Some tourism support is still in limbo

I HAVE the utmost admiration for Gary Verity who has transformed the moribund Yorkshire Tourist Board into the powerful Welcome to Yorkshire marketing machine.

I note his efforts (Yorkshire Post, April 27) to embrace the grass roots of the industry following the recent complaints from North Yorkshire tourism leaders. But how ironic that in the same issue of your newspaper the future of the Royal Hotel in Scarborough being in the hands of administrators is reported.

There is a further level of tourism support which is in limbo as Yorkshire Forward gives way to the new Local Enterprise Partnerships and which is not addressed in Mr Verity’s article.

The Area Tourism Partnerships, which previously had financial support from Yorkshire Forward and the local councils and which are a relatively new addition to the industry, are now threatened by funding cuts from both of their original sources.

I am sure that tourism business owners are confused and dismayed by yet more potential changes at grass roots level. One cannot doubt the passion of Gary Verity but let us hope that in the bigger picture he does bring to bear some influence on the future organisation of the many small businesses that make up the visitor experience in Yorkshire.

Concerns over riot discord

From: Peter Asquith-Cowen, Anlaby, Hull.

I READ with deep interest your own remarks and those of other readers (Yorlshire Post, August 12) on the riots. What concerns me is the apparent discord between the politicians and the Metropolitan Police.

Sir Norman Bettison is correct in all that he says. I would rather pay £5 more in tax to have an increased police force, fire brigade and ambulance service.

However, while I agree in principle about his quote from Sir Robert Peel’s time (1829), many of the thugs and scum that wrought havoc on our cities do not see the police in the same light.

From: David W Wright, Uppleby, Easingwold.

FOLLOWING the aftermath and recriminations of the recent riots in London and other cities we are now being bombarded with excuses and blame by politicians, police and lefties/do-gooders, with the latest soundbite from David Cameron with his broken society claim – in addition to the Big Society campaign.

But the blame lies with successive governments and politicians who, over the years, have subjected the UK to dumbing down of our once high standards and subjecting us to control by human rights and equality laws, uncontrolled immigration and regulations from the EU.

The immigration situation has also created ghettos within our towns and cities with incomers from different cultures and religions who have not integrated into society but formed separate and sometimes hostile groupings.

All of these situations together have caused the broken society which needs to be mended urgently, and this can only be done by determined action by our elected politicians, with additional push from the electors.

Jam today is best idea

From: James Bovington, Church Grove, Horsforth.

THE ingenious plan recently proposed by Harrogate Chamber of Commerce to electrify the Leeds to York line via Horsforth and Harrogate should go a long way to easing overcrowding on the local rail network which a recent report described as being as severe as anywhere in England outside of London.

For those who are unfamiliar with the scheme it would cost about £100m and use ground-level live rail electrification, as is the system on Merseyside, with the electrically powered trains being ex-London Underground stock which will become available in 2014.

London of course is getting new trains but the best that we can ever hope for in the provinces is the capital’s cast-offs.

With their faster acceleration, new stations could be introduced without substantial lengthening of journey times and residents of Horsforth would benefit from vastly increased capacity and much higher daytime and evening frequency.

New stations with large car parks north of Horsforth would mean more car parking available for Horsforth residents at our own station. Furthermore the rolling stock being suggested is very good at dealing with steep gradients.

I understand that the scheme is supported by management at Leeds Bradford airport, which would gain a station north of Horsforth just two kilometres from the airport, with feeder buses providing the link to the terminal – the comparable Liverpool airport station is some five kilometres from John Lennon airport.

The scheme isn’t perfect – it does introduce a second type of electrification to the local network. However, it is both innovative and ambitious and would bring great benefits in the relatively near future to communities the full length of the line. I for one am tired of waiting for transport “jam” tomorrow.

Keeping funny money at bay

From: John Wilson, Wilsons Solicitors, New Road Side, Horsforth.

I AGREE with your coverage today (Yorkshire Post, August 24) of the scourge of referral fees, or backhanders as I prefer to call them. At my firm we do not pay them.

Your readers should be advised that there is a simple way to tell whether money is passing under the table: most solicitors locally will do an accident claim for you, so if someone suggests you go to a solicitor elsewhere that’s a very good sign.

I chortle to myself however when I read that insurance companies want to stamp them out. It is mainly insurance companies that receive them. They do their little deals with ther favourite little solicitors to get the money for passing cases on to them. Then later they complain about the number of claims going up. The mind boggles.

There are lots of very good solicitors that can sort you out an accident claim with no funny money involved.