Dear Editor,

I was so saddened by the news today of the death of the Duchess of Kent.

I’m sure that everyone who was lucky enough to be at the opening of Wellington Youth Centre will like me remember a beautiful, delightful and charming lady who put us all at ease instantly and made us all feel very important.

She achieved so much in her lifetime and enhanced so many lives including her one day in Wellington.

Thank you so much.

Robert Sanders, via email

Dear Editor,

Judging by the recent coverage in the local press, exchanges on social media and, doubtless, countless conversations in cafés and pubs, even across the family sofa, there are few more emotive subjects than the proposed imposition of Sunday car parking charges by Somerset Council all across the county.

But, unfortunately, equally rife are misunderstandings, rumours and, very likely, a measure of disinformation in this volatile mix. The first is a widespread notion that a planned public consultation has been scrapped and that charges are to be imposed immediately without further ado.

This simply is not true.

Yes, there has been some unavoidable delay - it is a clearly a very complex issue - but the Public Consultation is actually live online now, as I write, from Monday, September 8, and will extend the full six weeks until October 20, which gives ample time for opinions to be sought and recorded. In the meantime, the charges will not be implemented until all results are in and analysed, with further consultations later on. A final decision will likely be taken in December 2025 with any changes not imposed until 2026 at the earliest.

And against this ‘heated’ background, it is important to remember that already concessions have been made by Somerset Council; a plan to implement overnight charging has been dropped and in places, 30 minute free parking slots could likely be introduced which do encourage a quicker change-over of vehicles in spaces.

And an important reason behind this countywide strategy is simply a historical legacy of the absorption of various smaller district councils in the present unitary system. For obvious reasons there were different charges - or lack of them! - in different towns and villages which when viewed as a whole, across the board, was systemically unfair. Now that finances are all ‘under one unitary roof’, it is easy to see that the public in some places are in effect unjustly subsidising lower charges elsewhere! The present piecemeal arrangement also jeopardises Somerset Council’s ability to ensure that car parks are, as far as possible, self-financing in upkeep.

And it should be remembered that Somerset Council actually has very limited choices in how it raises revenue to provide the services we all need in these days of financial hardship and that the underlying cause is mostly the vast sums which are paid-out annually to support vital local Social Care services. Currently that is an eye-watering sum of almost 70 per cent of all council tax income, as directed by central government, without any subsidies, and a condition which applies willy-nilly up and down the country to local authorities of all political persuasions.’

The consultation can be accessed via this link: somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/parking/copy-of-consultation

J F Pocock

Wellington

Dear Editor,

We’ll do anything for our loved ones — whether it’s late-night lifts, babysitting the grandkids, or being their biggest cheerleader. So why not give up just half an hour to make sure you’re ready to help them in an emergency?

This month, St John Ambulance is once again calling on the nation to take just 30 minutes to learn life-saving skills through our annual Save a Life September campaign.

For updates and more information, and to find your nearest Save a Life September demonstration, visit sja.org.uk/save-a-life-september. Add learning vital first aid to the list of things you'd do for loved ones. What could be more important?

Yours sincerely,

Carl Makins

Head of community education, St John Ambulance

Dear Editor,

Last year at 34, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and my world changed overnight. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were some of the toughest challenges I’ve ever faced, not only physically, but emotionally too.

That’s why this October I’ll be proudly joining the charity’s wear it pink for a celebration with friends and family, raising money for Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving research and life changing support services. I encourage you to join me, and throw on something pink at home, school, work or with friends.

Will you join me and the wear it pink community on October 24? Sign up today at wearitpink.org/SignUp

Yours sincerely,

Milou Katsikare

On behalf of Breast Cancer Now