Dubious connections I have to congratulate Steve Cowdry for his persistence in trying to make the case for the UK remaining part of his beloved EU project, but in doing so he has to twist and turn like a kite in the wind (SA, April 19). Let’s just examine his latest writings. First I doubt that anyone was “almost incandescent with rage” at his so called ‘facts’ which were nothing more than list of ‘things’ which frankly had only dubious connections with the UK’s membership of the EU. Secondly, Steve asked me to name one benefit of Brexit – I did and I guess that many readers will agree that the UK vaccination programme would not have been as successful if we were still bound by the bureaucracy of the EU.
Don t miss letters in the Wiltshire Times each week.
Developments mean lack of space to play Some of you may have read Bob Pixton s letter in the Swindon Adver (April 15) asking where the open space provision for childrens play areas, sport, recreation etc would be for all these homes proposed in the town centre from conversion of office and commercial buildings. Mr Pixton has hit the nail on the head as there is no where to create the additional open space legally required per 1000 population. All local authorities have a legal obligation to provide a set number of acres/hectares per 1000 population.
Oh dear me – poor Des Morgan still doesn t get it, does he? Admittedly, he may have not seen the recent figures I supplied to the Adver (April 10), as he was too busy ranting against me in his letter on the same day! So, for his benefit, I reiterate – government figures show an export loss to the EU of £5.6 billion in January 2021, a drop of 40 per cent. At this rate, over nine months we’ll have lost a sum equal to all the money the UK paid to the EU over 40 years – absolutely no benefit there. Put that on the side of a bus.!
As many people have said, things will never go back to how they were and this is true of education. The pandemic has ridden roughshod over terms, exams and attendance with most pupils and students experiencing a lot of home-schooling. I do wonder if the desire to recreate what was an imperfect system is not doomed to failure too. Perhaps now is a perfect time to devise new models - maybe more than one - that can be used in the future. It will be almost impossible for any classes if they will exist online to sit meaningful exams. The only realistic assessment model will have to be on one based on teacher assessment.