I WOULD like to comment on violent crime in our town centres.

I feel it is sad to see such crimes like this on our streets. Violent crime is rising and it very concerning.

When I was a former councillor in Witham I worked closely with police officers and regularly spoke to police community support officers that were the heart of our community.

They were seen in our town patrolling our streets. They were approachable and were easy to report crimes to.

Sadly, the Conservatives brought in police commissioners that would decide how our streets are policed and many cuts were made.

Reductions of PCSOs is being noticed on our streets with a lack of patrols.

We have the closures of our police stations that makes it harder for people to see a police officer.

Now it’s done over the phone with the 101 service or if in an emergency, you dial 999 and hope for the best for a police officer or unit to arrive.

Criminals know they won’t be caught unless they are identified on CCTV.

The criminal is winning in our community and they know that because if they are caught or arrested they get away with a light sentence, or because of a lack of evidence they get away with it completely.

The problem is we have had cuts in our police force and don’t have enough officers in our streets to reduce crime.

I would urge councillor Lager and his Conservative colleagues to get in touch with the Prime Minister and Priti Patel to rethink their policing policy.

They cannot rely on voluntary Special Constables to save policing budgets.

Bring our police back on our streets and reopen police stations.

Wayne Tearle Una Road, Parkeston

  • Hypocrisy over light switch-off

One could not escape the audacious hypocrisy of our county councillors.

This was with regards the article posted by Connected Essex regarding its praise in relation to LED lighting now being installed across the county.

It is only three years since the whole contentious issue of the turning off of lights across the county.

Arguments opposing the turning off of lights were rife in articles in your paper and in the letters page.

One of the arguments put forward was that of changing to LED lighting or that of solar panel lighting, both of which were rejected by county councillors at the time.

The excuse being it was to be too expensive and take too long to roll out over the county.

They even disregarded a report councillors had commissioned with alternatives to the switching off of lights (part time) during the hours darkness.

The article goes onto say installation of LED lighting applies to “all night lights” like the A127.

The article then goes onto say the lights that are broken beyond repair are also going to be replaced by LEDs.

Surely this is a false economy. Why do you replace broken lights with LEDs that are going to switched off for half their life?

The knock-on effect of having local “all night lights” might also lead to a safer communities and a reduction in the record levels of crime.

A.V.Holmes Meadow Way, Jaywick Sands

  • We loved quirky take on menopause

On Saturday night, I found myself in a surreal situation at the West Cliff Theatre.

The occasion was the performance of the musical Menopause, a subject matter, which perhaps, the majority of men are not au fait with.

Outnumbered by 50-1, I felt I had gatecrashed, this very personal girls’ night out.

The quartet of professional actresses/singers, transported the audience to Clearys, a British department store, where they produced a warts and all, musical/song diary of how this change affects females of a certain age, up and down the country.

The comedy element, timing etc was first class with abundance of funny lyrics adapted from well known songs to highlight every process of “the change”.

With everyone enjoying the evening, and time moving swiftly, audience participation was to the fore with a comical Tina Turner rendition of What’s love got to do with it? If you ask me, a lot.

We loved this lighthearted expose of a serious health topic.

Cheryl, Maureen, Rebecca and Ruth, thank you, take a bow.

Tom Gunning Arnold Road, Clacton

  • Lua Lua a joy to watch for U’s fans

REGARDING my U’s Legends team, as the final team will have three substitutes, I thought I would pick three too.

I was torn as to who to pick as my goalkeeper substitute as the U’s have been blessed with several over the years, but I think Gerkan just edged it ahead of Percy Ames.

Big Duncan Forbes went on to star for several years with Norwich City.

He was a difficult man to beat, as England international Jeff Astle found when West Bromwich Albion played the U’s in an FA Cup tie at Layer Road back in the early Sixties.

I saw Lomana Tresor Lua Lua make his debut, away to Chesterfield.

I have never seen a single player “lift” the whole team in the way he did when he came on as a sub and scored within five minutes.

Nor, during his time at the U’s, did we know what might happen next with the unpredictable Lua Lua. He was a joy to watch.

I recall one captain saying: “We never know what he is going to do next. But then, often nor does he.”

Sir Bob Russell Catchpool Road, Colchester

  • We believe people of this country have made a mistake

I HAD vowed not to write any more concerning Brexit, as I had my say recently, but I cannot let Stephen Scrase’s rather unpleasant remarks concerning Eddie Ross passing without comment.

I can assure Mr Scrase that Mr Ross is not “Eddie no mates”.

I do not know him personally but he is one of 16 million myself and my wife included, 48 per cent of those who voted in the referendum, who believes we are better off as part of Europe.

Mr Scrase is typical of many “Brexiteers”, he feels we “Remainers” are no longer allowed to have any opinion.

Yes, the Remain vote was slightly less than Leave (4 per cent is hardly a landslide), but many of us will still be voicing our opinion - I will always be convinced many people voted Leave for the wrong reasons.

May I give a few examples: Wales voted Leave. Since 2000 they have received £4 billion in EU funding.

Cornwall voted Leave. For the past 10 years they have received £60 million per year in EU funding.

Will our Government continue this sort of funding? I very much doubt it.

The North East (Sunderland) voted Leave. A large number of people are employed at the Nissan Car Factory. In spite of assurances from our Government, Nissan has said it will have to review the situation when the terms of Brexit are clear.

Many farmers who voted Leave are now beginning to have concerns regarding their subsidies.

We are not in self-denial Mr Scrase. We honestly believe the people of this country have made a terrible mistake.

I am pleased Mr Farley is in agreement with me regarding the state of our local roads, infrastructure, etc, which has not improved in 50 years.

I fail to see how this is anything to do with the EU.

It is the failure of successive governments to put investment in place, not only here, but in many parts of the country.

My wife and I have ridden/driven in France, Germany, Holland and Belgium over many years.

In most cases their road (and rail) systems are far superior to ours, thanks to government investment.

Mr Farley and I also agree the NHS is in crisis - something that has been coming for many years. May I suggest if it were not for staff from many EU countries coming here to work, things would be a lot worse.

Time will tell if Brexit was the right decision. I firmly believe it was not. If I am proved wrong, I will be happy to apologise - unfortunately, at 72, time is not on my side.

Dave Lester Mile End Road, Colchester