Put brakes on the pavement cycle pests

WITH reference to the letter by K Chapman (Yorkshire Post, April 22) regarding yob cyclists in Scarborough, I have every sympathy.

However to say that they will not visit the resort again in the foreseeable future takes a bit of believing.

Based on this, it would not be safe to go out of the writer’s door because Harrogate and Knaresborough are just as bad.

Every time I visit the centre of these two towns, someone is invariably riding on the pavement with a cycle – one last week right past the front gates of Harrogate Police Station.

I travelled between these towns every morning at about 8am for at least three years until about a year ago and saw a man who would be in his 60s riding on the footpath the whole way to Harrogate every day.

This indicates that either the police have also seen him and not bothered or there was no police presence on that stretch of road at that time for at least three years.

This is a county-wide problem which needs addressing by the police. After all, it has only been an offence since 1835.

Money lost in translation

From: GC Wright, Church Fenton.

To the best of my knowledge, the Government does not exclude incomers from learning English.The fact is, unlike virtually all other countries, Britain stupidly, and at taxpayers’ expense, provides money for multi-translations and courses for those too idle or stupid to bother to learn the indigenous language by their own means.

I admire those who come to this country and contribute to society, and I am always particularly impressed by those from the Indian sub-continent, many of whom speak impeccable English, far better than a good proportion of the populace.

I have lived and worked abroad. When in Switzerland and Germany, I learnt German. I taught myself Russian in order to be able to read technical journals and when I went to China for a long period I learnt Chinese.

I was in these countries to work and yet I was not able to claim tax relief on self- learning material I purchased myself.

I live in Spain for part of the year. If you need to avail yourself of the EU health system, you need to speak Spanish, which I do, or pay for an interpreter. It is exactly the same in the local authority.

Many people who settle here can immediately avail themselves of facilities they can only dream about in their own countries.

I have no problem with that, but I do not see why my taxes should also be used to provide immigrants with language courses.

Those from Eastern Europe usually speak very good English without subsidised courses.

Unhappy landings

From: WL Hudson, Hampsthwaite Road, Harrogate.

AS airports go, Leeds Bradford International Airport must rate highly on the league table for least passenger-friendly.

The drop-off zone for car or taxi is some distance from the terminal building, leaving you exposed to the elements.

There are no luggage trolleys provided which would make the journey across to the terminal much easier. The departure lounge always seems congested and some seating has been removed to allow room for shop expansion or new units.

Even the Premier Lounge now has dedicated seating for KLM passengers and is consequently under-used, from my experience.

While flights have increased, there seems to be little provision to handle the extra passengers

It also seems to be common practice to walk to the aircraft, again leaving you exposed to bad weather.

On entering the baggage reclaim, luggage trolleys have to be hired and there is no trolley park in the car park. In my view, it is time the management thought more about the passenger.

Fighting back against ME

From: Jenny Gilmore, Holgate, York.

IT was excellent to see Yorkshire cricketer Joe Sayers return to the game after many months of post- viral fatigue.

People with ME would have felt very concerned when they first read about his illness in the Yorkshire Post last year as it is often a starting point for the long term severe fatiguability and other disabling symptoms of ME.

This week is ME awareness week, and there are many Yorkshire people who have been severely disabled by the condition for years.

There are powerful ways forward now, including the lightning process (at the moment undergoing a NHS feasibility study). Sufferers are awaiting the time when this awful condition becomes a thing of the past.

More information can be found at www.afme.org.uk.