AS I drive through Huddersfield I can’t help but notice (as I’m sure we all have) the adverse affect one little piece of technology is having on our society.

White wires dangling about us looking like our heads are plugged into our pockets. Robots.

Of course I’m talking about the iPhone, a bandwagon I have no interest in jumping on even though it’s moving so fast it’s impossible to ignore.

My phone is my phone. However, these things seem to be a lot more than that and I can’t help but wonder what ‘that’ is.

I remember the days when I used to ask someone a question just for the conversation of wonder and a test of knowledge. Nowadays it seems a question is shortly followed by 10 minutes of silence while the iPhone gives us a straight no nonsense answer.

It’s like a club that 90% of the community belongs to and those who would rather spend their money going back into the community (the local pubs and the family businesses) are locked out.

I just hope there are still a golden few out there who, like me, just don’t see it.

Where will it end? I don’t know, but you’ll understand the day you purchase your iHome to find you don’t get a working toilet until next year’s upgrade – and that’s gonna cost you.

Joe

Longwood

Danger on our roads

I APPLAUD the excellent article from Andrew Jackson from the Examiner on Thursday, April 12, in which the sorry state of road user behaviour is well portrayed with a suggestion for a more tolerant approach.

As I attempted to reverse my car into my drive the other day a driver kindly stopped to allow this manoeuvre although another person of limited intelligence saw fit to overtake us both, despite the limited visibility in the area.

This favourable gesture was acknowledged while some of the implied words from Andrew’s article became uppermost in my mind regarding the second individual.

I have long held the view that there is a need for repeat driving/riding tests although we must not forget that pedestrians, pedal cyclists and mobility scooter controllers are all part of the equation and feel that road user education should receive far more priority than has, hitherto, been the case.

Successive governments have only paid lip service to the implications in what is a costly problem in both humanitarian and financial terms.

The development of road user education is enhanced by a reference, on the previous page that day, to the fast lane of the M1, although the speed limit for the vehicle concerned is 70mph in all lanes.

Surely, it must be accepted that we should all abide by the same rules. While there is a need for tolerance as we all make mistakes, I advise the adoption of the phrase ‘let common sense prevail’.

Phil Hellawell

Quarmby

I’m sitting on the fence

ANOTHER year and another Grand National Race run.

It is without doubt one of our sporting institutions like a Wembley final, the Boat Race and Cheese Rolling (Coopers Hill).

Sadly, two horses were destroyed as a result of falling. One of these was Synchronised which had just recently won the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Shortly before the race started Synchronised unseated his jockey and went for a course inspection unaccompanied.

He was then caught and one of the vets at the course examined him and pronounced him fit to race.

I wonder if this was the same vet who later examined him and pronounced him not fit to live? It is reported that when this horse fell many in the stands cheered, obviously concerned about their bets.

While no-one can doubt the courage of the jockeys they do have a choice as do drivers of Formula One cars and others who take part in dangerous sports. The horse does not have this option.The debate will be opened again.

Myself? I’m sitting on the fence (sorry about the pun). It’s not very comfortable, nor is it very safe.

Mr J S Kelly

Newsome

If not Tesco, what else?

NOT living in Holmfirth but being a regular visitor to the town and during the days when Midlothian Garage was up and running was a very regular visitor as an insurance engineer inspecting damaged vehicles.

As previously stated by John Bowden in the Examiner, at that time there were always plenty of heavy goods vehicles using the site delivering goods, etc.

Some of the arguments from the Keep Holmfirth Special group are that there would be an increase in traffic.

In this they are correct to some extent but unfortunately it is a sign of the times that traffic volumes are on the increase so without Tesco there will be more vehicles passing through Holmfirth.

Having read the letters in the Examiner’s Mailbag giving the for and against the development, I have not seen any letter that has come up with a definite use for the site if Tesco is not granted planning permission.

The site at the moment is rundown and will only get more rundown if nothing is done with it.

The site could be developed for housing but this would again see an increase in vehicles using the roads in the area and where would the residents shop?

Being car owners they would travel to surrounding towns to the supermarkets and then go into those town centres to do other shopping which means Holmfirth shops would lose out again.

I do not claim to know what is the best for Holmfirth but people can be assured that only time will tell which decision was correct and there will be winners and losers

The Old Almondburian

Huddersfield

I just want to study

IS there anybody who can tell me where I can study A levels in Kirklees?

It would appear that if you are older than 19 the nearest place to study in a class is to enrol at Bradford College.

If I am wrong could somebody please enlighten me.

Kirklees College does three GCSEs and an Access course and to attend the local sixth form colleges you have to be in the 16 to 19 age range.

Anyone over 19 and under the age of death has, apparently, to travel.

It would also be informative to know how and when this state of affairs came into being. Is this an example of age discrimination by the educational authorities in Kirklees?

Thomas Bateson

Milnsbridge

Castle Hill needs a hotel

WHAT a marvellous romantic story in The Examiner about a couple who met at Castle Hill Hotel and are now celebrating 50 years together. A pity they could not return for their golden anniversary.

How many more romantic stories are there to tell about Castle Hill Hotel. Two hundred years ago the Borough of Huddersfield gave permission for a hotel on Castle Hill with a never-ending lease.

So if the original hotel was built back it would comply with the agreement.

The mitigation is proposals for a nature reserve at Castle Hill. How will that work when in the six weeks school holidays hundreds of children will be playing on and around the hill?

Will a large sign go up (planning permission required) ‘Castle Hill Nature Reserve – no picnics, no kite flying, no ball games such as football, cricket, volleyball, etc. No dogs allowed, children supervised at all times.’

For 200 years our parents, our grandparents and great-grandparents have enjoyed Castle Hill Hotel. Are we not allowed the same privilege?

Dave Crowther

Liversedge

Taxes are still going up

DR David Hill (letters 11/4/12) states that no-one will pay more tax in 2013/14 than they will pay in 2012/13.

But why doesn’t he compare the previous year of 2011/12?

He is obviously talking about Income Tax and not VAT, Fuel Duty, and green taxes, etc, which these days dwarf the amount raised through Income Tax.

This politically-motivated letter of Dr Hill’s is no different than all the various political parties’ messages we keep seeing, all putting their views just before local elections.

Chancellor George Osborne is currently taxing and spending more than Brown did in his last year while giving the impression of making cuts – which are cuts in the projected levels Brown had in place. They are not actual cuts at all.

The current tax taken as a percentage of GDP is ever growing and at the time of Maggie this was 38% and is now around 42%.

Whatever party is in power, the continual rise in taxation just marches on and so long as people like Paddy Ashdown think £26,000 a year on benefits isn’t enough there is little hope for the normal working people in the north to have any effect on government policies, whatever the party colour.

In my view the only impact we can have is through voting for independent candidates who don’t have to toe the party line, whichever party that is.

R Horsfall

Honley (member of the TaxPayer's Alliance)

‘Top drawer’ consultant

I SHOULD like to use your column to express my thanks to Mr D Martin-Hirsch, our local ENT/head and neck/thyroid consultant surgeon.

Over the course of a year I have been under his care and had several operations.

He has always been kind, courteous and reassuring and his care has been exemplary.

He is a perfect gentleman and absolutely ‘top drawer.’

He is exactly the type of person who we need in our modern NHS.

I have been involved myself in caring for people and never have I known a surgeon as approachable and aware of people’s apprehensions.

Once again, thank you.

Harry E Dillon

Honley