Talking about pollution in the River Kent the Environment Agency spokesperson Nicki Rushton said: “Our partnership work includes modelling scenarios on potential effects of the ongoing works on putting in place contingency plans to mitigate any impact during the recovery period.” (Gazette, April 14, 'Angler's anger at river sewage'). Why not just say – “We’re looking at the problem and we’ll sort it out”!

This is symptomatic of 'business speak' - why use 10 words when 27 will do? Does it make the user feel more intelligent, more efficient, that their job is so much more important than anyone else’s?

Our newspapers are full of reports from politicians, Government Agencies, NHS Trusts, county councillors, Police Authorities and the like, all using the same clichéd responses about “learning lesson” or “We are fully committed to…” etc.

Let’s have some truthful, honest plain speaking, the shorter the better.

If the agencies dealing with getting the bridge repaired in Staveley sit around in meetings talking in this manner, we may never see the village reconnected. Maybe someone could design an inflatable temporary bridge, there’s certainly enough hot air about to inflate it.

Roy Wilcock

Kendal