Happy to see the plaque for Ken

I AM very pleased to report that Basildon Council, together with Barratt Homes, has now immortalised the late Kenneth Cotton’s name with a plaque marking the spot where his beloved 1960’s swimming pool stood in Gloucester Park, which was at the time at the cutting edge of contemporary architecture. Ken was an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a highly talented man of his day and Basildon District Council as it was then known, was lucky to have him as there guiding light in all matters architectural.

Both Ken and his wife, Trina, lived in the borough and were tireless Basildonians , and she now survives him as the architect who designed Saint Martins of Tours Church in St Martin’s Square, Basildon.

As a friend of the family, I am so pleased that Ken has been remembered in this way, with a bronze plaque set into the patio next to the new artificial lake, now surrounded by the houses that replace his finest achievement for the new town.

He will be remembered as one of the founding fathers of this little enclave in darkest Essex, and so visitors will be able to witness this heartfelt memory of a man so much admired by his fellow townsmen, as they stroll from the town centre to the new Sporting Village.

VIN HARROP Rosslyn Road, Billericay

Building should have been used

IT IS good news that Southend Council will take over the empty Pier Hill building and turn it into a gallery for local artists, just as I suggested in a letter to the Echo some time ago.

But, in the same way that the PET-CT cancer scanner stood unused for two years before the bureaucrats decided to switch it on, so has this place been unnecessarily wasted for twelve years.

Instead of leaving it empty while making futile attempts to deal with Costa and Starbucks, local cafés and artists should have been given short-term use of the building from the start.

Negotiations with the big coffee companies could have proceeded side-by-side with these arrangements, and we would have had twelve years of art and business on Pier Hill instead of this embarrassing emptiness.

JASON PILLEY Moseley Street, Southend

So many contacting their MP over A&E

IN reply to our local MP Mr Duddridge, at no time did my newsletter state that our A&E department was going to close.

What I did say was that there was a consultation on the consolidation of A&E at Basildon Hospital. Which is a factual statement.

I asked our members to write to our MP as their role is to support their constituents and put forward their views. I received an email from Mr Duddridge on this subject, however most of it was about the fact that constituents were contacting him and he had to get his office to reply. What a shame!

RON WOODLEY Tyrone Road, Southend

Better things to have a go about

IF Victor T York is ‘fed up to the back teeth’ over the way Brexit is going, is it because the Brexiteers have bitten off more than they can chew? (Letters, Nov 24) This as it becomes clearer by the day that things are not as simple as the single question of a referendum putting the interests of a divided Conservative Party before those of a United Kingdom suggested at the time.

And as the nation now gets its teeth into the costs and benefits of withdrawing from the most enlightened political venture the world has ever seen, surely there will be an opportunity - one way or another in a developed democracy such as ours – to revisit that question more intelligently.

This is not to deny the democratic result of the referendum, hugely narrow as it was - it would be employing a ‘belt and braces’ approach to democracy in a United Kingdom on the verge of breaking up over the issue.

Who, in all good reason, could object to that?

And would Vic be better advised to get his hoary old teeth into that rather than attempting to chew me out in Letters – I’ll only give him indigestion or worse at his age.

JOHN HARAN Manchester Drive, Leigh

A wonderful start to Christmas time

WE wanted to praise the congregation of St Laurence and All Saints Church on their recent Winter Wonderland.

The huge effort of the church and its many supporters saw the children of the parish experience the joy of Christmas and gave adults such a lovely atmosphere to begin the Christmas season.

CLLR MARK FLEWITT CLLR STEVEN BUCKLEY Borman Close, Leigh

Lights switch on was very enjoyable

I HAVE enjoyed watching the Christmas lights switch on this year.

It’s a lovely way to ease into the madness of present buying, visiting family and friends, cooking and eating far too much.

Soon I will be running around trying to do far too many things at once, so it was nice to just sit back (well stand in the crowd), and watch the lights go on, reminding all of us that Christmas is supposed to be a good time, not full of stress.

MAGGIE DAY Manchester Drive, Leigh

IVF not the only treatment to go

I READ in the paper on Friday that IVF treatment will no longer be funded by the NHS.

This is a terrible blow for those who need treatment in order to start, or extend a family and I truly feel awful for those people affected.

However, the NHS was never designed to deal with these sorts of problems. It has grown from the initial idea of providing basic healthcare for all to a complete service, offering such things as IVF treatment and cosmetic surgery.

It’s marvellous that it’s grown so much, but it has been a victim of its own success in that now we expect far more from the NHS than it can afford to offer.

As well as IVF treatment, other ‘services’ available have quietly been stopped over the last few years, with little public outcry.

Several months ago, the Echo featured a story about prescription foods being no longer available to those with coeliac disease.

People say it’s a waste of money, much as some do about IVF treatment. I don’t believe this is true in either case, or in other services which have been stopped.

However, if we want our NHS to offer help for conditions and problems which aren’t immediately life-threatening, we need to be willing to pay for it with higher contributions.

JOAN WINKLE Sutton Road, Southend

Give your time this Christmas

AS the world gets festive with December only days away, we are already being inundated with appeals for help from charities.

At this time of year, as well as the usual appeals, we are also being asked to give generously to help those less fortunate enjoy Christmas.

But there are other ways to help rather than just giving your money away.

You could invite a lonely person into your home for a meal, either as a one-off or a regular thing.

You could help out at a soup kitchen, making sure people can have a hot meal.

You could give out blankets to those left shivering on the streets.

This Christmas, think about giving your time, not just your money, to those who need your help. You might find it gives you back even more.
KELLY HIGHAM Swanstead, Vange