Road complainers WITH petrol prices threatening to reach a record high, we are clearly in for another bout of protests from drivers. Not only do they complain about rising petrol prices, it seems they complain about anything that makes life difficult for them - congested roads, safety cameras, over zealous police/traffic wardens. The reality is, though, that all these problems are of their own making. There are too many drivers on the road wanting too much, consuming too much and occupying so much space. For every 100 cars there are 300 empty seats and the bigger the car, the more so. During the rush hour it would make sense to reduce speed limits by 10mph. Public transport, bicycles, patience, courtesy and respect, can provide some of the answers to our transport problems, and maybe our energy and global warming problems also. Allan Ramsey
(address supplied) Ride for fun THE debate on hunting with dogs could be resolved. In the absence of artificially stimulated blood-lust, a pack of hounds is a lovely thing. If killing the fox was banned, then many more people would gather on Sunday mornings and pay a sizeable fee simply to ride with the hounds along directed routes. They could wear the traditional hunting pinks and use the hunting horn, maintain the structure and authority of the hunt and its officials, but for the pure enjoyment of their mounts and of the beautiful landscape, instead of being merely a cruel and shameful element. Riding to hounds would become a certificated aspect of horsemanship and this would connect the hunts more closely to the much larger general riding fraternity. William Chirgwin,
address supplied Happy reading CONGRATULATIONS to the ECHO on 125 years of news service. I have been a reader of the ECHO most of my life and being 64 years old have seen some great changes in our city of Liverpool. I found the pull-out in last Tuesday's ECHO, with some good stories from years gone by, from the Hendersons fire with the loss of life which sadly I remember, to old pictures of other old stores on Merseyside and the history of stores of today, very interesting. I will put my pull-out on one side as a keepsake, so thanks again and keep up the good work, giving Merseyside people local news for the next 125 years. G E Reeve,
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