Newark Advertiser Readers Letters
MP’s comments adding to racial concerns
Comments by the Newark MP, Robert Jenrick, reported by the BBC on Sunday, following his article in the Mail On Sunday are just stirring up racial concerns.
Saying that he does not want his daughters to ‘share a neighbourhood with men from backward countries’ just stokes up fears in residents.
He is pandering to a right wing element of our towns.
We do not know where his daughters live — Robert Jenrick hid his address on the ballot paper — but he previously rented and may still rent a home in Southwell, and has a manor house in Herefordshire. Certainly, if his daughters live in Southwell, there is no danger of ‘worry about her safety as she starts to do things independently’.
It seems as if Robert Jenrick is spreading falsehoods about how safe people are in our area. This is typical of how right wing politicians stir up trouble. Rather than raising anxiety, he should be ensuring that we continue to feel safe in our town.
According to Full Facts, ‘sexual offences recorded by the police rose by 23% last year, the biggest number reported since new counting rules introduced in the early noughties. [but] this is thought to be affected by improvements in recording and a greater willingness of victims to come forward and report the crimes.” (https: //fullfact.org/crime/crime-england-and-wales)
Recent data published by the Government show that the vast majority of sexual crimes were committed by white men, with many more committed by white men than all other races and those not stated put together (https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparency andgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/sexualviolence intheukbyethnicity)
Just worrying parents about the behaviour of a few, which we all condemn is no way in which an MP who wants to run the country should behave. — PETER HARRIS, Councillor for Southwell and chairman of the area’s Safer Neighbourhood Group and Newark Liberal Democrats.
Cost outweighed by benefits
Mr Frettsome is entitled to ask questions about the funding for resiting the Kiddey sculptures (Give Us The Full Cost Of Stones, News Views, Advertiser, August 7) and he may even find a Freedom of Information request useful.
However, as to positioning the Kiddey Stones elsewhere, this doesn't seem logical given that the Kiddey Trail is in Newark. A location elsewhere is less likely to fit in with the itineries of local people, as well as visitors from London and Europe, where Robert Kiddey was also a reknowned figure in the art world.
The siting at Newark and Sherwood District Council headquarters means the sculptures are not only easily accessed, but also in a good place to ensure their safety.
I don’t doubt that from the Colosseum to the Eiffel Tower, there has always been an argument as to where money for art could be better spent, for example, on the poor, on new drains, on better cobblestones etc, but in just a few years time the cost will fade compared to the benefit of the Kiddey Stones standing at an important entrance to the town, add-ing to the larger impact of the castle, and with the soaring splendour of St Mary Magdalene Parish church in the background.
For those who suffer from ‘empty shop’ syndrome, this is bound to give cheer, presenting a good impression for visitors, as well as to others like the soon to be opened Waterstones book emporium, thereby displaying a confidence to invest in Newark’s future. — S. MC-CARTHY, Newark.
Plenty for us to be proud of
It was a good article on whether Newark should promote tourism as opposed to retail (Should Town Concentrate On Tourism Instead Of Retail, Advertiser, August 10).
We are very fortunate living in a town that has such a wealth of history right on our doorstep.
When you consider the towns that get the most visitors you obviously think of London (no competition as there is so much to see) York (another plus for visitors) and Stratford-upon-Avon, which is so over-rated in my opinion. My wife and I visited Stratford last year and it was so disappointing. No vibrant Market Place, we had to really search around to find anything vaguely connected to William Shakespeare and not a half-timbered building in sight.
Once you start to list Newark’s architectural assets, the list is almost endless — a magnificent 12th Century castle, a vibrant Market Place with the added attraction of the beach. How many towns can boast a beach at least 60 miles from the coastline?
The Town Hall is so under-rated and yet it is an architectural gem. Its ballroom, in my opinion, has no equal.
And we have more half-timbered buildings than you can shake a stick at. Eat your heart out Stratford-upon-Avon.
How many other towns can boast of an earthworks ent-irely constructed by hand? A few miles up the road, at East Stoke, was where one of the bloodiest battles was fought between the Yorkists and Lancastrians on June 16, 1487.
You can take a boat trip on the River Trent and the East Coast Mainline gets you to London in just over an hour.
We have The Palace Theatre, which has many live acts, and parks and gardens waiting to be discovered.
I nearly forgot the Corn Exchange, yet another building of outstanding beauty.
I don’t think you could imagine a town of equal merit. — C. HOBBY, Newark.
Passage is a blot on the centre
Newark aspires to become a tourist destination in its own right, so can someone in authority please account for the truly disgusting state of the passage which runs from the Market Place to our Grade 1 listed parish church?
It is lined by overflowing, unemptied bins, rubbish and other unsavoury detritus.
As if being unsightly wasn’t enough, it’s a health hazard.
What on earth will visitors think of our town as they make their way from the beautiful Market Place to see the exquisitely refurbished and restored church, once it reopens? A dank, smelly, filthy alleyway.
Surely a solution can be found so that the bins are a) emptied and b) hidden away? — DEBBY SMITH, Newark.
Be positive about town’s assets
My brother, who has lived in The Netherlands for over 25 years, recently paid a visit back home and ventured into Newark.
He talked to a few people around town and the same topic kept cropping up — the state of retail. Shops closing, shops that were empty, too many vape shops, etc. No mention of our history, our architecture, our attractions or our green spaces.
To locals Newark is not tourist town, never will be.
It’s a place for the weekly shop, for the occasional special attraction, like the beach.
We can't expect visitors to come here for shopping anymore, we need to promote the local attractions, locals need to be more positive about them too. — PAUL DUDDLES, Balderton
Thank you
While walking down Barnby-gate, Newark, on August 3 my wife took a tumble outside the Premier store. We would like to thank all those who helped us — the lady with the little dog who gave us space by asking people to move around us, and the lady whose name I believe is Helen who took Christine to the hospital, while I ran home for our car.
Also, thank you to the gentleman who brought a big parasol to keep the rain off while Christine lay there, and finally to the staff at Newark Hospital.
It is times like these that give us faith in the kindness of the people we otherwise just walk by. — CHRISTINE AND NIGEL ALLEN, Newark.