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Encourage police to live in area they work
From John Scott, Thorpe Lane, Guiseley, Leeds. I REFER to Sir Norman Bettison's article (Yorkshire Post, July 17) relating to the publication by the Government of a Green Paper on police reform.
He is absolutely right that the police service should refocus resources away from arbitrary targets used as measures of success by central Government and concentrate on local issues.
Let the "bobby" on the beat work his patch based on his local knowledge which would undoubtedly address issues of concern to the public such as the drunkenness, yobbishness, graffiti and anti-social behaviour to which he refers.
Few members of the public are understandably prepared to challenge this kind of conduct which has been gradually deteriorating over many years and will take just as many to correct.
I believe it has proliferated since police officers became commuters between home and work. I realise my suggestion will be controversial and will require much discussion, but can we not induce some police officers to live on their beat as they did many years ago before the Police Authority sold off the houses?
If this were to happen, there would be no need to report such behaviour they would be there experiencing it and in a position to deal with it given the resources at their disposal. Obviously there would have to be compensation in the form of additional remuneration for such volunteers, and I stress volunteers, but as a retired police officer it would surprise me if they were not forthcoming.
Could it not be a condition of service that promotion would be dependant upon performing such a duty for a minimum specified period?
There will also need to be exceptions allowing the children of officers to attend a school of their choice outside the catchment area in which they live to prevent them becoming the focus of acrimony by other pupils but these and other obstacles could be overcome once the principle is established. The cost would be minimal in comparison with the benefit gained by the public and some of the "John Lewis" expenses recently prised from our MPs could contribute.
No evidence of hen harriers being shot
From: Henry Bellingham, MP (North West Norfolk), House of Commons, London.
I HAVE only recently had the chance to read Ruth Mansfield's article (Yorkshire Post, April 22) which was headed: "Deadly region for birds of prey." The article was perfectly fair and accurate in what it reported apart from one glaring mistake when it mentioned: "two birds of prey were found dead on one of the Queen's estates".
The Sandringham estate is in my North West Norfolk constituency and as I am sure your readers will be aware, the alleged incident from October last year received a great deal of coverage in the national press.
However, there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that any hen harriers were shot, and certainly no carcasses were ever discovered.
The alleged incident took place on Dersingham Bog, which is part of the Sandringham estate, but is rented by Natural England. The deputy warden claimed that he saw two "hen harriers being shot" but his alleged sighting not only took place just before dusk, but also at a range of 600 yards. Rather than attempting to establish the true facts of the case, he immediately informed both the police and the RSPB, thus generating a huge amount of national publicity.
The Crown Prosecution Service then investigated and decided that the allegations were completely unfounded because of a lack of available evidence, and in particular the lack of any carcasses that could be forensically examined.
The background facts certainly vindicate the CPS's decision. First of all, the hen harrier is only a rare migratory visitor to West Norfolk and I understand that the last sighting of one on the Sandringham estate was well over two months before the alleged shooting.
Secondly, on the day in question reports of a great grey shrike on the Dersingham Bog brought out into the area more bird watchers than normal, but not one of them mentioned seeing any hen harriers.
What is especially unfortunate about this whole incident is that the resulting frenzy of press speculation led to a number of attacks on gamekeepers and land managers. Nearly all of the reports referred to "shot hen harriers" thus quite inaccurately implying that the carcasses had been recovered. Of course, this is exactly what happened in Ruth Mansfield's article in your newspaper.
Another of the unfortunate consequences of the Sandringham incident is that substantial damage has been done to the credibility of Natural England. At a time when our precious countryside is threatened as never before, we desperately need a powerful conservation body like the NE and for them to do their work effectively they must have the trust and confidence of their conservation partners. Let us hope that this trust and confidence can now be rebuilt.Fuel costs put bus services under threat
From: David Treacher, Wilton Street, Hull.
WITH the cost of fuel rising, bus services are at risk and fares will rise and must be protected.
Bus companies are feeling the pinch and are looking to cutting services and/or putting bus fares up (Yorkshire Post, July 12).
Not everyone has a car for various reasons, including cost, age and health and need a decent bus network to get people out and keep a quality of life going and try to get motorists to leave their cars at home and use public transport.
Some sort of subsidy or grant must be given to bus operators by the Government to keep public transport at a decent level with decent fares to passengers. Even those on a free national travel pass might as well not have one if there is no bus for them to go out on.
Passengers should write to their MP on the subject and give their views strongly.
Smoothies are healthy
From: Liz Bastone, British Soft Drinks Association.
FOLLOWING your article "Are fruit smoothies as innocent as they seem?" (Yorkshire Post, July 16), I would like to highlight that far from being "stuffed" with preservatives as your article claims, smoothies are made with natural ingredients providing a good source of fibre and vitamin C. Your article also criticises the amount of sugar in smoothies, yet the sugar contained within a smoothie is no more than the sugar contained in fruit, which is what smoothies are made from.
Smoothies and fruit juices count towards the recommended target of five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, so rather than deterring people from drinking them, we should be encouraging people to do so as part of a balanced diet and healthy active lifestyle.
Attraction needed
From: Terry Morrell, Prunus Avenue, Willerby, Hull.
THE proposed Bridlington marina, like the remodelled Spa will attract the people whom it is aimed at, a specialised group. But will either attract visitors to the resort on a wet Tuesday afternoon in winter, let alone summer –and there are plenty of those.
Even Bridlington's best asset, the South Beach, is neglected, without any shelters for holidaymakers to retreat to when the weather turns and with parking at 8 per day, one wonders how the regeneration programme can succeed. What is required is an instant injection of attraction which will bring tourists every day of the year. Any ideas?
Amber is answer
From: Matthew Shaw, Golcar, Huddersfield.
DRIVING around in the small wee hours on almost deserted streets, there is nothing more irritating than unnecessarily being held up by traffic lights. Surely flashing ambers would be the sensible solution, as with most of our European neighbours.
Parallels could be drawn between the way this country deals with the travelling population and society as a whole.
We have imposed on us stubborn, petty, unwavering and increasingly ludicrous rules leading to anxiety, confusion and downright anger. No wonder many go about under a cloud of resignation and resentment.
If a rule is relaxed or removed (like on those wonderful occasions when the traffic lights break down) far from chaos and lawlessness, the great British traits of fairness, decency and ordered courtesy abound as the traffic sorts itself out.
The important message to our ruling masters is to cut us a bit of slack and stop depriving us of our "Britishness".
Boxing clever
From: Angela M Holdsworth, West Garth, Sherburn, Malton.
WHEN Mrs Harrison buys a pair of shoes (Yorkshire Post, July 15) I suggest she accepts the box, so helping the shopkeeper with waste.
She should then look for a church, chapel or school in her area, that fills shoe boxes with gifts for children in deprived areas for Christmas.
Our village chapel filled over 100 boxes last November to go to Eastern Europe.
We are always desperate for empty shoe boxes.
Wheel keeps turning over views on cyclists
From: Robert Ibberson, Rawdon, Leeds.
I AM almost completely in sympathy with Olivia Charlesworth (Yorkshire Post, July 16) in her criticism of the "cluster" of cyclists holding up her line of vehicles on July 8.
As a long-time cyclist and motor vehicle driver, I fully understand her frustration. I also am aware that no responsible cycling club or organisation would condone the action (inaction) of that "cluster".
I am a member of three such cycling organisations and two motoring ones. As an active member within cycling organisations which promote small and large rides using roads, we would always acknowledge that we should avoid giving trouble to other users of the highway as far as we can, commensurate with the principle of shared use.
This does mean, as Olivia Charlesworth suggested, that we would break into single file as a matter of good manners, if nothing else when aware of traffic behind us. Again as suggested we might pause at a lay-by, if available, as often happens with large slow-moving vehicles. This is all part of the responsibility of the leader, and in this case of that cluster: clearly (s)he was at fault on that occasion.
As one of those leaders, one is also conscious that motor vehicle drivers are often under the same illusion that the roads are built solely for taxpaying car drivers. The law does not support that for normal highways, where pedestrians, motor cyclists, horse riders, the aged and infirm, and children have equal legal rights: but also responsibilities.
From: Lawrence Kirby, Member Cyclists' Touring Club Sheffield Section, Rushleigh Court, Dore Road, Sheffield.
WHEN I was riding my bicycle with my two sons 20 or 30 years ago, with the Sheffield Phoenix CC and the CTC South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire District, it was the done thing for the leading rider in a group to shout "car down" and the one at the back to shout "car up".
We then were in a position to adjust ourselves to allow traffic to pass safely.
This unwritten rule should be passed on from generation to generation, however it does seem that some modern club riders have forgotten about
this rule.
From: Ian Wormwell, Rothwell, Leeds.
OLIVIA Charlesworth was inconvenienced by a group of cyclists for about five minutes. I do think all motorists, myself included, need to realise that we are not delivering lifesaving organs so a slight delay is not the end of the world.
Equitable bill is unfair
From: John Wilson,
Wilsons Solicitors,
Rodley Lane, Rodley, Leeds.
I DISAGREE with the report that suggests the Government should compensate the losers from the Equitable Life debacle (Yorkshire Post, July 17).
Look at it this way: Little man toddles off in his canoe to con big insurance company, result he faces the music. Big insurance company cons thousands of little people, result the Government is supposed to pay up (that means you and me!).
No wonder the legal system is in disrepute. Credibility will only be restored when the big guys are held responsible just like the little ones, and innocent taxpayers are not left to pick up the tab.
Making
a stand
From: Robert Bailey, Edendale, Castleford.
MP's and our local councillors, whose jobs are to run our towns, cities and economy are acting like pigs in a trough with over the top expenses, second homes and "John Lewis" lists. Why shouldn't anyone else ask for their wage to merely keep up with inflation?
Many people, private and council workers alike have accepted below-inflation rises for the last couple of years and now employers are taking advantage of this. The council workers are now finally making a stand after all these years. Maybe we should too.
From: Barbara Harrison, Parkside Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford.
DOES the revelation that some MPs spend up to 1,200 over three months on food now prove that they really are pigs at the trough. How do they manage to survive without this food allowance when they are not on parliamentary business? Do they not eat at other times?
I would be interested to learn the secret and in the process save myself the inflationary cost of keeping myself fed for at least part of the year.
Sad sign
From: Iain Morris, Caroline Street, Saltaire, Shipley, West Yorkshire.
I THINK one of the most damning indictments of our society today is when you see a tradesman having to display in one of the windows of his vehicle "No tools left overnight in this van".
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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