Home truths about barn conversions

I READ with interest the letter from Mr RA Fawcett (Yorkshire Post, February 4) “Scaremongering over Dales barn conversions”. It confirmed my concern that there is a worrying lack of understanding of the scope of the Government’s proposals to allow the conversion of barns to houses without the need for planning permission.

I absolutely agree with Mr Fawcett that there are excellent examples of barns that have been converted sympathetically into housing, and that we need more of them in the future to provide housing for local people. Unfortunately, that’s not what will happen – because of three fundamental flaws.

First, amazing though it may seem, there is absolutely nothing in the Government’s current proposals that would place any control on which barns could or could not be converted. The fact that a barn was in the middle of a field would not preclude its development. This has been confirmed by Government officials. Nor is there any requirement to restrict barns to conversion only – the proposals would allow barns to be completely demolished and rebuilt as new houses.

Second, there would be no mechanism for local communities and parish councils to be consulted about any of the 6,000 barns in this National Park being turned into houses. Whither localism then?

Third, there would be no way to ensure that the housing created would be protected for people in local housing need. It will be open market housing, and all the evidence suggests that the vast majority of it will end up as yet more second homes and luxury retirement properties. This flies in the face of what most local people say they want, and is the reason why we will continue to “scaremonger” on their behalf.

Exotic vision of old haunts

From: Peter Spawforth, Mill Farm Drive, Newmillerdam, Wakefield.

I WAS interested to read of the Old Chapel Studios reincarnation (Yorkshire Post, February 6). In 1956 the Leeds School of Architecture was decanted to an old school nearby whilst remodelling took place at its home on Woodhouse Lane – later the Slug and Lettuce after the absorption of the College of Art into the Metropolitan University.

The Czar Street area was semi derelict following bomb damage and housing clearance. As students we were set a one day exercise to show a vision of the area as we then saw it. To me it was exotic with all the elements reflected in my painting. We had a gypsy caravan, old graveyards, albeit without Davy Crockett, although the song was number one at the time, traders of all nationalities and the occasional daffodil. It was always dark in those pre-clean air days hence the moon! The Old Chapel Studios appear to be the chapel in my sketch but with the front bay removed – I may be wrong as there were many chapels around Holbeck. Thank you for the opportunity to dig around my archives to enjoy this area once again.

Free fall down to Democrats

From: Rodney Atkinson, Meadowfield Road, Stocksfield, Northumberland.

I SEE that in the latest, 2014 
index of economic freedom (where the most free countries also have the best records on health, education, the environment and reduction in poverty) not one member state of the European Union is in the top eight. The best-placed European country is Switzerland.

Disgracefully the United States has the undistinguished record of seven straight years of declining freedom.

No wonder US families’ incomes have been in free fall – after years of Democrat control under President Barack Obama.

Pity patients as cuts bite

From: David Treacher, Nelson Road, Hull.

CUTS to the ambulance service in Yorkshire are not too good. If this Government must make savings then the emergency services should be exempt from cuts in funding.

The national timing for the arrival of an ambulance is eight minutes, but an ambulance is a paramedic in a car, not an ambulance as we think of one, who most often transport to a hospital only.

But as I gather this service will be cut and people will have to wait longer to be transported to hospital for further treatment. But the patient may need to get to hospital urgently and will have to wait longer.

This is never shown in the figures, which on the surface look favourable.

US must stop backing rebels

From: R Cartlidge, Storth Lane, Wales, Sheffield.

THE capitalist West foster the infernal war in Syria by its immoral support of the rebel insurrection.

America are blind as bats not to see this truism. Giving such support doesn’t favour peace, but endless bloodshed. Back off America, and instigate peace not by war, but by negotiation.

Even if it prevails it isn’t worth the price to the inept sufferers – the ordinary people. Where’s the common sense?

The rebel cause is seemingly unwinnable – its adversary has a powerful friend. Also, in its people’s survival in its harmony for peace, instead of a dolesome eternal war.

Humility would not be a regressive step backward, but a progressive step forward!