Whitby’s big brother strikes again

WHITBY. The poor piers of Whitby! Now, through total lack of maintenance, care and attention, it’s not possible to access either end of the iconic twin piers.

And Scarborough is to blame. Whitby’s governing town is only 22 miles down the road. It might as well be a million. The needs of the jewel of the Yorkshire coast are constantly ignored, while the coffers are dug into to fix, renew and enhance the infrastructure, facilities and attractions of Scarborough.

Years ago, a storm put an end to the narrow bridge leading on to the East Pier. The understanding is that around £40,000 would see it replaced. But even that meagre amount of money is not forthcoming.

Now the end of the West Pier is out of bounds. Apparently, the girders, holding the access bridge in place, are so severely corroded that it is not deemed safe to have people walking on it. A notice declares that this shocking damage was spotted during “a routine” inspection. And access was banned within hours.

I – along with most residents – suspect there was nothing “routine” about this inspection, on the basis there has neither been regular checks, or maintenance work (ie repainting of the girders with marine paint) to keep this severe corrosion at bay.

So yet again historic, quaint, charming, Whitby, is swiped with a bully-punch from Scarborough. A symbolic act of abuse, several years ago, signalled the beginning of the poor-cousin era. Whitby lost its “town hall”. Scarborough sold the magnificent Georgian property (deeded to Whitby for the use of it residents), that housed it, to a property developer – and shoved the town’s business into an empty shop-front.

Whitby is forever being cited in tourism top-10 lists, for all the best reasons. But the huge fear now is that it will soon make the top-10 for “most neglected”.

Advice from Australia

From: Jack Kinsman, Stainton Drive, Grimsby.

ONCE again, an ex-Brit shows the way! Julia Gillard, the Welsh-born Prime Minister of Australia, sticks up for her new found country in a blazing speech against all those immigrants to Australia that don’t like the way Australia is treating them.

Part of her speech read: “Immigrants, not Australians must adapt... take it or leave!

I am tired of this nation worrying about upsetting some other culture simply by being Christians.

“We speak mainly English... not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Japanese, or Russian. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn our language!

“Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian right wing political push, but a fact. We live by Christian standards and principles. If you don’t like our faith, beliefs, culture or creeds, I suggest that you find a part of the world that agrees with your cultural needs.

“We will accept your faiths and not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours and live in peaceful enjoyment with us.

“This is our country, our land, and Our lifestyle. So when you have done moaning about everything Australian, you have the other great Australian freedom, the right to leave.

“If you aren’t happy here then leave. We didn’t force you to come here. You asked to come here. So accept the country you accepted.”

I wish that this wonderful Welsh wizard was running this country instead of the “Lib-Dem Con artists” we have at present. We have more anti-British people in Great Britain now than in all of our living history. Why?

Stand firm for development

From: Michael A Clynch, Huddersfield Road, Ingbirchworth, Sheffield.

AGAINST a general economic situation in crisis, with house building at its lowest since the 1920s, widespread unemployment and collapse of the city shopping and property market, the New Draft National Planning Policy Framework is an attempt to reduce a vast bureaucratic and unwieldy system responsible for billions of pounds of lost investment.

The detractors, including the usual unelected bodies, the National Trust, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and now celebrity chefs, would first of all be wise to read what they are talking about. There is in fact little difference in attitude to green belt or valued national assets.

The National Trust’s hysterical campaign to undermine the proposal would be wise to recognise that all the property they manage, mainly for the benefit of the wealthy private owners, was built without planning controls of any kind.

Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth oppose anything not built of straw, and have no grasp of economic reality.

The Government should stand firm and allow professional agents and developers to create investment and jobs for our growing population and ignore the Nimby elements aiming to protect their countryside vistas against an imaginary attack.