Robert Light accuses Barry Sheerman of “talking down” the town (April 11). In the 30 years I have known Barry Sheerman I have only ever heard him “talk up” the town. This is because he believes passionately in Huddersfield, championing the town in Parliament and at various meetings throughout the country. I would have thought that “sticking his oar in” was quite a legitimate response, given that he has been contacted by many constituents, some with businesses in the town centre, who are concerned by the scale of this development.
Surely a reasoned debate and more consultation with local businesses is an absolute necessity to ensure that we maintain a viable town centre with thriving individual shops.
David Wright OBE JP
Deighton
Ghost towns and Tesco
I WAS astonished to read in your edition of April 11 a call from Robert Light for Barry Sheerman to “support the town” by supporting Tesco.
My surprise relates to two propositions implicit in that what is good for the retail trade – and in particular this supermarket – is good for the town. I would suggest that the residents and small retailers in scores of ghost towns up and down the land would take issue with that.
Secondly, he berates the local MP for getting involved in local issues! Again I would suggest that when MPs are regularly criticised in the media for not taking an interest in parish-pump issues but rather being wrapped up in Westminster life he should congratulate our MP for being aware of and caring about what is happening in Huddersfield.
There was a time when, if a council felt that a town needed some “affordable town centre housing” and a new sports facility then it would get on and provide same without going cap in hand to a rapacious retailer.
Keith Bradley
Golcar
