Readers' letters - August 8

Anyone during the hot spell would have taken the option of parking their car on a street under a tree’s canopy if possible, especially when the temperature could be 10°C cooler.And especially when they have to consider the effects of heat on the vulnerable, the elderly, children and pets. The shade from urban trees extends pavement life because it reduces the amount of expansion and contraction caused by the daily heating of the asphalt. Would this not also apply to roads, especially where they are tree-lined on both sides?Another study indicates that trees have a calming effect on teenagers and young adults suffering from ADHD. Undoubtedly trees release social stress for all people – there are many links between the absence of trees and antisocial behaviour. Researchers have, moreover, demonstrated that motorists suffer less road rage in green urban areas compared to more barren ones and that street trees can help make our cities safer.Fresh evidence of their benefits to city life is constantly uncovered.Wendy JenrickAddress supplied

Fines gettingout of handI recently read in the paper about a lady being fined for littering. She had dropped a cigarette end and was ordered to pay the court over £300.Who are the people who set these outrageous fines? By all means issue fines for littering but let’s not go raving mad. Some people who are put in a position of power tend to abuse it. There seems to be no limit to what they can demand from you. How long will it be before we get to £1,000 for a minor offence? Things seem to have got out of hand and are getting worse. Some time ago I wrote about the approach of a police state... well, it’s looking like I was right. I am in my eighties so one good thing looking to the future is the thought that dying doesn’t seem as bad – it’s the only way to escape these abuses.Name and address supplied

Kestrel sucha lovely bird

Recently I spent time with a rescued bird of prey. I put a long leather glove on to my left hand and lower arm and my companion, a young American kestrel, was placed on it and tied with a length of string to prevent him flying away.He seemed quite content to be with me, despite the nearby presence of a large eagle who was more than capable of making a meal of him. I tenderly stroked his breast and wings, and walked gently away from the eagle to reduce his anxiety. His striking markings surprisingly blended with my red tartan shirt. A few children were passing by after finishing school for the day and one of them posed for a photo with him. When it came time to leave, I didn’t want to give him back! Such a lovely bird. John C Fowlervia emailGet help with debt issues

This is an open letter to anyone who is in debt. Do you know there is a website you can go to? It is https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en. The phone number is 0800 138 7777. This website gives guidance on where to get advice. It is organised by the Citizens Advice Bureau and covers debt, pensions insurance, money management, savings, household budgeting, phone scams, credit unions and many more money issues.David S BallAddress supplied

Vandalism and ‘progress’

Re: Fury at new Wigan beauty spot vandalism (WEP August 6). Chopping many hundreds of trees down to build a road is progress, chopping a few trees down for no reason is vandalism. Hope the offenders are caught, but when permission is granted for building to take place on the Flashes, I hope the council is called worse than vandals.Steve Gallaghervia Wigan Post Facebook