March 18 Letters: Get tough on scourge of litter louts

AFTER reading the letter from Sue Cuthbert (The Yorkshire Post, March 13), I would like to point out that it is the whole of this country of England (or should I say Britain) that is spoiled by litter and not just Yorkshire alone.

The other day, I saw an empty pop can being pushed into the letter slot of a post box and it sickens me that there are stupid people who would do such stupid things like that.

There are times when I see an empty can has been left on a wall top, or on a public seat, or in the grass, and many other sorts of litter left where it shouldn’t be.

Why can’t we have an introduction of a new law for litter louts to be given a few hours community work that will include picking up litter?

No risk to 
the climate

From: Nigel Pearson, Carr Bridge Avenue, Leeds.

IT’S reported that Oxford University may pull out of its investments in coal and oil sands (in response to student protests) on the grounds that “burning the world’s coal will result in reckless risks to the climate”.

Perhaps these supposedly learned persons, rather than following their students, should have consulted a scientific paper published in January entitled “Why Models Run Hot” (Monckton et al), which proves what numerous other scientists have also established on the subject recently, that (a) any warming from greenhouse gases this century will be minor and beneficial, and (b) that even 
if all the world’s available fossil fuels were burned (which would take hundreds of years) this could not produce dangerous warming.

But then, sadly, few people these days seem interested in the scientific truth about climate matters. In general, damaging activist fantasy still rules.

Council can claim costs

From: N Bywater, Oak Grove, Morley, Leeds.

I RECEIVED my Leeds Resident Permit the other day. It blocks people from outside Leeds from using the council’s recycling facilities. I assume that this is in order to save money, but will it?

All manufacturers (or anyone else selling a product on the market in the EU) are liable to pay for take-back, treatment and recycling of end-of-life equipment owing to the December 2002 EU Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) directive.

So councils should be able to claim back the cost of recycling from manufacturers of electrical goods.

Glass, metal and many other things are sold for recycling. So the more the council collect, the more money they should raise.

If the scrap vans that drive around all areas can make money, surely when people bring glass, paper and metals to the council recycling centre the council can make money too?

Plundering of the North

From: Mrs NJ Strachan, Thornton, Bradford.

SO the potential gas resources in the North of England could be enormous, with one company considering up to 50 wells in the Rydale area. Would someone please tell us how many wells they are considering in the south of England, particularly in the Home Counties?

Of course, I was forgetting that our MPs seem to think that the North of England is just a barren wasteland, only fit for covering with fracking wells, wind farms, solar farms, potash mines, etc.

At the moment the North of England has some of the most beautiful country in the world, but by the time these companies have finished their plundering, it will be a barren wasteland in reality.

Arrogant and dangerous

From: ME Wright, Harrogate.

YET more families left bereft following the deaths of youngsters in needless carnage on the roads (The Yorkshire Post, March 10). Though a graduated driving test, which involves differing conditions and a longer learning period is certainly worth considering, doesn’t driver attitude play a major part?

Once the L plates are off, macho man can emulate the ageing juveniles at Top Gear and be regarded as a local hero. Even if caught, as long as he hasn’t killed anyone in the process, he will get away with a derisory fine and a few points – a badge of honour in some quarters.

Isn’t it time to clamp down on the gross speeders, mobile phone clutchers etc by introducing mandatory and lengthy bans?

Ways to save on policing

From: Nigel F Boddy, Darlington.

REPORTED crime figures are down and the Government conclude therefore we need fewer police.

The police have been under great pressure lately to take fewer complaints about crime which is why the figures are lower.

We can save money on 
policing by amalgamating forces.

This would cut the number 
of chief constable and deputy 
chief constable positions and the bill for their enormous pensions. Don’t cut the bobbies on the beat.