AS A Huddersfield bus driver I feel well qualified to comment on the state of our local roads which I have to admit are a total disgrace.
I probably drive over 400 miles a week, often over the same routes and struggle to avoid the worst ones.
Edale Avenue in Newsome is in a very bad state of repair at the moment as your editorial and pictures show, but I find the council’s idea that they may have to shut roads an ill-advised one.
Take the above mentioned road. It is part of a bus route, has a mixture of houses and a school access on it, so can they tell me where all the vehicles that are normally on that road are going to park if it was closed?
How would people get out of their houses as well if it were closed to pedestrians?
So, in my opinion, the council’s idea is nothing but scaremongering as they would not have the ability to close roads all over Huddersfield like this as it would create total chaos.
And who is going to tell the emergency services ‘you can’t go down that road, it’s full of potholes?’
So come on Kirklees, get your act together.
Fix the roads, fix them right and then keep up to them which is what you failed to do in the past.
Malcolm Brooke
Huddersfield
A proud husband
I AM impressed with Hilarie Stelfox’s double page spread about Mary Sophia Allen’s biography written by Nina Boyd, who is stated as being married to my good friend John Duffy. In fact, she is my wife.
John Bosley
Proud husband of Nina Boyd
Ban 12-point drivers
I HAVE just read the letter from Retired Driving Instructor (Examiner June 20) and I am pleased that there is someone, with a professional driving background, who thinks the same way as I do about this subject.
How many others think this same way about drivers who have more than 12 points on their licence and are still allowed to drive? There is no excuse.
If their livelihood relies on their driving, then they should have taken more care.
Is it worth trying to get a Kirklees-wide petition on this subject?
If done correctly, it may even encompass the region, the north of England, possibly even the whole nation.
S&A G
Huddersfield
A great company
THE news relating to David Brown’s remaining at the present site was extremely welcome.
The company has gone through a lot of change in the past decades.
Downsizing along with the continuous loss of jobs through redundancies.
Machine-tooling, along with whole departments, have been lost which has been a great shame.
I have friends who are still employed at Brown’s some 48 years on.
The apprenticeship which Brown’s gave was second to none and as a past apprentice I would go so far as to say it was the best in this area.
The products which were made and exported around the world were leaders in their field. Their undoing for me was the cost of that quality product.
People decided to buy cheaper but inferior goods from other countries.
Some years ago I took a trip down memory lane with a visit to an open day at the company.
However, my nostalgia bubble was burst when I saw but a shadow of the company for which I worked so many years ago.
David Brown’s was such a large provider of jobs for the local community it would be good to see a return to those days of local mass employment rather than mass unemployment.
Whatever the reason for the company not moving, it is good news for Huddersfield, its people and our heritage.
Far too many old businesses and historic buildings are being lost.
So here is wishing David Brown’s and its employees a bright future and to all those past guys I worked with it was a pleasure knowing you.
I am charging you, John Humpleby, with the job of setting up a reunion before it is too late.
R J Bray
Shelley
Support for care home
I’D LIKE to respond to your report about the Care Quality Commission telling Kirklees Council that it must take immediate action to improve standards of care at Claremont House in Heckmondwike.
The Care Quality Commission report found failings which, in its opinion, could impact on the well-being of the residents.
The report in the main identifies failings in procedure which is not the same as failings in care.
As carer for a resident at the home I have made hundreds of visits over a period of nearly four years and at no time have I observed anything to give me cause for concern.
Quite the opposite, the staff are kind, caring, considerate and maintain and respect the dignity of the residents and are to be applauded for their dedication in a very demanding environment.
I am advised of any issues arising either during my visits or by phone, regular reviews are taken regarding care.
I have every confidence in the team at Claremont House.
B Ditchfield
Carer
Polish contribution
I AM surprised that Michael Jenkinson in his letter “Remember them all” (Examiner, June 19) omitted one of the biggest contributor to the war machinery and industrial labour – the Polish people.
They were there at the Battle of Britain, Falaise Gap, Monte Casino, miners, plumbers, local textile workers and so on.
I entirely agree with him that historical facts should take priority before political correctness.
TONY SOSNA
Huddersfield
‘Bearing’ up for charity
BEARS have two birthdays a year and Paddington’s summer one is on June 25.
For many years now he has dedicated himself to raising money for his favourite charity – Action Medical Research.
As a way of saying ‘thank you’ to Paddington, Action Medical Research has come to the rescue with their Bring Your Bear event and schools, nurseries and children’s groups everywhere are invited to take part.
For a modest donation of £2, which goes towards vital research to help sick babies and children, they will make it a day to remember. It will be money well spent.
So don’t forget to register at www.action.org.uk/bringyourbear and you will receive a free fundraising kit full of ideas.
In case anyone without a bear should feel they can’t take part, any much loved soft toy will be more than welcome.
You have Paddington’s word for that. The more the merrier.
Michael Bond
London
