Readers' letters - August 17

My B Class Mercedes diesel car is due for changing in May 2018.

I bought this car with a diesel engine because we were told that petrol engines, which I have always had before, were bad for the environment and not as efficient.

The government at this time was promoting diesel engines.

Now both petrol and diesel engines appear to be bad and are to be banned.

So what now?

Electric cars are much more expensive, charging points limited, travel is limited between charges and 
I worry about the batteries that are used.

Battery life, cost, old battery disposal and material supplies for battery manufacturing – all a worry.

Not sure what to get next, a petrol, a hybrid or an electric car.

I think people need some guidance from car manufacturers and the government specialists.

Electric and hybrid car costs need to be affordable, battery charging made easier and battery reliability needs to be looked at and assured.

Jim Stockwell

via email

Crack down on drunken crime

I am responding to your article, Former Door Boss Calls For Changes, about licensing objectives (Wigan Post August 14).

Mick Lyons’ intervention is absolutely 100 per

cent spot on and Wigan Council should heed his advice.

Despite implementing a Cumulative Impact Zone for Wigan town centre, where permissions for licensed premises are more tightly controlled, drunken and violent crime and anti-

social behaviour is still rocketing.

Most disturbingly, Mr Lyons says those involved have lost control completely and, to most observers, this is true.

If they have lost control in Wigan, they have lost control, full stop.

There appears to be a failure at Wigan Council to uphold the licensing objectives.

Their licensing enforcement seems either non-existent or incompetent.

This lack of enforcement can result in a flagrant breach of the licensing regime.

This has devastating consequences for the communities that have to pick up the pieces afterwards.

Mr Lyons says there is

a lack of transparency.

Wigan Council, despite many years of promises,

has still not published its public register online for public scrutiny.

This mismanagement ruins lives and communities with drunken crime, anti-social behaviour and mismanaged premises.

It prohibits genuine and responsible business people from start-ups and expansions because the system appears to be rife with failure.

It is a shameful record by the licensing department.

Michael Moulding

Ashton in Makerfield

Have a pint – but be sensible

Re: Ryanair wants two-drink limit. If Ryanair ran the bars at airports, I am sure they would not be complaining, and I am sure they will carry on selling booze on planes.

Simple rule, if you are too drunk to fly, you don’t fly and forfeit your ticket without compensation. Nothing wrong with having a pint or two before you take off but be sensible.

John Price via WP Facebook