A planning blight on our green fields

THE naivety of some of Nick Boles’ comments (Yorkshire Post, January 12) is frightening.

He speaks of many green fields, which communities try to protect, as “pretty undistinguished, pretty scruffy”. Does he not understand that, once these fields are included in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA), they are subject to bids from developers?

Once the landowner accepts an option from one of the developers, he has a piece of land he can sell to that developer once planning permission is granted – however far into the future that might be – so what’s his incentive to keep it “green”?

Fields around this community have been subject to this process, and are subsequently neglected by the landowner, not grazed, cropped or mown, such that they become infested with nettles, briar, thistles and ragwort. Is there any wonder they cease to be attractive for anything but construction? The Minister should be seeking to stop this pernicious form of planning blight from ruining our green landscapes.

On track to back Tour

From: Richard Allan, Area Director, Northern Rail.

IN response to Tom Richmond’s column (Yorkshire Post, December 22), far from being complacent, we are determined to support the Tour de France when it arrives in Yorkshire next year.

Last year we helped transport thousands of golf fans to The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes, which brought £65m of economic benefits to Lancashire alone, and we have many years’ experience in managing major events in the north of England.

I asked our Press Office team to manage Tom’s enquiry because all enquiries from the media are handled by them. As the team explained to Tom at the time, the delay at Leeds was caused by a signalling failure in Wakefield that resulted in congestion for trains trying to leave Leeds, including those on the platform and running lines that the Ilkley train was due to use.

Finally, the Leeds to Ilkley route that Tom used is our third best route in the region, with 96.56 per cent of services arriving to schedule in the last 12 months.

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

FANTASTIC news about the Tour de France starting in Yorkshire. I’m sure it will bring extra revenue and visitors to our county. Will we get more public transport to cope with the influx of cycling supporters? I think not.

A lack of confidence

From: Jim Buckley, Aketon, Pontefract.

JAYNE Dowle (Yorkshire Post, January 7) urges David Cameron to concentrate on things which matter, saying: “We are becoming a self-obsessed nation mired in endless introspection.”

Exactly so. Where is that confidence which enabled us 
to go out into the world? It was this confidence to go out, which made us great; and it is this confidence which would keep 
us great – if only we could 
regain it.

It is an attitude of mind rather than a physical journeying – particularly these days when there is instant worldwide communication.

We are citizens of Yorkshire, but rather than being restricted to this, it enables us to be citizens of the United Kingdom, and citizens of the European Union. Europe is only a step towards being a citizen of the world.

We are only held back by our lack of confidence in ourselves.

Is it logically necessary?

From: Peter Hyde, Driffield.

PERHAPS it is that I tend to look at things logically but have to ask why television companies find it necessary to send a camera crew and presenter to stand on top of a hill covered in deep snow to tell viewers that it is snowing?

Equally why do they deem it essential to send a presenter and attendant camera crew to stand outside a hospital where someone importamnt is receiving treatment?

If it is floods, you can be 
certain that the same action will be taken.

Apart from the ridiculousness of it, it costs money and they are forever demanding more and more resources from either the licence payer or the advertiser.

To a logical mind like mine, it is a waste of money and puts staff at risk. Still I am a true Yorkshireman, so perhaps I have no cultural sense.

Praise for pantomime

From: David Wood and Judith Wood, West Park Street, Dewsbury.

HAVING read several complimentary articles in the Yorkshire Post over the last few months about the Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime at Harrogate Theatre, we wish to add our praise for this excellent production.

Harrogate Theatre should be congratulated for presenting a thoroughly entertaining piece of theatre: we attended the 
final performance with a party whose ages ranged from five to 
75 and all were totally 
engrossed and thrilled with what they saw.

In current times of drastic cut backs in arts funding, the whole team at Harrogate Theatre deserve huge praise for their enterprise and commitment with such a production and undoubtedly are deserving of financial support.

Our sincere thanks to them all for providing a superb family outing.