YP Letters: Time for a return to terraced housing

From: Jeremy C Green, Atkendale, Knaresborough.

THERE seems to be a fashion in house building to randomly dot houses here and there.

In a field of good arable land near to where I live, the builders appear to be doing this again.

Why can they not build terraces again? In a given field size many, many more homes can be fitted in.

They don’t have to be hovels, the size can be as large as needed.

Just look at the terraces in York centre; They command prices equal to most detached houses.

If so many homes have to be built, according to Government, why not make the most use of available land? As the Old Timers say: “They’re not making any more land.”

Process leads to more wells

From: Geoff Smith, Pasture Lane, Hovingham.

IT is right to say that the visual impact of a fracking pad will be reduced once the initial drilling is completed. However what is not said is that fracking is different from conventional gas extraction in that once a vertical bore has been drilled further drilling will be undertaken horizontally.

At this point the rocks will be fractured, hopefully releasing the gas. The nature of this type of extraction means that the majority of the available gas will be released in the first two years.

As a result of this, new wells will have to be drilled at fairly regular intervals. Third Energy, in a submission to a Parliamentary committee, estimated that of the 19 sites they planned up to 50 wells would be required on each site. That is just one company.

The energy companies would have us believe that fracking can be undertaken with no risk and no impact on the countryside or the people that live here. This is simply not true.

Odeon snub is an insult

From: Coun John Pennington, Deputy Conservative Leader, Bradford Council.

THE Lotttery funding setback (The Yorkshire Post, January 22) for plans to transform Bradford’s historic Odeon is frankly an insult to the city and people involved. There could not be a more worthy scheme to help regenerate the city centre, create employment and hugely help the local economy; it ticks all the boxes.

Now disillusioned that investments go to worthy causes, my bi-weekly flutter will be no more. Whoever made the decision should be ashamed of themselves. When it does eventually open, they will not get a ticket either.

From: Charles Rushton, Pasture Close, Strensall, York.

HERE we go again! The Bradford Odeon was at the bottom of Manchester Road. The building slowly decaying was built as and known to generations as the New Victoria, being built on the site of the Victoria brewery.

Opened in the 1930s, it was a wonder of its day, seating some 3,500+ in the cinema with ballroom and restaurant included.

In later life, I believe it became known as the Gaumont and finally the Odeon.

I remember long queues, the organ a wonder of its day, Saturday nights at the dance and afternoon tea with my gran in the restaurant. Happy days!

Search for family medals

From: Janet Berry, Bar Lane, Hambleton, Nr Selby.

MY grandad was killed near Ypres on November 9, 1914. He was a private in the Coldstream Guards and he was awarded three medals, the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

I can remember seeing these medals in a drawer when I was a child but I believe they have been given to someone in the Selby area.

His penny plaque turned up in someone’s garage in Leeds Road and was kindly returned to me by the late, great Ken Oates.

My grandfather’s number was 6423 and his name was William Ernest Waltham, which would be printed on these medals, according to a Major in the Coldstream Guards.

He was born at Staynor House, Selby.

I would be so grateful if I could have these medals returned to me as we would obviously like them back in the family.

No evidence for NHS claim

From: Bob Watson, Baildon.

DR Glyn Powell tells us (The Yorkshire Post, January 20) that “the Government’s real agenda is to destroy the NHS and replace it with a fee-paying health service.”

What utter left-wing claptrap!

If that is, in his words, “the Government’s real agenda”, then perhaps he should mention this to the Government who, I suspect, are totally unaware of this part of their supposed agenda.

Bone to pick

From: David Treacher, Hull

I WALK around and often see Big Issue sellers with a dog. Nearly every one of them has a dog sat with them.

Well, if they can afford the dog, then they can’t be that poor or hard up.