Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

We’re so lucky

IT was nice to see the photograph of my near neighbours in Hazel Grove on the front of last week’s paper. We all had lovely letters from the pupils. I did write a reply to my little letter writer Arabella to thank her.

On the last day at school we had a follow up letter from the school saying that although the school was shut there would still be staff there if we needed any help.

At this difficult time it is nice to know that there are so many friendly people about.

Best wishes to you and all your readers until the day when we older generation are allowed out again to celebrate and catch something else.

Douglas Male, Hazel Grove, Trowbridge

Why no testing?

THE Prime Minister is increasingly looking weak and indecisive. Stephen Glover wrote in the Daily Mail, that “every significant new measure has had to be wrung from Boris Johnson, and then it is too late!”

Promises are made and then ignored. Protective equipment and clothing for frontline NHS staff has been promised for weeks. Staff have become infected and the NHS damaged because of the lack of this equipment.

Whilst the government becomes ever more authoritarian in its attempt to control the coronavirus, they deliberately ignore the key World Health Organisation recommendation, to substantially increasing testing for the virus.

The government has been promising more coronavirus testing for months. Only now, in the midst of the totally predictable health crisis, are they promising to buy millions of tests. Yet they are still talking of FOUR more weeks before testing 25,000 a day.

Jeremy Hunt, the highly experienced former Health Secretary, has warned that “Lack of testing means we have lost track of the virus.” We don’t know who has the virus or where the next outbreak will appear. No testing has been done outside of hospitals March 13.

Countries which have been more successful in achieving control in this virus, Germany, (with a far lower death rate than Britain), and South Korea, both have much higher levels of testing. They are even employing drive through testing for the virus, to speed up the process. South Korea routinely tests 20,000 people a day.

Increased testing would show the British people the government is deeply concerned about the situation and taking action. Instead we just get lectures and recommendations. Empty rhetoric!

A successful coronavirus strategy involves testing, quarantining positive cases and tracing of their contacts, and then isolating those contacts in turn. It is simple and straightforward. Other countries are doing this and protecting their precious health staff with protective clothing. Why aren’t we?

Andrew Milroy, Bellefield Crescent, Trowbridge

Respect drivers

I AM disgusted to read that UK lorry drivers are denied basic facilities and access to onsite toilets at regional distribution centres, which are large warehouses of the biggest and most well known firms.

Signs on toilet doors saying drivers can not use their toilets, they blame Covid 19, and banned drivers use of the toilets and told to use Portaloo’s outside which do not have hot running water to wash their hands. Also drivers are crammed in o waiting rooms, which is not ideal with spreading the virus, drivers are banned from waiting in their cabs while being unloaded, due to health and safety reasons.

With the influx of panic buying, the DVSA have now relaxed the EU rules for tachographs and legal driving times have been increased, daily rest periods reduced and weekly rest periods reduced, this will make drivers more fatigued and more likely to pick up an infection with reduced immunity levels.

More reading can be obtained from the RHA website and the drivers website of Trucknet.

Tim Williams, Helens Court, Shails Lane, Trowbridge

Shame on Tesco

TESCO’S superstore Trowbridge this morning, I went there to do a small necessary shop for my elderly parents. I was truly shocked at what I saw.

The store looked like it had been ransacked. No milk, eggs, teabags, bread, toilet rolls, fresh vegetables, tinned food, freezers empty.

What control is Tesco’s management putting on customers? This stockpiling is selfish, greedy and thoughtless. Tesco’s management what do you have to say ?

Shelley Nelson,Trowbridge

An idea for stores

ALL hospitals, doctors surgeries have hand sanitisers for everyone to use coming into their buildings. I think it would be very wise to install these into every supermarket and store NOW.

This would help to keep their customers safer and help staff keep safe, also supermarkets with sick customers and staff are not going to last long.

We the customers would like to stay healthy and our supermarkets still trading.

Robert Taylor, Trowbridge