I WAS amazed to read in Mailbag in theŠHuddersfieldŠExaminer 12/09/2011 that the cells in Huddersfield police station are to be refurbished because ‘they are shabby’ with graffiti, food stains etc on the walls.
May I ask who put the graffiti and food stains on the walls?
Why were they allowed to deface the cells during their stay?
Why were the culprits not made to clean up their mess beforeŠbeing released or moved on elsewhere?
And why should the taxpayer have to fork up the cost of refurbishing the cells so that the next occupants can start and trash the cells again.
Bryan Spencer
Crosland Moor
Almost lost for words
THE Government says action to curb the squanderlust of the banks cannot now be achieved until 2020.
Meanwhile, moving the age of people’s retirement to a later date will take place at a much earlier date than first proposed.
I am lost for words, or at least ones the Examiner could print.
John Langford
Lepton
Future need for jobs
IT’S interesting that Bill Armer is concerned about the Thornhill Estates’ proposals for Ainley Top because he hasŠ “a five-month-old granddaughter and she won’t know what green grass looks like’’Š (Mapping Out Our Future, Sept 12).Š
Access toŠcountryside is certainly very important, but presumably in due course said child will also want a home, a job and shopping opportunities.Š
What’s more, the very fact that many of usŠcan now expect to be proud great-grandparents reminds us that we are living ever longer and therefore that the population is growing each year.
Like Mr Armer I live quite near to the site in question and enjoy walking in the Grimescar valley which has some interesting history as well as green fields.Š
I make no judgement about the ThornhillŠscheme until I’ve had chance to study the plansŠand, indeed, the council’s response to them in the LDF (completion of which is clearly vital to control this kind of development).Š
But somehow we need, don’t we, toŠensure thatŠour aspirations for our own families are consistent with the needs of families (and indeed single people) as a whole?
David Griffiths
Edgerton
PM and green belt land
I HAVE been reading with interest the articles in the Examiner about objections to the LDF plans proposed by Kirklees which are causing of a lot of upset and discussion with residents holding meetings, local councillors making statements and pressure groups being formed.
I would like to re-assure them none of this is necessary.
The Prime Minister himself has made it quite clear his views on building on green belt land, only the other day, and I quote: “Everyone in this country has to obey the law, including the law about planning permission and about building on green belt land.’’
So any plans that Kirklees, or indeed any other local authority, has about building on green belt are dead in the water.
Of course the Prime Minister was referring to the Dale Farm evictions at the time.
PL
Meltham
Old Greasy Slack wood
I WENT for a walk through Greasy Slack Wood near Meltham the other day after an interval of quite a few years.
I kept seeing little posts with plaques round the top – what’s this? ‘White Rose Forest’?
It is still the same old Greasy Slack Wood!
Oh, I tell a lie, there is a change. It is now getting overrun with Indian balsam. That was not there, before.
Never did find a rose.
A L Jones
Meltham
Mice or men?
ARE our councillors mice or men? The most ugly building imaginable is appearing on a major road into our town.
How on earth can we allow the new Kirklees College building to be clad in what looks like white leggo tiles is beyond reason.
It is surrounded in our local stone buildings and this monstrosity sticks out like a sore thumb. Come on planners, do not let us have any more of these hideous buildings or we will be a laughing stock.
t blackburn
Newsome
Great food in hospital
LIKE ‘A Pensioner’ I too am a pensioner and have recently been in Calderdale Royal Hospital.
I can’t understand the pensioner’s criticism.
Breakfast was orange juice, choice of three cereals, brown or white bread, butter and jam (I prefer marmalade and was brought some).
Midday and evening both offered orange juice, soup, meat, fish or vegetarian with potatoes and a vegetable, followed by milk pudding, yoghurt or fruit.
Both meals also offered a variety of sandwiches if preferred.
All food was nicely presented by cheerful staff. Maybe not five-star catering but enjoyable all the same.
However, I was there for treatment, not the food.
The treatment certainly was five-star.
Thank you Calderdale.
C WOODROFFE
Huddersfield
Suffering after a stroke
I MAY be known more widely as someone who has campaigned to eradicate the abuse of children through the ‘Sarah’s Law’ campaign named after my daughter.
However, I am writing to you now as someone who has had a stroke – a stroke survivor.
Around 150,000 people have a stroke in the UK every year and millions live with the after effects. Amazingly, around a quarter of stroke survivors are under the age of 65 with some children even experiencing a stroke.
For some it is very difficult to make a recovery, but for many others, like me, with the right help, support and care, we can go on to have a successful and happy life.
We can continue to be an active parent, remain independent and enjoy the small things in life that keep us going such as reading, talking to friends and going out for a meal.
Unfortunately, I know that of the thousands of you in Yorkshire and the Humber who have been affected by stroke, many of you will be finding life that little harder at the moment.
The financial squeeze, the public service cuts combined with recovering from a stroke mean that it is sometimes difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
However, I wanted to let you know that The Stroke Association is running the largest ever consultation of people affected by stroke at the moment.
Are you someone who has been affected by a stroke or do you care for someone who has had a stroke?
Are you feeling the financial pinch at the moment? Have services you rely on been reduced or taken away completely? What do you really need to help you get back to a better life? Over the last few years I have been passionately advocating on behalf of parents and children by trying to give them a voice.
I am now turning my attention to stroke survivors who, in many ways, are even less heard.
We all need to be saying what we need more of so that stroke issues get on the political and media agendas for a change.
Any readers who are interested in filling out the survey should call 0207 566 0317 or email campaigns@stroke.org.uk
Sara Payne
Subtle use of words
DOES Richard Huddleston (Taking Sides, September 2) have second sight? I have to ask, since he seems to think he has the right to tell other letter writers what they think.
He says Alan Brooke’s letter of August 29 was a ‘tacit condemnation of the rioters.’
That means Mr H is telling us that that is what Mr B said, even though MR B didn’t say it.
Mr H has also recently told readers that I ‘appear’ to be against private property.
‘Tacit’ and ‘appear’ are words we should beware of. They’re the sign of rather snide and sneaky attitudes.
Mr H would be better off explaining what he says, rather than telling us what others think.
I’d like to give him the chance to do that when he next writes in.
All he has to do is answer two simple questions about what he’s said about what I’ve said.
1. You told us Mrs Thatcher didn’t tell us “there is no such thing as society,’’ Mr H, but she did, didn’t she? You got it wrong.
2. Will you please tell me what, where and when I’ve said anything to justify your accusation about private property? Best of luck, you won’t find a single word on it.
It just comes down to accepting responsibility for what we say and do, Mr H. Simple as that.
Mr R.A.Vant
Holmfirth
Leave it in your will
BRITAIN is a charitable nation. Almost three in four of us support a charity in our lifetime.
We hold coffee mornings, run marathons, shake tins, bake cakes, jump out of planes and all in the name of our favourite charities.
But when it comes to remembering these charities in our will, most of us don’t do it. In fact, only 7% of the UK leaves a gift in their will.
Legacies are worth almost £2 billion a year to charities.
Several celebrities are supporting Remember A Charity Week to encourage more people to think about leaving a small charitable gift after they’ve taken care of their family and friends.
Most charities wouldn’t exist without these generous gifts. Please give a thought to your favourite charity when writing your own will and help their work live on.
Dame Judi Dench
