This also covers the BBC as this is also funded by a statutory "tax" on the taxpayer and the recent revelations of their lottery-style salaries, expenses, bonuses and consequent pensions are obscene.

This scenario is also widespread throughout the public sector in local government with town hall executives, police chiefs, fire chiefs etc, all on eye-watering six-figure salaries and these other bonuses just for doing their jobs; even councillors are now on handsome allowances.

Is it any wonder that council taxes have gone through the roof over the last 10 years?

They milk the public purse and spend other people's money like there was no tomorrow; something we can all do with somebody else's money.

I fail to understand why all governments seem to regard the public sector as some sort of sacred cow never to be reduced but to
continuously grow and swallow up more and more taxpayers' hard-earned cash.

The country is in a recession thanks to the greed and incompetence of the banks and this useless Government.

Yet the public sector seems to be thriving with ever-increasing wages and their gold-plated, inflation-proof pensions, funded handsomely by taxpayers outside this sector.

From: Peter G Hutchinson, Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge.


From: Keith Alford, Canterbury Crescent, Fulwood, Sheffield.

BERNARD Dineen takes his hatred of the BBC to new depths (Yorkshire Post, July 13).

He implies that a conspiracy theory blaming the Government and the security services for the 7/7 bombings in London was given credence by the BBC in a recent programme.

Had Mr Dineen watched the programme, he would have seen that it effectively demolished the theory and discredited the originators of the internet video in which it is set out.


Key value of experience in policing

From: Malcolm Hannan, Rotherham.

NOW retired, I was a highly commended police sergeant who served 33 years at the operational front line, so I feel able to speak about the article and the comments of Chief Constable Julie Spence (Yorkshire Post, July 18).

Saying that doing things the way they have always been done will not deliver the required results may have a ring of truth, and I agree there is always room for improvement in any working practice, but Chief Constable Spence seems to, appallingly, dismiss the great value of experience.

She would do well to realise that there is even today in the modern police service, as yet no replacement for good old fashioned bobbying experience and knowledge.

I agree with the TaxPayers' Alliance that the police should stop using gimmicks and get down to the real business of catching criminals.


Great show of strength

From: RC Curry, Adel Grange Close, Leeds.

AMONG all the anger which pervades the media these days, it has been nice to see your reporting of the highly successful Great Yorkshire Show. Certainly on Tuesday, an ideal day, the equestrian events in the ring were of a remarkably high quality, with the playing and marching by the Band of the Yorkshire Volunteers being among the best seen therein.

Reporting of the rest of the week seemed to confirm that this excellence continued throughout the show. The evidence is there, with the increase in entrance for the livestock classes, that Yorkshire farming is not defeatist, and is fighting hard despite the reported negative attitude of the Government.

Further, although the show is well supported by those from towns and cities seeking a good day out, and there is a lot of the high street represented to cater for them, the crowds around the animal classes and their show rings prove that there is a wide interest in the country and associated craft activities.

With the demise of the Royal Show, surely 2010 will prove to be the year when the Great Yorkshire rises above all others. Perhaps this will also help the horticultural aspect to grow back to where it was some years ago, thus rewarding the valiant efforts of Joe Maiden and others who have been a mainstay in recent times.


Mystery for the farmers

From: JW Buckley, Aketon, Pontefract.

AT first sight, the article by Hilary Benn (Yorkshire Post, July 14) ticked the right boxes: "I want British farmers to produce as much food as possible." The right words, one or two soundbites (like the one quoted) but what did it all mean?

I now provide a précis:

"I want you to produce as much food as possible, and you deserve fair prices for what you produce, but if farmland bird numbers don't increase, I shall hit you with the big stick of more regulations.

"But let's not talk about that. I'm sure you will find a way of wringing the last bit of production from your land, while at the same time not forgetting, of course, to care for your land in a sustainable way."

So when you see a farmer looking a bit vacant shall we say, it's not a sign of being dim witted – no, it's an indication of how keen they are to do as they are bidden by their political masters; if only they could work out what it is they are expected to do!


Writer kept the past alive

From: Mrs June Wolfe, Sutherland Road, Lightcliffe, Halifax.

I WAS so sorry to read of the death of the writer, Louise Brindley (Yorkshire Post, July 4).

Some time ago, we corresponded on a regular basis and her letters were always very amusing, as were her articles in what was then Women's Post.

We had many things in common, particularly our love of Scarborough and we often reminisced about how it used to be.

I know that time lends enchantment, and although I think Scarborough is still beautiful, the glory days of the past are gone, and we are only left with memories. Louise kept many of mine alive.


Nuisance on the buses

From: DA Cheesbrough, Northfield Lane, Horbury, Wakefield.

THE other day, I intervened during an incident of anti-social behaviour on the 231 bus from Wakefield to Huddersfield.

Without going into great detail, the bus driver, on at least four occasions, asked two women, sitting on the back seat of the bus, to stop playing unacceptable loud "music" and to take their feet off the seat, but to no avail.

I intervened by asking them not to impose their noise on other passengers but they took absolutely no notice, merely laughing at
me and basically they considered it more like a game and they could not give two hoots to what other passengers thought.

Unfortunately, this incident is not so uncommon, and I would like to know what the bus companies intend to do in order to eradicate
the problem behaviour and anti-social behaviour on public transport.


Railway operator aims to build on track record

From: Susan Goldsmith, managing director, National Express East Coast.

WE have apologised to Tom Richmond after his journey experience with us (Yorkshire Post, July 17).

Your columnist's southbound train from Leeds to London was among those delayed by the breakdown of another operator's train at Grantham on June 30.

Thankfully, such instances are decreasing. The latest National Passenger Survey, prepared by the independent transport watchdog Passenger Focus, showed overall satisfaction with our trains and stations rated at 87 per cent – joint top of all of Britain's long-distance train companies.

Separately, complaints about our service in 2008 declined by 44 per cent compared with the previous year.

We have demonstrated a track record of investment in train and station improvements since we began operating East Coast train services in December 2007. There is a lot more to do, and the work continues to improve this
key route.

From: Duncan MacKenzie, campaigns and communications, Campaign for Better Transport, London.

THE New Local Government Network's proposal that local residents be able to hold rail companies to account (Yorkshire Post, July 15) brings up a good point.

Campaign for Better Transport believes that the railways should be run to meet passengers' needs, not the need to make money.

The Government should be ready to invest in the railways. We think it should introduce a tax on domestic aviation fuel to reduce the disproportionately damaging effects of air transport on the climate; and the revenue raised could be recouped by the cost of making rail fares affordable.


Expensive parking

From: Ian McDonald, Ravenswood Close, Romford, Essex.

I STAYED in Leeds last week to attend my son's graduation ceremony, I travelled up by car from Essex arriving at 8pm. The Holiday Inn Express car park cost me £6.

The next day, I parked in a makeshift car park next to Leeds Met University and run by Leeds City Council. Again, I was charged £6. I then went into the city centre for a celebratory lunch with my family where the parking with NCP cost me £8, I left Leeds at 4pm and in less than 24 hours the parking charges amounted to £20.

Car parking in Leeds is obviously a large source of revenue to the companies providing it, but wouldn't you agree £20 is a bit steep?

An old-school highwayman

From: Eric Houlder, chairman, PontArc, Fairview, Carleton, Pontefract.

I ENJOYED reading your feature on Dick Turpin, correcting the commonly-held view that he was a sort of latter day Robin Hood (Yorkshire Post, July 17).

However, the feature did not make it clear that most of the exploits which Harrison Ainsworth attributes to Turpin were actually carried out by another Yorkshire highwayman, Nevison, an old boy of Pontefract's King's School.

In particular, the famous ride to York is well documented.

Charles II was a keen admirer of Nevison, though he is not well thought of at his old school, for he absconded, taking his teacher's horse with him, as well as other valuables.


Fuel's gold

From: Alan W Briglin, Sefton Street, Hull.

READING the leader about the astronomical prices of gas and electricity (Yorkshire Post, July 13), I feel sure that this apathetic Government could do more to influence the energy companies to reduce their prices or, at least, give benefits to the pensioners and the lowest paid.

There is something wrong when families are paying at
least 10 per cent of their income on fuels.


Good news

From: John Simpson, The Meadows, Riccall, York.

THE article written by Tom Richmond (Yorkshire Post, July 11) was like a breath of fresh air.

I only purchase the Yorkshire Post on Saturday and Monday for its sports reporting, which is very good. I would become a regular reader if some of the same was written every day.