Viewpoint: Longing for the days of 'bobbies on the beat'

We all need to stand up for right to protest

It’s not clear exactly what E Shepherd (Viewpoint, June 27) is criticising about the pro-Palestine protest in Maidenhead: the right to peaceful protest or the Palestinian people themselves.

The protesters’ intention was clearly to raise awareness of the current atrocious situation in Gaza and the West Bank.

The killing of tens of thousands of innocent civilians: women, children, journalists, paramedics, goes far beyond the right of Israel to defend itself as does the increasing aggression of settlers.

On April 16 this year an open letter was published in ‘The Financial Times’ signed by 36 members of The Board of Deputies of British Jews, London, in support of the Palestinians.

In case E Shepherd and other readers of the Advertiser did not see it, these quotations from that letter convey the essence of it; an example for us all whatever our religious or political persuasion:

“The inclination to avert our eyes is strong, as what is happening is unbearable, but our Jewish values compel us to stand up and to speak out.

“We know in our hearts we cannot turn a blind eye or remain silent at [the] renewed loss of life and livelihoods, with hopes dwindling for a peaceful reconciliation and the return of the hostages.

“This most extremist of Israeli governments is openly encouraging violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, strangling the Palestinian economy and building more new settlements than ever … Israel’s soul is being ripped out and we, members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, fear for the future of the Israel we love and have such close ties to.

“We stand against the war … it is our duty, as Jews, to speak out.”

We all need to have the courage to stand up for the right to peaceful protest.

We all need to have the courage to speak out against what we know to be wrong.

TESS MARSH

St Marks Crescent

Maidenhead

Smoke and mirrors in council climate report

Back in April I was cautiously optimistic (Viewpoint, April 18).

However, the recent meeting of the place overview and scrutiny panel and its scrutiny of the council’s Environment and Climate Strategy impact report was poor, with most panel members taken in by the smoke and mirrors that passes for the report’s content.

One panel member described it as inspirational. It isn’t even close.

Councillor Alison Carpenter and resident Andrew Hill were head and shoulders above the other contributors.

Clearly not convinced by the report’s spin, their comments and questions were incisive and well informed.

The report makes much of the suggestion that between 2018 and 2022 (the last set of data to be published) the borough had the highest percentage CO2 emissions reduction of six local councils.

However, if the data is expressed as emissions per head of population, as it should be, both Wokingham and Bracknell Forest had greater reductions.

Changing the way that the data is presented is likely to have a similar impact on the claim that the borough is in the top 10 per cent nationally for CO2 reduction.

In 2022, RBWM had higher total CO2 emissions per head than Reading, Wokingham, and Bracknell Forest, and were only fractionally lower than Slough whose emissions flat-lined between 2021 and 2022.

Of the councils compared, only West Berkshire had significantly higher CO2 emissions per head.

The report makes no mention of the fact that three of the strategy’s four key objectives were completed late, and that the fourth was achieved before the strategy was even approved in late 2020.

In fact, very few completion dates have been included in the report at all, making it almost impossible to assess performance.

I could go on, but as highlighted previously in the pages of Viewpoint, this council is underperforming.

It is obviously welcome to continue its policy of ghosting and gaslighting its residents rather than dealing with their genuine concerns, but let’s not pretend its leadership.

I’m still optimistic though – Climate Emergency UK’s 2025 climate action scorecard was published recently, so the truth is out there.

PAUL HINTON

Windsor

MP reflections on first year since election

As we approach the end of my first year as your MP, I wanted to write a letter to you.

After all, you, the residents, are my boss.

One year ago, you put your trust in me to represent our community in Westminster, and I still feel honoured that you did.

I ran a campaign on being your dedicated local champion, on standing up for our community, and on hearing your concerns no matter who you voted for.

I promised you that I would work as hard as possible to get our walk-in centre back open, to speak up for our businesses, and to do everything I could to ensure that the Government would tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

I spent a lot of time campaigning on fixing the mistakes of the previous Conservative Government, pushing back against their disastrous policies that brought our health and social care systems to their knees, polluted our rivers, and ruined our public finances.

Much of my time in Parliament has been spent pushing the Government to do more to tackle these issues, standing up for ordinary Maidonians.

There has also been the opportunity to fight for justice on behalf of residents who have been ignored by previous governments.

I have led the Parliamentary campaign for Murdered Abroad, working to change the law to give the families of British citizens murdered abroad equal rights to any other family.

I have been pushing hard to change the law so park home owners receive the same protections and freedoms as other home owners.

It has been frustrating at times.

I have talked in Parliament, in meeting rooms and in the halls of Westminster enough times that I’m sure Wes Streeting has started to have nightmares about our walk-in centre.

And yet, the Labour Government and Frimley won’t budge.

But I am not going to give up.

After all, we are seeing investment from Frimley in our local health centres. I know we can get a fair deal for our healthcare services.

This Government has been a disappointing one.

It has failed to deliver on so many of its promises. The economy has shrunk, bills are still soaring, the NHS is still in crisis, and it has dragged its feet on so many of the reforms it promised us.

Worse, this Government has attacked some of the most vulnerable members of our community, looking to solve the Conservatives’ fiscal nightmare through taking money from the pockets of pensioners, carers and the disabled. It is a disgrace and I will continue to fight it.

I have asked over 100 Parliamentary questions on your behalf, including asking the Prime Minister for investment in Maidenhead Station, signed 100s of letters and motions to Ministers and organisations, have attended almost 250 events, and visited 29 schools.

And from my office in the Nicholson Centre, my team and I have worked on over 7,000 cases in the past year.

A your local MP I am here to hear your concerns and do what I can to support you. It has been quite the first year, and I am excited for what the next several have in store.

JOSHUA REYNOLDS

MP for Maidenhead

Back in the dark ages when system worked

Oh, for the days of ‘bobbies on the beat’, shops where you were served by shopkeepers and all goods were safely behind the counter except for the tins of broken biscuits.

I know, I know it was the dark ages but it worked!

To answer your question, James, no, I would not tackle a shoplifter.

I thought that the police force had advised against it?!

DIANE HAYES

Hearne Drive

Holyport

We can’t blame players for moving up leagues

John Reekie bemoans the players that have left Maidenhead United (Viewpoint, June 27), saying they have jumped ship after getting us relegated and are ‘a disgrace’.

I have some sympathy for his view but I think it would be churlish for the club not to have players such as Reece Smith and Shaun McCoulsky from wanting to better themselves and try a league or two higher.

I don’t blame either of them for leaving and taking the opportunity of League Two football with Harrogate.

It’s a short life as a footballer and they should take this move up when they can and they leave with our thanks and best wishes.

IAN SMITH

Belmont Crescent

Maidenhead