Local government and policing have been made unnecessarily complicated - Yorkshire Post Letters

The Yorkshire Post of February 26 included three letters which related to the very confused state of Local Government.

The letter from Gareth Robson indicated that 'Local Government reorganisation is failing'. Peter Hyde's letter, as he often asserts, criticised the fact that there are too few police patrolling the streets. Jim Buckley's letter was complimentary of councillors in Calderdale wanting to help youngsters to understand local democracy.

I am well aware that it is often said that people of my age (89) see the past through rose-coloured spectacles. That may be so, but, living in Mirfield, as a youth and young man, local government was simple.

It operated within traditional boundaries. So the West Riding County Council (WRCC) operated from Wakefield, from the County Hall. Various elements of local government were run by WRCC. One could easily contact County Hall, by phone or letter or a visit.

Local affairs were run by Mirfield Urban District Council (MUDC), with council offices in the middle of Mirfield. If one had problems with issues under the authority of MUDC, it was easy to go to the council offices and have the matter sorted.

I can tell the reader now that any problems regarding street lighting could be easily solved.

As regards police work, as Peter Hyde often asserts, policemen were known by name, lived in police houses, with a police 'emblem' obvious near the front door of the police house.

As children, we all knew which policemen to avoid. Compare that simple system with today and the umpteen layers, not relating to known historical boundaries.

Sense of identity was always seen to be important - an intention to maintain one's home area and county. If one wishes to speak to a police officer today, one has to be skilled with the internet, and the same, if wishing to have a street lamp made good. Are the new systems better and more helpful for society? If so, I haven't noticed yet.