Duke of where?

What chance Prince Harry being given the title of Duke of Oxford on his forthcoming marriage?
Prince Harry.Prince Harry.
Prince Harry.

It would make more sense if it was Duke of Wincobank or Canklow or Hexthorpe or even Grimethorpe.

Why should South Yorkshire be left out?

Eddie Peart

Broom Crescent, Rotherham, S60

Waiting with baited breath

Prince of Wales Road is looking very good below the Parkway with the lovely display of daffodils on the central reservation.

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But take a walk with me further down to Poole Road and look on the left-hand side as far as the car park, it is a disgusting mess of litter.

Then go back and walk up to the rail station and it is even worse. The underpass was a foot deep in water last week due to the gully being blocked by litter. The path from Cresswell Road to Main Road is disgusting, you could fill several skips, it’s that bad.

Well where does it come from? I don’t think it’s the local residents.

If you look at what is being dropped ie crisp sweets and soft drinks it’s odds on it’s children on their way home from school having called at a local store for a snack.

I don’t think the locals would drop it.

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Why they have to live and look at this mess and put up with it I don’t understand.

I travel this route regularly and feel sorry for the residents having to put up with it.

I’ve been in contact with the council and they said they would get it sorted. I’m waiting with baited breath.

Ken Tomlinson

Sheffield, S9

Stand up for democracy

It’s very disappointing that three street tree protectors still face High Court hearings on April 30. This despite the tree felling pause that follows national outrage over the actions of Sheffield council.

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It’s happening because the council has signed away our democratic rights to take decisions about our streets, and refuses to back down.

Residents now have a choice. They can shrug their shoulders and accept defeat. Or they can stand up against the combined might of the city council and a multinational company to reclaim our rights and our streets.

Sheffield Greens are proud to live in a city which has chosen to stand up for democracy and the right to protest.

We express our full support for the three people facing court action and call on the council to withdraw these legal actions.

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It’s time to start a genuine dialogue within the council and with Sheffield Tree Action Groups (STAG).

If Sheffield City Council were to do this, it would signal they are ready to have meaningful talks to agree a positive resolution.

Peter Garbutt

Sheffield Green Party, (S2)

Moans about estate

With reply to Sadness over our deteriorating estate, Letter, Star, April 14.

Moan 1: she complains of no covering on the landing of the flats – I wonder what the homeless people think, who have no roof over their heads?

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Moan 2: the external doors require replacing, no appreciation from her about the installation of the new double glazing windows.

Moan 3: the council cut the grass areas, but not as frequently as she would like, I wish someone would cut mine.

Moan 4: some tenants do not take care of their rubbish as they should.

Susan, this a nationwide problem everywhere, what makes you think it should be different at Lodge Moor?

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With her complaints of noisy tenants this needs to be reported to the housing officer with details of the culprits’ address.

Moan 5: even when the estate is going to benefit from improved lighting she is nitpicking about workmen parking on the grassed area.

Susan complains of several incidents on the estate and thankfully the police have responded. This is happening a lot more on other estates – sadly this is the world we live in, and Susan has the good fortune to live on one of the better estates.

I had to smile at this, as I clearly remember one of her letters complaining how she was stuck on this estate, with little chance of a move.

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No complaints about being able to take the option of discount to the right to buy your council home.

Gerry Leckey

Sheffield, s5

Myth and distortion

I was born in the 1960s. My earliest political memories are of strife between intransigent trades union bosses and incompetent governments in the 1970s.

In the 1980s I was able to vote, but during the 18 years of Conservative government opposed to my values, that vote did nothing to determine national policy.

In the following 13 years of New Labour, which often lacked compassion toward the many while toadying up to the wealthy few, I was never represented by a government that I had voted for.

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From 2010 I saw a coalition pursuing even more extreme versions of the hateful Tory policies of the 1980s.

These continue to this day, public services strangled by ideology and what spending there is biased towards Southeast England. UK parliamentary democracy has served me and my city poorly, delivering government opposed to our interests for nearly half a century.

It was only by the EU, under the Social Chapter and measures such as the Working Time Directive that I saw my views represented.

We only vote for one candidate in one constituency, who may neither be elected MP nor serve in government.

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Legislation is drafted by dedicated, professional but unelected bureaucrats whichever parliament passes it.

Acts of the UK parliament frequently leave the details to be decided later at the whims of individual ministers.

So despite what other writers to The Star may believe, it is a myth and a distortion that leaving the EU somehow restores a golden era of representative democracy.

Laws made in Westminster or Brussels are equally alien and unaccountable, but more often the latter seem to have a familiar British ring.

J Robin Hughes

Towngate Road, Worrall, Sheffield S35