Thursday's Letters: Our litter is a national disgrace – but what is the solution?

I WELCOME Ben Stafford's article from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) highlighting the litter problem (Yorkshire Post, April 2) which this country has. It is a national disgrace.

With very little media coverage or political pressure to improve the situation, the problem worsens. Both Countryfile and other excellent programmes on our television do not ever mention this horrendous eyesore in our countryside. My personal feelings are that this problem is a by-product of the nation's obsession for eating, which results in the discarding of the packaging in which the food is retailed.

Like lots of issues in our society, human beings look to abdicate responsibility for their actions and, in this instance, would look to the food industry to place the blame. The responsibility, of course, lies with the individuals who are totally oblivious to England's once green and pleasant land.

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I believe this problem has deteriorated so badly that I do not think there is the will on the part of this nation to take action and eliminate this scourge. I am the last of the travelling salesmen, and daily I see all the points you raise in the article.

Once consecutive generations accept the litter as normal, then the chances of re-educating them is lost. Sadly, I believe, this is where we are at. As I briefly mentioned in the earlier part of my letter, the politicians on this island do plenty of talking, but action is in short supply.

Finally, just a suggestion to attack the existing litter. Long- term unemployed and low-term inmates in our prisons could start to pick it up.

But as we all know, prevention is better than cure, but as I've already pointed out, that's another story.

From: Alan Thompson, Green Lane, East Cottingwith, York.

From: Mrs Val Moody, Little Smeaton, Pontefract.

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REPLYING to Stephanie Shield (Yorkshire Post, April 6), I, too, drove down the A1 to Suffolk last Friday and was also appalled at the amount of litter on the roadsides.

I had thought perhaps it was only a local blight in this area but obviously it is now widespread. What has happened over this long

winter? The problem has never been so bad. Why cannot working parties of able-bodied benefit recipients or community service persons tackle this problem?

In the USA, I believe they have an "adopt a highway" scheme and inmates from local jails keep the area spotless. I have seen this working on several trips to the States.

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Quite obviously though, the real problem is the universal one of "lack of respect" for the environment and everybody except self. I do not know the answer to this except a total return to core values, starting with our government and clear direction from the church.

Incidentally, my journey ended in Lowestoft which was a pleasure to visit. Litter free with beautifully manicured grass verges everywhere. If they can do it, so can everyone else.

From: Geoff Allen, Hough Side Lane, Pudsey.

I FEEL I must disagree with Stephanie Shield when she complains about the local authorities not removing litter from the highways.

Sorry, Stephanie, but that litter you complain about is left there by ourselves, the travelling public. No, I do not throw litter from the car window and I am sure you do not but, unfortunately, many do, they are to blame not the authorities.

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If we binned our litter, it would save much of our hard earned cash for repairing pavements and roads and maybe, just maybe, to improve local facilities for the disabled and pensioners, etc.

From: Coun RA Jones, Spring Lane, Sprotbrough, Doncaster.

INFURIATING! Stephanie Shield's comments are typical of today's society which expects every local council to be responsible for clearing litter up along with the cost of doing so, then does not place responsibility on those that do not care where they dump their rubbish. It is these individuals that should be made responsible for their actions.

Rail link could help to lift city blight

From: Bob Watson, Springfield Road, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire.

THE letter from Dan Laythorpe (Yorkshire Post, April 2) on how to resurrect Bradford's devastated city centre, which is now a national joke, made the eminently sensible suggestion (and by no means for the first time) that the two dead end stations be linked by a distinctive archway. This would totally enhance and improve journey opportunities in the area, and also give the ability to construct a retail offering in the surrounds.

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Coupled with the re-opening of the Spen Valley line, thus helping to significantly reduce congestion in the south of Bradford, this would be far more advantageous to the city's residents.

But can we expect this to be given any sort of credence by Bradford Council or the government quango Yorkshire Forward? I fear not.

These two organisations have a track record of taking little notice of what Bradfordians want for their city. They are happy to plough on regardless with the 24m City Park that certainly does not seem to have great local backing; and destroy the Odeon cinema building that so many wish to be retained.

When one then sees the large salary level enjoyed by the chief

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executive (over 183,000 pa), together with several others paid well

over 100,000, one has to wonder just how can this be when they have all presided, including the council executive, over a city that has been allowed to become an utter shambles.

Just when are the above organisations going to listen to those who pay their wages instead of ploughing on regardless with their own unpopular agendas?

Blame for the poll tax

From: William Dixon Smith, Welland Rise, Acomb, York.

WHEN John Major declared the poll tax "uncollectable", he did not

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merely mean uncollectable from the rioters (Bernard Ingham, Yorkshire Post, March 31). The poll tax was unpopular, as was the poll tax of the 14th century. In both cases, the violence of the few was less significant than resentment of the many.

The botched-up council tax would never have been accepted by

politicians, or the public, had not what it replaced been so

universally detested.

The "mob" cannot be blamed for the present unsatisfactory state of local taxation. Politicians who have proved themselves unable to devise

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an equitable local tax system now wish to assure us that they can deal with the effects of a global recession. It's hard to believe.

That local councils are as spendthrift as ever is not to be denied, but Bernard Ingham is wrong in blaming local "tin pot politicians". Our local politicians are largely impotent. Unable to understand the ever- changing complexities of local government, they are resigned to rubber-stamping decisions made by a myriad of unelected and unaccountable local government officers. These are the anti-democratic forces we are powerless to deal with, and they will still be there whoever we vote

for on May 6.

A woman's role today

From: Dianne Priestley, Fixby Road, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

"FULL-time motherhood is the highest calling," says Ann Widdecombe

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(Yorkshire Post, April 1). But when every family had a full-time

mother, it was not so highly regarded, and that is why women wanted things to change.

Remember: "Boys' education is more important," "It doesn't matter,

she's only a girl," and "A married man needs the job more than a single woman?" (regardless of ability).

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Remember when only dad drove the car, while mum staggered home with

half a stone of potatoes? Remember: "I'm the boss in this house?"

As late as the 1980s, I was reminded of this. An only child, and a girl, I was educated.

Then, when we discussed an education for our daughter, the elder of two, my parents said: "What about her brother?"

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When I said there was time to decide, I received the astonishing (to me) reply: "But – he's a boy." The explosion on my part rivalled Hiroshima.

My parents were a happy couple. My dad was not a father who spent the money on drink or gambling. But their way of life, where he held the upper hand, was not for me and my generation.

How much less so for the present young adults who have grown up with equal opportunities and equal pay for the same work?

Our young women must be very careful not to return to being second-class citizens.

Wake up call on the realities of civil service life

From: Trevor Mumford, St Giles Close, Thirsk.

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I HAVE read the letter from your correspondent Brian Sheridan (Yorkshire Post, April 5) to the effect that civil servants arrive home late having overslept at work and feel that I must respond to this cheap jibe, which, frankly, I regard as inappropriate for publication.

As someone who worked for 34 years for Customs & Excise, I cannot recall sleeping at work though I do remember being out in all weathers in often squalid conditions in the ports of Liverpool, London and Hull, detecting offenders misusing red diesel and more years than I care to think spent investigating revenue fraud and drugs smuggling, among

other activities during that period.

In that time, apart from enjoying a smaller salary than my

qualifications and experience would have commanded in the private sector, any social events I attended were paid for by members of the staff and, on the occasions when I had access to an official car,

private use of the vehicle was strictly prohibited.

On retirement, my farewell function was paid for by myself and my

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reward for 34 years' service was to receive my Customs & Excise commission cancelled and framed, not presented but received through the internal mail.

I look back fondly at my time with the best, though now sadly defunct Government Department, and am happy to think that Mr Sheridan will, in all probability, be contributing towards my pension which I consider I fully deserve.

Thanks, Brian!

Pointing the finger at Brown

From: Jim Slade, Long Street, Thirsk.

E Green's letter (Yorkshire Post, April 1) coincided with April Fool's Day.

He blames Mrs Thatcher for the decline in some of our major industries, which is far from reality.

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Margaret Thatcher and that expert Chancellor Kenneth Clarke left the British economy in robust shape, one of the strongest in the world. Gordon Brown, after trading on this in his early years as Chancellor, ruined this economy and has left Britain as an impoverished nation.

Mr Green mentioned milk. The Labour Government, insensitive to rural affairs, has failed to save scores of our dairy farmers who have had to go out of business.

If Mr Green wanted to denigrate the Conservative Party, as neither they nor Labour will give us a referendum on membership of the EU – as capably recommended in Jim McConalogue's article which appeared on the same day – I would agree with him.

Back in the fray

From: Trev Bromby, Sculcoates Lane, Hull.

TONY Blair sticking his nose into mainstream domestic politics raises a few questions.

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In supporting Gordon Brown, who he left with several major problems when he baled out, will this be the first time a rat has returned to a sinking ship?

Also, can he smell another chance of an illegal invasion, in light of Iran's refusal to kow-tow to the world's self appointed Sheriff (USA) –"I'm with you!"

Or, after Incapability Brown has taken all the flak that should have been his, does he think we've forgotten how many deaths he is

responsible for (and counting), that he can worm his way back into the fray?