Tuesday's Letters: Let the census play a part in the Big Society

What a golden opportunity to find out who lives where, what they do, where they originated and, above all, with local input, to identify those in real personal need from those who manipulate the social

system.

Additionally, each local council could make an audit of the activities of all ages in the community, build on the strengths and identify problem areas which in former mining areas involves the underdevelopment of former sports facilities and grounds.

With the increasing amount of part-time working, there may be more people willing to volunteer for various activities in the community but not if they are expected to pay in excess of 100 or more for qualifications or CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks, etc.

Tenants and Residents' Associations already exist and could form a useful base from which to bring different ages together to clean up areas and work towards creating leisure facilities, the upkeep of which would be the most difficult area to address but could provide employment.

As Jayne Dowle suggested (Yorkshire Post, July 19), the census is invaluable as a tool for tracing ancestry and gaining knowledge about your locality.

To know about the past is to understand the present and highlights the needs of the future. It is significant that no mining area has been selected to pilot David Cameron's initiative.

From: JW Slack, Swinton Hill Road, Dinnington, Sheffield.

From: Hazel Chester, Moorpark Avenue, Walton Hall, Chesterfield.

I AM most interested in the discussions regarding volunteering. I myself am now 78 and have volunteered in many capacities for 38 years. My life has been so rewarding and I have met some lovely people, and have many unusual experiences.

There is a point though I would like to make which no-one seems to mention. Before starting a new project, police checks have to be made. This shouldn't be a problem except any new project undertaken, another police check. I have recently had another two. In addition to this, there is, of course, references to get.

So if one shows enthusiasm for volunteering there is an awful lot of "red tape" to be got through and this should be understood at the start.

It isn't just a question of thinking you are going to save the world, it's no use starting if one isn't prepared to stick to the rules as though one was working for a salary. It is a commitment and one not to be taken lightly.

Volunteering has been my life and it has helped me, as much as I hope I have helped others.

Student fees and sporting sponsorships

From: Keith Handley, Scotland Way, Horsforth, Leeds.

LIKE many other readers I have been fascinated, but not altogether surprised, at the regular stories of the financial and managerial excesses at Leeds Metropolitan University (Yorkshire Post, July 30).

The newspaper is to be congratulated on continuing to run with this major story and continuing to ensure that none of the murky facts are swept under the table by the governing body.

For some time now, I have been at a loss to understand just how this former polytechnic institution can use public funds to sponsor, among others, the Leeds rugby union team, the Headingley rugby ground, the Rugby League Challenge Cup, the Yorkshire CCC one-day team, the new Headingley cricket pavilion, the Headingley cricket ground, etc and yet still be able to offer the lowest student fees in the country.

Ripples over City Park

From: Douglas Hartley, Irving Terrace, Clayton, Bradford.

BRADFORD'S Forster Square eyesore is now in part an urban garden (Yorkshire Post, July 22). This, and the remainder of the site, has no foreseeable prospect of development into the promised 230m shopping complex.

In other towns and cities, plans for retail development have already been fulfilled, or are reported to be going ahead. Still, we shall soon have our 24m City Park, with its shallow pool, boasted to be the largest city water feature in the kingdom. Bradford Council, cock-a-hoop; Bradford's citizens, less than enthusiastic.

The construction of the City Park means the closure of two roads much used by public transport, and the scattering of convenient bus stops to alternative sites. Some stops will disappear, passengers being forced to walk up to the Interchange, a toil for the elderly.

Readers' letters have appeared suggesting the linking of Bradford's two stations, and the building of a single station in the Forster Square area.

I received, from an independent-minded councillor, six printed sheets putting the case for Bradford Cross Rail. One mile of track and a viaduct will be needed. Consultant engineers confirm that Cross Rail is deliverable and technically possible.

Eighty per cent of the land required is already in public ownership. Where the track would cross Forster Square, land would still be available for retail development.

Along with the printed sheets came a map of the proposed rail route, and computer-generated views of the interior and exterior of Bradford Central Station, as it would be.

The most impressive one shows the overhead station bridging the end of Leeds Road.

The Bradford Civic Society is fully supportive of Cross Rail. From its vice-chairman, I received a letter in May saying that Bradford Council had agreed to set up a consultative group to investigate the Cross Rail Link. I have not heard or read of this agreement since then.

Sadly, although London Cross Rail will probably be built, Bradford's will be a victim of the cuts. I have read that a similar link scheme was abandoned on the outbreak of the First World War.

A woman of compassion

From: John S Culpan, Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse.

I REFER to Sheena Hastings's feature (Yorkshire Post, July 14) concerning Nidderdale, an area of outstanding natural beauty which featured Miss Joanna Dawson. It was of great interest to me and was a pleasant surprise as I have spent many happy times in the area due to my walking and camping interests with my family.

The heading to the item could not have described Joanna better – "the woman of Nidderdale who left a lasting legacy of wisdom and warmth", summed her up perfectly.

I fully agree with Joanna Moody's comment when she remarked that she didn't know her but wished she had. I knew her for about 25 years and found her to be an enthusiastic talker and considerate listener.

It was through Methodism that I came to know Joanna, as she was a member of the Wesley Historical Society (WHS) for which she found time to faithfully attend the twice-yearly meetings. We were so proud of her when she was chosen to give the WHS annual lecture at the former Wells Road methodist church in Ilkley while the Methodist conference was being held in Bradford.

She was an authority on Methodist history especially in Nidderdale, as well as her down-to-earth preaching.

Joanne had no "side" to her and was respected by all who met her and did have a bright and breezy manner full of warmth and compassion. It was only after her untimely death that I became aware that among her many interests she was an authority on cattle and a respected judge.

Finally, Joanna Dawson was tolerant and gave encouragement to all who knew her.

She was highly regarded and would debate rather than denounce on her many interests. She is indeed sorely missed by her many friends.

Power generation – leave it to the engineers

From: Michael J Day, Rochdale Road, Halifax.

WELL, Bill Carmichael hits the nail on the head again with his comments on power generation (Yorkshire Post, July 30).

Ever since the advent of steam power, engineers have worked to make the process of power generation more efficient. Not to reduce the carbon footprint, not for the ozone layer, not for global warming but to make the generation of power cheaper and better.

They seemed to manage to do this over hundreds of years with never a politician in sight, which is why British equipment was exported all over the world and we built the biggest empire in history with the attendant financial benefits.

So let me pose a simple question; you are stuck in the middle of the desert and your transport has broken down and you will die if it can't be repaired, do you call for an engineer or a politician? Exactly.

So why do we listen to politicians, who, let's face it, don't seem to know much about anything practical, when it comes to the most important thing in our country – power generation?

Why don't we do the sensible thing and leave it to the engineers? They don't seem to have done too badly in the past.

Believe it or not, they do have some idea about conservation, clean powerand making more with less, that's what they have been doing since time immemorial, so let them get on with it and the power problem will be a thing of the past.

From D Holland, Sherwood Avenue, Doncaster.

YOUR correspondent, Dave Haskell (Yorkshire Post, July 29), writes of wind power as useless simply because it does not work all the time. This intermittent supply does not mean that the contribution of wind energy is of no value.

The output from a wind turbine can also be used to break down water

into its components, oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen can be stored and used to replace carbon fuels.

The technology is already used in some areas such that when the wind stops blowing, a hydrogen gas turbine takes over to continue the electricity generation. This process produces zero CO2 emissions and an exhaust of pure water that can be reused.

Research has demonstrated that the UK can, in theory, provide all our energy needs from wind power alone.

The theory does not often prove to be the case in practice but along with other forms of renewable energy – wave, solar, biomass, etc – this is the way forward to achieving the ultimate aim of a pollution-free, hydrogen economy.

Democracy for the people

From: Phillip Burgess-Snowden, Fulwith Mill Lane, Harrogate.

DEMOCRACY, that oft-used reassuring word emanating so frequently from Brussels is, and will remain, just a word as long as there is a

European Parliament dictating to our nation.

It would appear that the citizens of Europe now live under the control of an unelected body of bureaucrats. We now have at Westminster, in Prime Minister David Cameron, a man of principle who will not allow himself to be brow-beaten by those who do not understand that democracy means government by the people through their elected representatives.

It is now up to the English electorate to make it known that, after several years of being ignored both by our own government and European bureaucrats, we would like to run our country without interference.

From: Janet Berry, Hambleton, Selby.

WHEN David Cameron was the Leader of the Opposition, I was always impressed to receive an answer to a letter within seven to 10 days – now it takes a minimum of three weeks.

The last reply thanked me for taking the trouble to write but did not address any of the questions posed. I have re-sent the letter asking for answers so we shall see.

I am appalled when we now have 77 million living on our small island that he is pushing for Turkey to join the EU. It has been estimated that 50 per cent of young males will want to come here. Why wouldn't they with our mad system of benefits and handouts? To my mind he should be pushing for them not to be a part of the EU.

Meddling bureaucrats

From: Godfrey Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

NOW you cannot get rid of workers over 65.

We are told whom to employ, how to employ, what leave to give them etc etc. All by politicians who have never done a real job in their lives.

When will bureaucrats stop telling businessmen how to run their businesses?

Scrap this law

From: Alexander Ogilvy, East Parade, Heworth, York.

THE chaotic anti-terrorism laws are an unnecessary intrusion in the everyday lives of law-abiding citizens. Undoubtedly, the previous government went way over the top with the Terrorism Act 2000. It produces farcical arrests and disruptive house searches. It is time this was scrapped.