Dear Editor,

This situation is getting beyond ridiculous - every person who resides here has an address. That address is compiled as: No. Street, Village/Town/City, County, Postcode - ENGLAND, UK.

Is that so difficult to comprehend? Many other countries display their flag in respect of their nation and pride in their country.

If you do not like the Union Flag or St George's Flag you are at liberty to find one that suits and move.

If you choose England you are very welcome to join with us in celebrating our national pride.

Joyce Dobby

Wellington

Dear Editor,

For the last three years I have been a host to Ukrainian Refugees. Despite the Russian attacks on Ukraine having got more intense putting more Ukrainian lives in constant danger, unfortunately there are fewer host for Ukrainian Refugees today, compared to the beginning of the war three years ago.

Please I appeal to the kind hearted people who has a spare bedroom to offer a Ukrainian Refugee for six months. You are not required to feed or buy food for your Ukrainian guest only let them use your kitchen to cook their own food.

Within the six months your Ukrainian guest will be given help to find work, and after six months your council will help your Ukrainian guest to rent their own private rented flat.

The rewards of helping these desperate Ukrainian people find peace is a outstanding feeling of achievement and pride.

For your kindness your council will pay you £350 per month to host one Ukrainian refugee.

Over the last three years experience, I have found the Ukrainian people to be polite, considerate, and without asking my guest they have always help me with household cleaning chores.

So please if you might be interested in becoming a Host to Ukrainian Refugees or would like more information, contact me on 01884 841354 or 07707 235407 email; [email protected]

Thank you in anticipation.

Yours sincerely,

George Simon Budge

via email

Dear Editor,

Over the past few weeks, we have heard a number of politicians stating that the UK should leave the European Convention on Human Rights or ECHR. I find these statements alarming and thought that I might show why this retrograde step would not be desirable.

To put things in the correct historical context: at the end of WWII, the horrors perpetrated by Nazi Germany became all too horrifically apparent; and the British Government led by Winston Churchill decided that there should never, ever be a repeat.

Senior legal experts - many of them British - and top constitutional lawyers helped create a new Europe-wide charter to protect basic human freedoms, and provide a mechanism for individuals to obtain redress when the state fails them. This became the European Convention on Human Rights.

It protects against racism, discrimination, torture and the abuse of power by the state. It has delivered justice for victims of domestic violence, safeguarded children in care, upheld the rights of minorities to be recognised and simply live normal lives.

The legislation also protects freedom of the press, and the right for people to speak out. Here in the UK, it has helped groups such as the Hillsborough families seek truth and accountability.

Occasionally, there will be issues arising from ECHR cases that seem wrong to the layman; but in reality they seldom happen, and most of those repeatedly quoted by certain politicians and others are misleading or factually incorrect.

For example, we regularly hear certain politicians complain that the ECHR prevents us from deporting people. It's worth noting that the total number of such cases since 1980 is just 13.

Quite simply, I would not trust anyone who argued for the UK to no longer be a signatory to the ECHR. There can be only one real ulterior motive for anyone to do so; it’s so that they can do the things that the convention so importantly protects us all against.

Regards,

Tony Sutcliffe

Taunton

Dear Editor,

Calling all Somerset schools: Somerset Council needs your help in naming two gritting vehicles – new to the fleet – this year.

Winter is only round the corner and Somerset Council and its highways contractor Kier are gearing up for the season, making sure the gritters are ready for whatever weather comes our way.

Last year schools came up with some gritty-witty names for two vehicles and now the council is inviting them to put those thinking caps on again.

The closing date for this year’s competition is November 7 and then all entries will be shortlisted by Somerset Council and Kier, which will be followed by the public voting for the winners.

Last year’s entries were brilliant with some inventive pun-tastic ideas.

It’s a great way for local children to get involved in naming the road gritters and learn more about road safety in the winter. I can’t wait to see the creative names the children come up with and see some new gritters on the road this winter.

Councillor Richard Wilkins

Somerset Council’s lead member for transport and digital