Our readers from across the county give their weekly take on the biggest issues impacting Kent and beyond.

Some letters refer to past correspondence which can be found by clicking here. Join the debate by emailing letters@thekmgroup.co.uk

Electric bikes more of a danger than scooters

I read your piece about e-scooters and as always I find an important part of this story is totally ignored.

The problem is not only e-scooters but also illegal e-bikes which in my opinion is a much greater danger, as some of these machines will travel at over 50mph.

From my observations about 40% of e-bikes are illegal and the food delivery people are the biggest offenders with these illegal machines.

I have been passed at 40mph on my moped by an electric bike and seen them racing around Tesco car park on an evening.

I ask why all the items on e-machines choose to ignore the e-bike problem?

Phil Bulman

Kent mayoral move could weaken councillors

You have reported on discussions between Medway and Kent regarding the possibility of having a mayoral system. Much thought needs to be given to this idea.

National government seeks to turn more local government structures towards mayors. In a sense they are bribing local authorities to make this change by offering money for various projects. In particular, at the moment, for the ability to franchise local transport (of itself a desirable aim).

There are serious dangers with this in terms of local democracy and the ability of local people to shape their own areas.

Changes that have taken place from committee structures to cabinet control have seriously weakened the ability of local councillors to be actively involved in decision-making.

A move towards having a mayor will increase this trend to remove the influence of local councillors and in turn the power of the electorate.

Rapid decisions does not mean correct decisions. Local communities have already lost control over schools which are now controlled by trusts.

The size of Kent and the fact that it is predominantly rural, which is very different from the urban/industrial nature of Medway, means that a Kent Mayor will have rural Kent as a priority to the detriment of Medway.

Devolution must mean a transfer of power to local people not to an individual who will be subject to pressures contrary to the needs of the people they are supposed to serve.

Ultimately they will have to be subservient to central government who alone can provide the financial support that local authorities need to meet the needs of their communities.

Ralph A. Tebbutt

Definition of ‘hate’ has become ridiculous

Not only are the so-called NCHIs (non-crime hate incidents) an affront to free speech but the whole concept is a corruption of the English language.

The definition of hate is intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury, yet it is being applied to instances when people are not expressing hatred but rather a disagreement with a particular policy, or social development.

While it is clearly wrong to advocate violence against others, which is already a criminal offence, the term is being applied to those who choose not to accept the diktats of the politically correct. At the moment all it takes is for one individual, probably possessing a specific agenda, to report comments for them to be defined as hate.

To refuse to believe that men can declare themselves women, and must be accepted as such, is not hate, as to ignore a basic biological fact totally undermines the rights of women and makes a mockery of female sport. To aver that mass immigration is bad for everyone is not hate, but is an assessment based on common sense, and is a perfectly valid opinion to be held, and expressed.

That some in the police force think it right to persecute those citizens making comments contrary to the views of the extreme left is a disgrace and an illustration of how little they even understand their own language.

Worse, those politicians who legislate against what they define as hate speech, when it is really something with which they disagree, are absolutely deplorable.

Colin Bullen

Political memoirs are self-justifying

When former Prime Ministers pen their memoirs, they inevitably talk up their achievements when in office and if they've made any mistakes during their tenure, they are likely to be overlooked or given scant referral.

They may stress that they were held back from implementing their enterprising schemes due to unforeseen circumstances. They may even cite certain individuals who had been a party to thwarting their aims, without actually naming them (but might drop a few clues as to their identity).

And our politicians make great play as to why they entered politics in the first place which was to solely improve the lives of the populace.

This admission may well smack of an attempt to make themselves appear virtuous and that power and self-interest had never really entered their minds.

It would be far easier to name those few premiers who'd resisted writing their biographies for whatever reason, rather than provide a long list of those who did.

However, I discovered that amongst ex-Tory Prime Ministers, only one has failed to write his memoirs, and that individual is none other than Rishi Sunak.

Michael Smith

Tax the richest to fund more investment

The situation the UK is in has little if anything to do with "virtue signaling", in response to Colin Bullen, but to 40 years of deregulations, privatisations, lack of investment in new housing or tackling the climate change and biodiversity loss. Latterly to 14 years of totally unnecessary austerity, ruinous to the public realm especially.

We may only have around one percent of global emissions but it's about leadership. Plus the world now has to cut CO2 by 43% by 2030 to keep temperature rises to the 1.5C limit. In this regard, renewables in the UK from wind, solar and hydropower are set to overtake fossil-fueled generation by 37% to 35% in 2024. Further investment, which will create more jobs, is needed now more than ever.

We also need more housing, especially council housing to tackle the huge waiting lists, though it must be very carefully sited and fully eco-friendly, even if builders do not like it.

On the farmers’ issue and inheritance taxes, the question being asked with little or no replies is, what did generation owners do before 1984 when IHT was payable? The cutting of such since then has resulted in wealthy tax dodgers becoming land and farm owners.

As for the gender issue, the fact remains that being trans is just another of those natural human variations, just like being gay or left-handed, and it’s usually the religious right and their pals who hype up the issue for their own ends.

Lastly who should pay for all the needed investment? I and others suggest, that as the top 350 wealthiest people have around £795 billion between them, a tax of 5% would bring in £40 billion. It should be named a 'renewal UK contribution'.

Ray Duff

Everyone should be accountable for failures

I write with a heavy heart contemplating the agonies that must have been suffered by Sara Sharif at the hands of her guardians until her premature death, which could and should have been prevented.

Like most people, I am tired of hearing the phrase "lessons need to be learnt". Trust me, they never are, because those who should be held to account never are.

I do not want hours of debate about what should be done, I want the person who handed this child back into the clutches of a monster to be interviewed in public and explain their reasoning in doing so. Then and only then will we take one step forward in the right direction.

Until organisations proceed without the hesitation of being deemed racist and deal with people as being people, they will not take the correct path. We must all be held accountable.

We as a society have the right to know who are the people failing these vulnerable children time and time again, so please hold them to account and prevent any further suffering.

David Grummitt

Killers should face the death penalty

For years I have asked someone, somewhere to give me one valid reason why those convicted of the most heinous of crimes should not face the ultimate penalty.

And please, spare me any claptrap about only God having the right to take a human life.

We have no compunction in putting down rabid dogs or other animals that attack and kill humans - and I fail to understand why people are so squeamish about putting down savage killers such as Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother.

Unfortunately it seems highly unlikely that capital punishment will be restored to our namby-pamby judicial system that increasingly appears to be more concerned with the rights of the perpetrators of, rather than the victims of crime.

Every breath that Sara’s killers take is an insult to her memory, and every penny spent on keeping them alive is an insult to every law-abiding citizen in this country.

Bob Readman

Shop workers don’t deserve abusive treatment

The run-up to Christmas is always a really busy time for retail workers, as shoppers can be stressed and things can boil over.

I want to gently ask your readers to remember that retail staff are people too. They will be working really hard to make your shopping experience as enjoyable as possible and deserve respect.

Talking to our members who work in retail, I know that verbal abuse cuts deep. Many will go home after a shift upset about an unpleasant incident that took place at work that day and worried that it will happen to them again.

That is why Usdaw, the retail trade union, is asking customers to ‘Keep your Cool’, so that everyone can have a happier Christmas.

Paddy Lillis, general secretary, Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw)

Brutal reality of homelessness this Christmas

Last week it was revealed that across England nearly 160,000 children will spend Christmas without a safe home.

Many won’t have known the joy of their own room, or Christmas dinner around the table with family or presents under the tree. But they will know the anxiety of watching their parents cook meals in a kettle or fight a losing battle against the cold and damp seeping through their temporary accommodation walls. No child should have to face this.

Across Britain homelessness is rising. High rents and increasing living costs are pushing more and more people to the brink. Now with the nights getting bitterly cold, people with nowhere to go will be forced to move between sofas, night buses and 24-hour cafes, in a desperate effort to stay safe and warm.

This is the brutal reality of being without a safe home and it must change.

At Crisis, our Christmas services once again support thousands of people experiencing rough sleeping or living in insecure accommodation such as hostels and B&Bs.

Once through our doors, people will have access to the specialist support we provide all year round so they can develop the skills and confidence to rebuild their lives away from homelessness.

This vital work is only possible with the generosity of the British public. To help us be there for anyone who needs us, visit www.crisis.org.uk/christmasgift

Matt Downie, Chief Executive, Crisis