduction of at least an ounce or so a day and would obviously prove steps in the right direction.

Assuming many of these women then decide to do some shopping in a supermarket such as Tesco, if not before, dare I tactfully suggest that in future, they take heed of their infamous slogan, namely ‘every little helps’ as far as weight reduction is concerned?

Sue Goddard,

Toddington Road, Luton

Hitting the low incomes

SIR - On the Luton Borough Council website it says that: ‘Taking on an allotment plot is not hard work at all; it can have many advantages, providing fresh home grown vegetables, fruit and flowers for you and your family, free from artificial additives and at a fraction of what you would have expected to pay in a supermarket or greengrocer.

‘There is also the social side, meeting new friends with similar interests and enabling you to enjoy a healthy outdoor life with gentle exercise and a place to relax and unwind.’ In November last year, the executive of the Labour-run council increased the cost of plots by about seven per cent. This is a rise above the rate of inflation.

A more disturbing fact is that it was at the same meeting decided to remove the 50 per cent reduction for plot holders who were over 60. This works out to be a 107 per cent increase.

This is totally unjustified since it is likely to bring in only £7,000-£8,000 per annum.

It seems that Labour just love to hit people on low incomes. Although the rise from £26.50-£53 may not seem a significant amount, to some Labour councillors, if you are a state pensioner it is significant.

I still remember ten years ago when the Labour Government increased the state pension by 75p per week compared with about a £5 per week rise this April.

If the council can find £250,000 for music festivals and £26m for the new sports centre in Stopsley, why can’t it help pensioners with a few thousand pounds towards the cost of their allotments? What a mean Labour Council.

John Young,

Luton Conservatives

Don’t put us all as one

SIR - Please ask Steve Lowe not to lump all committed Christians together as being in support of the “unfair and immoral” cuts to those “at the bottom of the heap”.

I, for one, agree with him, and came home to read his article from preaching a sermon on 1 John 3.17: “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity, how can the love of God be in them?”

I pointed out what Church Action on Poverty is saying about the UK being more unequal than at any time in the past 50 years, that the gap between rich and poor is rising faster in the UK than in any other developed nation, and that I had last week emailed Stephen Hester of RBS to suggest he turned down his immoral £900,000 bonus.

I am glad to see that the petition has worked, and he has done just that - and I suspect I was not the only “committed Christian” to be involved.

Reverend Jenny Spouge,

Dorrington Close, Luton

Keep your pets warm

SIR - As the cold snap finally arrives, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is reminding pet owners to take extra steps to help their four-legged friends cope with the wintry conditions.

Let your dog’s winter coat grow, and if you have a puppy, shorthaired or old dog it is a good idea to buy him a sensible coat to keep out the chill. Keep your dog on a lead if it is snowing very heavily. Snow can be disorienting and can affect a dog’s sense of smell so he could become lost easily.

Make sure your dog is microchipped and wearing an ID tag in case he does get lost. Wearing a tag is a legal requirement.

Grit used to melt snow can cut their paws so make sure you wipe your dog’s legs and feet when you come indoors after a snowy walk.

Antifreeze is highly poisonous but tasty to dogs. Keep it well out of their reach.

Never leave your dog in a car during extreme weather, hot or cold.

Do not let your dog walk on frozen ponds – the ice may not be thick enough to take his weight.

If your dog does fall through the ice never be tempted to go after them but encourage them to swim back to you or to the bank as you call for help.

For more information visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/w/winter to download a free ‘Winter and Cold Weather’ factsheet.

Clarissa Baldwin OBE,

Dogs Trust chief executive