More big freeze views (From Basingstoke Gazette)

More big freeze views

9:25am Friday 22nd January 2010 in

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Sir.–I am asking your readers to urgently visit their local Age Concern and Help the Aged charity shops and give generously to stop them losing crucial funds because of the recent cold snap.

The charity relies on generous donations from the public to stock their shops and fund their vital work, but due to bad weather, charity collection vans have been unable to pick up donations.

In addition, shops have had to shut and the ones that do open have seen much reduced business and a decrease in people bringing in goods.

Age Concern and Help the Aged estimates that over the last couple of weeks, the charity has lost around £500,000.

The money raised from selling donations is used to improve the lives of older people in many ways, from running lunch clubs and offering benefits advice to lobbying Government. Donations to your local shop as soon as possible will help the charity continue its fantastic work – good quality clothing, accessories, books and CDs will be warmly welcomed.

–Fiona Phillips, Journalist and Age Concern and Help the Aged ambassador.

Sir.–After reading your piece on minicabs overcharging in the cold snap (last Thursday’s Gazette), I would like to make it clear that some private hire companies did not.

I would like people to know that Oakview Station Kars only charged the normal fares, even though on many of the “bad days”, when the roads were hazardous, it took our drivers three to four times as long with no extra money. We never closed our office at all, and tried to honour all our pre-bookings, only cancelling when it became a safety issue to our passengers.

–Julie Bryant, Manager, Oakview Station Kars, Basingstoke.

Sir.–As Basingstoke recently went crazy and bought produce like we were about to be snowed in for months, special praise must go to my local shop in Winklebury, John Burton’s Food Market.

My daughter had informed me that she had visited nearly every supermarket in the town to purchase milk and bread, only to be met with “sold out” messages from staff.

I decided to take a walk up to John Burton’s Food Market to see if they had any stock. I was pleased to see a big display of milk and bread. When I mentioned to Mr Burton how surprised I was to see these items, he informed me that after initial stocks were selling fast, he instructed his team to make a 60- mile round trip to his supplier to get stocks replenished.

I quickly rang my daughter, who also made a visit to purchase the goods she required.

That was excellent service from the team to ensure that elderly customers like myself were not disappointed.

Maybe if the snow does return soon then John Burton’s Food Market should be the place to get your shopping.

–Gerald Whittaker, Tiverton Road, Basingstoke.

Sir.–We all know the problems the county and borough councils have been having with the current severe weather conditions – especially here in Kempshott. No bins emptied, impassable roads and generally a feeling of being cut off from the rest of the town.

Now for the good news. Ed, our local newspaper boy, and the good people of Kempshott Village Stores have delivered our daily paper on time every day no matter what the conditions were. The only hiccup was that last week’s Gazette came on Friday instead of Thursday. But hey, so what – we got it. Well done Ed – you deserve a medal.

–Stuart Holbrook, Veronica Close , Kempshott, Basingstoke.

Sir.–The recent winter weather has tested us all, but I would like to pay particular thanks to staff working in residential care homes for children, adults and the elderly who get to work somehow every day to ensure the folk in their care are well-looked after.

In particular, I would like to thank the staff of The Loddon School and the staff of Liaise Loddon’s homes who came to work somehow or other, often walking for several miles in the snow, in order that vulnerable children and adults with problems associated with autism, had an enjoyable time over the holiday period, when many people can take time off for holidays or stay home from their places of work.

Well done colleagues – you did a great team job, without a grumble or complaint, on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and all the snowy days as well!

–Marion Cornick, Founder The Loddon School, Managing Director Liaise Loddon Ltd., Cranbourne House, Bessemer Road, Basingstoke.

Sir.–Congratulations and thanks to the car park staff at the Basingstoke hospital for all their hard work during the recent inclement weather.

I have been at the hospital on a number of occasions over the past few weeks and have been greatly impressed by their efforts.

On the infamous Monday afternoon when Basingstoke ground to a halt, they were busy clearing snow, gritting and coming to the aid of cars who were struggling to get going in the icy conditions.

More recently, I have seen them directing traffic in areas where cars have been parked on the access roads, clearing car park areas with shovels, snow ploughs and diggers.

Efforts to clear the lower staff car park seemed to be almost complete on Tuesday last week, though by Wednesday a fresh fall of snow meant it stayed closed and they were hard at work again clearing the main visitors’ car park.

Sincere thanks also to the medical and nursing staff who have managed to keep everything running despite the conditions.

–Alfred S Harding, Carbonel Close, Basingstoke.

Sir.–A big thank you to all of Basingstoke’s bus drivers during the recent bad weather, as they have made it possible to keep intouch with the outside world!

Oakley was very tricky and I know that it must have been particularly stressful for the drivers.

Once again, thank you for all your hard work.

–C Thomas, Stour Road, Oakley.

Sir.–I would like to thank all my wonderful neighbours. I am a pensioner and they all made sure that I was all right by clearing my path and knocking my door to see if I needed any shopping and I was all right for food.

–Vicky Tigwell, Harrow Way, Basingstoke.