Shattering effect of losing a job
By RAYMOND LEVITT (address supplied)
THE words of comfort offered by council leader Steve Houghton that ‘we’ll try to keep job losses down’ will be of little consolation to those unfortunate people whose lives may be shattered after the axe of redundancy has fallen.
Redundancy can be one of the most traumatic experiences that a person may have to endure. I remember only too well after the Thatcher government in the 1980s decided that mining and heavy engineering were to be consigned to history without thought of the social consequences.
The shame of it is that the few people who make these decisions usually ensure that the axe falls on the ones who are easiest to get rid off: dinner ladies, cleaners and suchlike. It’s doubtful the executives will cut their own well paid jobs. Shame too that the axe won’t be falling upon the politicians who, in collusion with the bankers, decided that deregulating the banks was a great way to make a lot of money easily without any need for dirty old coal mines and factories.
Shame the hike in VAT will ensure it's the poorest people in society that will shoulder the burden of public debt not the super rich who've stashed away their ill gotten gains in off-shore tax havens. Shame the cuts in public services won’t affect people who don't use public transport or whose health needs are covered by private health insurance often at the expense of tax payers.
Unfortunately in the words of a song from a bygone era, it’s the same the whole world over it’s the poor what gets the blame, it’s the rich what gets the pleasures, ain’t it a blooming shame?
Redundancy can be one of the most traumatic experiences that a person may have to endure. I remember only too well after the Thatcher government in the 1980s decided that mining and heavy engineering were to be consigned to history without thought of the social consequences.
The shame of it is that the few people who make these decisions usually ensure that the axe falls on the ones who are easiest to get rid off: dinner ladies, cleaners and suchlike. It’s doubtful the executives will cut their own well paid jobs. Shame too that the axe won’t be falling upon the politicians who, in collusion with the bankers, decided that deregulating the banks was a great way to make a lot of money easily without any need for dirty old coal mines and factories.
Shame the hike in VAT will ensure it's the poorest people in society that will shoulder the burden of public debt not the super rich who've stashed away their ill gotten gains in off-shore tax havens. Shame the cuts in public services won’t affect people who don't use public transport or whose health needs are covered by private health insurance often at the expense of tax payers.
Unfortunately in the words of a song from a bygone era, it’s the same the whole world over it’s the poor what gets the blame, it’s the rich what gets the pleasures, ain’t it a blooming shame?
Now it’s a Trans Pennine Tarmac trail
By Gordon Sanderson, Roughbirchworth Lane, Oxspring
I AM saddened by the uglification of the Trans Pennine Trail with asphalt between Penistone and Thurgoland. It is no longer a countryside trail as far as I’m concerned. I’m sure something more natural could have been used. The wild flowers at the side of the trail don’t look so good any more. There are a lot of roads that could have done with that Tarmac. I live near this trail but will be avoiding it now, except when<\!p>I have to use it to get to the parts of the countryside they haven’t yet covered. Thanks for spoiling my walks. The TPT now stands for Trans Pennine Tarmac, at the Barnsley section.
Filling in with loose chippings
By GLYNN PARKIN, Bluebell Avenue, Penistone
I AM puzzled why several tons of loose chippings have been dumped on the main road through Ingbirchworth. A similar exercise has been carried out over the border in Upper Denby and I am wondering what purpose this serves?
I did think that it could be some low-tech anti-speeding device, or perhaps some Barnsley Council employees are moonlighting as windscreen fitters.
Then it hit me When the cold weather arrives and the roads start deteriorating (again) and the potholes begin to<\!p>appear (again), the dutiful motorist can get out of his car, shovel in hand, and fill in the offending potholes with the loose chippings that will inevitably be left by the roadside.
This will provide an immediate repair<\!p>without<\!p>the cost of<\!p>a road repair crew.
I did think that it could be some low-tech anti-speeding device, or perhaps some Barnsley Council employees are moonlighting as windscreen fitters.
Then it hit me When the cold weather arrives and the roads start deteriorating (again) and the potholes begin to<\!p>appear (again), the dutiful motorist can get out of his car, shovel in hand, and fill in the offending potholes with the loose chippings that will inevitably be left by the roadside.
This will provide an immediate repair<\!p>without<\!p>the cost of<\!p>a road repair crew.
