Pensioners hit by bus pass fare increases

AS from this week, York City Council declared the charge for concessionary pass holders in York boarding the bus at the park and ride sites increased by 10p to 80p (anyone boarding the bus with a pass at the first stop, half a mile down the road, or any other stop travels free). As the fare rose 10p in January 2013, this equates to a rise of 33 per cent in 13 months during a period of so- called austerity.

The adult single fare has been held at £2 both years (each adult is entitled to be accompanied by two children free of charge).

How fair is this? It is only a small increase for pass holders but it discriminates against pensioners.

In April, taxpayers will get an increase in personal tax free allowances unless you are over 65, when it does not apply, (something introduced by Gordon Brown).

With the Chancellor declaring more benefit cuts are necessary during 2014, how long before concessionary bus passes are abolished completely? At a time when interest rates on savings are at an all-time low, there is no wonder that pensioners have to chose between “heating or eating”.

The shopkeepers in the centre of York are complaining that there has been a decrease in business due to a bridge closure and this will only get worse if people are discouraged from using the park and ride.

Sentence was too harsh

From: Michael Day, Halifax.

AT the risk of all the “experts” throwing their dummies out of the pram, I have to say that I was disgusted, though not surprised, at the sentence handed out to the gentleman filmed driving with both his hands off the steering wheel (Yorkshire Post, January 7).

I fail to see how this constitutes dangerous driving. As far as I could see from the footage shown on the news, the car was proceeding on the correct track and, if you could not have seen the driver you would have concluded it was under perfect control. So what was going to happen, would it shoot off at right angles or leap over a hedge?

The whole thing was made even more nauseating by having to listen to the pontificating police officer, obviously ecstatic with his achievement, explaining the evils of it all. Considering the number of cars with only one headlight and those with none at all in poor conditions, including many police cars, I think their time could be more usefully utilised.

I assume the gentleman was driving a roadworthy car, had a valid licence and insurance (rare these days) and was not drunk,

I find it hard to condone such a harsh sentence, he may well now lose his job because he can’t get to work, sign on the dole, stop paying taxes and while he is doing his community work meet many miscreants who will show him how to break the law in a more professional manner.

No doubt all those involved will feel a great surge of job satisfaction.

British sense of humour

From: Janet Berry, Barfield, Hambleton.

WHERE will all this political correctness end? In the 60s I loved the Liverpool Lullaby sung by The Spinners. I sing it to my two year old grand-daughter and she loves it also and knows all the words. It is about real life and you would “ger a belt from your da” but no, we cannot say that now and Cilla Black felt it necessary to change the words to “you’ll get told off by your da”. Not quite the same is it? After all Rock a Bye Baby promises that “when the wind blows the cradle will fall and down will come baby, cradle and all”. I know which I prefer.

The good thing about the English is that we are one of the few people who can laugh at ourselves and understand sarcasm whereas many other nations do not. Michael Gove is wanting to ban Blackadder now as it is supposed to degrade war. I found it to be most moving and poignant in the scene where they all climbed out of the trenches and were shot. I suppose it will be the ‘Allo ‘Allo wartime comedy next. Anyone with a modicum of sense knows we are sending ourselves up and long may it continue!

Repulsively honest view

From: Eric Beechey, Eastfield Lane, Kellington, Goole.

I WOULD like to thank RC Dales (Yorkshire Post, January 6) for giving the public his three reasons for repealing the Hunting Act and in doing so he is the only pro-hunting individual I have known who has had the courage to admit the obvious.

He states that his first reason is “killing animals in a way that provides pleasure”. I think that Tim Bonner, a director of the Countryside Alliance, will squirm when he reads this letter because those who hunt have always denied this particular allegation and have maintained it is purely for conservation purposes only.

I should imagine that the idea of killing animals for pleasure is repulsive to almost the whole of the population.

I thought that Lorraine Platt put up a good case to uphold the Hunting Act in her column (Yorkshire Post, December 26).

I have known Lorraine for a number of years and we both served together as Trustees with The League Against Cruel Sports. She is extremely passionate and well briefed on all hunting issues.

She is not a “townie” who, according to Mr Bonner, lacks knowledge of rural affairs, nor is she a “lefty” whose class war motives helped instigate the Hunting Act. She is an enlightened and compassionate Conservative Party member whose views on the hunting issue mirror that of 80 per cent of the adult population in the UK.