Dear Editor

I have been following the first day of the Enquiry, under the careful auspices of the esteemed Welsh Judge, Sir Wyn Wiliams. The first day featured the interrogation of Mr Alan Bates; the Sub-Postmasters’ champion. During the questioning, the matter was raised about the refusal of Sir Ed Davey to meet with Mr Bates. The, then, ‘high-achieving’, Under Secretary of State for Postal Affairs, Sir Ed Davey, had been appointed by David Cameron’s Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, between 2010-2012.

Following a letter from Mr Bates, which was read to the Enquiry, in full, Mr Davey reconsidered the situation, and decided to meet Alan Bates.

What astonished me was that the meeting had something of ‘Yes Minister’ about it; because Mr Davey asked his Civil Servants about what he should, and should not, say. In other words, he was ‘briefed’ by unelected Civil Servants; even though – to the general public – the person who carries responsibility for everything is the person they have elected. If ever there was a need for an authentic encounter between a responsible Minister, and the man who was destined to expose the tyrannical regime of Paula Vennells et al, then this was it. Instead, ‘managerialism’ reigned; and nothing was resolved.

Are we learning that, regardless of whom we elect to Parliament, the actual governing is undertaken by unelected First Secretaries and their ilk? If so, then this needs to change immediately.

Sincere regards

Mark Dyer

---

Dear Editor,

Many Free Press readers will echo Rachel Gilmour's (Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Tiverton and Minehead, which includes the Culm Valley and other parishes around Wellington) comments, reported on p.8 of the March 29 paper on the urgent need for South West Water to tackle poor water quality and depleted fish stocks in its Exmoor and mid-Devon catchment area. The more intense and sustained periods of rainfall caused by climate change have overwhelmed the combined sewage and storm-water drainage systems of many water companies, including neighbouring Wessex Water. 

Interviewed in late March by ITV News, Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey called for a national environmental emergency to be declared, to stop sewage dumping for good. Analysis by the Lib Dems had revealed a 105% increase in sewage discharges into bathing water by Wessex Water in 2023 - a year in which 292 Tory MPs voted to block action on sewage dumping. Ignoring Sir Ed's warnings, the Conservative Government has continued to allow water companies to pump our waterways full of sewage, with no end in sight.

In his April 2 press release, Sir Ed argues that: “The water industry needs to be ripped up from top to bottom, to stop profits and shareholders’ dividends driving everything." Thames Water, the UK's biggest water company, wants the industry regulator, Ofwat, to allow it to  secure significant bill increases, and more according to a report in The Guardian on April 6.

Clearly, it's high time that the management of water supply and sewage was brought back into public ownership. Since the industry was privatised in 1989, water companies have paid out many billions of pounds in dividends to shareholders, but sorely neglected investment in the physical infrastructure of this essential utility for our health, wellbeing and prosperity. 

Ian Scott

  ---

Dear Editor,

With regards to 'Wheelchair menace' (Wellington Weekly News, April 12): For those who don't know the danger of this man, let him have a clearly seen identification mark on his mobility scooter.

When I was walking from ASDA he ran into the back of my ankles. I looked round, moved out of his way, and he gave me the most accusing look, as if I was the one at fault. I said sternly, ‘don't look at me like that’. Two ladies nearby said he's always like that.

A little while later I saw him at the bus stop. He was facing away from me. So I went up beside him and said cheerfully, ‘hello’. He half turned with a half smile until I added, you ‘miserable geezer’. He hasn't forgotten me. He now insists I get on the bus before him. Perhaps he isn’t so bad after all.

Yours sincerely,  

John Jarrett.  

---

Dear Editor,

While bus services are under threat, I am delighted Wellington has a new service: the Buses of Somerset Route 22B, which links Barn Meads Road with Rockwell Green, Wellington and Taunton. There are six buses each weekday from Barn Meads Road into Taunton and five buses each weekday from Taunton and Wellington to  Barn Meads Road. In addition there are four weekday Dartline 20 bus services. I do hope that residents of South Wellington will use this service.  I am attaching photographs of the first 22B bus service yesterday (Monday) morning, taken in Barn Meads Road.  Richard Mackrory

Wellington.