Look North and BBC; too many presenters, too many repeats and too much football – Yorkshire Post Letters

IN response to recent correspondence about Look North, and the BBC, why do there have to be two overpaid presenters for some programmes?

There is also far too much football being transmitted by the BBC. Football and league placing seem to be local radio’s main sport topic.

Since lockdown, the BBC local radio stations seem to consist of “bump bump yah yah” music. How about some light classical music?

There are far too many repeat programmes on BBC TV. Why should we pay a licence fee for “rubbish” which has already been transmitted?

From: Steve Wilson, Lenton Villas, Bradford.

BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty defends the BBC, claiming it keeps us “informed, educated and entertained”.

I do not know of anybody who believes that the BBC speaks for anybody outside of the M25 corridor. It stinks of self-serving arrogance with its obscenely paid presenters and bland content.

In short, it has lost touch with those it was created to serve. Only the insular likes of Munchetty and co are oblivious to this.

From: Thomas Reed, Harrogate.

THIS county would be a lot poorer without all the fundraising done by Harry Gration and his fellow Look North presenters over the years. Give them recognition for this rather than knocking them – and their programme – which continues to be a mixture of serious news, lighter features and gentle humour.

Trade Bill vote betrays us all

From: ME Wright, Harrogate.

THE recent Trade Bill vote betrays not only our farmers, but every one of us (The Yorkshire Post, July 22).

In front of me is a letter, parts of which read: “This Government will not compromise our standards... decisions will be made separately from any trade agreement...we will not lower our standards as we negotiate new trade deals.”

It is dated June 5; though clear and positive, times change and it seems that even the most unequivocal words count for nothing when America commands. The letter is signed by Elizabeth Truss MP and George Eustice MP, the International Trade Secretary and Environment Secretary respectively.

It is a worrying and disgraceful day when we have to ask the House of Lords to act and somehow thwart the murky machinations of our elected House.

RNLI relies on donations

From: Miles Rhodes, Moulton, Northamptonshire.

AS an ex-pat Yorkshireman, I am also a long time shoreline member of the RNLI.

Your recent report indicating that the RNLI receives Government funding is 
wrong.

It soley relies on donations from wills and fundraising efforts such as street bucket collections to fund its amazing 365-days-per-year voluntary service.

I am proud and willing to turn out as often as I can to help with the street collections.

All best wishes to the crews and volunteers at Hornsea.

Dead hand of Harrogate BC

From: Anthony Richardson, Knaresborough.

WRITING as a Knaresborough resident, I cannot wait for the day that the dead hand of Harrogate Borough Council is removed from my town as part of North Yorkshire’s local government overhaul.

Despite being the most beautiful small town in the county, with hordes of visitors arriving at all times of year, Knaresborough is one of the most deprived towns in the 
UK.

Take a walk around Ripon, Thirsk, Northallerton, Wetherby and compare the variety of shops they have and the general air of prosperity and compare their populations with ours.

Our last bank is about to close due to lack of footfall.

When electric buses were introduced, were they used on the most polluted routes? No, they graced the streets of Harrogate.

Take a look at the provision of bus shelters compared with those in Harrogate.  

Knaresborough is the poor relation of Harrogate, which uses us as a milch cow.

The sooner we are parted from it, the better.

Nurses’ pay

From: Barry Foster, High Stakesby, Whitby.

What is the Chancellor playing at? Pay rises for doctors and teachers (The Yorkshire Post, July 21), but nothing for nurses and other NHS staff.

This really is a kick in the teeth for them.

My understanding is that nurses have not had a pay rise for a number of years. This is not fair.

And, separately, what about all the money Captain Sir Tom Moore raised? Where has that gone?

Penalise fans

From: David Collins, Scissett.

HAVING watched the unedifying displays by “fans” outside the football stadia following promotion – including Leeds United’s Elland Road ground – it is obvious that the very last grounds to be opened to fans should be professional football clubs as the “fans” can’t even socially distance when there wasn’t a ball in sight.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson