Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 19 June 2008

AS A person who is pleased to see your Keep It Clean campaign, I am writing to submit an area which is a huge grot-spot for litter, dog faeces and goodness only knows what else!AFTER reading Viv Paterson’s article on the cycle path work (Times & Star, June 6) that destroyed bird nests and habitats at Flimby, I was appalled at the work carried out on Eagle Ghyll Lonning. I WISH to convey the important information in the Environment Agency (EA) document on flooding in the Keswick area.I AM writing to voice my horror at the contents of the letter “Why The Fuss?” (Times & Star, May 30) in which Dorothy Biggins refers to a foetus as being ‘merely a lump of gristle, something that’s unaware of its existence.’

This are is the Stainburn/Ashfield Junior School path/cut, which is, at the moment in a terrible state.

From the top of the path, on High Street by the pelican crossing, it looks fine.

However, once you get past the main Ashfield Junior School buildings, there are vast amounts of litter in the bushes and in-twined in the fences; from crisp packets to drinks bottles and from 'Fusion' nightclub flyers to planks of wood and sheets of plastic!

This is not to mention the dog faeces which you can see in the gutters, as well as in doggy bags in the trees.

There is also a collection of drinks cans pierced onto the Ashfield School spiked fence.

It seems no once cares about the path any more.

What makes things worse, is the fact that the trees and bushes are 'swamping' the path, as they are now overgrown, and need to be cut back.

This area is desperate for a clean up.

After all, this is a school path which the majority of Stainburn pupils use.

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON

Workington

I have walked along there for years as the place has always been alive with wildlife. I look forward to spring as I love to see newly hatched chicks.

The first time I a saw a young robin and linnets were along this lonning.

There have also been hedges removed along the roadside at Grasslot and Fothergill. I wonder if any of these have been checked for nests?

Last winter, contractors cut down six conifer trees over the road from where I live, where at least 1,000 starlings were roosting every night. I would video them swirling through the air before roosting.

I complained to the men doing it and was told a decision had been made.

I love feeding the garden birds; they need all the food and shelter they can get, especially in the winter.

Thank you to Paul Harrison for bringing this to the public’s attention. Maybe we can all help a little more.

DAWN CHARLTON

Ewanrigg Road

Maryport

The River Derwent Catchment Flood Management Plan draft final document is available for inspection and consultation on the Environment Agency website, and contains their proposed policy for flood management for the next 50 to 100 years.

As the consultation period officially closes on July 14, 2008, there is urgent need for the owner/occupiers of property that may be subject to flooding to check the document, and decide if the policy meets their approval.

I have tried unsuccessfully to persuade the Keswick Flood Action Group to hold a public meeting, where a summary of the policy document could be viewed, debated and any resolutions forwarded to the EA.

My particular concerns in the document are in Hydrology, section 2.7 Downstream of Derwentwater, the unproven commitment to raise the linear flood defences for the Fitz Park embankment, Crosthwaite Road, High Hill, and the abandonment of the proposal to increase the floodwater capacity of Greta Bridge.

Unless there are serious amendments to the policy document, properties in lower Main Street, Tithebarn Street, the Supermarket and Greta Grove may be subject to increased flooding.

The proposal to raise the embankment in Fitz Park will flood the hospital front car park - should there be serious floods as in January 2005.

The area below the confluence of the Greta and Derwent rivers, downstream to the A66 floods and becomes part of the link when Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake make one large water body.

It is at times of floods of this magnitude when properties in western Keswick are vulnerable to flooding from the River Derwent.

I have documents and maps that substantiate my concerns, and am willing to make them available for inspection.

KFAG have arranged for one summary copy of the EA Managing Flood Risk for the River Derwent Catchment Flood Management Plan, Consultation Draft Report, April 2008 in the Keswick library. The full report is available on request to EA or via EA website http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/northwest.

If people wish to make a response to the report, contact the Environment Agency’s Project Co-ordinator, Ray Kemp (email:ray.kemp@environment-agency.gov.uk).

G G FURNESS

High Hill

Keswick

When a women has a pregnancy confirmed at its earliest stages possible these days, I don’t think anyone would think of that pregnancy as a lump of gristle.

On early ultrasound scans, what is the first sign seen to confirm a pregnancy? A beating heart, even if that image is little bigger than a pinhead.

Any women who has an abortion or natural miscarriage will have gone through a varying degree of grief for the baby they have lost - not a lump of gristle - gristle does not have a heart beat.

MRS K M FRANCIS

Newlands Lane

Workington