Readers' letters: 'We have a beautiful country - so why behave like ignorant thugs?'

Obviously most of this is thrown from vehicles.

Why do they feel they must off-load their rubbish instead of taking it home and disposing in their own rubbish bins?

I am quite calmly writing this, but every time I see it, I am furious at their disregard for the environment.

Young people mostly show great concern for the environment, I can only presume these ‘dirty and thoughtless’ people are adults who throw out their rubbish.

Daffodils are bravely appearing, only to be engulfed by cans and plastic bottles etc.

I feel ashamed of my fellow countrymen/women who do this.

We have a beautiful country.

Why, why, why must we behave like ignorant

thugs?

We can start by educating children in the first instance and hope they grow up better than their elders.

Marilyn Shaw

via email

Law has been

a disaster

Just days after the Hunting Act came into force on February 18, 2005, claims of illegal hunting were made.

Some people had mistakenly thought that the whole activity of hunting with hounds was now banned and that they would never see such scenes again, which is surprising given that it was anti-hunting groups and politicians opposed to hunting who drafted the law.

At the time of its passing, the Hunting Act was hailed as sound legislation, allowing for the use of hounds in certain circumstances, including hunting a trail laid by a human.

As one of four former executive directors of the League Against Cruel Sports, whose views changed as we learned more about hunting (and the alternatives), I am confident in saying this law has been a disaster for the species that were previously hunted.

The fox population nationally is thought to have dropped by about one third, the red deer herds on Exmoor are slowly deteriorating due to disease and other factors, and as a direct result of the Hunting Act, tens of thousands of hares were shot out.

If anyone thinks the Hunting Act has been good for animal welfare, they had better think again.

The real problem with this law is that it was brought in on the back of ignorant animal rights thinking.

Having sat through every committee stage of the Hunting Act as it passed through Parliament, I was utterly dismayed at the lack of knowledge of wildlife management, of the process of hunting with hounds and what would fill its place if removed, as well as the sheer bigotry of some politicians disguising their campaign as something good for animal welfare.

Ardent anti-hunters will always see illegal hunting at every turn.

It raises the question why, when there are so many claims of law-breaking, is this not reflected in successful prosecutions?

Another question that must be asked of anti-hunting groups is what methods of wildlife management do they support?

Jim Barrington

Animal Welfare Consultant Countryside Alliance

Share your experiences

There are many people caring unpaid for a loved one who is older, disabled, or seriously ill.

Their situations vary.

Some people care round the clock, others for a few hours a week.

Some look after a relative in their own home, while others travel miles to care for a friend.

We know that 72 per cent of carers have suffered mental ill health as a result of caring, and 61 per cent have suffered physical ill health.

Eight in 10 carers say they have felt lonely or socially isolated.

Every single day, 600 people give up work to care.

It’s thanks to carers telling us about their experiences that we are able to explain to politicians and policy-makers the serious challenges they face, and fight for lasting change.

By filling in Carers UK’s 2020 State of Caring survey (at www.carersuk.org/2020survey), unpaid carers can help inform the UK’s most comprehensive study into experiences of looking after a loved one.

With a Government plan for social care reform currently in the making, it has never been more important for unpaid carers to share their experiences.

Helen Walker

Chief Executive

Carers UK

Let’s end ‘No

DSS’ refusals

Re: Shelter’s call for action on ‘No DSS’. It’s time to end the outdated practice of refusing to let to tenants in receipt of benefits and we welcome Shelter continuing to draw attention to this issue.

Nationwide Building Society, and our buy to let arm The Mortgage Works, do not place restrictions on landlords letting to tenants on benefits.

We welcome the fact that most other lenders have also now reviewed their own practices and mortgage restrictions have largely been removed as a barrier.

However, as only around one third of privately rented properties are mortgaged, such changes can only have limited effect and all parts of the sector – including landlords and agents – must remove ‘No DSS’ restrictions.

Government also has a role to play.

Simplifying the benefits system and the way payments are made seems pivotal to encouraging landlords, already under growing financial pressures themselves, to consider renting to tenants on benefits – as well as a specialist housing court to provide fast and effective remedies when things do go wrong.

Paul Wootton

Nationwide’s Director of Home Propositions

Marbles mischief

Who is behind the mischief in linking a future trade deal with the future of Gibraltar and the Elgin Marbles?

None other than the usual suspects, Macron and Barnier. If the EU wants to play hardball in the trade negotiations, the ordinary people of Britain should reciprocate. I know which side will be worst off.

Harry Brooke

Address supplied