Last updated 19:40, Thursday, 08 May 2008

THERE may be those who are not on low incomes and who imagine that the U-turn has solved the problems created in Cumbria and elsewhere by the abolition of the 10p starting tax rate. Sadly, it has not.I OBJECT to two people from Maryport passing comments on Curwen’s Column, Workington (Times & Star, April 25). I disagree with most of the remarks. The column looks classical and right for Curwen’s period.COULD I express my appreciation to all the organisations who worked on the Northside Roundabout to complete the much improved approach to Workington in a short time.ON BEHALF of the Cockermouth Georgian Fair organising group, I would like to thank the many thousands who came to help us celebrate on Saturday. We estimate that over 14,000 filled our town during the day.MAY I reply to Messrs Hood and Graham regarding Workington Reds (letters, May 2).WITH the humiliating defeat of Labour in the recent elections, the Labour party will have to revert back to real socialist policies and scrap this slogan of New Labour which has been a failure.

For a start, until the implementation of the promised concessions, full details of which will not be released until the ‘Pre Budget Report’ in the autumn, the five million people who were adversely affected by this tax change will still be paying more.

In a constituency like Copeland that probably means that nearly 10,000 people are losing out by anything up to £464 per family.

Affluent and middle class people who lose some money but are promised it back in a few months can afford to borrow against that promise or reduce their savings, but for people in the income bracket affected by the 10p tax change, this is much more difficult.

What makes matters worse is that Alistair Darling could not guarantee that everyone affected would get the full amount back. So at the moment, and for the next few months, this change is causing real difficulties.

It is welcome that enough Labour MPs have finally recognised, a year after the decision was announced, that a tax increase specifically targeted against those on low incomes is a bad idea to force the Government to change this Reverse Robin Hood policy.

Unfortunately none of the ideas being mooted - changing payments for pensioners or those with families, changing the minimum wage or working tax credits - will help everyone affected. Not all those who lose out are pensioners or have children, only five per cent are on the minimum wage and the take-up of working tax credit is only 22 per cent.

At the moment what we have is a shambles, and the most vulnerable hard-working families are paying the price.

There are only two things the Government could do that would undo the damage. The simplest would have been to actually reverse the decision, but that would apparently have been too much of a humiliation for them.

The other approach, as George Osborne and others have suggested, would be to increase tax thresholds so that more of those on low incomes are taken out of the PAYE system entirely.

The Government have not explained how they will fund the concessions they have promised, but that would be the most effective use of whatever money they can find.

COUN CHRIS WHITESIDE

Conservative PPC for Copeland

Perhaps they do not know that most of the rails of the Trans-Siberian Railway were made in Workington.

John Christian Curwen deserves a classical column. I learnt his history at the Central/Newlands school, now sadly destroyed.

This forward looking man started the first ever sick fund for those he employed. He gave a dowry to every girl married in Workington.

He worked with Bessemer, Watt and Turnip Townsend to bring new industrial, agricultural and social ideas here. He began the building of Workington Infirmary.

To my mind, the actions that showed how he cared for the populace started when he noticed how much healthier the children of Dumfries were than those at home. He went there to buy cattle to sell on for meat and wondered why were the children healthier? They drank unsaleable milk.

He bought dairy cows and gave the children of Workington milk and freedom from rickets and also much better nourishment; Schoose Farm with its then innovative design of overwintering cattle sheds will give you an idea how serious a man he was about his project.

He was a comparatively modest man and I feel he would not really have liked a statue of himself on a classic column. He was no Nelson!

I think he would have liked it as it is, especially as it also commemorates those thousands of men who over the years toiled, in often terrible conditions, just to make rails.

RENE EADIE

Arnside Road

Carlisle

I would like to thank Workington Town Council whose idea it was to put an anchor on this roundabout. Maybe this landmark will enable them to do well in the Cumbria in Bloom competition.

The Port of Workington kindly donated the anchor which is an appropriate structure when approaching the docks from the A596.

Could I also mention Capita who organised the programme of works. I would also like to thank contractors, Amey Mouchel, ISS Waterers Landscapes who have given a commitment to maintain the roundabout and finally local contractor JT Nicholson Plant Hire and his staff for the hard work they did in ensuring that the roundabout will be a welcoming approach for visitors.

Although this part of Workington is much improved, it is still in need of environmental works to enhance the areas.

Maybe local businesses would consider supporting Workington Town Council’s in Cumbria in Bloom entry competition by improving the surrounding flower beds.

COUNCILLOR G HUMES

Chairman

Cumbria County Council

Allerdale Local Committee

The weather shone and we were thrilled to see so many people pack Cockermouth and be so delighted with the many events and activities that made up the Georgian Fair across our wonderful town.

We would like to thank everyone involved, including the market stall traders and retailers around Market Place, the dancing groups, actors, jugglers, musicians, the voluntary groups and the many individuals who all took part in such a fantastic day, culminating in the thrills (and spills) of the sedan chair race, brilliantly won by the King’s Merry Men.

The event would not have taken place at all without the kind contributions of many sponsors, including Awards For All, The Hadfield Trust, Allerdale Regeneration, Cockermouth Partnership and the town council, and many of the businesses in and around Cockermouth; a huge thanks to all of you, and especially to our excellent patron, Lord Judd of Portsea.

This is the third time that the Cockermouth Georgian Fair has been held, and once again, it has surpassed our expectations.

When Market Place is finally completed, we are confident that the next event on May 1, 2010, will be even more enjoyable.

A public meeting to review the events will be held in the Kirkgate Centre at 7.30pm on Tuesday, May 20.

We nee d to more volunteers to share the work of planning and putting on an enjoyable event like this, which is entirely run by a small team of enthusiastic individuals. Please come forward!

CHRIS GEORGE

General Co-ordinator

Cockermouth Georgian Fair 2008

Caldecote Avenue

Cockermouth

Their hypothesis of me is quite awry. My attendance at Borough Park goes back to 1948 (and I know, some people have been going longer).

Their assumption that I have not been to Borough Park recently, I can debunk as quite hypothetical and I could draw upon witnesses to prove it.

The reason for my recent letter is that I have been attending these matches, although I begin to wonder if we have been watching the same games.

Just over two weeks ago sections of the crowd were shouting “rubbish, absolute rubbish” and it was.

Most supporters are not looking for division two or one performances, they are looking for a Blue Square North team that can challenge for promotion and play to the standards required of that league.

From the goalkeeper up through mid-field we have players that adequately fill that role. However, the Reds central forward line lack guile and aggression, particularly at set pieces.

They do not attack the ball as they should.

Our lads lose the ball too easily and quickly, it puts even more strain on a hard working defence.

Surely the signing of two experienced forwards, capable players, is needed.

I don’t know the background to signing Paul Stewart some seasons ago, but it lifted interest in the Reds and the gates.

If these two central positiions were strengthened, the Reds would indeed be a force to be reckoned with.

All who support Workington want success and I appreciate Mr Graham’s comments and hard work. Nevertheless, Borough Park still looks shabby although we locals have lived pretty well with the shabbiness and as such is secondary to me. The worst kind of shabbiness is the lack of competitiveness on the pitch; supporters will not tolerate that.

I have been a season ticket holder for a long time, please Mr Hood and Mr Graham take note.

Good luck Reds for next season and if they keep the same formation and succeed, nobody would be more pleased than myself to be proved wrong.

D THOMPSON

Greengarth

Great Clifton

You can kid people some of the time but not all the time.

JAMES TAYLOR

Midtown Close

Distington