SIR – I have read three different stories in the last week in the Worcester News relating to traffic gridlock in Worcester. Apparently the new Waitrose, the new swimming pool and the new college will all cause gridlock in Worcester, not to mention the new super village.

I hate to disappoint but if a car was to break down, if there was an accident on the motorway, if there are roadworks anywhere in the city, if the cricket is on, if the racing is on, if there is a road closure, if it is rush hour or even if a lorry is unloading somewhere in Worcester then we always have gridlock and no doubt as per usual, County Hall are not aware there is a problem.

In my opinion all these new developments can only be good news for commuters in Worcester because we will be forced to do the obvious thing and finish the ring road.

John Matthews

Worcester

No place for hate crime

sir – I read Wendy Hands’ letter (Worcester News, July 15) with great interest. I acknowledge she has done a lot of research into the influx of immigrants into Europe and the incidence of racially-based hate crime in this great country of ours. In her haste to condemn Cameron of treason she neglected to condemn those racist criminals causing the grievous increase in post-referendum hate crime.

I did not vote for Brexit. I think to accuse UKIP supporters out-of-hand of racism is a pathetic attempt to belittle those with long held opinions about our relationship with Europe. However, surely her refusal to condemn these vile acts alongside her reportage is tantamount to approval.

To paraphrase Pastor Niemöller “First they came for the immigrants, and I did not speak out – because I was not an immigrant...then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.” Equally as important as our freedom to determine whether or not we remain in Europe is our duty to condemn these heinous acts and those who commit them.

Robyn Norfolk

Worcester

School does itself proud

SIR – As President of the Inner Wheel Club of Pershore my last external engagement for the year was to present The Excellence in Work Experience Cup at the Pershore High School Awards.

Although I live in Worcester and have always been ‘aware’ of the school and its reputation I was not prepared for what I witnessed at the Presentation Evening.

Firstly the pupils did the school proud! There was warmth and cohesiveness oozing through the hall that night with pupils having a pride in the school and eagerness to learn. The young lady who won the public speaking award was awe inspiring.

I’d have loved to have had the opportunity to speak the the young lady who received our trophy as where she did her placement and what she did sounded fascinating.

Standards such as these I know don’t come without staff commitment and I was amazed at the amount of years staff had served at the school - I know it happened in the past but to hear it now showed to me that loyalty for schools by teachers still exists.

After the presentations and the reception I found time to visit the Art Block.

What a very talented group of pupils they have. Some of the work I saw that evening could grace major galleries anywhere.

Much is said today in the media re falling standards in education.

Given that I only had a ‘snapshot’ of the school on this brief visit I feel that, whilst this is true in some areas/schools, it is both unfair and unjust to ‘tar everyone with the same brush’.

Pershore High School and the pupils showed me what can, and I am sure is, achieved in many schools and the young people and indeed their parents are fortunate to have such a superb local facility to attend.

Barbara Chapman

President of the Inner a Wheel Club of Pershore