Thanks for support
18 Village Voice December 2019
ALEX and I would like to thank all our customers and friends for their kind support, all the cards with kind words, flowers and gifts that we received on the closing of the Welcome Cafe a couple of months ago. We would also like to thank all our staff over the years, every one of them showing dedication and hard work in keeping the cafe running on a daily basis to serve the community for so many years. After a family holiday in Cornwall I am now enjoying my retirement, spending time with friends and family, and Alex is now putting his efforts into his new job as joint manager at the Melbourne Sports Park. I would like to wish every one of our customers and staff a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hope to catch up with you all very soon. Jo Slater (pictured), Welcome Cafe
Pavement poo perils
THE problem with dog mess on the pavements in Melbourne is still not resolved. I have just returned from a daylight trip up to the village and back, a circular route, and have had to avoid the nasty remains from dogs with upset tummies: a frequent occurrence. Please could someone tell me why can dogs not be either trained to go at home first or gently persuaded to go off the pavement in the gutter? I love dogs, too, but I want to be able to walk without worry on the pavement, especially after dark. A Melbourne resident (Name and address supplied) Please send your letters to: letters@melbournevillagevoice.co.uk or write to us at The Village Voice, 11 North Street, Melbourne DE73 8FZ.
VILLAGE VOICE Postbag
FLOODS ARE JUST A FORETASTE
IS IT possible that there are people reading this newspaper who are unaware that the climate crisis impacts them? Like the “weird” weather here last February, this past month’s floods are a tiny foretaste of what is coming. More extreme weather, more often – with all the attendant implications for “the economy”, wildlife and food supplies. If we pave over our front gardens or lay ludicrous artificial grass (increasing water run-off and many other negative impacts) or if we continue to consume as if plastic and material demands had no consequences, we are part of the problem. It is better to be part of the solution – or at least trying to find solutions. The time is now. This can no longer be kicked down the road to “children and grandchildren” or blamed on other groups of people, while we do nothing. If we don’t change behaviours while the sixth mass extinction proceeds around us (e.g, 50% of hedge-
hogs in the UK lost since 2000, 50% of the insects in the UK lost since 1970) what happens to us and our families? So what to do? We could carry on ignoring the problems until a flood or worse event hits us or our family. Or we could “do the right thing” by giving time and energy to a conservation, regeneration or relevant campaign group. We might even enjoy it! Locally, we have numerous opportunities, including familiar organisations like the local wildlife trusts, Melbourne Area Transition and Whistlewood Common, to strong locally organised campaigning groups like Extinction Rebellion. Where do you stand? What are you doing about Climate Crisis, biodiversity loss or food security (for example)? What attention is your favoured political party or candidate giving to these problems? Time to ask? Time to act… Please do… Graham Truscott
I CONFESS to reading Christian Murray-Leslie’s article in the last edition of Village Voice with some disbelief and being somewhat irked. Not that I disagree with the issues surrounding climate change as a critical essential, urgent and necessary debate. It has to be addressed on the world stage and individuals and informed organisations have a key part to play in (to use Brexit-speak) getting this thing done. No. I was irked by what I perceived to be a one-sided and sanitised argument justifying
And, to my anger, to discover that Roger Hallam, founder of ExReb, has dismissed the horrors of the Holocaust as a mere footnote in history! I object strongly to what I regard as essentially an urban extremist group also manipulating young people and encouraging children to walk out of school to protest about a complex issue of which they have little knowledge. That is not the actions of responsible people ‘committed to non-violent, peaceful action that will pressure governments’. Indeed, a senior member of ExReb is already on record as stating that they have got things very wrong. In a few short weeks this short-sighted, strategically in-
REBELS NEED TO GROW UP the actions of Extinction Rebellion which, according to Mr Murray-Leslie is an organisation ‘committed to non-violent, peaceful action intended to pressurise governments’. But the evidence belies that intent. Crowds of banner-waving zealots disrupting the lives of ordinary people, blocking roads, preventing commuters from getting to work, abusing police officers trying to maintain law and order, idiots on top of trains, planes and in chains accompanied by inane, moronic and immature chanting. I defend wholeheartedly the democratic right to protest; I do not defend the right to disrupt the economy nor disrupt the right for people to go about their lawful activities.
competent bunch has alienated the populace, targeted the wrong people and done nothing to present a rational, well-argued position aimed at global influencers. ExReb is all noise and wee-wee playing into the hands of a sensation-seeking media and, by all accounts, they’re planning more idiotic shenanigans. Take your antics to other countries if you want to pressure the real polluters. So ExReb in my view is NOT a good cause. Through its own stupidity it is seriously demeaning the incredibly important issues it claims to support. Perhaps its members need to grow up, act responsibly or make themselves extinct. John Holloway
Unhappy with land-grabbers
SUMMER DRIED LOGS IN MEASURED LOADS ALL CUT FROM THINNING TREES IN THE NATIONAL FOREST
READY TO ORDER? Phone: 07855 438 483 Email: eddie_chapman@hotmail.com
I WONDER how many of your readers were appalled at the seemingly irresponsible, idiotic and negative stance taken by Cllr Martyn Ford in your recent article ‘Council wants more land sites’. Given the number of so-called ‘developers’ rushing to pour concrete over what is supposed to be a rural district, Cllr Ford has the temerity to crow over ‘fantastic opportunities for agents and landowners that will enhance South Derbyshire’. Has this out-of-touch council leader not understood just how many inhabitants (and lest he forgets it, voters) are sick to death with land-grabbers who have no interest in local communities, small villages and towns and wish purely to rip up prime agricultural land for a couldn’t-care-less profit? Has he not realised the level of anger mounted by high attendance at public planning meetings
by communities frustrated at the un-democratic way their voices and appeals are not heard and ignored? Perhaps Cllr Ford would like to visit Melbourne, Aston on Trent, Weston on Trent, Barrow, Swarkestone and myriad other rural communities and discover just how much his ‘fantastic opportunities’ are treated with contempt. And, one might wonder, just how much ‘development’ is being welcomed in his own neighbourhood. Start focusing and protecting South Derbyshire’s rural communities, traditions and environment, councillor, instead of pandering to pressures from parasitic corporates. Why are you ripping up a widely consulted and recent Local Plan that was supposed to limit excessive development? J.H Aston on Trent
FROM time to time stories appear in The Village Voice which mention a club for retired local men called Probus. The name of the club might have been spotted on posters advertising a series of trips and excursions to cities of interest. Our club finds a great deal of pleasure in offering local people the chance to join us on these outings. Our next trip is to York on December 14 to enjoy the pleasures of Christmas preparation in this magnificent ancient town. We plan to continue these excursions next year, so interested readers will spot the notices about the town. Probus is the shortened form of the phrase “Professional and Business” club for retired men. In reality our members come from every walk of life and we are happy to receive new members from the widest spectrum. We meet monthly without fuss or ceremony for talks, parties, dinners and competitions, particularly against rival
clubs in the district. This year we have been particularly successful in competition against the Ashby and Castle Donington clubs, winning croquet, quiz night and pétanque competitions. A spokesman for Melbourne Probus revealed that our secret lay in a combination of iron hard discipline and bacon sandwiches. We look forward to our Christmas party in the Royal British Legion in December which gives all members of our Probus family the chance to look back on a year of fun and success and look forward to a new year of competition, fun and discovery. Thank you to all who supported our events in 2019. Those new to the concept of Probus who might find interest and enjoyment are invited to come along. Lastly, from all of us in Probus we wish you a wonderful Christmas. John Williams, for Melbourne Probus Club
Probus Club’s excursions