14 LEICESTER MERCURY leicestermercur y.co.uk THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013 LDM-E01-S2 LM03 LDM-E01-S2 LM03 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013 leicestermercur y.co.uk LEICESTER MERCURY 15 Mercur y First person MM EE RCRC UU RYRY MM AA II LL BB OXOX Film and journalism opinion student Elizabeth Do n’t confuse Howlett hits back licensing issues at those who tell Sorry, but her ‘that’s not a IN RESPONSE to Mr Varambhia’s proper degree!’ letter (“Inconsistency in licensing Frail and elderly polic y”, Mailbox, November 1), I think it may be helpful to clarify a couple of points. Russell is Firstly, decisions are taken on li- censing applications by either the Fed up with licensing committee or by deleg- ated council officers. I do not –and am not allowed –to take these decisions. deserve a better still wrong Secondly, Narborough Road is a the sneering saturation zone for premises with “on-licences” –places where ast week, this column argued that it was people can buy alcohol and drink CONTACT US vital to vote and that comedian Russell on the premises, such as a pub. Brand was wrong when he argued that The example Mr Varambhia re- Ed i t o r i a l at my degree it was not worth doing so because of ferred to related to London Road, Lthe “lies, treachery and deceit of the which is a saturation zone for “of f- deal than having Editor ...... 0116 222 4202 political class”. licences”. hen the topic of conversation turns The column concluded: “Mr Brand’s weary These are separate policies that Newsdesk ...... 0116 222 4241 PICTURE: BBC to my degree, I always get appre- OVER AND OUT: Dave Myers finally got voted off Strictly on Sunday –but outlasted some better dancers cynicism achieves nothing. If people want a say have been brought in using evid- Picture desk...... 0116 222 4222 hensive. The apprehension comes in how their country is run they should, at the ence from the police to tackle spe- with experience. Are these people very least, vote in elections. Otherwise, they are cific issues, and should not be con- Sports desk...... 0116 222 4280 Public vote turns pitch, where boys play during the from a mother with young children Won my side, or are they going to voiceless and powerless. They have simply dis- fused. Business desk...... 0116 222 4212 we e ke n d s. when you park in one of the parent sneer at me? This is because I am a film student. enfranchised themselves.” During the football matches, the child spaces? Sometimes, this means I am asked if I make These views have caused a great deal of com- Councillor Sarah Russell. Features desk...... 0116 222 4209 show into a farce road is totally congested with mo- If we parked in your designated films. I get to watch the disappointment wash ment, most of it in disagreement. Responses tor cars. How could any emergency areas we would be fined. over people’s faces when I admit that no, I don’t, care homes sold Health correspondent...... 0116 222 4261 have included the arguments that the existing vehicle get through? I feel you are abusing your situ- unfortunately, make films. I just study film. political system is unfair, that there is no real Move MPs to Education correspondent.... 0116 222 4271 H AV I N G recorded every Strictly About 200 yards up the road is as a ation –there are numerous spaces “So you just sit around all day and watch films? choice between the candidates, that once in It seems incredible that Leicester most 50 per cent higher than in Leicester, who have served this city Crime correspondent...... 0116 222 4266 Come Dancing programme from massive car park, supplied by provided for you, so use them. That isn’t a degree”is something I hear all too of- power politicians simply toe the party line, and the Midlands 2011-12 –indicating that they faced through many decades, much more the very first one, we have seen the Blaby District Council, for free ten. Quite frankly, I’ve had enough. that there are not enough candidates around City Council thinks the way closure or prosecution should they re s p e c t ? Political correspondent...... 0116 222 4278 likes of John Sergeant, Anne Wid- p a rk i n g . Lisa Martin, L e i c e s t e r. I am dumbfounded by academic snobbery.I find who are worthy of support. H AS anyone ever estimated the fail to improve standards urgently. Many of them have worked long decombe and also some superb By contrast, this car park was al- it extremely vexing that individuals don’t real- forward is to close or sell its care Photo sales ...... 08444 060 910 However, it is difficult to work out how not vot- running costs of keeping our MPs About 820 of these referred to care and hard to maintain their inde- d a n c e r s. most completely empty. ise how passionate I am about my course. ing is ever likely to bring about any change to based in Westminster? homes for the elderly, when there h o m e s. pendence for as long as possible, But, when we have Abby Clancy A jog up the road might help the Thanks to NHS When I explained to an old colleague that I this perceived state of affairs. The point that this Surely, in these austere times, it are reports appearing with What a prospect for families who but unfortunately old age and in- Adver tising and Rachel Riley in a Sunday night boys get ready for their game of wanted to eventually get a PhD in film, they column was trying to make was that it is more ef- would make sense to base them are looking for the right place for firmity takes its toll and they de- dance off –hence eliminating fo o t b a l l . MAY I, through your newspaper, erupted with: “So you would be Dr DVD –what a fective to participate in the democratic process somewhere in the centre of the regularity in the news about their relatives. serve to be treated with the respect Trade motors...... 0116 222 4499 Rachel –when there are celebrities It might also help the dads to jog once again praise and thank our waste of time!” rather than withdrawing from it and standing c o u n t r y. home closures in the private How can the council, therefore, that we would all expect of our local who are never ever going to be dan- up the road. local NHS hospitals. I smiled at his lame joke, as I remembered my on the sidelines. They would then be able to com- say that their care homes are no council, whose ethos, after all, is Services ...... 0116 222 4466 cers, has made the programme Twenty months ago, I had major ever-growing debt of more than £11,000 is seen, In any political system, a single vote may not mute to work and would no longer sector across the UK. longer required, stating people are “working for you”. Retail ...... 0116 222 4465 completely false. Name and address supplied. heart surgery which, thanks to the by some at least, as some sort of practical joke. seem in itself to carry much weight. There are, need expensive second homes. preferring to choose the private The staff who work in the local au- This is because Joe Public has de- Glenfield Hospital, was very suc- after all, some 47 million voters in the UK. It would also keep them more in With the population showing a sector? thority homes work tirelessly and Business ...... 0116 222 4161 cided he’s not really interested in cessful. PASS I O N AT E However, thosevotes together add up to a collect- touch with the real lives of their clear rise in the number of elderly What will happen to the frail eld- with great compassion and respect watching the celebrities becoming Do not misuse Recently, I had a full abdominal I do watch a lot of films, but that’s a small part of Holidays & property...... 0116 222 4477 ive expression of the people’s will. c o n s t i t u e n t s. people developing dementia and erly when the private sector has no for their residents treating them as good dancers, but prefers someone hysterectomy to remove a growth the course. We also have to write a considerable The system may be imperfect. The political Westminster and the Houses of Alzheimer’s, this cannot be the places available in their homes and members of one big family and Leisure ...... 0116 222 4488 who makes them laugh. p a re n t s ’spaces in my womb, which once again in- amount of investigative, psychological and his- parties and candidates may not be everybody’s Parliament could then be turned right time to decrease our local au- local authority homes are no most residents respond in kind. I think the producers who choose volved a major operation. torical-based essays that usually see us silly film Training & education ...... 0116 222 4493 cup of tea. However, it is a system which has de- into a real museum and at least put thority care homes in Leicester. longer available? So I am asking Leicester City the celebrities know this, but I do I AM a frequent user of Tesco at This time, my thanks go to the students buried under a pile of books. livered stable and representative government money back into the country. It was reported, in March 2012, People with severe dementia and Council, in the light of what is hap- Front counter...... 0116 222 4933 think it could in time kill the pro- South Wigston and eligible to use Leicester General Hospital. I defy anyone who thinks that “genre theory”is over the course of many years, and created a that there were 376,250 older people advancing years become totally pening in the care of the elderly at gramme off. the parent and child spaces, due to In particular, I must praise Miss easy to give it a try.It is the most frustrating and Newspaper sales...... 0116 222 4745 country which is prosperous and safe, and Pat Taylor, L o u g h b o ro u g h . living in 10,331 care homes in Eng- unable to live alone, even with this point in time, to rethink the So, for me the programme name having a one-year-old. Moss my consultant, who was fant- complicated part of my degree. which enjoys a high standard of living. So not land, with 40 per cent of these home visits, because they will selling or closing of its elderly per- Promotions ...... 0116 222 4709 should be changed to “C o m e dy Yet I notice nearly everyday that astic. From first seeing her to my I do it because I am passionate about it and I everything is terrible and broken. people having dementia. probably spend at least somewhere sons’homes and to keep them run- Come Dancing”which would be people abuse these spaces, due to vital operation, it was exactly eight take it to heart when I get told my degree is a Perhaps there is, however, a change which Please stop late This number will surely have in- in the region of 20 hours per day ning for all those people who live or SMILE WITH STEVE much more appropriate. their convenient position. weeks, and her explanations and waste of time. could be made in elections to give people another creased somewhat since then. alone and isolated between these work in them and for future gener- If you have a child seat in your car reassurances during that period Film history has been the cornerstone of social option when voting. night fireworks In 2012-13, it was reported in The v i s i t s. ations who will continue to need Steve Birch, Coalville Maurice Neal, Ratb y. but no child with you, this does not were invaluable. activity. As opinions and situations have In response to last week’s column, Twitter user Times newspaper (August 20, 2013) Is this what we want for our frail, this kind of care. give you the right; if your children My thanks also go to all the won- changed, film has changed with it. Iain Thornton suggested including “none of the CA N anyone please tell me if there that the Care Quality Commission elderly population of Leicester? My boss said “Why are you are eight and above, you’re just be- derful nurses and staff on Ward 31. I’d say that film has arguably helped shape soci- ab ove ”on ballot papers would allow those not is a legal time limit on how late you issued 910 warning notices –al - Surely we owe the people of Ann Brookes, L e i c e s t e r. late?” Road clogged, ing lazy and are quite capable of They work so hard to make pa- ety in a way that no other media form has been liking the available choice a vote. This is already are allowed to let fireworks off ? I replied: “A man outside had getting your children safely to the tients feel completely comfortable able to do. Call me old-fashioned, but I have de- done in some other countries. I think 11pm is well late enough, lost a £20 note”. car park empty store from the other areas. and at ease. cided to study to benefit myself, rather than my It is an excellent idea and one which should be especially on a work day. than £3,000 for a single day’s shoot- that threatens the grouse; and that He said: “Oh, were you helping My main gripe, though, is with the So come on folks, let’s have more bank balance (although a career in film, regard- seriously considered in Britain. It would en- In my area, they were going off Concerns about ing –receive millions of pounds an- the unnatural heather and grouse- him to find it?” ON THE way from Whetstone to blue badge holders. praise for our NHS hospitals, and less of the route I take, is always going to provide courage more people to vote and help keep politi- after midnight. This also meant I nually from the taxpayer. dominated landscape they have “No, I was standing on it until Blaby is a tiny road called The Youhave the right to park in one of less doom and gloom. a fruitful job). cians on their toes! had to wait till well after then to grouse shooting In fact, the more one delves into created is an example of superb he went away!” D i cke n s. the many unused disabled bays, so I have chosen a degree that can take me to any- take my dog out or she will not the world of grouse shooting, the and selfless stewardship. Either side of this road is a football why take away the convenience Marj Jones, L o u g h b o ro u g h . where I want to go. But, more important than settle before I go to bed. READERS may be interested to uglier it looks. A report entitled Calling The that, I have chosen to study something I love. By all means enjoy your fireworks learn that, while so many continue Advocates boast that their envir- Shots exposes the industry and can WRITE TO: Mailbox, Leicester Mercury, St George Street, Leicester, LE1 9FQ. E-MAIL: mailbox@leicestermercur y.co.uk When the Lumiere brothers showed the first Getting it right –I am not a killjoy but please have to suffer economic hard times, onmentally-destructive activities be downloaded from Animal Aid’s publicly projected film –footage of a train some consideration for others. grouse moor owners in England, improve the landscape; they claim we b s i t e. Your full name and address must be included, but may not be published if requested. Please give a pulling into the station –it is said that the audi- The Leicester Mercury always strives to publish news and Scotland and Wales –whose well- that they are championing bio- reason. The Mercury reserves the right to edit letters. Please ensure letters and signature are legible. ence ran screaming out of the cinema in fear. information fairly and accurately with no allegiance to any J Skippen, L e i c e s t e r. heeled clients can each pay more diversity by slaughtering wildlife Fiona Pereira, Animal Aid. That was in 1895. Why are we still running from political party and without discrimination. the marvel of film today? If you have a complaint about an item in this newspaper which concerns inaccuracy, intrusion, harassment or discrimination – NEW Elizabeth Howlett, 22, is a third year student in or wish to comment on any other aspect of our service –write Riser/ PLUS... film and journalism at De Montfort University. to the editor, Richard Bettsworth. 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