YP Letters: Political infighting threatens Northern Powerhouse

THE ongoing wrangling over devolution across Yorkshire (The Yorkshire Post, January 22) not only does our region a great disservice, but threatens the very existence of a Northern Powerhouse.

Across the patch, there is consensus that advancing the devolution position in Yorkshire is in the interests of the North as a whole if we are to succeed in building a fully integrated and interconnected region that can drive greater prosperity and act as a powerful and ambitious economic counterweight to London and the South East.

However, my fear is that it is both practically and ideologically impossible to have a true Northern Powerhouse when there are material differences in the speed at which parts of the region are pursuing the devolution agenda.

While Manchester and other parts of the North West motor ahead, progress in Yorkshire, despite the best efforts of those involved, is being hampered by indecision and infighting. Moving forward will require our local leaders to come together, put differences aside and take brave decisions, supported by those in the business community.

We need to combine the vision and ambition for Yorkshire to punch its weight nationally and internationally with the need for pragmatism, recognising the urgency of making progress.

The last thing we need, if we are to fully overcome the North-South economic divide that so clearly imbalances our UK economy, is to create an East-West divide on our own doorstep.

Time to ‘foster’ elderly patients

From: Mary and Jim Beck, Lindrick Grove, Tickhill.

IT is generally agreed that the overall performance of the NHS would be vastly improved, and its cost greatly reduced, if the phenomenon of “bed blocking” could be eliminated, so that patients no longer needing hospital care could be released into society (The Yorkshire Post, January 27). The problem is that so many of them have no safe place to go.

Both as foster parents in the past and observers of the social scene, we have first-hand experience of the benefits of placing children in need with foster parents, especially when considering that the cost of doing so is far outweighed by the life-changing opportunities for the children and also by reducing the crippling cost of institutionalising them.

What has this got to do with bed-blocking?

Well, would it not be possible to institute a system, with financial incentives, whereby households with room to spare, and perhaps relishing congenial company themselves, could welcome suitable ex-patients into their homes as quasi family members, “fostering” the elderly so to speak? Yes, there could be potential problems but let’s give some thought to solving them.

Selfish callers dialling 999

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

FOR the first time in my long life I have heard the unions agreeing with the Conservative government that ambulance response times should be relaxed (The Yorkshire Post, January 26).

Is this because they were introduced in 2008 by a Labour government? Even then, the ambulance service would have known that an eight-minute response time for all calls was unrealistic.

I note that the unions blame the lack of paramedics and cuts made by the present Government, rather than accepting that many 999 calls are made by a selfish public, many of whom regard the ambulance service as a taxi firm and result in added pressure on the service to respond quickly.

City’s Gymfest is now on a roll

From: Frank Hindmarsh, Osbourne Road, Harrogate.

I BELIEVE it is about 12 months since I wrote to you regarding the Leeds Gymfest which was held at Beckett Park arena and was supported by a few hundred people.

On January 22, the 2017 Gymfest was held at Leeds Arena and over 4,000 people purchased tickets to support over 1,000 young people and be entertained by them for over seven hours.

The children from four years of age to 18 were also supported by some of our Olympic athletes.

I have been involved in sports all my 82 years and am delighted that there are so many adults who give of their time and energy to train, and be involved, not only teaching a forward roll but very importantly a discipline which in this modern age is a blessing.

Long may they all continue in their gymnastic achievements.

May’s mess

From: Max Nottingham, St Faith’s Street, Lincoln.

WHATEVER Theresa May pretends at PMQs, the NHS 
is in a mess and that leaves patients and staff queuing in frustration.

How to drive away families

From: Shaun Kavanagh, Morley.

READING your report regarding the hike in weekend parking charges to be implemented by Leeds City Council (LCC), nothing ceases to amaze with regard to LCC.

They bleed ratepayers at every given opportunity, yet waste millions on projects that benefit few and then those projects which never get beyond the idea stage, i.e. the recent abandonment of the trolleybus project which, again, would have only benefitted the very few on its route.

To put up parking charges at weekends does not only hit the motorist, but will likely cause individuals and families alike to rethink where they go for relaxation/leisure time.