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Promises and the waste of billions
From: Robert Bottamley, Thorn Road, Hedon, East Yorkshire. MAY I present my inexpert analysis of recent economic developments?
Because of injudicious investments, our banks fell into in serious financial difficulty. For this reason, they stopped lending and began to call in debts.
In order to prevent an economic collapse, the Government responded by providing the banks with billions of pounds of taxpayers' money.
When the Government made this public money available, it was on the understanding that the banks would again begin to lend. But they did not: instead, they held on to it, replenishing their depleted reserves. As a result, businesses (both large and small) are going bankrupt at an alarming rate. And for Messrs Brown & Co the subsequent, daily rise in unemployment represents a considerable political embarrassment.
Consequently, the Government has decided to make yet more billions of pounds of taxpayers' money available to businesses. However, the same banks are to decide if and when this money will be passed on!
This four-point analysis, if it is accurate, invites the conclusion that the Government's sole strategy is to pour endless public money into any hole that appears – and without even the faintest indication that the policy will succeed.
Furthermore, its preferred method of distribution relies
on a group of financiers who have already given proof of
their self-interest and incompetence.
Meanwhile, the Government (with a General Election approaching) intends to conceal the extent of growing unemployment by spending even more public money. Thus, surviving businesses will be offered handouts in exchange for providing low-paid, temporary jobs in order to keep the unemployment figures artificially "low".
Employers and employees alike will feel a profound sense of betrayal. But my personal sympathy goes to an entire generation of youngsters, shackled by debts they incurred in order to obtain further education.
Readers will recall how inept Ministers like Margaret Hodge justified the introduction of student fees with the promise of huge, future salaries to be earned on the strength of a university degree.
It is not so: the promise was empty. But what else should we have expected; in 12 years, what has New Labour produced beyond empty promises, vain boasts and mere deceit?
Fight against these taxes
From: Brian Ormondroyd, Brindley Court, Skipton.
ONCE again, council tax time. Again, my annual plea/demand for action from our councillors: No increase above the rate of inflation.
We must demand from the Government the necessary cash to avoid any, increases in the odious council tax.
Our councils must unite with councils throughout England to force the Brown administration to pay out what is in effect our money from national coffers.
The country is awash with money – to bail out failing banks and businesses! What about a billion or so for local government services? Only active campaigning will make Brown and Darling cough up cash to stop local tax increases. Meetings, getting out and meeting people, petitions and lobbies to parliament are part of this campaign. Cutting services and staff is not an option.
Unless we take action now, we will be faced with the same situation next year.
Arrogance in Europe
From: Ivor R Johns, Heanor Road, Smalley, Derbyshire.
RECENTLY, EU Commission President Barroso said that although the majority in Britain oppose euro entry, "the people who matter in Britain are currently thinking about it".
The "people who matter" – what elitist arrogance is this? The rest of us don't count – just as "No" votes on the EU Constitution/Lisbon Treaty don't count.
Irish voters, like the French and Dutch before them, voted "No". So – surprise, surprise – they've got to vote again, until they get it right.
To the EU's authoritarian elites, only "Yes" votes count – and they're always the final votes. What a thoroughly undemocratic set-up.
Trampling on green shoots
From: Andy Green, Flexible Thinking Forum, Wakefield Media Centre, Wakefield.
THE chorus of criticism of Baroness Vadera over her comments about "green shoots" of economic recovery is yet another example of simplistic, herd-like responses to the economic downturn (Yorkshire Post, January 15).
While we should not understate or gloss over financial ills, we need to be wary of the "one size fits all" analysis of our economic state. The term "recession" is an overall average imposed on the reality of our economy's performance
There has been much pain, with, sadly I fear, more to follow with more companies going bust, people losing their jobs, and investments being eroded.
In years to come, however, when we look back on this economic cycle, the green shoots of its eventual recovery will be recognised, albeit in hindsight, even in January 2009.
The danger we face in living and coping with the economic climate is that we may trample on what green shoots there are, in the stampede to focus on economic gloom and easy political blame-scoring.
A welcome verdict
From: Dr Bill Forster, Wellington Mews, Ripon.
THE planners are absolutely right in rejecting the application for
an out-of-town foodstore in Sedbergh, for such developments have undermined the competitiveness of town centre shops throughout the country. They don't just sell food and cleaning materials.
Modern stores have cafs (which caf in Sedbergh would disappear?) and offer a far wider range of fruit and vegetables (and other products) than a traditional shop can either offer or afford.
And how many shoppers would welcome having to park their cars twice – once at the new store and again, for the other amenities in town?
My last eight summer holidays have been spent in the town and with its wide range of amenities (for such a small town) and its pleasant people it is a place to cherish, not to recklessly change. Small is beautiful – even if it means paying a little more for it.
What now for high streets?
From: Kevin Maguire, Hanover Street, Batley.
WHAT an excellent feature by Sarah Freeman (Yorkshire Post, January 14), reflecting on the future of the high street. May I give you my views on the town of Batley?
Batley is almost decimated on what could be called the high street due to a major supermarket and three small supermarkets. Apart from charity shops, banks and bookmakers, the town has no heartbeat. Leaseholders cannot afford the rent and rates plus staff wages. Where do we go from here? Is it not better to have cheaper rent and cheaper rates? Kirklees Council could help the shopkeepers, but seem blinded to this simple solution.
What now for the Batleys of the United Kingdom?
Unwanted solutions
From: SB Oliver, Churchill Grove, Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire.
ON the subject of gobbledegook, I agree with the opinions of correspondents that jargon words and phrases can be annoying and often puzzling to common sense.
I concur with Adrian Booth (Yorkshire Post, January 13) about the overuse of "solutions" with many areas of retail sales and distribution.
Logically, if I want to buy something (anything!) and I
find, see or know what I want, then my intended purchase is obviously the solution to my needs. So, therefore, any product or service could be considered some sort of "solution" to whoever buys it.
Having said that, I disagree with Adrian Booth regarding his assumption that the tanker saying "liquid food solutions" referred to milk. More likely that phrase is the pet mission statement of the distribution company.
It is possible that the tanker may have been moving milk but it could have contained fruit juice, vegetable oil, liquid concentrate or even vinegar – none of which I would pour on my corn flakes.
This crowded Pennine route desperately needs a railway alternative
From: A Oldfield, Long Lane, Worrall, Sheffield.
AS 2008 drew to a close, an unprecedented chapter in the history of the Upper Don Valley ended with the reopening of the A6102 at Middlewood Tavern following the landslip resulting from the floods of June 2007.
While the floods delivered the knock-out blow, the origins of this incident date back to 1959 when the rail decline of this key corridor served by the Woodhead route commenced with the closure of Deepcar, Oughtibridge and Wadsley Bridge stations.
From that time, the road infrastructure which resembled little more than a cart track, and
in parts still does, was left exposed to traffic growth.
Planning in relation to transport has been lacking for 50 years during which time numerous housing developments were approved, transforming the corridor into commuter territory. In 2007, the creaking infrastructure finally succumbed to the elements after constant pounding by road traffic.
What has been learnt from 2007? Seemingly little, for the way forward apparently consists of improvements to Penistone Road, for a corridor which demands a rail solution.
What other major corridor in Sheffield has seen its key asset ignored, neglected and abandoned?
Reopening of the Woodhead route ticks all the right boxes on global warming, climate change and carbon footprints. It would tap into a huge market for Sheffield-Manchester travel which has literally been driven on to the roads through the lack of an alternative. Let Woodhead reinstatement be the response to the recession, removing traffic from the Peak Park, and providing economic benefits to regenerate deprived areas on both sides of the Pennines.
The A6102 re-opening euphoria is acknowledged. However, despite all the spin surrounding the floods, the misery will remain for the Upper Don Valley until the restoration of a rail alternative for this key trans-Pennine corridor. The possibility of a long-term solution via the Northern Way strategy is simply not good enough.
Liberation of the Upper Don Valley must come sooner rather than later.
Power to act over transport
From: Kieran Preston, director general, Metro.
IN bemoaning the broadened powers that the Government's Local Transport Act will give to Metro, your letter writer Paul Kirby (Yorkshire Post, January 15) fails to understand that these are the very powers that would give us greater control to limit the rises in fares about which he is complaining. Those same powers would also help us to reduce the frequent changes made to bus routes and services by the bus operating companies which have made it difficult for us to display service numbers at some stops and shelters with any degree of certainty that they will remain constant.
Home help
From: Roy Vaughan, Illsley Road, Darfield.
SIR Alan Sugar is asking us to buy British goods and help the economy. I have three pairs of Clarks' shoes which were made in Portugal, Vietnam and India, and in M&S yesterday saw overcoats which were made in China. Is anything made here apart from potential dole queues?
Cross purposes
From: Paul Nightingale, Howden, East Yorkshire.
AS the producers of Coronation Street are concerned about offending viewers, "Corrie under fire for hiding church cross" (Yorkshire Post, January 15), will we now see the closure of the Rovers Return so as not to offend those faiths that object to alcohol?
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