This week’s Newark Advertiser readers’ letters
No excuse not to support our high street
I read with interest the article in the Advertiser about Newark’s independent businesses (Whatever you are looking for — It Is In Newark, October 2).
Over the past few years I have made a conscious effort to shop local as much as possible.
And almost everything you need can be found on our doorstep.
I get immensely frustrated to constantly read on social media about the state our our market and our town.
I suggest those people go to other towns and see how they are faring. They will soon see how much they have to be grateful for in Newark.
Other markets, for example, are incredibly poor by comparison.
Every Saturday I go to the market to buy my bread, fruit and vegetables. I also bought my garden plants from there and numerous gifts.
I love the artisan markets in the Buttermarket and the choice of shops throughout the town centre.
I wholeheartedly back our local businesses. We just need everyone else to do so as well! — R. MILLER, via email.
Solve the immigration crisis now
In 2010 a short DVD part produced by UKIP claimed that even at that time Britain was overcrowded and that our essential infrastructure and public services across the board had been neglected for decades and could not cope.
Housing was in short supply largely because builders were only tending to build so-called “executive homes” and not a range of affordable or cheaper starter homes and bungalows.
In major urban areas there was a tendency to build high rise flats but, in some cases, failing to avoid serious problems as we saw with fires at Grenfell Towers and evacuation from top floors.
Now, in 2025, there are major housing problems, homelessness and surely this is exacerbated by illegal immigrants coming to these shores, crossing the channel in overcrowded, unsafe inflatable boats.
Political parties of all colours, past and present, have put forward ill thought out proposals to resolve the boat problem, such as Rwanda, proper assessment, of where they will be housed, tackling the trafficking gangs, ID cards, mass deportation — all at considerable cost to us, the taxpayers!
Nor does it seem for decades that we have had adequate security of our borders or ways of processing all of those who wish to apply for admission to this country from elsewhere.
Sadly, the electorate at large does not seem to realise that Parliament has no continuity.
When any government changes at any General Election, they start all over again!
Clearly all political parties, at times of national crisis, should work together in the national interest to collectively resolve such a problem in every case.
One has to wonder why so many people want to come to such a broken, divided country! Perhaps we are too soft?
Adding to the numbers waiting to be assessed will not solve the current, ongoing crisis.
Some may disagree, but they should never have been placed in hotels.
From the start, they should have been placed in detention camps with minimal assets to meet human rights for health and safety reasons.
They should also be required to produce verifiable documentation giving proof of age, former country of origin, type of former employment, and evidence, beyond reasonable doubt, of any family already authorised to be permanently in residence here.
This family, if verified, then becomes wholey responsible for them!
All this information must be fully verified as correct before asylum or deportation is granted.
The detention camps should be based on former military bases, with basic facilities, all in the south and south east and possibly in open prisons adapted for this purpose if redundant. But never hotels in built up areas.
Costs must be reduced until this crisis is resolved, given that we are already in a cost of living crisis.
Political parties never seem to consider the consequences of their decisions, actions, or financial management, and its impact on the country at large.
Reform UK also wishes to pay a form of inducement for migrants to return elsewhere but has not said where that money will come from.
There must be concerns from taxpayers in general at these plans for the future, when the crisis needs to be addressed now! Much, much sooner. — A. M. WADDINGTON, Sutton-on-Trent.
Be proud of our village
Is Balderton seen as a suburb of Newark? I ask as there’s been a couple of times recently in the national media that Balderton has been confused with Newark.
In an interview with The Sun, Robert Jenrick was said to be in Jenny's Cafe in Newark. Jenny's Cafe is in Balderton.
A friend of mine was on a mainstream TV show and it was stated she was from Newark. She’s from Balderton.
People of Balderton should be proud of our village, if anyone asks where I’m from I tell them I’m from Balderton, although inevitably I have to add, near Newark! — PAUL DUDDLES, Balderton.