Your letters

Overlooking real concerns

Sir, — I am writing in response to Sam Jonkers’s article, “Refugees need our help, end narrative of division” (Standard, October 3). While I share Mrs Jonkers’s call for compassion toward genuine asylum seekers, the article overlooks, and stigmatises, legitimate concerns about uncontrolled immigration, particularly its economic and social impacts.

Mrs Jonkers suggests that flying the UK flag has been “weaponised”, implying that national pride conflicts with welcoming refugees. I disagree.

The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those fleeing persecution, violence and war. Most Britons support this, as polls show (e.g., YouGov, 2023, 68 per cent favour protecting genuine refugees) and raising concerns about border control does not equate to “far-right” views; a label too often and easily applied to dismiss valid public anxieties, which is without foundation and increasingly meaningless.

Mrs Jonkers highlights some exemplary migrants — a doctor, an Afghan interpreter, a special needs worker. Men who are likely to work, assimilate and make a positive contribution to our society. Yet are these typical of the 50,000-plus arrivals of predominantly young, undocumented males since 2022?

Can anyone deny that our country is experiencing levels of immigration that are simply unsustainable, with the levels of illegal migration imposing substantial economic burdens on UK taxpayers, i.e., asylum accommodation is expected to cost more than £15 billion over the next decade, with housing in hotels alone averaged around £108 million per month in 2024/25?

High-profile incidents, like sexual assaults linked to asylum seekers in Epping and Wakefield, understandably fuel public concern about issues with asylum hotels, and deserve attention without labelling those who raise any concerns as “racist”.

This issue is not going to be resolved by insulting dissenting views, which risks deepening divisions that Mrs Jonkers was purporting to be ending, and so, a more balanced approach should surely be sought between those with opposing positions, i.e., by both appreciating the legitimate concerns of those who want to reduce the total number of migrants, while supporting genuine refugees. — Yours faithfully,

Andrew Ball

Highmoor

Uninformed argument

I am writing to comment on the article in last week’s
Henley Standard (page 5) where our Liberal Democrat MP Freddie van Mierlo called for a total ban on arms sales to Israel.

The Lib-Dems have been out of power for so long that they seem free to make sweeping virtue-signalling gestures like this safe in the knowledge that they will not have to deal with the realities and pragmatism of global politics. Either that or they are just ill-informed.

Yes, the UK does make arms sales to Israel but, as our MP writes, “we are not a significant arms provider to them”. One of our major customers is actually Saudi Arabia, currently involved in the civil war in Yemen that has created a humanitarian crisis with currently 540,000 malnourished children at risk of death according to UNICEF. I did not see any reference to this from him in the article.

Conversely, the UK buys arms from many countries and guess what? The two main suppliers to the UK are America and Israel.

So, let’s imagine what would happen in Mr van Mierlo’s world if we did indeed cease all our “insignificant” sales to Israel. Could there be the slightest chance that Israel could respond and decide not to supply the UK with the substantial amount of arms and components that we do buy?

I didn’t feel there would be enough column space to continue to detail the many other alliances we have with Israel around technology and defence agreements that could also be put at risk to the detriment of the UK should we embargo Israel as he demands.

I know that politics is a bit of a “rough and tumble” game but surely it should be one that is nuanced with a level of informed argument and not simplistic headline grabbing writing such as this. — Yours faithfully,

Clive Wilkinson

Greys Road, Henley

Festival joy — despite issues

Sir, — As sewage drifts past on my local river, I am enjoying higher bills and a continuing hosepipe ban.

Thames Water has further brightened my life with the long-running closure of the Market Place and the roadworks at Shiplake.

But hats off to them — this week they played their trump card — the four-way lights in Northfield End have paralysed Henley traffic during the literary festival.

This latter has been a joy — well done the organisers. — Yours faithfully,

Nick Fairbrother

Binfield Heath

Considerable frustration

Sir, — I’m sure you will have much correspondence about the traffic in Henley last week. The frustration caused was considerable.

The four-way traffic lights at Northfield End were unnecessary, the leak on the roundabout has been running for weeks so work was needed but to put traffic lights up before anyone could carry out the work was disgraceful, when the workmen did bother to turn up the work only took two hours.

I felt so sorry for the literary festival organisers and audiences. Explanations are needed. The roadworks in Market Place also added to the congestion again with no continuous work being done.

So, whoever arranges roadworks please get organised so the town visitors and traders do not have to suffer. — Yours faithfully,

Rosemary Duckett

Marlow Road, Henley

Must fight for small museum

Sir, — It is unnecessary for me to say how deeply I regret the closing of the River & Rowing Museum in Henley.

One fight is obviously lost but another very important one remains: to ensure that the best possible use is made of the building and land.

This should include a small museum in the building and severely restrict any house building on the land adjacent. We can influence this by means of the planning procedure.

So one more try please to minimise the effect of the closure and keep Henley the beautiful town that it is. — Yours faithfully,

Ann Law

Heathfield Avenue, Binfield Heath

I worked on Spitfire

I read with interest the article titled “Time to remember heroes of Henley Spitfire operation”. It’s a subject of particular interest to me as I’ve worked on a Spitfire.

May I recommend Spitfire and Autogiros, by Darren J Pitcher, which covers the history of RAF Henley.

Many years ago, your paper had some pictures of the secret factories in Wargrave Road with boxes of Sperry gyroscopes being fitted.

I ended up working for BAE which took over the Sperry site in Bracknell. — Yours faithfully,

Tyrone Trimmings

Henley

Where have all squirrels gone?

Sir, — We’ve just seen a “mast” year and fruit trees have produced an abundance of fruit and acorns, indeed, one only has to amble through local woods and you’d be forgiven for thinking that you’ve stepped on a graveyard of dead cockroaches, such are the acorns this year. But I cannot help noticing not a squirrel to be seen? No gluttonous fat squirrels in sight, nor any thin ones. Where are they?

Normally at this time of year I’d be hard-pushed to avoid them, swerving the blighters as they indecisively zigzag across the road on my morning journey. In fact, usually there’s the poor unlucky one (or more) lying prostrate, arms and legs out-stretched awaiting squirrel heaven having made a poor last decision.

But, this year, they’re missing. Where are they?

Have they gorged themselves and cannot be bothered to do the usual autumnal death-defying food collection or in all seriousness, have they been poisoned or has a disease swept through that has largely gone unnoticed?

I cannot speak for all of the UK but I am definitely missing my autumnal morning drive to the office trying not to hit them. Where are Henley’s squirrels? — Yours faithfully,

Amanda Stewart

Checkendon

We knew Lydia would do well

Sir, — We were very pleased to read your article regarding Lydia Hunt’s amazing progress in her musical career, as covered in last week’s Henley Standard.

We first came across Lydia when she sang at Checkendon car boot sale three years ago, she had a lovely voice and a great technique.

The following year we were looking forward to another set but we were told that she was working, no doubt to earn money while at college.

We wish her well and maybe one day she will perform at the Kenton or the Mill at Sonning. Very best wishes Lydia. — Yours faithfully,

Peter and Frieda Entwisle

Nicholas Road, Henley