LETTERs

Kiely got what he deserved

After reading about the business mishap to Peter Kiely (MA, Big Rent Hike Ousts ex-Provence boss, 18 January, p11), I feel he got what's been coming to him for a very long time.

So he had close his pub because he couldn't meet the high rent increase - good! I hope he lost a lot

of money, just as we did

12 months ago, when he hiked our rent to over £1,200 per week.

Three pubs in our area owned by Provence all closed within a month for the same reason - the financial pressure.

We were all there for the same thing - to earn a living and fulfil our dreams -dreams that were crushed and pushed aside by money-grabbers who didn't want long-term tenants.

They had our premium, which we are still paying off, and then they expected us to fork out a further £1,200 a week as well.

I found out only recently that Provence has gone under, and believe me, that was the best news I'd had in 12 months. Reading your piece about Kiely just put the icing on the cake.

It goes to show that what goes around, comes around.

I'm only glad that I've still got my family and home.

Let Kiely get into the real world and find a real job or, even better, let him struggle on the dole for a few weeks until he finds a dead-end warehouse job, like a few others ruined by Provence.

Thanks for taking time to air the opinions of a very happy ex-Provence victim.

Lynne

Full name and address withheld

Patriot games for all to join

Congratulations for choosing to highlight St George's Day (MA, By George, Let's Make April 23 Big!, 18 January, p1)

For too long, English people have been afraid to celebrate their Englishness.

It's about time we reclaimed St George's Day and the flag and used them both to celebrate all that is positive in this country.

I will certainly be decorating my pub.

Georgina Peach

Submitted to the MA Forum

English image needs rebranding

I feel that England and the English need positive PR to promote their image around the world. I have lived in France, Spain and Sweden for the last decade or so and the first thing I have done on arrival is establish to locals that I am Scottish, not English - after which life becomes easier for me.

These are not the ramblings of an SNP follower - just a reflection

of the way things are.

Generally, the English abroad have this "we used to have all the pink bits on the globe" attitude and act with a corresponding air of superiority.

The football fans are a disgrace and the behaviour of many on the Costas and elsewhere could be better.

If some form of pride can be re-established in a country that has a lot to be proud of historically, it can only be good for England.

To an outsider, it seems that England is only about football, soap operas and bad food.

Jim Ross (born London)

Submitted to the MA Forum

Extra holiday pay a burden too far

Does the Government really want businesses to survive in the UK? It's no wonder that manufacturing in the UK is declining and more and more large companies are sourcing labour from overseas. For the majority of the smaller companies and businesses in our industry, this is not an option.

Instead, the good old boys at the top increase our licence fees from £10 a year to anywhere between £70 and £1,050, tell us we have to pay our staff wage increases each year at twice the rate of inflation, and also tell us we must pay

our staff for being off sick (while also paying their replacements).

Now they tell us that we have to pay all our staff an extra two weeks holiday pay each year (again, applicable to their replacements). This means that for every nine people you employ, you will need to employ an extra one, as nine people who are each entitled to six weeks off equates to one year in total. So the extra person will have to cover all those people off!

I read recently that research by the Office of National Statistics agency showed that 336,000 jobs in the UK are paid below the statutory minimum, accounting for 1.3% of all jobs in the UK.

If that is the case, then

I'm sure they will not be getting 28 days holiday in a hurry and possibly are not even currently getting their 20 days!

Michael Kheng

kurnia.co.uk

Submitted to the MA Forum

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