Vital service is rolling on despite cuts

From: J D Carr, Miller Hill, Denby Dale, Huddersfield.

THE Dales & Bowland Community Interest Company (D&B) has done an excellent job to maintain the Sunday and Bank Holiday Dalesbus network that, against all the odds, has continued to grow and achieve more success despite swingeing cuts in local authority support (Yorkshire Post, March 4 and 9).

Other rural bus services including community buses, largely dependent on local authorities, continue to decline, including, sadly, Moorsbus and Little Red Bus services. Local authority support can be well justified by the economic and social benefits the buses bring. Recent surveys in the Dales show Dalesbus bringing in around £10 per passenger in spending at local businesses and attractions. Dalesbus may make far better use of public money than many other subsidised transport services.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, the cuts are set to continue and there are two main lessons of Dalesbus. First, locally-based design and marketing of the network by those who care may be better than leaving these tasks to distant bureaucracy not equipped to give detailed consideration to local needs.

Second, these services bring in money to benefit local businesses and communities: their promoters can help themselves and help persuade authorities to look more closely at value for money by identifying additional sources of funds to add to fares and county hall support. I believe D&B has done this to some extent through seeking contributions from other stakeholders such as businesses dependent on visitors.

Public spending cuts signal grave danger for our rural communities as the continued migration of affluent families from the towns to live idealised rural lifestyles while continuing to rely on cars for urban style bulk shopping and access to services in the urban areas leaves the longer settled population at a disadvantage but these incomers too will reach an age when they want more local services and to be less dependent on cars.

Local facilities such as post offices, garages and shops have already been cut back, farming and other traditional industries have been hard hit by economic trends and many young people in rural communities are virtually forced to look to the conurbations for jobs and social opportunities.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Yet, while such rural policies as now remain, communities need to become more sustainable. This is not uniquely a transport problem it applies across the full spectrum of support for community infrastructure and services.

Faith in age of corruption

From: Peter Asquith-Cowen, First Lane, Anlaby.

I BELIEVE Pope Benedict has resigned more out of despair than anything else. There is a vacuum growing in faith, with the revelations of the subversive sexual activities of priests from the bottom to the top in Britain.

How people can manage “faith” in this poisonous atmosphere of denial, dishonesty and outright hypocrisy, beats me.

Similarly, given the track record of politicians of all ilks, but especially the Lib Dems, it’s a wonder there is any trust left in the electorate.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

These are bad times for people of faith, and for the British political system, threatening the very bed-rock of the principles of democracy.

There seem to be few Liberals who claim to be “whiter than Caesar’s wife”. The situation is lamentable. As for “transparency”,

I think Tony Blair was mocking us all when he made this his “buzz” word.

From: Brian H Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

FOLLOWING his recent discomfiture, I had expected a deafening silence from those who condoned the bigoted dogma spouted by Cardinal Keith O’Brien a year ago.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Far from it, his apologists seem intent on making a martyr of him. They argue that to fail to practise what one preaches does not constitute hypocrisy as long as one admits one’s own failings, which the Cardinal has done, abjectly.

Come on! It was only when he knew had been rumbled that he finally spilt the beans.

Anger at abuse of freedom

From: Robert Carlton, Athol Crescent, Ovenden, Halifax.

IN the past I have supported organisations such as Amnesty International and the British Red Cross and am against abuses of human rights. I feel I need to support people who are in fear of persecution, yet today I am almost reluctant to admit that I feel this way.

Your poll asked whether foreign nationals convicted of serious offences should be deported (Yorkshire Post, February 19). The result was 94 per cent in favour of deportation and I agree with that.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For far too long these people have been using these organisations for their own gain yet it was because of the beliefs of these organisations that they are in this country and now living in freedom.

They hide behind them, yet don’t believe in freedom themselves.

Foreigners found guilty of rape, violent assaults and terrorism offences should be removed from the country.

Often they come from countries in turmoil who have lost control. It’s time to consider the stability of this country and make the right decisions to ensure this country is in control.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The anger that people are feeling is worrying. I think it’s making people racist, violent and uncaring because we are being taken advantage of. I see people changing, but not for the good.

Every wrong decision makes the situation worse.