July 13: Bring Leeds Council down to earth over airport

From: Keith Loudon, Senior Partner, Redmayne-Bentley LLP, Leeds.

THE spectre of the Leeds Bradford International Airport raises its head once more. It seems to have been around all my adult life (The Yorkshire Post, July 9). Rightly so, if our region is to achieve its full potential, we must have an effective international airport.

An effective airport needs at least two things: the ability of passengers to get to the airport with ease, convenience and comfort; and runways with enough capacity for additional flights to take off.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Two considered solutions: firstly, a rail link. The elevation of the rail line to the airport would be too great for a traditional train to be able to climb it. If this statement is doubted, I suggest that experts get it checked out. So therefore, are they looking at a cog or cable? (Yes, silly I know).

There is no way, and it has not been suggested, that a second runway can be built. The capacity is therefore limited.

Let’s look for alternative sites in our region. The feasibility of other sites must be explored as a matter of urgency. This has already been suggested by Coun Keith Wakefield, the recently retired leader of Leeds Council. We want our region to win.

From: Robert Turner, Guiseley.

THANK you for your Editorial about Leeds Bradford Airport (The Yorkshire Post, July 9). Local government policy making connected with LBIA has been a mess for almost 50 years and the best thing that could happen would be for the airport to be closed down completely and Bridgepoint compensated for their loss.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I came to live in Guiseley just after a public inquiry which reached the conclusion that the runway should not be expanded, then only two or three years later another local authority reversed the decision! The truth is that if the local councils had not started meddling and combining in things that were none of their business, it would still be a little local flying club and field.

Councils and their officials know nothing about air transport, and the councillors even less so, they should have left well alone. We now face the possible danger that, if the West Yorkshire local authorities get extra devolved powers, of an additional precept to pay for transport links to the airport.

The only good thing councillors have done is float the idea of building an airport next to the M62/M1 junction area. Perhaps the new owner of the ex RAF base at Church Fenton, where I understand existing large runways, and hard standing aprons are already available, could be persuaded to do a deal.

I live in hope of a sensible outcome but think I will be disappointed.

Don’t spoil the view again

From: J Cook Altar Drive, Heaton, Bradford.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

NOW that the demolition of Bradford’s old police HQ is complete, many of us have been enjoying the superb views across City Park. Most of central Bradford’s finest buildings are once again in full sight of each other – the Alhambra, City Hall, the Odeon, St George’s Hall, National Media Museum and the Old Central Library. This enhances the city landscape enormously, making it more attractive to visitors.

The wise move now would be to extend City Park into this cleared space, creating further green areas. A mixture of shrubs, small tress, heather beds, rockeries and paved pathways would be ideal and should not be too costly. This would be far preferable to repeating the 1970s error of blocking out one of Bradford’s best open vistas. Does our city really need an intrusive office block on that site, as is currently intended?

Bradford’s future prosperity surely lies in its cultural attractions, retail and tourist potential rather than providing yet more office space, which can easily be located elsewhere, like a reinvigorated little Germany.

Over to you, Bradford Council. Make a wise and visionary decision. Retain our newly restored open vistas. Go for the greener and better option.

Ban the guns not just flags

From: Paul Emsley, Hellifeld.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

SO the American government has banned the Confederate Flag to prevent more sectarian massacres. It is far easier for them to do this than to change their gun laws and to ban 
the wholesale ownership of firearms. I can’t remember the last time a flag killed somebody (I think it was a French musketeer at the Battle of Trafalgar, in 
1805).

If the American people are serious about preventing the continuing, mass killings that their community history is littered with, then they would ban the easy access that their people have to firearms and ammunition.

Programmes not programs

From: Hugh Rogers, Messingham Road, Ashby.

THE report that the BBC is to give every Year 7 pupil a mini-computer is a stunning example of the way our so-called 
cash-strapped national broadcaster is wasting money which should be spent on producing more and better programmes on radio and television. Anyway, since when has it been the job of the BBC to teach kids about computers?

Children need to be encouraged to add up and take away, speak and write English properly and have a sound knowledge of what it means to be British.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They don’t need mini-computers. Anyway by that age they’ve probably got more knowledge of technology than their parents – without the help of the BBC or anyone else. Roll on my 75th birthday 
after which, with a bit of luck, I shan’t have to pay a licence fee to keep Broadcasting House supplied with those other essentials of W1A life – taramasalata sandwiches and folding bicycles.

Related topics: