Readers debate roads and council priorities, plus a 1970 winning smile

PICTURE FROM THE PAST: May 1970 – Who remembers the Shropshire Star’s ‘Swinging Mum’ competition? Mrs Eleanor Peever, 78, of Minerva House, Dudleston Heath, near Ellesmere, was crowned the winner. She later visited the Shropshire Star offices at Ketley to collect her prize – a fully automatic teamaker complete with bone china cups and saucers. She was presented with the prize by Women’s Page Editor Shirley Tart. | Shropshire Star archive

placeholder image — PICTURE FROM THE PAST: May 1970 – Who remembers the Shropshire Star’s ‘Swinging Mum’ competition? Mrs Eleanor Peever, 78, of Minerva House, Dudleston Heath, near Ellesmere, was crowned the winner. She later visited the Shropshire Star offices at Ketley to collect her prize – a fully automatic teamaker complete with bone china cups and saucers. She was presented with the prize by Women’s Page Editor Shirley Tart. | Shropshire Star archive

Readers raise concerns about Shropshire’s roads, suggest a new relief route for Oswestry and share thoughts on council priorities, customer service and Andy Burnham

Why can’t roads be like Somerset?

With reference to Shropshire Council having spent our money so badly, we taxpayers are now having to bail them out again. It is so unfair.

Look at Castle Foregate, for example. Now they are going to start doing the same at Abbey Foregate. They appear to have money to create another unnecessary Castle Foregate the second, complete with road humps.

I have recently been to Somerset for a few days and it was a real pleasure to see hardly any potholes. The only shallow humps I saw were in the town of Street. Outside schools, there were no humps – just a flashing 20mph speed limit during term time. Somerset Council seems to know how to use taxpayers’ money well. It would be good if Shropshire Council followed suit.

Also, regarding potholes and road repairs in South Shropshire, could somebody tell me why Clay Lane near Culmington Road has been repaired very well, as have roads in Hopesay and Broome, but Rowton near Broome is a total disgrace?

I have spoken to Shropshire Council several times at the council hub in Ludlow and have also emailed them, but the situation remains.

Carol Prince, Craven Arms

Picture brought back memories

I was interested to read the piece about my father and his car in the paper.

It is my father (Dr Stote) in the photograph, with my mother in the middle. The woman on the left is Joan Whitley, the wife of John (Jack) Whitley, who I think was the clerk of the council.

The two boys are from Cheltenham School, which was evacuated to Shrewsbury School for a term in, I think, 1940, because there were worries that Cheltenham would be bombed. My parents put up two of the boys.

I remember the wonderful Armstrong Siddeley. It was wonderful driving with the hood down but, as you mentioned, as it got older it leaked and we had to use cups to catch the drips. Thank you for bringing back some happy memories.

Sally Stote, Shropshire

Build our town a new relief road

Oswestry town centre requires a new relief road between Back Racecourse Lane and Mount Road, south east of High Fawr.

Then commercial traffic can go clockwise on Upper Brook Street, Trefonen Road, Back Racecourse Lane, New Relief Road, Mount Road, Willow Street, Castle Street and Beatrice Street.

Nigel J Bower, Oswestry

My thanks to nice mechanic

Modern cars are a mystery to me and yesterday my Peugeot wing mirrors would not open.

I was confused.com and found it difficult and I suppose illegal, driving.

I called at Halfords MOT Centre, Telford, and the friendly mechanic took a few seconds to fix it and smiled!

What a pleasant change to receive service like this, and it didn’t cost me a penny!

Peter Hassall, Shifnal

Priorities are in wrong order

How come the council spends money throughout the drought watering hanging baskets all over Bridgnorth every single day (while all the shrubs in Castle Gardens have been left to die) but has completely given up sweeping the streets of leaves in autumn causing blocked drains and offloading the responsibility and cost for any flooding caused onto individual homeowners? Why is it that eye-catching projects always take priority over regular essential maintenance?

H Vowles, Bridgnorth

Burnham back on right track

Andy Burnham's statement in the House of Commons was a breathe of fresh air, with speaking about all the things that have damaged this country for years and mostly started during Mrs Thatcher's premiership.

Privatisation rewarded us with sewage in our rivers and sea, a lack of council houses after selling council houses off, and no new ones built.

Trains more expensive and not so reliable, and the lack of investment in the NHS.

Just a few of the mistakes the Conservative government made.

Kier Starmer started the repairs to the problems inherited from the Conservatives, and Andy Burnham is now tackling the awful state this country is in because of the Conservatives.

I wish him well.

Valerie Amos, Muxton

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