Letters

After 45 years, the memory of the Lewisham train crash is still fresh in our minds, especially as we pass the spot where it happened frequently.

I found it strange your article did not mention the firefighters at the scene.

Perhaps you were not born when the tragedy occurred. But let me inform you, the fire brigade were first on the scene and it was those men who crawled into the mangled steel and crushed splintered wood to cut free children and adults, so they could be passed to the ambulance crews and police. It was a team effort which the services did well.

But to omit to mention the very men who were the anchor of the whole operation might not surprise my husband but I, and many wives of those brave men who saw their haggard faces with their own eyes after the incident, feel the injustice of your article.

Fay Halligan

Biscoe Way

Lewisham

The Editor writes: Please be assured, we certainly do not underestimate the role played by the firefighters on this terrible day. Following our appeal for information, we have received a number of letters from firemen involved and we will highlight these in the new year.

We missed train driver! - Thank you for recalling the terrible Lewisham train disaster (News Shopper, December 4).

However, the article made no mention of the train coming from Blackfriars, which was brought to a halt on the bridge.

The vigilant driver somehow saw through the fog and recognised there was something wrong with the bridge.

He managed to stop the train before it dropped onto the carnage below.

As we passengers waited in the darkness, we had no idea of what was going on underneath us.

We were eventually told to jump down onto the side of the track, walk through the garden of the nearest house and then into Lewisham. We were the fortunate ones.

That driver was our hero I'm only sorry I forget his name.

Hats off, too, to Colonel Prior, Chief Civil Engineer, and his men who in record time constructed and erected a temporary replacement.

Have you noticed the girders which are not trimmed? We are travelling over that temporary bridge 45 years on. Now that's real workmanship!

Dorothy Nears

Bayliss Avenue

Thamesmead

Rent rage on the air - I write in amazement about what I heard on a local radio station today.

Over the airwaves came an advert from Greenwich Council asking council tenants to: "Make your New Year's resolution, pay your rent in the new year", before going on to wish them a happy New Year.

I would have thought the advert should have said Greenwich Council is making a New Year's resolution to ensure any tenant not paying their rent is going to be evicted.

Would any member of the council like to tell us why we should pay rent and mortgages when others live rent free?

Also does it really think these adverts, which presumably cost money to air, will make these scroungers change their ways in the new year?

D Russell

Greenbay Road

Charlton

You cannot knock Nick for his effort - With reference to Sheila Marsh's letter about Nick Raynsford MP (News Shopper, December 11), I found it pathetic, misleading, irrelevant and had complete ignorance of an excellent constituency MP.

I do not agree with Nick Raynsford's total loyalty to Blair and, being a Socialist, disagree with most of the things Mr Raynsford supports politically.

I have lived in the borough of Greenwich all my life and have, therefore, much experience of past and present MPs and councillors.

Unlike those people, Nick Raynsford is the only MP who answers every letter sent to him, Pete Challis being the only Greenwich Councillor to do the same.

Nick Raynsford helps everyone who writes and asks for it, in every way he can. If he cannot do it himself he tells you who to ask and does all he can to support the person who needs assistance, with any means open to him.

I will vote for a good constituent MP, especially Nick Raynsford, whenever I have the opportunity and he gives me the choice.

Lots of us get up early, whether working or not. It is a habit formed over a lifetime and we do it naturally.

Neither do we expect to be responsible for our workmates as Sheila Marsh suggests Mr Raynsford should be by suggesting he give John Prescott an early morning wake up call when he gets up.

Does Sheila Marsh do this for her co-workers? I think not!

I could list Greenwich Councillors and MPs from A-Z who have never had the decency to acknowledge my letters, let alone help.

I felt I had to write because I was so annoyed with Sheila Marsh's letter about the best Constituency MP Greenwich has ever had, and I go back a very long time.

B Thomson

Tallis Grove

SE7

Prevention better than cure for environment - I write in response to Councillor Drury's letter in which he cites graffiti as an example of the council not taking the environment seriously.

I can assure readers, on the contrary, the council is absolutely committed to the environment.

It removes serious, racist graffiti within 24 hours and all other graffiti on public buildings within just three to five days.

And graffiti in all our parks is removed as soon as it is reported.

Recently, graffiti was removed in Westmount Road, Well Hall Pleasaunce and Tudor Parade.

The Tarn footbridge is done every fortnight.

During Make a Difference Day, October 26, graffiti was cleared from Eltham High Street.

The council also cleaned up graffiti which was plastered all over the wall on St Mary's community centre.

In addition, fly-posters in New Eltham have recently been removed.

Of course, the council's work is made all the more difficult as, so often, a fresh lot of graffiti goes up almost as soon as it's removed.

The answer lies in engendering a sense of responsibility about the environment in people enough to make them want to stop and do something about it.

The council's aim is to establish a "prevention" culture and reduce the extra work and cost burden on everyone.

Cllr Chris Roberts

Greenwich Council Leader

Let us park, please - May I add weight to the ever-increasing tide of frustration and anger which has arisen concerning the proposed parking restrictions in and around the Manor Lane/Old Road area.

As a retail business on Lee High Road, we have struggled for several years to maintain an adequate level of trade due to an increasing onslaught of red routes, yellow lines and short-term loading bays.

I can only conclude Lewisham Council does not want any small business to flourish within its borough and its long-term policy is to turn its roads and streets into mini motorways.

I have collected more than 30 signatures from business owners along the High Road and, so far, no action has been taken on our behalf by Bridget Prentice MP, to whom the petition was sent.

Do we have to reach the point where we end up a decimated ghetto as was the situation in the High Street before common sense prevailed?

We do not need urban renewal, just help in maintaining struggling local businesses.

Mr M Swan

c/o Westcombes

Lee High Road

I write with reference to Peter Richardson's letter (News Shopper, December 11) and fully support what he says.

I live in a road adjacent to Old Road.

On receipt of my hand-delivered letter, I wrote to the Mayor among other people, asking specific questions regarding the proposed extension of the controlled parking zone in Old and Bankwell Roads, particularly as the vote in my area was overwhelmingly against having parking permits.

To date, I've received only one reply this was a standard letter which did not address or answer any of my questions.

Everything Mr Richardson says is true.

However, there is just one thing this isn't a "stealth" tax, it's a blatant one, which we're just expected pay without question or complaint.

Mary Petty

Aislibie Road

PENSIONER PASSES: As pensioners we are alarmed the Government is considering Professor David Begg's proposals that free travel passes for pensioners in London be scrapped, in order to subsidise travel for the unemployed and socially disadvantaged instead. The inference is pensioners should pay half the cost of their travel passes. We are not opposed to others getting help with travel but are certainly opposed to the idea this should be at the expense of the pensioners' travel pass. We would suggest all pensioners, and others, be prepared to voice opposition against any such measure. We have written to Nick Raynsford, our MP calling upon him to oppose any such measure and are expecting a reply. We hope he will back his pensioners.

Mr and Mrs Coulton, SE3

TREE-SON: I couldn't believe my eyes at the week-end when I noticed the beautiful cherry blossom tree in Humber Road had been cut down. I want an explanation as to why this was done without prior notice or, indeed, consultation from the residents whose tree it is. It is quite ironic when the council insists on granting permission to anyone who wants to trim a tree on their own private property. I expect a mature tree to be planted to replace the damage done and await a response (or more likely an excuse) from the council.

Patricia Slade-Baker SE3

farm thanks: I should like to thank all the people who bought raffle tickets for Woodland Farm, in Shooters Hill. The total raised for this good cause was £528. There were 27 prizes, all donated by various people, so many thanks to them too. It was a splendid effort on everyone's behalf. The farm is open every day except Christmas Day, so please come along. We are hoping to have an open day in May and everyone is welcome to visit. If there is anyone who has a little spare time and would like to help, then just turn up at the farm. Thank you once again.

Mrs M Dalby, Plumstead

In the airforce?: RAF St Eval Cornwall would like to contact former St Eval personnel for a proposed get together in Cornwall, in April, 2003. Eighty ex RAF and WRAF personnel have already been in touch. If anyone is interested, call Dave on 01202 398190 or Graham on 01179 672547.

Graham Hill, Bristol

Lee Green