Mistaken over mining plan for the Moors

I TAKE exception to Andy Tickle’s views from Sheffield on the proposed potash project within the North York Moors National Park (The Yorkshire Post, October 18). He has chosen his words carefully to whip up emotion and hint that there will be grave consequences for the landscape just south of Whitby.

I wish these people would get their facts right. There is not going to be a pipeline from Whitby to Teesside, the planning application is for an underground tunnel which will have very little impact on the national park.

He also hints that the “minehead” will impact on the environment. In truth the “minehead” will be below the surface and the landscaping proposed by York Potash will replace the ramshackle farm buildings and muddy quagmire that is at the moment known as Doves Nest Farm.

Come on Andy, please visit the area you are claiming to have so much knowledge about.

Tired excuses from stars

From: Rick Sumner, Hornsea.

WITH regard to the tiredness which seems to affect so many of our very talented and extremely well-paid football players (Tom Richmond, The Yorkshire Post, October 18), my mind went back some 20 odd years ago when I was living in Manchester.

For several years I ran an open age team of young working men. The team captain, John, worked as an industrial painter. This was a very demanding job which often entailed working on high steel structures. On Saturday afternoons he played Rugby Union for the local YMCA, Sunday mornings he played football for another local team and Sunday afternoon he was central defender for my team.

We always got 100 per cent from him and he never complained that he was tired. No he wasn’t Superman – just a healthy young man who loved sport.

Lack of pride in policing

From: Les Coverdale, Wigginton, York.

IN relation to the letter “The public no longer have the police service they deserve” (The Yorkshire Post, October 18), I, too, am a retired police officer and echo every word written by Ralph Lindley.

But would like to add that when Ralph and I were serving we wore a uniform which gave us pride in our role, thus giving us pride in ourselves, smart shirt and tie, well-pressed trousers, and boots or shoes so shiny you could see reflections in them.

What do we see today? Casually dressed officers in black t-shirts, matt finish boots and what appears to be the compulsory chewing of gum.

Bored of TV humiliation

From: AW Clarke, Wold Croft, Sutton on Derwent.

I CAN only say that I’m surprised at the reaction of Martin J Phillips (The Yorkshire Post, October 15) regarding the behaviour of Lord Alan Sugar on The Apprentice.

I long ago realised that these sort of shows are designed to put the contestants through ritual humiliation.

This seems to be, quite worryingly, a popular format, along with endless competitions, especially baking and cookery. Is there any wonder half the population is obese? One of the differences is that the apprentices featured in the Alan Sugar programme are as objectionable as he is himself so I would be happy to see them made fools of, if I could be bothered to watch.

I recommend that anyone utterly bored by it all should either take up a hobby or avoid such TV and listen to the radio.

Isolation or obscurity?

From: Robert Reynolds, Batley.

IF people think Ukip have the solution to our nation’s woes, they’re going to be sorely disappointed. Beyond Europe and immigration, Ukip have little to say. Indeed, those two issues are so toxic as to cause fracture within our country.

Meanwhile, the Scots Nats are refusing to recognise the referendum result. How delighted would they be at England voting to leave the EU when Scots regularly support remaining in it? Indeed why should Scotland follow England into “splendid isolation”?

And splendid isolation it would be, as a Farage ego trip into obscurity would soon realise the world had changed from the 1880s. So when we have politicians running around shouting about “change”, make sure you know exactly what change and its consequences, or you may live to regret it.

A day of 
rest for all

From: David Treacher, Hull.

IS it the correct thing to do to attend church on Sunday? We are told that Sunday is a day of rest and time with our families. It is said that we work six days of the week and rest on the seventh, in the Christian faith.

For public safety, emergency services people must work, but do we really need supermarkets open? Can’t we wait until Monday?