THIS government, just like the last, shows its contempt for the elderly.

There is no commitment to resolve the care provision of the elderly, whenever they may need it, and they talk of scrapping ‘benefits’ earned and extending their sordid means testing.

Perhaps they could means test the pensions that civil servants and the political class get when they have finished serving themselves, sorry, serving the country.

It is nonsense that ex MPs or ex PMs should get bloated pensions if they have published their political stories and made a fortune, or have other income.

Or in the case of one or two greedy champagne socialists, have their finger in many a pie, have an extensive property portfolio, a charity or two for ego purposes, and then get up to £90k pension per annum at the taxpayers expense.

I remember it very well that Gordon McRuin thought, as the magic chancellor, a raise of 75 pence per week was sufficient for pensioners back in his glory days. All while shuffling 90 grand into his predecessor's pension pot.

Not one of the three parties gives a thought for pensioners, which may be a little unfair on my part, since someone in parliament has included in the latest care bill that elderly prisoners will get all the care they need. A typical Lib-Dem demand no doubt.

Our local MPs should enlighten us as to whether they support these moves to penalise the elderly law-abiding while safe-guarding the care provision for murderers in their old age.

Shame on us all, that we keep on voting these wishy washy types into parliament.

Gez Sharp

Huddersfield

Key indicators

STATISTICS will show part of an answer to many issues, and are a valuable resource for comparative purposes at the very least.

Before we decry their use with the usual clichés, perhaps we should suggest to our local government leaders that they are analysed along with other criteria, such as impact measures, cost benefit to members of the community, needs analyses, literacy and educational achievement, and economic and business benefit.

These are key indicators that should be used in any review of a service in order to develop an information and library strategy.

This is the practice of the best UK library authorities who use such evidence to make informed judgements about the full costs of both keeping open and developing or closing libraries in our communities.

Such a review is sadly lacking in the process adopted which will inevitably lead to the closure of these seven libraries in Kirklees, unless volunteers come forward to run, manage and staff them.

The costs of this way forward have not yet been identified and thus the costs of any strategy other than closure may yet prove too costly for Kirklees Council.

Those of us engaged in the campaign to have our libraries properly staffed and professionally managed have not seen any persuasive argument incorporating statistical evidence for the decision that identifies only seven of Kirklees libraries for this approach.

Biddy Fisher

Denby Dale

Libraries under threat

CONGRATULATIONS to the Examiner for continually keeping this subject in the spotlight and for the constant probing for crucial information.

Thank you for proving that Shepley library is the fifth most cost-effective library in Kirklees.

In the Kirklees Budget Implementation Plan minutes of July 13, 2011, the South Kirklees villages, including Shepley, were chosen to lose library staff because ‘community run village libraries will be developed where there is currently strong community activity…….such community activity is currently more concentrated in the south of the borough in the many small and relatively affluent villages’

This in my view is clearly a discriminatory policy.

Shepley already has some 50 volunteer run and funded organisations ranging from a Mother and Toddler group to Good Companions, providing services which would normally be provided and funded by the Council in other parts of Kirklees.

It is virtually impossible to find yet more volunteers to run the library.

The Library and Information Centre is to many people the heart of the village – it is our Community Centre run by superb staff. It is one of the very few services provided by Kirklees in the village and to many residents is the only direct contact point with the Council.

The library building is used every day by one or another organisation.

As only 2000 or so people live in the village it is difficult to increase usage but part-time opening, excellent staff, prudent management and the popularity of the library has resulted in the annual running costs being a mere £26,000.

This is a pathetically small amount for all the fuss but clearly our Kirklees leaders have a different agenda than just cost savings.

This is presumably also why similar villages in South Kirklees have been included on the threatened list, but none in Huddersfield or any of the Heavy Woollen areas.

David Billington

Shepley

Noise factor

BEFORE moving to New Mill we lived in a quiet Edwardian street in Edgerton and then Tesco express opened in Marsh (only a Tesco express not a store!)

Soon we were treated to a delivery wagon with rattling shutter doors racing up our once quiet road in the early hours.

Now we live in the Holme Valley and just can’t wait for the extra traffic on country roads (with passing places) as people from the (recently liberated and soon to be built upon ) greenfield sites of Denby Dale and the already established conurbations of Shelley and Shepley dash to grab their share of own brand groceries without a care for those who will have to live alongside this.

The more than noble offers of road calming measures by Tesco only proves that they have recognised this problem and have sought to pre-empt the objections of intelligent people.

If your local councillor votes for this at the planning meeting-do not vote for them at the next local election-make them get a REAL job – perhaps at Tesco in town!

Dave Shaw

New Mill

Card craft

A BIG thank you to all friends who bought my hand crafted cards and to the businesses who sold them for me.

This year £100 has been raised for the Forget-me-Not Trust which I think is a wonderful result.

I am so grateful to you all and I am sure they will be as well.

M BRIER

Linthwaite

Horse sense

WELL done to Mr Grumpy (Airhead at the Wheel, Examiner, July 11) for taking the registration number of the driver who was talking on mobile phone while driving their vehicle.

On Monday I witnessed a driver at Chain Bar speaking on his mobile while driving. The vehicle read “Caution Horses on Board” which was presumably aimed at other drivers. What hypocrisy!

JOHN APPLEYARD

Liversedge

Aid the elderly

THIS week saw the launch of the draft bill for the care of the elderly of England and Wales.

There is a problem, apparently the funds are not available as yet. Perhaps I can help, the money could easily be found from the overseas aid budget (some £12b).

The Indian Finance Minister said the £1.5b to be sent to India, was “peanuts” (how kind).

I agree, as we don’t want to offend him, the money could go to the care of our elderly. However, as we are the daftest country in the world, no doubt we will carry on splashing aid money around, fighting pointless un-winnable wars, pouring money down the drain on failed schemes, a long list, including IT programmes for the health services, scrapped aircraft (Nimrod), new fire control centres, PFI schemes etc, etc.

No wonder we are in a mess, the governments we had, and have, are useless.

BARRY FOWLER

Huddersfield

Down to owners

WHY should our council provide bins for dog owners? Owners are responsible for their own dogs, not the council.

If dog owners want a bin they should purchase a chemical bin from a pet shop and place it in their own garden.

These cost about £20 and it is the only method that would not involve any other person to get rid of dog poo.

Also this method would virtually eradicate toxocariasis with the added benefits of leaving streets and all public places clean and more pleasant for all.

H BARROWCLOUGH

Waterloo