IT IS to be hoped that the Co-operative Society’s senior management recognise and respond quickly to the development proposals in the Holme Valley by Tesco and Lidl which clearly threaten their virtual monopoly.
What everyone does want are cheaper prices at the Co-op’s fuel stations and stores in Holmfirth and Honley. Obviously competition would benefit everyone’s housekeeping costs.
But then what we do not want is further traffic congestion. Tesco’s proposed site is totally unsuitable with an estimated 160 parking spaces plus new lights in New Mill Road.
I visited Tesco’s presentation in Holmfirth and remarked that the old Midlothian site might be better used for housing – only to be told that it was ‘unsuitable because the land is contaminated’.
Contaminated? By what … and if so why is it considered suitable for a supermarket? Maybe someone can explain.
Co-op Member
Brockholes
Not worth working
IF the Government wants older people to supplement their pension and pay tax on some of it, there is precious little incentive to do so.
I decided that I might take a part time driving job just to keep my mind and brain in trim. I noticed, however, when I was fighting with the tax people, that if I earn over a certain amount my pension – that I have managed to stay alive for, much to the NHS and government’s disgust, I think will go down once I reach a threshold.
So just what incentive is there to go out and work hard again to make for the fuel and energy and related costs that have gone up?
This Coalition does nothing about those rising costs because too many of its members are in thrall to big business.
Quite frankly it is not surprising that so many older people do not bother to find work when to do so means that they are going to pay more tax as well.
Martin Fletcher
Emley
In praise of NHS
MAY I extend my thanks to all those who have assisted in helping me to recover from my recent illness?
One hears so much of the failures of our NHS that I have felt very strongly that I should try to explain in some detail the splendid services I have received.
Starting with the doctors, nurses and the various members of support staff at the Meltham Group practice, their dedication to service has been admirable. Nothing has been too much trouble and although their work has not yet finished we are almost there.
The various other support services such as district nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, environmental therapists and others have all played a prominent part in my recovery.
To all those people who have been instrumental in obtaining the various pieces of equipment that have been of immense help in assisting me to sleep, to walk and understand what is expected of me and therefore assist further my recovery.
Finally, to the rapid response team, the enablers and at present the DNA carers who have all in some measure assisted in my wellbeing, a big thank you.
W LODGE
Netherton
Unaffordable housing
ON the subject of the Lindley Moor fiasco, the only reason Kirklees planners want Lindley Moor to be built on is so they can rake in more council tax in to pay overpaid people in more non-jobs. But who will be able to afford these houses in the present climate?
J HAMMOND
Scapegoat Hill
Blowing in the wind
TALK about having one foot in each camp! I refer to Clr Mehboob Khan on the Examiner’s front page, extolling the virtues of building on green sites. A few months ago he was in the thick of it and didn’t miss a photo opportunity supporting the Clayton Fields campaign – or was it just for the votes from our ward?
Seems councillors sway with the wind!
A BROWN
Birkby
Running Kirklees
FOOLISHLY I always thought that we voted councillors in to do what was best for the area and that they run the council with the assistance of Kirklees employees.
It seems I was wrong. Clr Khan and Clr Molly Walton run Kirklees with the help of the planning department.
I know which party I will not be voting for in the next local election.
Disappointed
Birchencliffe
Another Depression
‘MALLY’ of Netherthong (Mailbag, September 24) was critical about what s/he thinks Labour’s Ed Balls has said, but didn’t really say much about what s/he thinks we should do to deal with the economic and financial problems facing the world.
It seems clear to me that we’re repeating the mistakes of the 1930s.
Back then, there was a similar financial crash, caused by the same crazy ‘free market’ ideas which have caused our problems.
Then, governments in the 30s did exactly the wrong thing.
They cut spending. That turned the financial problems into economic ones, since there was less money going round. One person’s spending is, of course, another person’s job.
The result was a vicious downward spiral. We had The Great Depression. It took the vast amount of government in the Second World War to get the world economy moving again.
That same obsession with cutting spending could drive us into another Depression.
I’m with Richard Lambert on this. He was the head of the Confederation of British Industry, the boss of the business bosses.
This is what he had to say: ‘Everyone knows we cannot cut our way to prosperity, so where are we going to create jobs to offset public sector cuts?’
Might I invite Mally to tell us more about what s/he thinks we should do?
R A Vant (Mr)
Holmfirth
Violent village
I LIVE in what will be thought of as a quiet country village, namely Netherthong.
Having had my car vandalised five times, greenhouse windows broken twice, house windows broken twice, the last time two weeks ago, what will be next in this quiet village?
What are we coming to I do not know.
MALCOLM SHAW
Netherthong
Live music, please
HUDDERSFIELD once had many good music venues like the Builders’ Club, Ivanhoe’s, Sheridan Rooms and Plaza Teen Club. What went wrong?
In the 70s I was a regular at the Builders’ Club as I was into rock music and still am. Then I went to Ivanhoe’s, until that shut.
The nearest you get now is the Picturedrome which is at Holmfirth. Live music was promised at the Galpharm but again, after a bright start, this stopped.
Why should the likes of Robin Trower, Wilko Johnson and Johnny Winter grace the Picturedrome and not Huddersfield itself – what have we done wrong?
COLIN VAUSE
Marsh
Party success
WE, and our mother Mary, wish to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made her 100th birthday celebration at the Pennine Manor Hotel, Scapegoat Hill, a resounding success.
The contribution of the cake maker Sugarcraft of Lindley who provided an usual and magnificent cake, florist Janine Sully of The Greenhouse who provided spectacular, sophisticated and elegant table settings along with orchid flowers as decorations on the cake, and the staff at the hotel, in particular duty manager Ann and her staff for the contributions they made to making this a superb evening which will not be forgotten.
Finally we wish to thank everyone who made monetary donations to mum’s chosen organisations, these being HRI cancer departments and the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, which currently stand in excess of £1,200.
A fantastic result by everyone. Mum is proud to have family and friends who are so gracious.
Roger and Tony Carter
Lindley
Restoring faith
HOW SAD that mindless vandals have caused George Woodrow to lose his car and as a result his ability to get out and about.
No doubt they found it amusing to cause such inconvenience and distress to a gentleman who has fought for his country and is currently battling cancer.
What a shame that this war veteran who deserves our utmost respect has been treated so cruelly and callously. I feel ashamed for the yobs who did this.
Wouldn’t it give you your faith back in human kind if a well wisher perhaps a local car dealership was able to replace his small car which seems to have been such a lifeline for this brave and courageous gentleman?
Kishanda Spencer-Bake
Bailiff Bridge
