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Letters to the Editor

Dear Sir

At the end of last year Hardwicke Parish Council installed a smart new waste bin in School Lane near the Sunnyfield Road bus stop and the entrance to Maple Close.

This was much appreciated as more waste bins means less unsightly litter.

Sadly this has not turned out to be the case.

 

For some reason, known only to themselves,  local dog owners have seen fit to use it to dispose of their dog waste, this is nothing short of disgusting. 

A few weeks ago, as it was refuse collection day, I took it upon myself to empty it, not a very nice task, and it filled 4 black bin bags. Most of this was dog waste bags, but also a bag of garden waste and an old coat. The bin itself was overflowing, and I filled 1 bin bag from what was just thrown on the ground around its base..

I wonder what sort of mentality some people must have, doesn't anyone have any sort of pride in their neighbourhood anymore? There are plenty dog bins in the area, and if owners cant behave responsibly, or bother to walk to the nearest dog bin, they should consider whether they should keep a dog at all, 

I contacted SDC and was told it was the responsibility of Hardwicke PC, so I also spoke to a council member who was very helpful and told me he would look into the problem. Sadly that was an empty promise, as the bin is now again overflowing.

This is not only unsightly but also a health hazard I would think.

I would just like to say that I'm not in any way anti dog, I have had dogs all my adult life, cant imagine being without one. But I would like to think that my owning a dog doesn't impact in anyway on anyone else in the neighbourhood.

M. Tilling

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Dear Editor, 

I myself am a dog owner. I love dogs and believe that most people like a dog that is well behaved. However, there are dog owners that think allowing their dog(s) to bark constantly is acceptable. I understand that it is natural for a dog to bark but it is also possible to do various things to prevent your dog from being a nuisance. The sound of a dog barking every time someone walks by, or every time I set foot in my garden, is extremely stressful after a while and I feel my blood pressure rising with every 'yap'. 

You probably love your dog to bits. You may have accepted the barking as part of the package. You may be able to turn off to the noise, but not everybody assigned themselves to that, so it is your responsibility to contain it. Bear in mind that your neighbours would probably prefer to relax in the peace and quiet of their own garden and listen to the birds singing.

There are various training techniques that can be applied and monitors that can be bought from your local pet shop to curb this anti-social behavior. 

If you need advice, speak to your vet or local dog trainer. 

Please have consideration for others. 

Hardwicke Resident

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Dear Editor

May I, through your magazine, appeal to all local scooter users, to please bring pressure to bear on the Gloucester Highways Department to make an easier access to Hardwicke Post Office.  The present kerb stones are too high for the majority of scooters to climb safely, resulting in the risk of tipping over or having to go to either Springfield Road, which is a blind corner or to Hildyard Close, again a fairly blind corner, in order to find a safe place for scooters to cross, for easy access to the Post Office.

It seems getting molasses up a hill would be easier for the highways Department to understand than the difficulty experienced by scooter users

Yours sincerely

A Frustrated Scooter user

Name and Address withheld

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Dear Editor

I am a little surprised when walking around the parish at how many hedges and trees are overhanging footpaths and roads. I would like to request through Hardwicke Matters that people who own trees and hedges that border footpaths and encroach onto the highway just trim them back a little. This would make walking along our footpaths a pleasure and not an obstacle course and reduce the chances of scratching our cars.

Name and Address withheld. 

Can I please make a few comments in reply to Barry Wood's letter in the January 2014 magazine.

 

As far as I am aware, Sellars Road, Pound Lane and Green Lane are all adopted highways and all road users are entitled to use them. No particular individual has more right to those roads than any other and all road users pay for their maintenance. "Noise and chemical pollution" remains the same, whether it is on a road such as Sellars Road or a road such as Field Court Drive and there is no reason why the residents of Field Court Drive (and Bristol Road) should be expected to take more than their fair share of it.

 

The closure of Pound Lane at the A38 would have severe impact on Eric Vick Transport, and would also impact on Challenge Fencing, St Nicholas Church and the farm. Presumably some residents in that part of the village would not be happy to have their access limited either. The same may be said for organisations and residents of Green Lane and Sticky Lane.

 

Using Sellars Road, Church Lane and Pound Lane to get to the A38, from the West side of Hardwicke, especially if travelling south on the A38, is simply a logical route. A good number of motorists however also use these roads to get to the motorway, so maybe any campaigning efforts should be directed towards improving access to the motorway from the B4008 and the flow of traffic around the Cross Keys roundabout.

Name supplied

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Dear Editor

Some of us are a little fed up with reading in the Hardwicke Matters how some persons wish to have road layouts changed to suit them.  We residents living in the old area of Hardwicke, from Naas Lane to the McDonalds roundabout, put up with traffic to include Heavy Good Vehicles day and night all through the night, plus the traffic that exits from Haresfield Lane onto Bath Road. 

Just think what an impact the Hunts Grove development will have on all of us; 1750 new homes with all amenities due to start development early this new year.  Work it out for yourself – one or two cars per household.  

We really have reason to complain.  So get used to your once nice quiet area and spare a thought for others.

E B

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