LETTERS to the editor in this week’s Coventry Observer
Help find my stolen bike
I bought my six-year-old son his first bike last Christmas then immediately realised I’d have to buy one for myself. Running just behind him was exhausting.
I invested in a black Cannondale from Albany cycles in Earlsdon, a good d-lock and a helmet, it wasn’t cheap. My son learned to ride straight away, like a duck to water. Unfortunately it took him a couple of months to master the art of stopping. He’s been covered in cuts and bruises and we’ve had tears, many.
When we could safely ride out together, I rode ahead then stopped and turned back. The smile on my son’s face is one I will never forget. We began to go everywhere on our bikes finding new routes around Coventry. I have learned Coventry could do much more to be cycle friendly. I began to use my cycle daily.
Last Thursday evening I cycled home from the city centre. My bike had been safely locked up outside the Council House. I stopped off at Biggin Hall Crescent convenience store in Stoke. I wasn’t inside for more than 40 seconds. By the time I came out again it had gone. I feel a fool, I left it outside unlocked, out of sight. Of course I blame myself as well as the thief.
Friday afternoon was a big day for my son. I planned to ride to Allesley to collect him from school and then we would ride home together for the very first time. It’s a long way from Allesley to Stoke for little legs.
When I told him what had happened and why I couldn’t come to collect him the next day he was beside himself, shouting how stupid she was and how he could never ride again.
The CCTV footage (posted on Twitter @TilleyEsquire) shows a young woman helping herself to my bike just 17 seconds after I got off it. She rides away down Biggin Hall Crescent in the direction of Balls Head Lane and Stoke Aldermoor. I know it’s just a bike but it’s how me and my son have fun.
Thanks to PC Peter Ormand from Operation Magpie West Midlands Police. Crime ref number 20CV/220725F/17
Jason Tilley,
Coventry
Students are back
Students are back. For some it is their first time on their own without the parents or family so they have been partying.
Past experience has shown that many residents have experienced problems with anti-social behaviour with some who carry on holding noisy parties, shouting and fighting in the streets.
There is now a new Anti-Social Behaviour Protocol which has been set up between the Coventry City Council, police, Coventry University and Warwick University. Every student has been shown the ASB Protocol, councillor Auluck, who teaches at the university, has told us.
If there is a complaint the council can use powers under the 2014 Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act. The ASB Helpline is 024 7683 2222 anytime between 09.00 & 02.59 hours.
If the protocol is ignored, it can lead to a student having a police record, and leave university without a degree.
Other anti-social behaviour including the dumping of trolleys, broken furniture, rubbish piled up in wrong bins can also be reported on this number. This could be a bad landlord problem but it needs reporting.
If there is any extreme cases of Anti-Social Behaviour call the Police on 101.
Hopefully this year it will be a peaceful time.
Paul Maddocks
Vice chair
Coventry Action for Neighbourhoods
Mutual respect is crucial
Coventry is home to people from many different backgrounds and mutual respect is crucial.
Nobody can choose his or her ethnicity or gender, nor being right-handed or left-handed, etc. It is a matter of genetic inheritance. All children are born innocent, and parents have a duty to protect them in every way they can.
Over the years, I have visited a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, the “Wailing Wall” in Jerusalem; the Vatican and St Paul’s Cathedral, Sikh temples, Muslim centres and much more. Everywhere, I offered, and received, respect.
We certainly need strong Intelligence and Emergency Services to combat illegal immigration and illegal activity of any kind, and are fortunate to have such very fine West Midlands Police, Fire and Ambulance staff. I fully support the proposed legislation to give them extra protection against attack of any kind.
But everyone living here legally should receive, and of course offer, courtesy. Some personal and political comments, on social media in particular, go well beyond the acceptable at present.
Rudeness is a sign of personal immaturity and Coventry, the City of Peace and Reconciliation, will, I hope, continue to offer courtesy to all.
Councillor David Skinner (Conservative, Westwood ward)
