Four Yorkshire mayors better than one – Yorkshire Post Letters

IT seems logical to have mayors in all four of the former shires of Yorkshire, not just South and West Yorkshire.

Having one mayor, by 
contrast, would mean having a large administration to support them, as is the case with the Mayor of London, with the associated additional cost probably paid for by a council tax precept.

Residents of Yorkshire, along with the respective MPs, would expect them to work together, and each have equal powers and equality of standing in order to get maximum funding for the region’s transport and development.

They can lobby to persuade civil servants to be relocated here.

NHS England has already taken the initiative to base its headquarters at Quarry House in Leeds.

There is also an opportunity to launch a new streamlined and accountable tourism body to replace the tainted Welcome to Yorkshire.

Exemplar examples of regional mayors are Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Andy Street, Mayor of West Midlands, both of whom are not afraid of ruffling feathers in the Treasury and other Whitehall departments to get a fairer deal for the residents in the 
respective regions.

Quite rightly quoted, Yorkshire is at a pivotal moment and the pandemic should be used for planning for when we get the green light to get back to a 
better life.

From: Gareth Robson, Kent House Road, Beckenham.

RARELY does one read truer than the words of Lord Heseltine “the component parts of local government ... dig in for their own ... selfish perspective” (The Yorkshire Post, February 2).

Are you listening, North Yorkshire County Council? I am more than ever convinced that we should look to a bigger picture. The Northern Independence Party are on to something.

I would far rather see a new, radical, integrated regional government of the whole North, working with all the existing districts, boroughs and (maybe) combined authorities (strange hybrids that they are) than continue with the self-absorbed machinations of county councils who see devolution as a route to self-aggrandisement.

From: Geraldine Fenton, West Park, Leeds.

EVERYONE knows Leeds Bradford Airport was put in the wrong place, being a Leeds and Bradford collaboration (The Yorkshire Post, February 3).

For many years I have said it would be better off east of Leeds, where it would be far more accessible to far more people.

We always use it whenever possible and are fortunate to 
live nearby.

But if they seriously want to rebuild the terminals and improve the access on that site, then it seems to me to be a golden opportunity to shift the whole thing to Church Fenton, or wherever seems appropriate just east of Leeds, near the A1, M1, M62.

That is, of course, assuming the project should go ahead 
at all, given the conditions we are living under and considering the dodgy future of extensive air travel due to pandemics and climate change.

From: Bob Watson, Baildon.

WEST Yorkshire’s transport leaders say a “long-term comprehensive behaviour change programme” is needed
to meet the county’s climate 
goals (The Yorkshire Post, February 1).

They go on to state that “walking and cycling will become major forms of transport – the first choice for short journeys”.

This may be an ideal goal but do they really think it is achievable for walking and cycling to virtually take over shorter journeys?

I must say that I have my doubts.

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