I APPLAUD the decision of the Colne Valley Labour Party to select a women candidate for the next General Election.

My wife and I have four daughters including two who have already qualified as a commercial lawyer and a maths teacher.

The other two are still in education and look like being equally successful provided the current Tory government does not stay in power much longer.

In recent years girls and women have proved that they achieve better than boys and men academically as well as having really good all round CVs.

They have now broken through the glass ceiling into the major professions in large numbers.

So it is time that the same thing happened in Parliament. At present fewer than one in three of our MPs is a woman.

The dreadful state of the economy and the recession caused by the present government has affected women much worse than men especially in terms of employment and loss of income.

It’s not surprising to learn that the Tory government has fewer than one in six of its MPs who are women.

Nor is it surprising to know that our current MP Jason McCartney does not support women or the idea of women shortlists.

The Labour Party policy will ensure that we have a more equal representation of women in Parliament.

That can only mean better government by using the full talents of all members of society ie women as well as men.

So a vote for Labour is a vote for everyone who wants their mothers, wives and daughters to succeed in the future.

Phil Woodthorpe

Mount

Calling Dr Who

I CAN understand and agree with the Huddersfield Civic Society’s concerns about the ATM that has been ‘dumped’ in St George’s Square.

It does nothing to enhance the surrounding area.

It’s almost a bigger eyesore than the numerous white taxis that have ‘taken roost’ in the square.

Perhaps the taxis should be driven into the ‘Tardis’ and then get Dr Who to solve both problems in one fell swoop.

Bryan Spencer

crosland moor

Dukes’ memories

I AM a former member of the 7th Battalion Duke of Wellingtons, serving from 1939-1946 and now resident in Canada.

My sister lives in Slaithwaite and sends me bits of news referring to the ‘Dukes’.

I was with the Dukes when they fought. If any old Dukes would remember Hill 102 and Fontenay Lee Pesnil which incidentally was the last battle honour to be placed on the flag.

It is good to hear that part of the badge is still being retained as I still have the old badge with the Hindoostan battle honour on it where you now put the Yorkshire Rose.

It’s still good to hear about the Dukes.

Jack Armitage

Canada

Tsar’s tough job

ALMOST one in 10 council jobs in Kirklees have gone in the past two years.

That was the statement in the Examiner (March 12). Our council leader Mehboob Khan was explaining that this was entirely down to the drop in Government funding.

Strange how one day later we are looking to hire a Highways tsar in an attempt to rectify our grid-locked highways. What is the salary for this position I wonder?

Correct me if I am wrong but it is my belief that we have in place a Highways Department which looks at and recommends changes to our road networks.

Yes, I am quite aware that the changes which our Highways Department have implemented over the years have actually added to the traveller’s daily nightmares.

We do however still pay these people for this constant misery. So they need a chance.

We also have added pressure applied to our road networks with more and more people working in other areas of West Yorkshire and Lancashire.

History shows that most people who resided in the Huddersfield District also worked there.

Therefore travel too and from work was more than likely done by the local transport system or bicycle.

How the new tsar executive is going to resolve this matter of grid-locked roads is anyone’s guess and I feel that is what it will be a guess.

Our roads will not accommodate the number of vehicles which pass along its routes. Bus lanes will make no difference to the system in fact these lanes only add to the ever longer queues as drivers will not use the bus lanes when it is in use for private vehicles.

People will not get out of their cars and onto public transport when they are paying such a high price for keeping their cars on the road. Would you leave your car in the garage?

So what is the solution, is there a solution to an ever increasing problem?

You cannot price people out of their cars as most people would say that they were an essential item for their daily travel too and from their place of work.

Not all public transport fits everyone’s needs. Can you imagine getting up at five o’clock to get to your place of work by seven thirty if it is well out of your local area and needed multiple bus changes?

Then there is the return trip of course.

More local jobs with an improved public transport system could be a start. Looking at it logically this idea looks to be a none starter as we seek to make matters worse with the influx of 28,000 new home on the horizon. What happens then?

We could try selectively remove some of the countless traffic lights.

These problems we face have just not occurred they have been building for many years. The hiring of one individual is not going to be a magic bullet which will save the day.

R J Bray

Shelley

Best of luck

SO Kirklees Council has decided it needs a traffic “tsar”, ostensibly to improve traffic flow (Examiner, March 13).

By doing what – opening bus lanes to all traffic and re-dualling single carriageways?

By removing humps and introducing realistic speed limits? By narrowing unused pavements and removing projecting bus stops?

By removing unnecessary traffic lights and re-timing existing ones so traffic flows instead of stopping at every set? By instructing traffic wardens to ticket vehicles lazily-parked, vehicles causing obstructions – including taxis?

By making left turns at junctions into give-ways instead of light-controlled?

In other words, by undoing at least 25 years of anti-motorist measures that the very same council has so zealously implemented?

I wish the best of luck to whoever gets the Traffic Manager position because it’ll be the most frustrating job in Kirklees.

Richard Huddleston

West Slaithwaite