NEXT year will see millions of people suffer even further cuts to their living standards.
The most vulnerable sections of our society will be plunged even deeper into poverty while vital public services are cut back even further.
According to Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne, all of this is necessary as ‘we are all in this together’ and Britain must pay off its debts.
Two things are absolutely clear. None of this austerity is necessary and we most definitely are not all in this together.
This government is cutting the numbers of people employed in collecting tax while letting its friends in the City of London get on with business as usual, which is paying billions in bonuses and tax dodging.
This government of millionaires consistently puts the interests of a tiny mega-rich elite based in the City of London above those of 60 million people in this country.
The recent report by the Public Accounts Committee paints an all too familiar picture where big business is able to engage in systematic avoidance of taxes which runs into billions.
The chair of the public accounts committee Margaret Hodge said: “You are left feeling that the sort of deals that are made with big business are different – sweetheart deals in some instances – from the sort of way in which corner shops are treated, small business are treated or hard-working families are treated.”
Some £25.5bn remains uncollected from disputes with 2,700 companies. The amounts are bigger than the budget for secondary education or transport.
I am not a gambling man but I’m willing to bet my next pay packet that nothing will be done to seriously address this tax avoidance by the mega-rich.
It all just goes to confirm the old adage: ‘There is one law for the rich and one law for the rest of us.’
Dylan Murphy
Marsden
Labour’s out of touch
RECENTLY local Labour politicians voted in favour of development for Tesco in Mirfield and more recently for David Brown’s Leeds Road plan.
The former town council chairman Michael Hutchinson has spoken in favour of David Brown’s, even though the plan will mean an increase in road traffic and the loss of green fields and even though 67% of Mirfield residents have stated they want no development at all on the J25 site.
Michael Hutchinson and the Labour group are still in favour of Balderstone Hall land being built on in the current LDF plans, giving one the impression that Labour is out of touch in Mirfield.
Clr James R Taylor
Mirfield Town Council (Northorpe)
What’s that grit for?
DRIVING, parking and shopping can be hazardous when, as recently in Holmfirth on allegedly the busiest shopping day before Christmas, there was black ice everywhere.
That’s why we have grit bins.
Mindful of the icy conditions I drove carefully into Crown Bottom car park at about 10am and tried to make my way to the ticket machine.
This was virtually impossible as the whole area was like a skating rink. People were clutching cars, bollards, anything they could, to prevent themselves from falling.
There is at least one grit bin at the bridge end of the car park and I saw a motorist spreading some on the slope approaching the bridge.
The only place that was safe to walk, providing you could get to it, was the entrance to the Sunday School and the Country Market.
Someone from the market had sensibly gritted the road and pavement, but getting out of the car park on to Huddersfield Road or across the bridge was extremely hazardous.
I needed to post some parcels and managed to get as far as the post office by walking on the grass – apologies to the gardeners. However, I did not dare go any further and so did not visit the market, the Longley Farm shop, Charlesworth’s, Andrew’s, Your Nuts, The Gift Horse or the Oxfam book shop as originally planned.
Instead, I bought a few essentials in the Co-op and drove back home.
I was not alone in changing my mind about trying to get to the shops. Three people I spoke to in the car park (Kirklees Highways, I hope your ears are on fire) also went back home without doing the shopping they had planned.
Sunday morning was just the same.
In the car park for the farmers’ market it was almost impossible to walk down to the ticket machine and, guess what, an almost full grit bin stood alongside.
If there had been a shovel I would have sprinkled the grit myself.
Whoever is supposed to keep these car parks and pavements safe for people to use them is failing miserably – and unfortunately it is the local shopkeepers who are suffering.
Perhaps the grit in the bins is just for show – or is it being saved for some special occasion?
This is going to happen again this winter, almost certainly.
Will Kirklees Council do something about it next time?
PL
Meltham
A tough life
I TAKE exception to the letter regarding paramedics on strike (Mailbag, December 23).
My dad was an ambulanceman as they were then called, firstly at the Leeds Road station and then at Marsh.
He worked for almost 30 years until the day he was 65 for very poor pay and a dreadful pension. During these years he too had to work at some point during public holidays and was often missing from our Christmas celebrations.
He often covered for colleagues who were absent for whatever reason and many times had to work overtime, getting home in the early hours.
One thing he never did was cover for colleagues who were on the picket line as no-one went on strike.
Nevertheless, there didn’t seem to be anyone at the station who didn’t feel they could carry on at 50-plus and early retirement was unheard of.
The current staff of Huddersfield and Honley ambulance stations ask who would want a 68-year-old paramedic to treat them.
Although he was a mere 65 I would like to say that my dad carried out his duties in a sympathetic and efficient manner right until the end and I never heard anyone say that they didn’t want to be treated by him.
On the contrary, patients were pleased and grateful to receive treatment.
My dad really loved his job and after reading today’s letter I feel proud of him.
J Wood
Cowlersley
Town centre shame
SO the decline of HD1 continues with the demise of Neaverson’s Tea shop.
I do hope that this will not be replaced by another pound shop or fast food takeaway.
Huddersfield is surrounded by wonderful countryside and is a thriving educational centre and there are indeed some wonderful buildings in the town centre.
However, there are parts of the centre that are, quite frankly, horrible. Witness the Co-op building and parts of New Street.
I think that Huddersfield was best described by a visitor of mine from Lincolnshire.
“The countryside is beautiful and the people are so friendly but I have never seen so many takeaways and speed cameras outside of London.”
Quite a sobering comment from ‘outside eyes’.
Councillors, please take care of this historic town.
Andrew Birkitt
Beaumont Park
Call to help others
AS we relax with our families to enjoy the festive season, it’s easy sometimes to forget what Christmas is supposed to be all about – thinking of others.
I’d like to ask Examiner readers to spare a thought for those who are unable to take such simple pleasures for granted.
There are millions of people in the UK struggling to cope with disability.
They may be disabled themselves and confined to a wheelchair, or caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Whatever their situation, it’s more than likely their daily existence is a hard, unrelenting struggle with poverty, isolation, discrimination and despair.
It’s a sad fact that, even in this day and age, that disabled people and carers remain among the most disenfranchised and vulnerable members of society.
This New Year I’d like to offer Examiner readers the opportunity to help us change that.
I work for Vitalise, a wonderful charity that provides desperately-needed respite breaks for disabled people and carers at our accessible centres around the UK.
Our breaks are an absolute lifeline, enabling our guests to restore their ability to cope and rediscover their zest for life.
Without the opportunities we provide, life would be very bleak indeed.
But we simply couldn’t do what we do without the compassion and generosity of the public.
So this New Year, why not resolve to make a real difference to someone else’s life in 2012?
There are so many ways you can help from something as simple as making a donation to taking part in a fundraising event or sparing some time to volunteer at one of our centres.
It’s your chance to spread some lasting goodwill!
We really need your help. If you would like to support Vitalise, please call 0303 303 0147 or visit www.vitalise.org.uk
Colin Brook
Vitalise
