I AM disgusted at a recent decision by Kirklees planning sub-committee to grant planning permission for two wind turbines on a small farm in Thurstonland.
The planning department made a clear recommendation to refuse the proposal and the sub-committee decided to ignore the advice of planning experts who expressed serious concerns over impacts on the local environment and risk of damage to local listed buildings.
There were 20 objections raised and this has caused a lot of worry within the village.
The questions for us are how can we be granting these commercial money-making proposals which have nothing to do with simply easing the cost of electricity of small farms?
There is no strategy in place in Kirklees and people are at the whim of elected officials with no expertise to overrule experts in a planning department.
I read with horror and sympathy the article in the Examiner on October 22 which described the sad story of multiple farms wanting to erect turbines for commercial gain in HD8.
The thing that appalled me was Clr Derek Hardcastle stating: “I am in favour of renewable energy schemes but not when it’s alienating villages’’ and “Let’s have some overall planning rather than these ad hoc ones we’re getting at the moment.’’
This is the same Derek Hardcastle who is supporting the Thurstonland wind turbine application. How can you say one thing and do another?
There should be a stop to all these applications until Kirklees can formulate a coherent strategy.
The world and Kirklees needs sustainable energy but at the moment it feels like Kirklees are rolling dice and playing god.
At least we voters can build a sensible voting strategy in the next election to remove some of these people who sit on wafer-thin majorities.
Resident
Thurstonland
One rule for some
THE legacy of Thatcher returns.
Firstly the de-regulated banking industry was allowed to rip off the country and now a de-regulated energy industry is doing the same.
The government spin is that it is ‘helping’ by freezing next year’s council tax, assuming it doesn’t change its mind by then.
But who will benefit the most from that, Millionaires’ Row or us down here?
In the real world David Cameron can push his Big Society as much as he likes, but we are not all in it together, far from it.
ALLEN JENKINSON
Milnsbridge
Unborn child ‘genocide’
I WAS proud to stand with members and friends of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child who had organised a peace for vigil in the town centre on October 17 to remember all the unborn babies who had been killed since the 1967 Abortion Act.
Since then there have been 7m abortions in Great Britain and the latest figures reveal that in the past 12 months there were 189,574.
What is more shocking is that 48,348 women have had more than one abortion and some as many as eight.
In 1991 the NHS funded 9,197 abortions and by 2010 the number had risen to 111,775 – an increase of 1,100%.
As The Economist has pointed out: ‘A woman’s right to choose has led to genocide of 160m baby girls worldwide.’
I would also ask how any organisation which depends mainly on its income by providing abortions can ever be allowed to counsel vulnerable women. My understanding is that the main abortion providers’ income was in the region of 60m last year.
Sadly, as a society we do not seem too concerned by this ongoing tragedy for the taking of an innocent life is indeed a tragedy.
John Paul II said: “A nation that kills its own children is a nation without hope.’’
THERESA QUARMBY
Kirkburton
Where’s Alan?
I’M trying to discover what happened to Alan Dyson, a local folk singer who performed at the Builders’ Club in the 1960s.
Do any Examiner readers who were members of the Builders Folk Club in the 60s have any knowledge of Alan’s life and current whereabouts?
Any information would be much appreciated.
My telephone numbers are 01484 480053 and 07833 773590.
MIKE KELLY
Huddersfield
Every day is precious
LAST week when going to the Argos store on Leeds Road I collapsed.
I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary off duty nurse Michelle who happened to enter the store at the same time with her family and Christine, the Argos manager who administered CPR until the paramedics arrived.They undoubtedly saved my life.
Thanks to the paramedics too.
The commitment, care and kindness both I and my partner received in coronary care at HRI was second to none.
The nursing staff, doctors, tea-ladies and cleaning staff were all wonderful. The surgeons have fitted a defibrillator into my chest – amazing – and I am now back home.
There may be others who I have missed as I remember absolutely nothing, but every day now is a day I would not have had with my partner, my family, my grandchildren and my friends, so those two little words mean so very much.
Thank you.
MALCOLM WARD
Lepton
Kindness on tram
I WOULD be most appreciative if you would print a huge thank you to Claire who was so kind to me on the tram in Manchester when I was unwell.
I know Claire lives in Huddersfield and teaches in Sale so I am really hoping she reads this.
Claire – you made that awful journey bearable. I am so grateful to you and I wish you lovely things!
Katy
Ashton under Lyne
Caught short in town
ARE you surprised that some people are urinating in the street?
Kirklees in its wisdom has closed all the toilets and pulled most of them down.
If you want a ‘pee’ you have no choice but to go into a pub or a shop and hope there is a toilet. I am a 75-year-old man. I don’t visit or want to visit town centre pubs so I have to trust to luck. I don’t and would not urinate in the street but I must admit there are times when the situation is desperate.
Billy Richardson
Honley
Good private care
WITH regards to comments made by certain people, my girlfriend is a carer in the private sector and could provide a testimonial from every one of her clients as to her care and commitment.
Kirklees carers do not have a monopoly on care, only a far better wage.
For my girlfriend to earn 40 hours pay she has to actually do up to 80 hours and get next to nothing in travel expenses.
She is called out at all times and works six days a week from 6am to 10pm.
She trains in her own time and the training is just as stringent as Kirklees.
Last winter through snow, ice and sleet she never missed one call – breakfast, dinner, tea and beds.
What is needed is a better deal for the carers at the sharp end whether they be Kirklees or private as this is an extremely difficult and serious job.
James Hoyle
Huddersfield
Criticising academies
I SEE the cabinet member for children’s services Clr Cath Harris and her Labour colleague Clr Peter McBride have expressed anger at yet another school becoming an academy.
Along with Moor End in Crosland Moor, Mirfield Free Grammar and Shelley College, academies are becoming more and more popular.
It is no good Labour councillors moaning and groaning about the costs which cover academies and having to provide officer time from their budgets when it was – wait for it – Prime Minister Tony Blair under the last Labour Government who introduced academies in the first place.
Why did the Labour Government do this? Because they were not happy with the way some councils were providing education in their areas and academies were a way of taking control away from failing authorities.
Clr Christine Smith
Kirkburton Ward
