Letters July 21: Alternative airport just down the road

From: John D Hill, Moor Ley, Birdwell, Barnsley.

I’VE been following the discussion in your letters page regarding Leeds Bradford Airport. Many of your correspondents take a very Leeds-centric view of the matter (as usual) and don’t seem to be able to see beyond a radius of 10 miles outside The Headrow.

There is a viable alternative only an hour’s drive outside Leeds – no, not Manchester, but at Doncaster. Robin Hood Airport is on flat, low-lying land, it enjoys good weather, it has a runway capable of taking the largest aircraft and a link road from the M18 is nearing completion. It is within easy reach of southern Yorkshire, Humberside and the north Midlands. It has public transport links. At present flights are few and far between because no one seems to have the vision of how important a transport hub it could be. In my opinion, It has the potential to be the major airport in our region.

From: Ron Firth, Woodgarth Court, Campsall, Doncaster.

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THE letters pages have contained several views on the weather, lack of easy access, and space to create a second runway at Leeds Bradford Airport.

There could be a viable alternative at Robin Hood Airport at Finningley. The existing runway is second only to Stansted for length, with possibilities to create a second runway there to cope with larger aircraft and international flights.

A direct road link is underway linking the airport to the M18 motorway, just one junction from the A1 which itself has motorway links to the M1 and M62 via both the M18 to the South and M180 to the North. There is already a rail link from the East Coast Main Line at Doncaster to Finningley and a dedicated spur from this line to the airport should be a viable proposition, particularly if that spur rejoined the ECML at Retford giving rail access from North and South. The cost of electrifying this relatively short stretch of line through mainly rural areas should be cheaper than starting from scratch on a rail link to LBA through heavily populated areas.

If more holiday flights used Robin Hood Airport, this would leave LBA more spare capacity for business flights to London.

Rail failure will be toxic

From: ME Wright, Harrogate.

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MANY thanks to those business leaders who have signed an open letter to George Osborne on the topic of the North’s railways (The Yorkshire Post, July 16). To their 70 signatures, perhaps we should add those of the people described by Ismail Mulla on the decrepit TransPennine express.

We need to drill it into those southern skulls that, in five short years there will be another election. Unless they and Network Rail go into serious overdrive, David Cameron’s ill-timed reference to “griping” will take on a meaning more toxic than he can possibly imagine.

While the word “liars” is forbidden in that distant House of Commons, perhaps The Yorkshire Post might consider parading it somewhere – preferably in upper case.

From: R Webb, Wakefield.

RE your Back On Track campaign. The naivety of Yorkshire business leaders, fancy believing the promises of David Cameron and George Osborne. They should have demanded this promise be put in writing with penalty clauses for failing to meet the delivery time.

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Cameron saying he knew nothing about the delay, prior to the election, begs this question: Why didn’t he?

Becoming one party state

From: Paul E Hill, Morcambe.

PROTESTATIONS regarding government policy are of no use whatsoever. I don’t think the penny has dropped yet. This country is now virtually a one party state. Following the election, the changes in Scotland and the electoral boundary changes to come, the Tory party will be in power for decades to come.

One-party states do not recognise criticism, they legislate in their interests only. In the case of the present Government, it’s wonderful for those with the broad shoulders. The rest will be left behind. Remember the slogan “we’re all in this together”.

Bunkum.

Slippery meaning

From: Alison Devlin, Leeds.

I WAS very disappointed to see Spurn Point described as a “slither” (as in “slide”) of land rather than as (the correct word) “sliver” (The Yorkshire Post, July 18).

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This is a very commonly made mistake but it jars with me every time!

Animal drug test concerns

From: Terry Morrell, Willerby.

THE report regarding the expansion of beagle farming for drug research in East Yorkshire has certainly created considerable controversy (The Yorkshire Post, July 17).

Maybe people receiving life-saving medication would happily agree to dogs being used for these experiments.

However, one wonders if we should treat animals in this way?

Do all animal-based experiments relate to human ailments? Is it not time to experiment on people?