Wednesday's Letters: A bit of investment would help to end cold weather chaos

Further to Arctic weather disruption, the costs of investing in the necessary means of keeping roads, railways and airports operational would be best served by subscribing to the ethos of spending money to save money. As do the Finns.

One of their airports, only 400 miles from the Arctic Circle, has never been closed by arctic weather events – simply by investing in the necessary snow clearing equipment.

A good analogy appears to be that if you wish to enjoy a regular supply of nice milk, it is necessary to have cows, with buyers, milking parlours, veterinary care, food supply etc.

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For an initial investment of about 5-600m each, the necessary snow-clearing infrastructures could be put in place. And the roads, railways and airports could then be maintained at a good percentage of their fine weather operating norm.

Thereafter, a sum of about 15-20m would maintain the operational norm.

These amounts are insignificant chicken-feed, in the context of previous/present annual economic losses. But still Transport Minister Philip Hammond waffles, prevaricates and procrastinates, in favour of grasping the nettle, and justifying his existence by alleging he needs (time to) conduct (further to previous such) public inquiries, and to undertake auditing, before getting on with what needs to be got on with.

From Antony Clayton, Beverley, East Yorkshire.

From: Paul Alexander Sherwood, South Kilvington, Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

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THE other week, I tried to fly out of the abysmal Teesside airport, it was closed for four hours that morning due to 40mm of snow and a few degrees below freezing.

No effort whatsoever had been put into clearing car parks, roads or footpaths never mind the runway; I eventually reached Schiphol airport at Amsterdam where it was interesting to see everything operating normally, on the ground and in the air.

I flew on to Prague, where there was about 200mm of snow and minus 15C; roads, railways, buses, trams, taxis all operated and life carried on.

As strange as it may seem, winter is the season when it snows, freezes and becomes a bit of a problem, those conditions are not something to be surprised at. If we had 150mm of snow and minus 10C in July I could accept some of the inept excuses that we are hearing.

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After four days I commenced the journey back, in temperatures of minus 8 and about 100mm of snow. Flights to Teesside, Leeds, Humberside, Newcastle and most UK airports were cancelled, because it was a bit chilly and a dusting of snow – why?

The only obvious answer to this conundrum is bad management at airports, failure of investment in plant and machinery and a total disregard to actually doing anything about it.

Using the excuses that have been banded about for 30 years or more – it is winter, snow is not a surprise! It appears to be a reasonably new phenomenon to decide that the UK can grind to a halt in winter for no known logical reason, while the remainder of Europe runs as normal.

Students feel they have been cheated

From: David Tree-Booker, Milnthorpe Lane, Wakefield.

It appears that GP Taylor misses the point (Yorkshire Post, December 11). Perhaps he should ask why was there so much anger among students over the Commons vote to increase university tuition fees?

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The Liberal Democrats gained a lot of support from students during the democratic General Election because they pledged not to support any increase in these fees.

Seven months later, students are angry because most of the MPs they helped to elect have done a U-turn and voted for an increase. For whatever reason these MPs have given for their change of heart, students have felt cheated and one could argue that their democratic rights have been overturned by these MPs.

This would explain their anger but should not be an excuse for violent protest, the perpretators of which should be brought to justice.

From: John Marrison, Low Catton, York.

COULD I suggest that your contributor GP Taylor be nominated for the position of Prime Minister (Yorkshire Post, December 11) or if that is not possible, a role as Home Secretary?

From; BJ Cussons, Curly Hill, Ilkley.

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AFTER months of miserable news items it was a pleasure to read last week of the efforts of so many staff and management at the local firm NPS, all busy people, but working to raise money for the Yorkshire Post's worthwhile Christmas charity,

My spirits rose and I thought, "is it beyond the bounds of possibility that we might also read of university, college and sixth-form students volunteering to clear snow from around old people's and community centres, first and upper school playgrounds, to help workers keep our economy going?" How naive can one get?

So much easier to act like yobs with even some of their lecturers joining in. But then it only seems months but perhaps years since Leeds University was showing favouritism to groups within their walls who were happy to allow some prospective terrorists platforms – all in the name of free speech of course.

From: Rev John Nicholson, Weetwood Road, Leeds.

OF all the comments I have read or heard in recent days on the student fees debate, the closing sentence of your Editorial (Yorkshire Post, December 10) was the best in my opinion: "The student fees controversy is just the beginning of a new era for British politics – and there is everything to play for."

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This is as true for the Liberal Democrats as for Conservative and Labour. Instead of describing their attitude as "treachery", I believe they have acted honourably, and their MPs, ministers and backbenchers alike, have wrestled with the tension between loyalty to the voters, to the coalition agreement and to the Government, although coming to different conclusions.

Too many other MPs follow the advice of Disraeli: "Damn your principles: stick to the party." As you rightly observe: "The concessions they (the LDs) have won are valuable." They deserve praise and support, not condemnation.

From: Barry Foster, Manor Cottages, High Stakesby, Whitby.

Much is going to be read and said about the recent student demonstrations and there will be lots of differing views. My own being the only true justification they have to protest is against the free universities in Scotland and Wales otherwise they should all get on and get down to doing some real hard work which is obviously lacking by the amount of time they are spending protesting.

It is high time when looking at the news around the world that we all realised what a very fortunate position we are in in this country. As for the vandalism and destruction caused recently, I would suggest they either bring back National Service or ship the whole lot out to the Middle East to do some real fighting.

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Is it also right that today you can get into some universities with as little as two Cs at A-level? No wonder they are overcrowded and no one can get a job once they leave.

From: Trev Bromby, Sculcoates Lane, Hull.

IN 1977 an American businessman called Bert Lance proclaimed: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Well, it seems something in the university system is broke and needs fixing.

What is needed, in my opinion, is a whistleblower to list all the mickey mouse degrees, highlight all the failings that could be costing tens of millions of pounds, expose the freeloaders to halt the gravy train, then get a government with the backbone, and nous, to implement changes with immediate effect. There is no shame in reviewing a review.

Danger to the NHS

From: JW Smith, Sutton-on-Sea.

WHAT a perceptive exposition by Mike Waites (Yorkshire Post, December 1) of Tory plans for the NHS. For me three points are particularly apposite.

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It took Andrew Lansley fewer than seven weeks to draw up reports setting the NHS on a course for disaster; NHS chief executive David Nicholson is urging caution as he attempts to hold the services together and history suggests NHS finances can unravel quickly, destabilising services, waiting times rise, services are axed, patient care is damaged.

In my opinion these millionaire "sons of Thatcher" are aiming to do something which she tried but failed by privatising most of the health services. How else can they explain handing control to GPs who are contracted privately not NHS employees. This arrangement will pit surgery against surgery and hospital against hospital.

Laziness that has led to rise in energy prices

From: John G Davies, Alma Terrace, East Morton, Keighley.

THE inexorable rise in energy prices can be explained by the law of supply and demand of conventional economics. Our laziness in using stand-by instead of switching equipment off; our child-like need to be bathed in light for a feeling of security and our need for status lead to excessive energy consumption.

I regularly walk past a new secondary school that is illuminated by over 40 external lights. I see well-appointed detached houses with lights on the gates, others lighting the driveway.

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The people who feel the repercussions of this excessive and selfish use of energy are the poor as its price moves beyond their means. It would be sound economics for anyone to look at their lights and ask, "What is it for, do I really need it and how can I do things more efficiently?"

From: David F Chambers, Sladeburn Drive, Northallerton.

DM Loxley (Yorkshire Post, December 2) wrote reassuring us that despite the present cold weather global warming is still on course.

I confess at first I found the reasoning a little difficult to grasp, but the gist seems to be that global warming is not just a question of mere temperature – many other factors are at work.

I personally do not think that those "other factors" arise from an earthly source, as surely the earth itself is in a process of very gradual cooling, a movement in the direction of equilibrium.

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So when Mr Loxley claims that weather is a consequence of climate and climate change a consequence of global conditions, I suggest he has the cart before the horse, and that in fact, outside forces, eg solar and cosmic radiation, result in changes to global conditions.

Aspirin's blood donor headache

From: David T Craggs, Tunstall, East Yorkshire.

FOLLOWING the news that a low daily dose of aspirin could help the prevention of a whole range of cancers, I can see an immediate problem if the practice of taking the drug was to become widespread.

Some years ago I was a regular blood donor, but after being prescribed a low daily dose of aspirin by my GP I was informed at my next donor session, where I was routinely asked if I was on any form of medication.

I was informed that I would no longer be able to donate – something to do with the presence of the drug in my bloodstream.

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Unless there has since been a change of policy I can see the widespread use of aspirin having a detrimental effect on the vital, indeed essential, blood transfusion service.

Has wind power helped cause?

From: Barrie Frost, Watson's Lane, Reighton, Filey.

THE Arctic weather Britain has faced in the last few weeks has ensured high demands on energy supplies.

Has the colossal expenditure on building wind farms proved beneficial and made a significant contribution to these energy needs or was it the wrong kind of bad weather we had?

Sorry to see Gervase leave

From: David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Acomb, York.

I WAS very sorry to read that Gervase Phinn is giving up his Saturday morning magazine articles after three years of excellent work (Yorkshire Post, January 11).

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I have always enjoyed reading what he had to say, combining humour with serious comment.

I especially liked his views on farmers and the countryside, and the many tales of his experiences as a teacher and a schools inspector.