• Pokemon No! Restrictions designed to ruin enjoyment

Having lived around the Mistley, Manningtree, Lawford area for over 45 years I must say I am disgusted at the way a little side road has been plastered with no waiting cones because a resident complaint. Surely having seen many people young and old on the seats playing the Pokemon game for a few weeks, what harm are they doing?

They are just having fun.

After all, there is nothing for the younger generation to do around these areas.

Surely this is good they are doing something rather than roaming the streets causing vandalism.

Having gone past on Saturday afternoon and seeing a single person it made it very disappointing as the weekend before there must of been over 50 or 60.

Why is it when there is something for people to do, enjoying the fresh air, getting exercise and walking along the walls, it gets stopped.

Some of the people were not local and had travelled to find this venue, bringing Mistley into limelight.

Now they want to remove any good mentions by the people playing the game.

Please show some sense and remove these cones.

There is no legislation or parking regulations for that little side road, having checked with Essex County Council, so these cones could be easy removed and returned to a police station.

Surely its better to have them park in that little side road rather than on New Road, which is a main road where where a danger could be caused, and give these people the freedom to enjoy playing a game .

Dave Smy Waldegrave Way, Lawford

  • A real sense of camaraderie

Last Sunday a group of residents from Holland-on-Sea gave up their time to help clear overgrowth, and tidy-up the footpath Sea Lane, on the border of Holland and Clacton.

It was really good to see residents of all ages taking part and highlighted what can be done in the community, by the community.

Everyone worked hard, and there was a real sense of camaraderie between the group despite, in many cases, only meeting each other that day.

We all lead very busy lives these days and, at the same time, we are all faced with public sector financial cuts which impact on the provision of services.

The decision of the Holland-on-Sea Residents’ Association to create a Volunteer Task Force was a bit of a gamble as it could have been that nobody responded.

But we needn’t have worried as there is clearly a lot of support in Holland-on-Sea.

Both Tendring Council and Essex County Council gave us assistance and helped with the removal of the waste which we are very grateful for.

The residents’ association looks forward to working closely with both local authorities.

The clearing of overgrowth in Sea Lane proved to be both enjoyable and rewarding, and only goes to remind us how lucky we are to live in such a lovely environment.

I would like to thank everyone that took part and say that it was a great team effort by a great team.

Richard O. Walker Chairman, Holland-on-Sea Residents’ Association

  • Ban scooters from the town centre

I AM very concerned about the dangerous practice of young children riding scooters in the town centre.

As a mother and grandmother I would never allow any of my family to join in this practice.

My main concern is for the elderly. I take my 92-year-old mother in her wheelchair to town and have had some near accidents with scooters.

Such is my concern I wrote to Will Quince MP but he does not share my concerns and replied: “In my view it is perfectly acceptable for children to rider their scooters around the town centre and am a firm believer in parental responsibility.

“I take on board your concerns that some parents do not supervise their children in an adequate way, but I think it would be wrong to stop children from riding their scooters around the town centre.”

I think scooters should be used in local parks, including Castle Park, but not in a busy shopping centre.

Julie Elford Turnstone End, Colchester

  • Bottles were made here in Colchester

​THE Stevens Own bottle Mr Channon enquired about was just up my street, born 97 years ago in Maidenburgh Street when Stevens was up the top, just below Joslins.

As a boy I used to collect the empty bottles from Castle Park after the carnival and was given a fizzy drink for taking them back.

Mr Willis was the manager.

I sold several Stevens bottles to a bottle collector, one of which was found behind a chimney breast in Mill Street.

Ted Cant Alderton Road, Colchester