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Easing Leeds train overcrowding 'a priority'
From: Tom Harris MP, Rail Minister, Department for Transport, London. CLAIMS on the front page of the Yorkshire Post (October 25) are nonsense. Our investment in the railways is creating a modern, much improved network.
Tackling overcrowding is our priority.
Leeds is one of the busiest commuting areas outside London, which is why there will be a 53 per cent capacity increase for peak hour commuter trains serving the city. Passengers in Yorkshire are already travelling on new trains, with 250m invested in a new fleet of 51 new trains on Transpennine Express routes. And more new trains are promised. Leeds, Sheffield and their surrounding areas will benefit.
The first of a new generation of intercity trains are set to come to Yorkshire and the East Coast main line before any other UK route.
Our contract with National Express provides for other improvements – faster journeys, better reliability and more services. 1m per day is spent supporting Northern Rail's local services across the North.
Substantial investment is going into the road network as well, including improvements to key stretches of the M1, M62 and A1.
Right now, it's essential we make best use of all available carriages, rather than have them in storage. Rigorous safety standards remain in place for all trains, regardless of age.
These plans for growth and modernisation certainly do not point to a "cash crisis".
Thrill at seeing the Vulcan bomber flying once again
From: Kenneth Chappell, South Edge, Shipley.
WHAT a thrill it was to see the picture of Vulcan XH558 flying again (Yorkshire Post, October 19).
Vulcans were the first British aircraft to have constant frequency alternating current main generating systems.
The total power output installed in each aircraft was 160 KVA and they were made in Bradford by the Aircraft Equipment Division of English Electric at Thornbury. Over 70 Vulcans were built and this is the only one still flying. English Electric provided similar systems for Victors, Nimrods, Concordes and Concordski's (the Russian TU-144).
The problems with Gordon Brown...
From: CE Hallas, Cubley Rise Road, Penistone, Sheffield.
SO often when in office as Chancellor, Gordon Brown found it hard to resist telling the nation how he's prepared the way for financial success by giving the Bank of England independence.
For Mr Brown, the arch-controller, this must have hurt, freedom for financial institutions being an anathema to a social engineer like himself, yet in fairness it seems to have been largely successful.
But his road to Damascus doesn't have to end here. Why doesn't he apply the same principles of independence to the health service for instance, or education?
But Gordon has a problem. When he was Chancellor, all the decisions made were the ultimate responsibility of Tony Blair, after all, he was in charge wasn't he?
But now there's nowhere to hide, his is the head above the parapet, and he appears to be hiding behind his hands. The electorate are watching him, so are the marginal candidates and the unions. The spotlight was meat and drink to Tony, to his successor, the arch-illusionist, daylight is the enemy.
Frankly I don't believe in the "Brown bounce". At Tony Blair's departure the country breathed a collective sigh of relief, a time of euphoria when Mr Brown, or almost anyone else would have fared well by comparison.
This dream period lasted until Mr Brown made that superficial, ill-advised visit to Iraq when we all sadly realised that it was "business as usual".
And do you see him giving us a referendum? Mr Brown is by nature authoritarian, he would be a fool to give us a referendum on Europe, and Gordon's nobody's fool.
From: Daniel O'Leary, Woodroyd, Golcar, Huddersfield.
WHAT gives Gordon Brown the right to decide what is best for this country?
He has been elected to lead his party with no mandate from the people.
If he signs the new EU Constitution without the sanctions of the people he will be following in the treacherous footsteps of his predecessor.
Obesity is in the eye of the beholder
From: Brian Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.
JAYNE Dowle (Yorkshire Post, October 25) rightly resents the latest manifestation of the nanny state, that is, the prospect of obesity letters to parents about their children.
Your columnist's svelte husband is living proof that overweight youngsters do not necessarily become unfit adults. I wondered if his metamorphosis might be ascribed to the influence of a strong woman but we won't go there.
Like most well-educated people, he now knows that, not only is fecklessness a health hazard, it is unbecoming.
Much has been made of the fitness of the children who, like me, grew up during the early post-war years.
What has been forgotten is that once those kids stopped burning off the effects of a diet of bread and dripping and bread and jam by playing outside and walking to and from school, they were no fitter than the adults of today. The term middle-age spread was a clich of the mid 20th century.
Believe it or not, leanness was not even considered desirable among the working classes. "Our Ernest is looking well" old wives would say, "he's put two stone on sin' 'e got wed".
How times change.
Respect for politicians is plummeting
From: Barrie Frost, Watson's Lane, Reighton, Filey.
HOW often have we heard that the public's respect for politicians is at an all-time low?
So, it would seem impossible for this respect to fall any further, yet this is happening and it doesn't appear to have the slightest affect on our so-called honourable representatives.
With the continual transfer of more and more powers and workload to Brussels; a devolved Scottish Parliament; a Welsh Assembly; a Northern Ireland Assembly, MPs are now planning to vote themselves an extra 12 days holiday next year because, surprise, surprise, they haven't enough work to keep them busy at Westminster.
Now, I may be devoid of all common sense or just plain thick but as it is they, and they alone, who have voted themselves out of a full-time job, wouldn't it be far more sensible if they voted for a reduction in their numbers to bring these back into balance with their reduced duties and responsibilities?
Respect can only ever be earned so the free-fall in respect for politicians seems set to continue.
Danger of unlit roads
From: William Burgess, The Crescent, Guiseley, Leeds.
LIZZIE Murphy's article on the region's road deaths (Yorkshire Post, October 25) isa timely warning of the dangers of unlit streets in the Leeds area.
We have not had any lighting in many of the streets in the Tranmere Park area for five weeks since new lampposts were installed.
In the view of RoSPA street lighting failures may lead to an increase in the level of road accidents. I am also concerned for the safety of many primary schoolchildren who regularly use the streets in this area, not to mention the elderly who may be affected by having to walk on the carriageways since there are no pavements.
I have raised this matter with Leeds City Council on several occasions but so far with no effect.
Requisites for democracy
From: Don Burslam, Elm Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury.
TIM Hunter is absolutely spot on (Yorkshire Post, October 20) particularly when he says people get the politicians they deserve.
He is dead right when he says that voters' expectations and demands are completely irreconcilable, eg, lower taxes and better services.
The frequent and well-publicised shortcomings in Government are well known but critics fail to grasp that they cannot entirely absolve themselves from responsibility.
The deep-seated apathy is seen as the result of political failure yet it actually contributes to it.
Our voting figures are among the lowest in Europe and it is statistically likely that many who constantly criticise do not bother to vote.
If you have opted out, you are hardly in a position to complain.
It is now more widely accepted that our continental neighbours do many things better than we do. I believe there is a link between the level of participation by the citizen in the democratic process, not just voting, and quality of government.
Hot air from Government
From: W Procter, Collingham, near Leeds.
I see that the cross-party Public Accounts Committee (Yorkshire Post, October 23)has asked Culture Secretary James Purnell for a "frank"
assessment of how hard the Heritage Lottery Fund will be
hit by the 2012 London Olympics, and how much money might be recouped
after the games by selling off the land that's no longer needed.
Is this the same as asking Gordon Brown to give a "frank" assessment of how much his raid on pensions has actually cost the country's pensioners?
"Frank" assessments are not things we get from politicians.
We get hot air from them.
Stalking comments miss target
From: Gerry Reece, Moor Lane, Arkendale, Knaresborough.
AS a very occasional deerstalker who enjoys watching deer and other wildlife but who likes venison in the freezer and on the plate I am astonished by the ignorance displayed by your correspondent Aled Jones (Letters, Yorkshire Post, October 23) when criticising deerstalking.
It would be impossible to follow a "petrified" deer as it would soon be in the next county.
The object of stalking is just that – to carefully approach a quite oblivious animal, either feeding or resting, until a clean kill can be achieved at usually not much over 100 yards, often less.
The usual shot is to the heart, never the head as Aled Jones suggests and the animal dies without any awareness of its fate.
To suggest that deer farming is more humane is naive as despite the highest standards of stockmanship, deer for the abattoir must feel a high level of stress if only for a short time, unlike the unknowing death of a wild deer.
Deerstalking is valuable to the rural economy, providing employment and supporting hotels and other businesses in remote areas, outside the relatively short tourist season. It also brings in useful foreign currency.
Happily venison is increasing in popularity as it is the ultimate free range, no additive and low cholesterol meat.
I'm glad Aled Jones agrees that it is delicious but he obviously has little real experience of the countryside.
Finally, I would point out that wild deer numbers must be controlled both on the open hill and in enclosed woodland to avoid degradation of habitat or damage to forestry or farming interests.
There is also the possibility of disease caused by over population.
A horror of hunting
From: Andrew Vevers, Fulford Park, York.
ALED Jones (Letters, October 22) may have got the details wrong when he described deer stalking as chasing the animal for miles before blowing its brains out, but there is a serious point to be made.
Pest control may be necessary, as with foxes, but why is it that otherwise polite, well-educated people derive pleasure from killing things?
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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