A reader’s anger over ‘double standards’ in animal welfare laws - your letters, plus RAF Cosford bids farewell to Ben the dog mascot in a picture throwback

Farmers deserve equal treatment

Carrying on from the government’s abysmal disregard and arrogance over farming. We now know it is proposing an unfair and outrageous double standards in animal welfare across the countryside and nation.

Currently British animal welfare law requires that animals are stunned before slaughter to render than unconscious and insensitive to pain when killed.

However, exemptions are permitted on religious grounds, allowing halal and shechita slaughter by cutting the throats of conscious animals.

Farmers have kept sheep across the countryside for generations. They deserve the full protection of the law beyond the farm gate.

The proposed Animal Welfare strategy makes no reference to this slaughter is evidence of political cowardice and awful double standards when it comes to challenging unacceptable standards by religious groups.

This contrasts with the proposed ban on trail hunting which will do little to stop some criminals killing foxes but, will result in the culling of hundreds of healthy fox hounds.

Perhaps, people in our countryside could organise themselves as a religious group and therefore avoid the ridiculous double standards being proposed by this government.

One law for some, another for countryside plebs apparently. Metropolitan elites are not what is best for our countryside or rural communities.

Doug James, Walsall

Where will the people park?

I read through the article about the plans by the ABL Group to convert the building vacated by M&S in Dudley Street into 71 flats. Try as I might I couldn't find any mention of provision for tenants' car parking. Even allowing for just 50 per cent of the tenants having a vehicle that leaves a need for 35 parking spaces. Where?

If the intended residents have the financial wherewithal to buy or even just rent a city centre flat they will almost certainly have a car. If they are not financially secure then we should probably ask: How did they enter the country; how long have they been in the country and whether or not our taxes are paying for their accommodation.

Trevor Howard, Wolverhampton

​Thanks for help over Christmas

On behalf of the Rotary Club of Wednesbury, can I give a massive thank you to everyone in our town who supported and contributed to us, during the 17 nights we were travelling around virtually every street and road in Wednesbury, with our Father Christmas Sleigh.

The total monies collected amounted to the magnificent sum of £13,944.70. In addition, we distributed thousands of lollies to the children, as we toured around.

Since it first started in 1975, our Sleigh has been out and around virtually every year since, during the festive season, and the way it continues to get such a warm, welcoming, and brilliant response, makes all our efforts, to spread Christmas Joy, so worthwhile.

A huge thank you has to be given to the groups who assisted us on different nights, thus enabling us to complete this marathon project – all will be receiving donations from the club in the near future. Despite the current difficult economic climate, this did not prevent the people of Wednesbury from entering into the spirit of Christmas. Thank you all.

Mike Warner, Wednesbury Rotary Club

Generosity is truly amazing

The members of Cannock Rotary Club would like to convey our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has so generously contributed to our Christmas collections again this year. Your generosity has been truly amazing, and thanks to the wonderful support given to our club we have raised the magnificent sum of just over £6,200.

We must also thank the local supermarkets, Asda Cannock, Tesco Heath Hayes and Tesco Hednesford, along with Dobbies Garden Centre Gailey who allowed us to collect, along with our Santa and his sleigh.

As well as raising much needed funds, we hopefully brought a little Christmas cheer to our local community.

Our members are only too aware of the difficult economic climate we are all currently experiencing, which makes the total donated even more impressive.

We will now use all the money raised to help local charities and good causes in need within the Cannock Chase area.

Thank you all so very much for your wonderful support, it is with your help that we can make a difference in our local community.

Alan Matkin, Club President 2025-26, Cannock Rotary Club

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