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Upset at sight of circus elephant in chains
For anyone with a spark of humanity, the idea of an elderly elephant restrained with chains in a field at a busy roundabout feels very distressing, yet this is what we got last weekend in Leigh.
When inquiring at the ticket office I was told "she doesn't do much she just comes out at the end". Having spent long hours on the road in a beast wagon then chained for the remaining time until her short time in the ring with bright lights and music it would be difficult for her to behave in a normal manner.
This is the circus and the life of performing animals a relic of the past.
Anne the old arthritic elephant must dream of what her life could have been and think of all the other elephants in the world and then wonder why me!
Jenny Dobbs, Thompson Street, Leigh
Cash boosts for wigan families
These are tough times right across the world including here in Wigan.
The Government is committed to not repeating the mistakes of previous recessions where families and communities were left to cope on their own. The Government is offering a lot of extra help at this time when people need it most. But for me, what is most important is making sure that people in Wigan have access to the extra support for families, pensioners, people looking for jobs and homeowners.
From April, child tax credits will rise by 150 a year and working tax credits by 90 a year. Basic rate taxpayers will get a tax cut worth 145 a year helping 2.8million people in this region. And if you or someone in your family are expecting a child there is a new Health in Pregnancy Grant worth 190 for mums-to-be. This means extra support for more than 63,000 women in our region.
The state pension is going up by 4.55 to 95.25 from April, helping 33,000 pensioners in Wigan. We have also increased the Pension Credit to 130 a week for single pensioners and 198 for couples, helping 9,330 households in Wigan. It was more important than ever that this year there was a Winter Fuel Payment of 250 for the over 60s and 400 for those over 80.
I am determined that families in Wigan will not be left to cope on their own. If you or a loved one loses their job, there will be support from day one. There is now practical help if you lose your job with one to one support and advice and free new training courses available.
We are also working with mortgage lenders to stop repossessions in the current climate. And there is a new Mortgage Protection scheme, so mortgage payments can be changed.
I'm proud that children and families are at the heart of Labour's policies, but especially so during these tough times. This cash boost will make a real difference to families in Wigan.
Neil Turner, MP for Wigan
Be responsible for your mistakes
Until people have to pay out of their own pockets for mistakes they've made, they will learn nothing. And nothing will alter. It is the taxpayers who are having to pick up the bills for lots of claim that in my mind they shouldn't have to pay for.
The council get claimed against for stupid blunders their employees make, claims over negligence, something not being done which should have been. They bolt the gate after the horse has bolted. They pay up using taxpayers' money.
In hospitals doctors make mistakes, take off the wrong limbs, remove healthy organs - who pays for their botched surgeries? The British public.
People should learn from their mistakes or nothing will change.
P Openshaw, Cale Lane,
New Springs
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Weather for Wigan
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
