Bill could curb power of the supermarkets

I HAVE to say that I could not agree with Bernard Ginns (Yorkshire Post, February 15) when he expressed concern as to how the Localism Bill would make the planning system more democratic with more power to local people.

He was, in particular, referring to the way in which the big supermarkets would find it more difficult to open new stores, and the problems that this would cause them.

Well, not before time would be my comment. In my view the time has come for there to be a presumption against new supermarket developments unless there is substantial agreement from the local community.

It is all very well talking about the new jobs that they create, but all they are actually doing is taking business from elsewhere and destroying other jobs. New sales are not really created, they just move around.

We have seen town centres large and small ruined by the opening of new supermarkets, with many long established private businesses destroyed. In the very same paper there was an article about the number of empty shops in our towns and cities. While there are many reasons for this, the supermarkets have certainly played their own significant part.

So, if it is going to be more difficult for the tentacle-like reach of our supermarkets to be made more difficult to expand further, then I, for one, would welcome it wholeheartedly.

Disabled passengers

From Richard Allan, Assistant Area Director for Northern Rail.

FOLLOWING the letter published from Gillian Eden of Thorne (Yorkshire Post, February 15) and your Editorial (February 11), we would like to reiterate our reasons for the change to access at Thorne North station and the reasonable alternative we provide.

Where dedicated disabled access is not available, we provide our disabled passengers with reasonable alternatives (our requirement to Disabled Discrimination Act standards).

We provide a freephone helpline for our disabled passengers to call to tell us of their travel plans and we can advise how they can travel as efficiently and safely as possible.

In this case, Ms Redmile would be provided with a taxi from Goole station (her nearest accessible station and eight minutes away) which would take her back to Thorne North or to her home, whichever is her preference.

We will continue to review the situation at Thorne North.

Olympic delusions

From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

SEBASTIAN Coe, the athlete, is living in a world long gone when he thrilled the millions with his gold medal achievements (Yorkshire Post, February 15).

He was looked on later as a political hero by successive political parties, ennobled by the Tories, now best known as the Conservatives.

In my day, more that 50 years ago I used my first vote to be one of many Highlanders to re-elect Unionist John McLeod MP for the constituency of   Ross and Cromarty. He was a Tory really.

And I have voted that way all my life, because in those long-gone years every boy had a job, working on a farm, as an apprentice or the luck to get a place in university along with the brighter girls in class, before strikes destroyed this UK of ours.

However,  we now have Lord Seb Coe – like his leader PM David Cameron – living in a cloud.

Both have been lecturing us on youth and the future for kids.

Please explain how families in this present highly-taxed society can afford to pay the swingeing charges to view a once-in-a-lifetime experience because of the exorbitant prices being asked at the ticket offices – and with the excess of commission to the operators?

Beware of Balls, Ed

From: Mr D Downs, Mountbattan Avenue, Sandal, Wakefield.

I’M sorry, Mr Rouse of York, (Yorkshire Post, February 17), but you are wrong in saying that Gordon Brown should be the only one to be brought to book for the demise of Britain’s economy: Ed Balls was also deeply involved.

It is inconceivable that Ed Balls did not play a major part in the attempt to oust Alistair Darling, one of the few with any integrity in the last Labour Government and who tried to inform the public of the true state of affairs. Just look at Mr Balls’s body language and the hideous smirk when slouching on the front bench in Parliament.

His only contribution to date in challenging the Government’s current economic policies is to utter personal insults at George Osborne: no constructive comments whatsoever.

It is no wonder that Mr Balls was not Ed Miliband’s first choice for Shadow Chancellor: EM, watch your back!

Ignoring an offence

From: David Pickering, Gloucester Road, Stonegravels, Chesterfield.

I AGREE entirely with the comments made by Peter A Ellis (Yorkshire Post, February 16) concerning our police. There is, however, an amendment I would wish to make where he refers to the police targeting the motorists.

I have lobbied Derbyshire Police regarding inconsiderate motorists driving and parking on pedestrian walkways. They turn round and tell me it is not an offence when according to my Highway Code and everyone else’s Highway Code, states clearly it is.

We hear Police Authorities complaining about cuts when they could be bringing in revenue by spot-fining these culprits. By refusing to take up this matter, Derbyshire Police is indeed creating a society that thinks it is the norm for parking on pavements.

I have also been in touch with my elected representative in Parliament, Toby Perkins, on this same matter. Needless to say, not even a reply. I shall not be voting for him again.