A contrasting tale of two rail stations

THE comparison between Leeds and Sheffield stations by Bernard Ginns (Yorkshire Post, February 1) is unfair. Leeds station has far superior drop-off points and short-term car parking facilities.

These are almost non-existent at Sheffield. Leeds has adequate numbers of ticket machines.

At Sheffield there are only three, frequently causing long queues. The escalators at Leeds make access to platforms much easier than at Sheffield, where passengers have to clamber up and down long staircases.

At Leeds, the London trains depart and arrive adjacent to the ticket barriers, whereas at Sheffield travellers bound for the metropolis must first negotiate the stairs and footbridge. As a frequent user of both stations, I would happily exchange the architectural beauty of Sheffield’s “water wall” for the greater efficiencies of Leeds.

From: Dan Laythorpe, Kendal Bank, Little Woodhouse, Leeds.

it is most welcome to learn that a proposal to create a cross city rail link through Bradford city centre has been submitted by Coun John Pennington and property developer, Andrew Mason (Yorkshire Post, January 28). It is an ambitious notion but a crucial one which would inject much needed vitality into the ailing city, probably much more than the collapsed so-called Westfield development would have.

The cost of the project, at £140m plus, is not inconsiderable but when contrasted to the £16bn or so being spent on London’s Crossrail scheme now under construction, the Bradford figure pales into insignificance.

Bradford’s scheme would benefit people from all walks of life whereas the capital’s scheme is designed to benefit those bankers and others who work in the City of London, and who have modern transport connections.

Borrowed time over floods

From: James Anthony Bulmer, Whitehall Court, Peel Street, Horbury, Wakefield.

well, well, well, the incomplete flood defences are, once more, up for debate. It’s a good job Noah didn’t take as long to build his ark. Both cities, Leeds and Wakefield, had years of warnings yet, even in the borrowed boom years, councils did nothing about the flood defences, preferring to concentrate mainly on the leisure side of life – arenas, museums, fountains etc.

Now, when all the money has burst the banks, the councils are blaming the Government, who are busy bailing out the waters from a fast-sinking ship. Will the floods capsize the boat?

It would appear that the race for spending in the borrowing-boom years completely ignored basics and necessities. As the Good Book says: “Don’t build on sand.” And the Scouts motto: “Be prepared.” Were the councils hoping to utilise the scrapped aircraft carriers and, very expensive, scrapped airplanes to lift people from the flood waters. Could the money from the scrap dealer pay for the much-needed flood defences?

Please do not build Britain back by borrowing; bring basics back. Fight the battle against the borrowing bulge.

Sovereign standards

From: Janet Berry, Barfield, Hambleton.

When one watches the admirable film The King’s Speech, it makes you realise how standards and morals have changed.

The King was expelled from this country and never allowed to return until he died because he wanted to marry a divorced woman.

Princess Margaret was unable to marry Peter Townsend for the same reason.

Now our future King, Prince Charles, has been allowed to marry not only a divorced Catholic but his former mistress who was instrumental in causing the break-up of his marriage.

The Church is much more tolerant now of marrying couples who have been divorced and I understand the vows will be changed to “all faiths” to accommodate this anomaly when he is crowned King.

Many people do not agree with this and question whether Charles is fit to be King. I am one of those people.

A library worth saving

From: Gordon E Smith, Crab Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

I AM implacably opposed to the proposal of North Yorkshire County Council to axe the funding of Bilton Library in Harrogate.

The library is the only tangible service, which many of us here actually get from NYCC. The only other service is seeing secondary school pupils, “bunking off” from school at around 2.30pm, each weekday.

Nevertheless, Bilton Library is a busy and friendly place, run competently and professionally by its librarians, whose efforts are much appreciated by the local community. The library is used extensively by mothers with young children and by the over 50s, and outside of school hours and during holidays, by youngsters.

The library itself is the focal point for the local community. If it were to close, the council will have discriminated in particular against mothers with infants, and against the over 50s.