Pop-up Coventry Police Museum should be permanent fixture
THE COVENTRY Police Museum, which has recently opened in a temporary pop up location in Hertford Street to coincide with UK City of Culture 2021, should remain a permanent fixture in our city.
To move the collection to the proposed West Midlands Police Museum at Steelhouse Lane in Birmingham would be an act of vandalism deserving of a visit from the boys in blue.
Keep the museum where it belongs here in Coventry, as policing in our historic city can be traced all the way back to the watch system in the 1400s, when unpaid citizens armed with staves, poleaxes and battle-axes patrolled inside the city walls after dark to keep the peace.
The watch system survived until the establishment of the Coventry City Police in 1836.
Paul Sheehan
Binley
Conservatives ‘posturing’ in Coventry housing and green belt row
The Government’s refusal to intervene over plans to build more housing in the city shows that Coventry Conservatives are simply posturing over the greenbelt to win votes.
Furthermore, Coventry Conservatives originally proposed building thousands of new homes on the greenbelt before losing control of the council in 2010. What’s more, the Tory mayor of the West Midlands launched a review into how greenbelt land could be developed after taking office in 2017. In addition, both the metro mayor and Tory councillors want to build a new rail station at King’s Hill.
I fail to see how the Tories can be trusted to protect the greenbelt whilst they keep supporting plans to build on it. It’s important to note that the Labour Group also wants to increase the city’s population to boost council tax receipts. Therefore, it is no surprise there are more unaffordable homes being built in higher council tax band areas instead of much needed social housing in other areas.
What’s more, the leader of the Conservative group in Coventry says he has a responsibility to the city more widely. However, I have yet to hear the Conservative group propose any meaningful solutions to the city’s housing crisis.
The cabinet member for housing in Coventry (Labour) also says he wants to have an honest discussion about the city’s housing crisis. Can he tell us when he plans to build more social housing in the city?
Ian A Rogers
Leader
Coventry Citizens Party
Government needs to sort out social care scandal
THIS WEEK marks 100 weeks since Prime Minister Boris Johnson stood on the steps of Downing Street and pledged to reform adult social care. It is a scandal that we are still waiting to see those proposals.
That’s 100 weeks where too many older people are still unable to get the care they need in a complex and unequal system that causes distress and confusion for people when they need it most.
We are living through a pandemic, where care workers have given their all to protect those most vulnerable to Covid-19, and yet we still await proper pay and recognition for those doing life-changing work.
Over two thirds of people have told us that social care should be a top priority for the Government with almost half believing it doesn’t care about the needs of older people.
In the last 20 years there have been green papers, white papers, commissions and reviews but nothing has changed.
Adult social care and the people it supports deserve better.
People everywhere are joining with us and asking the Government to #FixCareForAll with our five asks:
· A new social care system that is fully resourced with a fair price for care
· A national workforce strategy that values our people
· Transparency and accountability through regulating the system
· Care which is co-designed by older people and the sector
· Seamless pathways between health and social care
Find out more at www.fixcareforall.org.uk and join us in making sure older people get the care system they deserve.
Sam Monaghan
Chief Executive, Methodist Homes (MHA)
Family Action can help you make memories this summer
SUMMER is a time when we look forward to being with our families.
After such a challenging year, I think we are all hoping this summer will be extra special and will give us a chance to reconnect with loved ones, rebuild lives, make up for lost time and move forwards.
Yet the summer holidays can also be a time when many parents find themselves under additional pressure.
Perhaps due to juggling work commitments with childcare, or providing entertainment for the family when the bank balance is already stretched.
That’s why I’m delighted to share Family Action’s Creating Happy Memories Summer Activity Pack to help families make the most of summer.
It celebrates everything positive about family life while also taking a bit of pressure off parents by providing simple, practical, fun activities and guidance for everyone to enjoy this summer.
The digital pack is free and can be downloaded at www.family-action.org.uk/creating-happy-memories
Families are amazing – we’re not always perfect but we are resilient, adaptable and loving.
I know that together we can put a difficult year behind us and create new happy memories.
Anna Williamson
Broadcaster, bestselling author and life coach
C/o Family Action
EDITOR’S COMMENT
DIDO Harding’s comments about ‘reducing the NHS’ reliance on foreign workers’ is an insult to all overseas medical professionals who have made the UK their home and worked tirelessly for our health service, particularly after what for many has been a gruelling 18 months.
The NHS has always been there for us, attracting caring, highly trained and knowledgeable professionals who deliver a fantastic standard of treatment.
The staff are the best in their field and where they are from should be of little importance.
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