Readers tackle rising bills, Brexit and sheep theft

PICTURE FROM THE PAST: Salop Caravans was flying the flag for Shropshire at the Earls Court Caravan Show in London in 1968. Pictured on the company’s exhibition stand are, from left, Geoffrey Betts, Elsie Harper, Marjorie Betts, Tony Bywater, Dave Winstanley and Chris Pritchard. The show would have been a major opportunity to showcase the growing popularity of caravanning to visitors from across the country. Do you remember Salop Caravans or the early days of caravan holidays?

placeholder image — PICTURE FROM THE PAST: Salop Caravans was flying the flag for Shropshire at the Earls Court Caravan Show in London in 1968. Pictured on the company’s exhibition stand are, from left, Geoffrey Betts, Elsie Harper, Marjorie Betts, Tony Bywater, Dave Winstanley and Chris Pritchard. The show would have been a major opportunity to showcase the growing popularity of caravanning to visitors from across the country. Do you remember Salop Caravans or the early days of caravan holidays?

Readers discuss rising bills, Brexit, sheep theft, the new Range Rover, Reform UK and the cost of food festivals

We are stuck with high bills

Because of inflation, Mr WF Kerswell's £19 bill would now be £300 in July 2026 money, according to the Bank of England. Mr Kerswell can compare the bills with his income, then and now.

In the 1950s and 1960s central heating was rare, and we accepted room temperatures at least five to 10 degrees lower than most people do now. House heating and electric power were both mostly provided using coal, which was relatively cheap but caused a massive air pollution problem: tens of thousands died, acid rain affected crops as far away as Scandinavia and I can still vividly remember the stink of the city every morning.

Green energy is much cheaper than other alternatives, but in this country the retail cost of electricity is tied to the most expensive source, gas, which is called upon when electricity demand is high, and is in turn based on the international price, which if I'm not mistaken is high at the moment because of President Trump's policies. Gas also creates pollution which is currently having a major effect on world-wide climate.

Richard Burnham, Shrewsbury

Why we should stay out of EU

Bill McClements, in his letter of 18 August, has come up with lots of statistics supporting the UK being in the EU. Well, one can make statistics say anything. However, he has missed the main reason for being out of the EU.

The EU is an undemocratic organisation run for the benefit of others and in which members are expected to obey the rules – whether they like them or not – and pay grants to support others. I want a Britain run by Britons for the benefit of Britons. We will not get that in the EU. With ever more less developed countries joining, and demanding money from the pot supplied by more developed countries, it is going to cost more. He may wonder why countries like Switzerland do not apply to join.

Richard Camp, Wellington

Farm’s sheep theft a new low

How low can people go? Jeremy Clarkson has had 11 sheep stolen. Hope the culprits are found soon and the sheep found unharmed. Jeremy, when reporting it to the police said it sounded like he was from 1856 - it certainly does

Jean Greenhall, Midlands

A monstrosity on our roads

Re. the headline announcement of the new Range Rover on the front of the Star, September 1.

Oh, what joy! Yet another big, bluff and ugly electric car, the size of a minibus, carving up our roads – and pavements in some streets.

Taking up too much space in our car parks, and often going over the midline on our country roads, getting in the way of other traffic.

Not even very nice to look at, the design is bland, like most electric cars.

Yes, we should be glad of the success of a local company, which is important, and be happy for the workers in the West Midlands.

But do they really have to produce yet another monstrosity for our roads?

You may accuse me of envy, but you would be wrong. I am quite happy with my Honda Jazz.

Derrick Forster, Midlands

Double standards of Reform UK

When Nigel Farage was struck on his shoulder by a milk shake carton in 2019 the perpetrator was found guilty of assault and criminal damage. At the time he was fuming at his security personnel for not stopping Victoria Bowen from launching the container.

Fast forward to 5 September, at this year’s Reform conference; a female protester calling out Reform’s denial of climate change and its catastrophic effects on humanity gets brought to the floor and beaten up. Farage and his mates claim there’s ‘nothing to see here’, and for some unknown reason he claims it’s “double standards”. Well, strictly speaking, it would only be double standards if the men and women that beat her around her head and dragged her by her hair weren’t prosecuted. I’m sure, to be fair, he’ll be helping the police with their enquiries to that end.

Patrick McCarthy, Telford Green Party

A tale of two food festivals

Regarding food festivals. Five or six years ago, whilst in France, I visited the local festival, purely out of curiosity. Free parking and free entry – not a good sign, I thought.

My French is very poor, but it didn’t seem to matter. If I stopped to look, I was gifted with a portion or glass of the produce that was there. Some I liked intensely and some I was less keen on. I managed to spend over €50 and was greatly impressed.

On my return to the UK, I was aware of the Ludlow Food Festival and decided to visit it. I took plenty of money in case I liked something. First, I had to pay to park, then I had to pay to get in. What a difference to France. No samples were offered unless you asked, and then you were asked if buying was an option before tasting.

I decided to keep my wallet in my pocket.

Andy Chetwood, Dawley

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