REGARDING your story ''The £100,000 speed trap'', the reason for the 'success' (i.e. it makes a lot of money) of the mobile camera on the A52 ring road is that motorists vote with their feet – in this case, the right one, on the accelerator.
Drivers perceive the 40mph limit as being ridiculously low for a modern dual carriageway. It is; 50mph is fine.
Drivers are not stupid and can generally tailor their speed to conditions. The few idiots who are out there are not going to pay any attention to any speed limits.
Let's stop penalising the sensible majority, and impeding traffic flow unnecessarily. This camera makes no contribution to road safety at all.
Incidentally, there is a similar stretch of dual carriageway up to and beyond junction 26 of the M1. It is also limited to 40mph on the straight road, but according to the signs one can do 70 around the intervening roundabout.
STUART GORDON
Gertrude Road
West Bridgford
THE news that developer Mabec has submitted plans to turn more city centre offices into student apartments has led to much teeth-gnashing locally.
With a dearth of available office space in the city core, why should we be turning most of it into student digs?
The reality of the matter is that most of this office stock is beyond letting out. It might be fine if a tenant wants woodchip wallpaper and yellowing ceiling tiles on a short-term lease, but who, in 2014 wants to work in an office like that?
It often seems landlords and Nottingham City Council can't win when it comes to changing the use of city centre buildings. For the first time in decades, we have a Government and a council actively promoting the change of use of run-down office stock, and that should be encouraged. What else would the detractors like to see? These buildings left until all they're good for is demolition?
Talbot Street has become student accommodation central. Its cache of run-down office buildings have been imaginatively re-purposed. Anything to keep the buildings alive and make them look more attractive is surely welcome.
Students want to be where things are happening. We should be proud of the fact that young people want to live in the middle of the city and not out in the suburbs. What better way for developers to help them do this, than by transforming much of our outdated office stock?
TOM REDGATE
Commercial property solicitor
Rothera Dowson
Kayes Walk
City centre
HAVING read Dr Jan Campbell's column in the Post regarding us 'wrinklies', it is nice to know that we are not being written off completely by the medical profession.
We are constantly being told via the media that the National Health Service is falling apart, due to, among other things 'our ageing population.'
So much so, that one begins to feel we are becoming a damned nuisance, so we might as well 'pop our clogs' and be done with it!
Might I suggest one way to alleviate the money shortage in the NHS would be to stop treating health tourists and newly arrived immigrants who have paid nothing into the system.
JANET WENSKE
Gardenia Grove
Mapperley
REGARDING your articles about flexible working, flexible hours are nothing new.
Several years ago I put in a request for flexible working hours but the company turned it down.
The hours requested were 12 until 1, and an hour's dinner. Still don't know why it was refused!
W H DOE
St Albans Road
Arnold
AS your readers are no doubt aware it was my first day in the European Parliament last week, and my first chance to stand up for the British people.
This is why I joined my fellow UKIP MEPs in turning my back when the so-called 'European anthem' was played.
I am there to represent the views of the people of the East Midlands, not to 'honour' the EU flag or anthem.
The EU elite must be challenged and made to realise the British people – and many others across Europe – want out of this wretched organisation.
It's just a shame the Tory MEPs who claim to share the concerns of the Great British public did not follow the UKIP lead.
MARGOT PARKER
UKIP MEP for the East Midlands
I TOTALLY agree with Colin Bower regarding the quality of TV, in his recent letter ''Time to shoot down the repeats of repeats''.
Freeview is dire. Programmes from the 70s repeated over and over again, same old films, week in week out. It's worse than Chinese water torture.
The heads of TV programming need to be sacked with no pay-off.
Does anyone actually complain apart from Colin and me?
The answer is to turn off the TV set, and I have reverted to listening to the radio, or reading papers or books, but why should we?
We pay an extortionate TV licence fee. We demand value for money.
Many of us no longer have the cash to visit the pub or the cinema, so we stay indoors. It's a sad state of affairs.
I for one am seriously thinking of getting rid of my TV; I will not miss it one bit.
JOHN ANEKE
Westdale Lane East
Carlton
AS I had been abroad for a couple of months I nipped round to Boston Street the other evening to see the situation regarding the Salvation Army's homeless men's hostel. The lights were out, the doors were locked and litter was blowing around in the yard.
So that is the end of an era. A purpose-built building of 70 rooms and many facilities now silent and sad.
I spent eight years working there and only retired due to age and the changing restraints and demands inflicted by Nottingham City Council. Now I see on a regular basis the names of men who I knew from those days – who struggle with life and alcohol – featured in the local court reports.
So often it appeared that the efforts of the dedicated support staff employed at the hostel were in vain, yet there were successes and for those temporarily homeless the hostel was a sanctuary. The news is still full of their names, and the 'crimes' are still the same.
ANTHONY WILKINSON
Clifton Road
Ruddington
A SIMPLE posting in the Nottingham Post on June 13 took my attention – a 'get together' of former residents of St Ann's to be held at Stonebridge Farm.
It was with some trepidation that I dropped in to the event about midday to be greeted by familiar names and friendly faces, after an absence of over 50 years.
Old and not so old friends and neighbours recalling not only the lost old St Ann's, but fond memories of their streets, communities, schools, youth organisations, dance hall, cinemas, pubs (which were an integral part of such communities), and street bonfires, were among so many conversations being held.
It was a pleasure to have been in attendance in such an informal environment on such a fine day and among so many from a long widely dispersed community.
My thanks to all who have and continue to organise and support these events.
To those who have not yet visited, please try to do so, you will be made most welcome and time will fly very quickly.
To all of those former friends, neighbours, classmates and relatives met, it was a visit I am pleased to have made.
And for those yet to visit you may be pleasantly surprised by the occasions.
Thanks again to all for an enjoyable and reflective event which brought back often fond memories.
PAUL KEY
Castleton Avenue
Arnold
THE recent gathering at Stonebridge Farm was wonderful.
There was a film showing throughout the day, and music was played.
I did get a lump in my throat when the old Beatles song ''There are places I remember all my life'' started to play.
It was so poignant.
My trip down memory lane was wonderful.
Reading any report on St Ann's, I always find interesting.
Over the years Bygones, the Evening Post and Nottingham Post have printed lots of my letters and poems.
Because the St Ann's site is now on Facebook, it has been just wonderful to reminisce.
It is nice to turn the clock back.
JEAN TAYLOR
Barlock Road
Basford
