Your Letters: November 11

​So it is 'the end of an era' with Shropshire Council closing Shirehall to staff for the final time.

Like all significant changes, it will take some time to take account of what we have lost.

For certain, we will no longer have a parliament building that is part of the skyline, standing tall and easy to locate among all the county town's other significant buildings, something to be proud of in fact.

Does this matter? Well I think it does.

Local democracy relies on public support, and even more so, on public interest. That is why a robust local press is vital to fan that interest and keep people informed.

Luckily, unlike many other places, we still have one of those.

But we also need a Shirehall, a clear symbol of our county and its governance, in addition a tangible place where we know we can find our councillors and are welcome to hear the discussions taking place there.

Without an obvious and reliable home, government becomes more opaque, local democracy less accountable, and we are all the losers.

Faith in our institutions matters, and that is why the buildings that house them matter too.

As of November 1 2024, we no longer have a parliament building to be proud of in Shropshire. We have squandered the family silver by not looking after and valuing what we had, and will never have one of its calibre again. It would cost too much.

Among many other things, that matters.

Martina Chamberlain, Shrewsbury

WE MUST TACKLE RISE OF HATRED

I once watched a performance of Cabaret at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn. Set in the gritty and hedonistic Kit Kat Club of 1930s Berlin, the musical follows a cast of characters trying to navigate a city gripped by social and political turbulence. While the show presents itself as a comedy, it carries a sinister undertone, revealing the increasingly oppressive atmosphere surrounding those who were, in many ways, at the mercy of rising fascism – especially Jewish communities and other vulnerable groups. What begins as light-hearted entertainment soon reveals a darker side, offering an unsettling look at life in Berlin before the Holocaust and the Second World War.

Watching it, I felt deeply moved and have often said since then that we must never let history repeat itself. At the time, it was easy to believe that the horrors portrayed on stage were locked safely in the past. But disturbingly, I see echoes of that era today – this time, largely in London. Once again, the Jewish community finds itself under attack, subject to intimidation and hostility. And, as in Berlin during the 1930s, the authorities – particularly the police – seem to be standing back, observing from a distance, often doing little to prevent the escalation of prejudice and violence. 

There’s a dangerous apathy in this inaction, a failure to recognise the slippery slope we’re treading. It serves as a chilling reminder that such horrors don’t erupt overnight; they creep in gradually, taking root in communities until, suddenly, the unthinkable becomes reality. We cannot afford to be passive or complacent. If we are to avoid repeating history, we must confront hatred and intolerance wherever we see it and demand that those in power do the same. 

Paul Wiseman, Oswestry

NORBERT'S ADVICE ON SAVING CASH

With the dry weather Uncle Norbert and I are still strolling around making sure the Shropshire countryside is behaving itself. Any thoughts of reinstating our Colonel Bogey Shorts were quickly dismissed having indulges in a month's worth of Aunt Dolly's afternoon cake. So as we stroll we decide to help the nation by passing on our top tips of how to save money at Christmas.

Tell friends and relations that if any of them have a birthday within six months of Christmas day they will only get a birthday present as their birthday is so close to the big day.

Change to a non-Christian religion for two months.

Expecting relatives to drop in unannounced near the big day? Then change all the house locks, buy night vision glasses and keep the lights switched off, ensure an emergency supply of food and drink are kept in the loft.

To deter carol seekers, seeking cash but no cheques, erect a sign by the front gate reading, "Tory Party HQ Come & Join."

Peter Steggles, Rushbury

DIG OUT BONDS!

I was looking through old papers to sort out and I came across £50 of Premium Bonds which I bought in 1968. Because I had moved address a few times without notifying them of my new address, I sent them my holder's number and numbers of my bonds.Lo and behold! They wrote back to say I had won three wins worth £75 in total!

I wonder if readers who have not notified change of address and may be owed money?

E W Stanworth, Hanwood