"Congratulations to Chris Howe, the Lindisfarne resident who chaired the public meeting in Wootton Bassett on Thursday (Swindon Advertiser, 3 May) for making it clear that attacks on gypsies will not be tolerated.
I am perplexed, as I am sure other readers are, by Ian Smith's letter (BFP 1/5/09). He indicates that the EU Directive EU/67/EC and 2002/39/EC are related to the post office closures. I am sure everyone else knows it has nothing to do with the Post Office network, but relates to postal services delivered by the Royal Mail. The Royal Mail, the Regulator Postcomm, and the consumer watchdog Postwatch all support these measures so what is Ian's problem with them? These Directive set out to create common postal standards across Europe and opens up the current monopoly the Royal Mail has in the UK. Despite losing their monopoly the Royal Mail still support it.
Senior Liberal Democrat Lord Holme has died at the age of 71 after a long illness, it has been announced. The peer was the party's Northern Ireland spokesman in the 1990s and a close advisor to Sir Menzies Campbell, Paddy Ashdown and David Steel.
The 2nd Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, from Shornecliffe barracks, have today been granted the Freedom of Sandgate. The award was given after the regiment had marched through the town, accompanied by marching pipes and drums.
Cllr Claire Darke has thanked the voters of Park Ward for electing her as their City Councillor. Claire said "I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported me in our campaign. I intend to use my term in office to carry on the good work for our area. I will continue to campaign for kerb side recycling of plastics and cardboard as well road safety matters and footpath repairs which voters told me they have appreciated very much. The Focus Team will keep in touch through Focus leaflets and do all we can to help improve local facilities and services. Please do not hesitate to contact me on any issue."
Dundee Liberal Democrats today (Sunday 4th May) backed comments by party leader Nick Clegg MP who has has praised the party's strong performance in the English and Welsh local elections and has pointed out that polling in real elections in Scotland also shows LibDem support increasing.