YP Letters: Let down by politicians near and far on Northern Powerhouse

LOUISE Haigh produced an excellent essay (The Yorkshire Post, June 4) that, to me, showed the real problem for the North is the combination of Whitehall, Westminster and the South East who seem to run the country, but whose interests appear excessively dominated by money and the Thatcher legacy of a need to control. There will be no advantage to the North while these people are in power, they are far more damaging to our interests than Brussels ever could be.

Not that Yorkshire’s own politicians are perfect. In the same edition, I read of Community Secretary Greg Clark’s “frustration” at the lack of progress on devolution east of the Pennines and Tom Richmond’s very apt description of Leeds’s botched trolleybus plan as “follybus”. I trust I am not hoping in vain that once this wretched referendum is out of the way, our elected representatives will focus their attention on the jobs they were actually elected to do, if they can still remember the promises they made at the last election.

From: ME Wright, Harrogate.

IT was good to read David Cameron’s list of “yesses” to Yorkshire since the election (The Yorkshire Post, June 4).

How soon do these become disbelieving “yippees” as the contractors move in – this year, next year, some time?

It might make interesting reading if he gave us a list of southern projects “paused” since the election.

From: Andrew Cook CBE, Chairman, William Cook Holdings Ltd.

YOUR report ‘Consultants net £785,000 in fees for Playhouse before brick is laid’ (The Yorkshire Post, June 6) brings to mind a similar newspaper headline in 1854. The British Government had engaged the railway contractor Samuel Peto to build a line to supply beleagued troops in the Crimea. The Times reported ‘Not a yard of track laid, but Mr Peto a Baronet’.

Plus ca change, plus ca la meme chose!

Moved by Katie’s views

From: Sue S Cuthbert, Newton on Rawcliffe.

RE the letter ‘A seven-year-old’s view on fracking decision’ (The Yorkshire Post, June 6).

May I congratulate the parents of Katie Ward for having such a caring and well informed daughter. When I read her letter I, unusually, had a lump in my throat.

Some people do not realise or understand that children of seven years old can have an opinion on very serious subjects.

When I was Katie’s age, I also had very strong opinions about things which I knew to be wrong or unfair, so I also wrote letters to newspapers. Now that I am in my 70s, I continue to write letters to newspapers, so Katie, if you read this, please continue with your letter writing. It really does make a difference. Well done.

From: Brian Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

ARE we to believe that a seven-year-old has followed the debate on fracking and taken it upon herself to pen a letter to a newspaper? Cynical exploitation of young children to make a political point is not uncommon: how often have we seen children clutching slogans at demonstrations, prompted by parents? My children and grandchildren have been allowed to make up their own minds, from religion to anything as trivial as the football team they support.

Sour taste of dairy diatribe

From: Jean Abbey, Easingwold.

I REFER to the feature on Yorkshire County Cricket Club coach Jason Gillespie (The Yorkshire Post, June 6).

I am sitting at my kitchen table looking out at our dairy cows in the fields surrounding the farmhouse. They are all lying in the sunshine, chewing the cud in sociable groups.

They have been milked this morning and in the late afternoon they have to stroll back to the milking parlour to eat delicious cereal while they are being milked. They then stroll back to the fields.

To earn their keep they have to produce one calf a year (quite normal in nature ) and provide us with milk to sell. They are fed, watered, cleaned. They get eight weeks maternity leave, have regular check-ups with the vet and have pedicures with a specialist foot trimmer. Which bit of that is “disgusting”?

Sadly, if Jason Gillespie had his way, these cows would be no more. If the dairy farmer ceases to be, then all the cows would be killed. Perhaps, in a world of equals, he could ask the cows which they would prefer?

From: Mr C Gregg, Masham.

I AM disappointed at the comments from Jason Gillespie, saying he hopes one day the dairy industry will close.

Considering how many Yorkshire dairy farmers support Yorkshire Cricket and are members – I have supported the team for 55 years – perhaps it is now necessary for Mr Gillespie to resign.

Does he not realise the difficulties the dairy industry is facing? He is biting that hand that feeds him.

Wensleydale Creamery has recently extended its sponsorship of the Yorkshire cricket team, but are entirely a milk/dairy business. Therefore, why would the creamery wish to continue to support the team?