Dear Editor

It’s all very well saying people shop in large stores on the outskirts, but the co/op is the centre of town and is ideal the elderly to pop in when I town. We don’t want t to lose the Post office because it’s the only one in Minehead. 

More importantly, what is going to happen to the Co/op staff if the store is closed for 18 months? Most of the staff have been there a long time.

Name and address supplied.

Dear Editor,

Yesterday’s Government data revealed that shockingly, rough sleeping in England has risen 27% in the past year. And more than doubled since 2010. These aren’t just statistics, they are people, thousands of people, who’s lives have fallen apart in a terrible way and haven’t had the support and back up they need at that critical moment. As a result they are sleeping on our streets each night.

This just should not be happening. One important way to reduce the number of people rough sleeping is to break the link between rough sleeping and the criminal justice system. A third of rough sleepers have been in prison, and we know hundreds of people leave prison into homelessness every month.

This is despite the importance of stable housing in reducing reoffending. Where there are key moments like leaving prison, and someone is at risk of homelessness, we need to ensure that everything possible is done to help people find and keep a home for the long term.

Campbell Robb,

Nacro, Chief Executive

Dear letters editor

Highly infectious viruses like RSV, Strep A and flu are common - even at this time of year. RSV for example is one of the main cause of coughs and colds and while most of us only have mild symptoms if we catch it, RSV can lead to more serious breathing problems in younger children and babies with health conditions or complex medical and may need hospital treatment as a result.

As the pressures on NHS services continue to increase and, as a charity supporting families with disabled children and their families, Contact wants to make sure Somerset families recognise the signs and symptoms of RSV, Strep A and flu, how to reduce risk of infection in younger children and what action parents should take and when - whether it’s seeking advice and help from your pharmacy or GP or calling 111.

Find out more on our website www.contact.org.uk. Being aware of infections like RSV and Strep A, alongside getting the flu vaccination and the Covid-19 booster jab are some of key ways to protect yours and the health of your children with disabilities and health conditions so your family keeps well whatever the season.

Yours sincerely

Amanda Elliot, Health Lead Contact, the charity for families with disabled children

Dear Editor,

Spring is fast approaching, and with it the familiar sounds of the dawn chorus, as we listen out for the melodic blackbird, the beautiful song thrush and the sweet serenade of the blue tit.

Bird song is important to many of us – in new research from RNID, 73% of UK adults said they would miss the sounds of birds singing if they lost their hearing. This World Hearing Day (Sunday 3 March), RNID is encouraging nature lovers to take a free online hearing check.

Missing the high-pitched calls and trills of birds is common for people who are experiencing undiagnosed hearing loss, and as changes in your hearing can happen gradually, they can be difficult to spot.

Over 360,000 people have taken RNID’s online hearing check, and many of them tell us they can now enjoy hearing birds singing again thanks to their hearing aids. One person said, ‘There seem to be more birds in the garden!’ whilst another declared ‘I can hear birdsong in all its glory.’

It’s easy to take RNID’s online hearing check and it only takes three minutes – why not check your hearing today at rnid.org.uk

Yours sincerely,

Crystal Rolfe,

Director for Health at RNID

Dear Editor,

I have received in the post a leaflet from Ian Liddell-Grainger. He says he is introducing himself as the candidate for Tiverton and Minehead.

He makes all sorts of claims about how great he is. He does not mention which party he is standing for. You have to wade through a lot of promises and claims. Then you discover he may be connected to the Conservative Party. Haha! The fact that the leaflet was printed in green, not blue, nearly fooled you, didn’t it?

If he wants to distance himself from the Conservatives, he should stand as independent. He must think we are all green to fall for this silly attempt to deception.

Anthony Smith,

Williton