During the period that the trees were being planted; I couldn't help but think two things;
1) Are the trees not too close to the terraced houses? i.e. in time the roots may undermine the shallow footings and may cause structural damage to properties.
2) The trees have been planted, minus any protective cages and/or supporting timbers, therefore our drunken drug fuelled yobs will merely snap the young trees before they have time to mature.
Less than a fortnight after being planted and already I see that at least three of the young trees have already been snapped and have now disappeared (near to Bulldog Tools) and no doubt the rest will soon follow.
It may only be something of a minor nature, but added to other more expensive mistakes, such as the Hall Lane, Hindley, traffic calming measures and the Hindley Town Centre road redevelopment fiasco and the resultant traffic chaos it saddens me to see that Wigan Council is appointing so called experts that seemingly have little or no common sense and these people are being allowed to run departments, make decisions and ultimately waste our Council Tax money. Something needs to be done.
A Concerned Council Tax, Payer from Hindley

Why I'm still flying the flag
I display in my home, a signed framed photograph of, Diana Princess of Wales, being embraced by her two sons, Princes William and Harry.
She sent it to me at Christmastime 1995. I wrote to the late princess shortly after her panorama programme on BBC TV in November of that year.
In 2005 and again in 2006 I wrote to Kensington Palace to request an unsigned updated photo of the two princes to portray alongside that of their mother in time for the tenth anniversary of her tragic death. The palace, for some reason appeared reluctant to do this and sadly turned me down.
Being determined, in October of last year, I wrote to my MP, Ian McCartney, to see if he could use his position to help me in my quest. In January of this year I received, from the palace, a photo of the two princes in uniform.
What my intention is, and now in the process of doing, is to transfer my signed photo of Diana into a larger frame and add the photo of the two princes in it.
I have also added a portrait of the Queen Mother and her majesty the Queen with the union flag in the centre to give it extra prominence. Gordon Brown is urging us to promote Britishness, so I thought I would play my part.
My plan is to pass the said photo to my godson, William Patrick Jones, who will be 10 in November. He is a pupil of St Patrick's RC School in Hardybutts and is a keen rugby player for St Pat's RLFC under 10s this coming season. We must take into consideration that Prince William will become king in his time.
Tom Penman,
Scholes.

Butterflies thanks
May I take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped Butterflies Children's Charity last Sunday.
We raised a wonderful amount of money towards a school trip for a child, treats for younger members of the family and gifts for grieving children.
Special thanks to Val, Pam, Pat, Ronnie, Margaret, Maureen, Lynn and Jayne, their families and their children all gave their precious time to help others.
Thank you to Gladys at the centre on Norley Hall, and the generous local people who are local heroes themselves.
Catherine 386,
Butterflies Children Charity,
c/o 74 Albert Street,
Newtown,
Wigan.

'Trapped' by the speed cameras
I can confidently prove that I am a professional and safe driver.
That's because driving is the means by which I earn my living, covering more than 30,000 miles a year.
As well having been driving for almost 50 years with a clean licence – until now. You see I have just been "trapped"! by a mobile speed camera van. You know the ones without any indication that they are in the vicinity. In addition to where, it is not always easy to immediately reduce speed to 30mph, and where a restricted speed limit of 30mph is not always obvious.
I deliberately use the word "trap" because that is exactly what this type of persecution is. The ideal money-raising trap and nothing more.
It happened while driving in perfect weather in open countryside, not far from Ashurst Beacon, with no other vehicles or pedestrians nearby. Suddenly having to reduce speed from an unrestricted (up to 70mph) down to 30mph at the summit of a quite steep downward incline is not easy without quite forceful breaking, especially when vigorous hedgerow growth has obliterated the 30mph signs until very close. At the time of entrapment I was doing about 38mph and rapidly coming down to 30mph.
May I congratulate the officer's conscientious and skilled dedication to duty; with very little effort.
His brilliant skill in locating the perfect trap could not be bettered in order to get maximum "kills".
I can only agree with the officer (and "super"), that there is no money to be had in catching criminals. And there is absolutely no risk in persecuting perfectly safe and experienced drivers.
Name and address
supplied

School reunion for class of 1978
St John Fisher High School are holding a 30 year reunion on Friday, June 27, at Standish Court Golf Club for fifth form students who left in May 1978.
It promises to be a great night of shared memories and 70s music, a hot buffet is provided and tickets are just £10 available from Linda: 01942 247944, Joanne: 01942 492015 or Angela: 01942 824938. A night not to be missed.
L Rosental,
Fellside,
Wigan.

Please help your patients
So Wrightington Hospital has (together with Walton Neuro and others locally) been severely criticised by reports into its practices regarding post operative infections /hygiene.
I attended Wrightington and had a knee replaced a couple of years ago, the other knee was also scheduled to be replaced. In 35 years working for the NHS I had 'minimal' sick leave, I then had my operation on the second knee cancelled no fewer than THREE times due apparently to the repeated 'sick leave' of a consultant anaesthetist.
During this enforced 'inactivity' my weight rose alarmingly. Despite never having smoked and my acknowledged efforts at successful physio at Wrightington I have been 'refused further treatment' by this same consultant. All pleas and complaints have met with arrogant rebuttal by managers and refusal to listen or appear to care.
Perhaps if Wrightington Hospital managers spent less on the entrance hall exhibition and more on actually helping patients they would 'score better' in NHS league tables, 35 years NHS service serves for nothing with them.
Name and address supplied