MAY I join in the debate between David Griffiths and David Hill over housing land in the Local Development Framework (LDF)?
I don’t profess to have any idea what future need will be, not being fully familiar with any relevant research. Nor do I have an axe to grind, not being a prospective candidate for anything much except incipient decrepitude, in due course.
But in his analysis (Mailbag, January 6), David Hill seems to make a few slight errors, from which I will select two.
First, as he will know, having read the LDF, although green belt will usually hold the most attractive sites, they will not be the first to be released. Policy CS28 says that planning permission will (except in defined circumstances) be granted only to brown field sites first, then green field sites within settlements next, and green field elsewhere only after that.
Secondly he anticipates landowners making millions as developers buy up all the allocated land. But developers are not awash with money to build up land banks and, if his assessment (based, I believe, on reasoned speculation rather than the post-2008 research he demands from the planners) is correct, the last thing they will want to do is spend millions buying land for houses that won’t be needed – especially the green belt sites which are likely to be the last in the queue.
After all, the LDF merely allocates land against perceived potential need 18 years into the future – it doesn’t determine that all these houses will be built, come what may (which I suspect is what planners meant by ‘aspirational’ rather than David Hill’s translation – ‘hot air’).
It’s interesting, though, that while he sees developers clustering merrily round the unnecessary housing land, round the corner the unnecessary industrial land will ‘gather dust for many years to come’. Hmmm. Why the difference?
Personally, I’m not sure what I’ll be doing tomorrow, never mind 18 years from now; though frankly I’d be delighted if anyone could guarantee I will then be doing anything other than slowly decomposing – in which latter case, of course, my own present house might be available to help meet any need at the time.
John Emms
Emley
Star quality
I DON’T know if these UFO sightings as reported in the Examiner are true or not, but one thing I think should come out of this issue is maybe more people will take an interest in astronomy.
I used to read Marcus Armitage in the Examiner years ago. As a result I bought a telescope and as a youth I would set up and spend hours outside with it viewing stars and visible planets.
I found it very relaxing and enjoyed it. I also learnt more about the universe and its mysteries.
When you get into the subject you realise you’re a small fish in such a large pool – unless the aliens hook you, that is.
Colin Vause
Marsh
Seeing red, seeing green
IN RESPONSE to Tim Radcliffe’s letter (Mailbag, January 7) regarding the pelican crossing in Holmfirth – it is the second time within a month the crossing has developed a fault.
Before Christmas when it was faulty it was fixed within a couple of days. When it went wrong over the New Year I rang Kirklees on Tuesday, January 4 to report the fault and the problem was solved the following day.
A phone number is clearly visible on all traffic signals in case of a fault, so it only takes a free call to sort problems such as that out.
Bob Joynson
Scholes
Care of the living
I THINK that all relatives of people who have died should be offered bereavement counselling. It is such a traumatic time for some people that they often need support at this time.
John Turner
Holmfirth
Thanks for help
MAY I though your letters page thank the lovely lady passer-by and the lady from the car shop on the Piazza who helped me when I didn’t feel well on Tuesday, December 28. Thank you for your kindness and I wish you both a very Happy New Year.
Jackie Levitt
Meltham
A Polish Christmas
LAST Sunday the greatly enlarged Polish community celebrated its Christmas period traditional Oplatek. It is based on a very old Christian tradition during which people break thin wafers of bread, exchanging best wishes. It created an extremely friendly atmosphere.
The church hall, being the same size as the church, was full with people of all ages. The service had been organised by the young people. The tables were laid richly with traditional food and exotic cakes made by the members of the community.
Christmas carols were played and sung, and a mouth organ was played, one which was used during World War II in Scotland, still usable.
The young Polish priest tactfully thanked the team of organisers and the contributors. The crowd gave them a big ovation.
It has to be said that the atmosphere was homely, yet of a high standard, time pleasantly spent.
Tony Sosna
Huddersfield
Parking problems
MY husband parked our small motorhome, which fits into a normal car space in the car park of Staples/Currys/B&Q off Leeds Road, to go into B&Q.
A security person got out of a parked white van and told him bluntly he was not allowed to park there. My husband asked where it said he could not park. He was directed to a pole-mounted sign some seven to eight feet off the ground.
My husband said he had no intention of staying the night in the car park, that this was his usual mode of daily transport, he wasn’t a tradesman and asked how he was expected to shop if he couldn’t park.
He was told he could have parked if he had been a tradesman!
He left the motorhome parked and went to talk to B&Q about the situation. They were courteous but apologetic because the signs and the rules were not theirs but the responsibility of the landowner.
My husband was advised to ask for a permit to display in the vehicle window if we should visit again or intend to overstay the 1.5-hour limit. Clearly some people, who might be buying a kitchen or bathroom for instance, might want longer than 1.5 hours.
The second incident arose the week before Christmas when I advertently overstayed my welcome by ten minutes in Aldi, Milnsbridge car park.
Silly me, I chose to do the bulk of my Christmas grocery shop, got stuck in a queue and now face a £40 fine for the privilege (one I do not intend to pay).
This car park has the same type of sign and the same 1.5-hour parking rule as at Leeds Road.
I think everyone should be aware of the situation in these and other car parks around town.
I will be avoiding them, and the shops around them, in the future. I can chose what I drive and where I shop and I urge others to do the same.
It is surely wrong to discriminate against those who physically cannot read their signs due to poor eyesight or disability or are not tall enough to read them.
If these companies need to regulate parking then they should put barriers on the car parks with a time limit and charge for overstay in a responsible, up-front and non-discriminatory manner.
A final thought: why are the DVLA giving personal addresses out? This, to my knowledge would be the only way to have obtained it from my car registration plate!
Elaine M Moores
Golcar
Lockwood shunt
I TOO have suffered from the right-turn inner lane at the Lockwood Bar lights.
A car came along to my left and pushed its way in. I slowed to allow it to do so and a wagon hit my car from behind.
Arthur Quarmby
Holme
A great pantomime
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with Andrew Hirst’s comments in his review of the Huddersfield Light Opera’s Pantomime Dick Whittington.
I took my two grand-daughters aged seven and five and the three of us thoroughly enjoyed it. There were equal amounts of comedy and humour for both adults and children which was quick, slick and very funny. It is a credit to the whole company for putting on such a wonderful show.
A ‘must see’ panto!
Glenys Beardsell
Newsome
Councillors in the know
WHY don’t councillors ask in-depth questions before allowing hare-brained schemes like the Manchester Road bus lane to go forward?
I think the answer in stopping these taxpayer-funded follies lies in the fact that our councillors don’t appear to have the knowledge to challenge their officers and therefore everything gets pushed through by the officers, not the councillors.
It’s about time the horse was put in front of the cart instead of the other way around. For this to change, you need people with the knowledge to ask questions and to know whether officers are giving the right advice or not.
In other words we need more professional people as councillors and not the party ‘yes’ people that we have now. If this was the case we would not have these absurd schemes that are an affront to human intelligence itself. They also cost a great deal of money and in these hard times the council should have these schemes on a low priority list when spending our taxes.
Dr David Hill
Golcar
