Why should taxpayer foot bill for vanity?

WHILE I have every sympathy for the women who have the faulty PIP breast implants fitted, I see no reason why myself and the millions of other taxpayers in this country should have to foot the bill to correct the problem.

Admittedly a small percentage of these women will have had the operation for medical reasons but most have done so purely for cosmetic reasons.

Surely their first action should be obtaining advice from Trading Standards/Consumer Direct because at the end of the day they have been sold faulty goods?

The next logical step would be to sue the manufacturers to enable their implants to be rectified, or, as it seems likely that they will get no joy there, approach the French Government who licensed the implant makers.

At the end of the day their vanity overruled any worries they may have had about their personal health and welfare.

What next? If a woman buys a dress and thinks her ‘bum looks big in it’ when she gets home, will the taxpayer be held responsible and have to pay for her next shopping spree?

Rugby stadium not only issue

From: Coun Keith Wakefield, Leader of Leeds City Council, Civic Hall, Leeds.

LEEDS City Council’s objection to the proposed development at Newmarket Lane has recently been raised in your letters page so I am writing to explain our position.

I understand the passion of the Wakefield Trinity Wildcat fans and have no objections to the ambitions of the rugby club but the proposed development at Newmarket Lane is not limited to a sports stadium. It also seeks permission for warehousing and distribution units, business units, a hotel and retail unit as well as roads, infrastructure and landscaping.

Our primary objection to the proposed development is that it represents a very significant intrusion into the green belt between Leeds and Wakefield and will fragment the strategic gap between the two cities.

Given the size of the proposed development it would have significant highway and transport implications for the city as there is inadequate car parking proposed and public transport links to the site are poor.

While sympathetic to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Leeds City Council has a duty to its residents to make objections to schemes it believes will have an adverse impact of the local quality of life.

Clarkson fans betray bias

From: Brian Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

I PUT it to SB Oliver and other apologists for establishment figure Jeremy Clarkson that they are selective in their tolerance of crass behaviour on radio and TV (Yorkshire Post, January 10).

If Clarkson’s words had been uttered by Frankie Boyle, Jimmy Carr or Ricky Gervais would your correspondents have taken such a sanguine view? I think not. Apart from being, shall we say, to the Left of Clarkson – which is not difficult – these entertainers would probably have indulged in a bit of Anglo-Saxon vulgarity and that wouldn’t do, would it?

Memories of tanker disaster

From: Ms J Chenoweth, Carveldra, Rosenannon Lane, Illogan Downs, Redruth, Cornwall.

WHILE in a telephone conversation with a friend in Yorkshire recently, I mentioned the Torrey Canyon (oil tanker) disaster of 1967. She then advised me to get in touch with the Yorkshire Post.

The Prince of Wales (Army Unit) then based at Colchester came to Cornwall to assist in the clean-up.

At weekends, several lads from the unit came along to the Barn Club at Penzance (a dance hall) and over the weeks became friends with some of the Cornish “lasses”. The names were John Passmore and ‘Chalkie’ White.

I would be so grateful if you would print my letter as I often think about this incident. It was so devastating to our golden sands and sea life.

MPs have a lot to say sorry for

From: Terry Marston, Lincoln.

THE idea of politicians, formerly in Her Majesty’s Government, being required to apologise for the outcomes of their period in office is novel.

Those who demand it now would do well to set the pattern and apologise for their own maladministration.

I would like someone to apologise for the following:

Allowing the debasing and destruction of our manufacturing industry under the pretext of some eternal economic doctrine which the Germans ignored to their lasting advantage;

The “dash for gas” which led to the total neglect of developing the potential of our coal reserves which put us at the mercy of an aggressive world energy market;

The “big bang” and the unfettered deregulation of the City of London which shows neither conscience nor solution for the financial crisis it precipitated;

For introducing the Poll Tax and its consequences;

For overseeing the loss of more than half our grammar schools.

The list is not complete but it would make a good start.

Did critic stifle flair?

From: Jane Mitchell, Barkston Ash, Tadcaster.

REGARDING the letter from Tony Clegg (Yorkshire Post, January 10) criticising David Hockney’s Bigger Trees Near Warter.

Hopefully Mr Clegg didn’t stifle too much flair and originality in his unfortunate students during his career as an art teacher.