IT WAS very sad to learn of the decision to close all the Jessops photographic stores.

In particular the one in Huddersfield which has served my wife and I very well for many years.

In all our visits we were rewarded with excellent service and nothing seemed too much trouble to the enthusiastic and dedicated staff.

Sadly our town is now bereft of a proper photographic shop with a skilled sales team.

May I wish the departing employees the best of good fortune in their quest for new employment.

Melvyn Gibson

Chairman, Holmfirth Camera Club

Hill improvements

LAST time I went to Castle Hill there were a few people drinking beer from a can and using the tower as toilet

If all these people are against the pub simply buy it. At least the Thandis are putting the money in and helping to improve the place.

A Carter

Almondbury

Appetite for detail

FOR THE sake of clarity, Dr Rajeswaran’s concern (January 10) about those with a BMI greater than 25 or 30 should have included photographs.

Are readers supposed to guess whether they’re in those groups, or struggle to get an appointment with their own increasingly busy doctors?

He should perhaps have also mentioned whether the metabolism of any individuals in West Yorkshire might actually not benefit from a change of diet and exercise plan.

Are we simple machines effortlessly improved by a bit of tinkering courtesy of the profit-driven medical and fitness businesses?

More easily recognised by the lay person, one problem with exercise, especially during the winter, is its tendency to stir the appetite.

TC

Huddersfield

Here to help

IT’S January, a time when people begin to reflect on their lives and think seriously about making changes, self improvement.

To succeed all they need is to focus on starting with small steps, setting their gaols at a realistic level.

For many people in this community their thoughts will turn doing something for the first time about their alcohol problems.

KAAS ( Kirklees Alcohol Advisory Service) was initially set up by Dr Tobarek Hussain to support alcoholics who had been de-toxed at St Luke’s and had little or no support in the community.

This was at a time when other than AA there was no organised support mechanism and people were left after ‘detox’ to succeed or fail on their own.

Dr Hussain understood the nightmare that people, their families and friends go through when alcohol becomes a problem.

The organisation is a registered charity and managed by a small dedicated group of trustees, ex drinkers and carers who voluntarily give their time and skills.

There are three group meetings each week: ladies’ group meets on Mondays at 7pm; general group meets on Wednesdays at 7pm. Both these groups meet at the Methodist Mission, Lord Street, Huddersfield.

The general group in Batley meets on Tuesdays at 7pm at the Salvation Army in Batley.

These meetings address the particular needs of drinkers and their carers and are a place of understanding and shared experience.

The groups don’t tell anyone what they need to do about their drinking, that choice belongs to each individual.

The groups don’t criticise or condemn people who haven’t yet chosen to stop drinking, but we reserve the right to challenge behaviour.

The groups are chaired by experienced facilitators’; the support offered to everyone is powerful, helpful and inspiring.

This organisation has been in existence for over 37 years and has helped many thousands of people in Kirklees rescue themselves from the slavery of alcoholism.

If anyone is contemplating the problems around their drinking, I would recommend visiting one of these group meetings.

No appointments needed, simply call in. Anything discussed is treated in confidence by attendees. Further information, contact Norman on 07966 306334.

Frank Carroll

Bradley

Honley parking issues

MAY I pose a question, whatever happened to our Traffic Wardens?

I do see them around Huddersfield town centre but nowhere else. I would like to see more employed (not that I am a big fan of them, and their trade) especially in our outlying villages.

It is an absolute nightmare trying to drive through Honley village. Cars and vans park on double yellow lines, park on road junctions, roundabouts to name just a few.

Then there is the parking on pavements where mothers with prams have to walk on the road to pass the parked vehicles. This is also a hazard for our disabled people and wheelchair users.

Most of the pavement parking is in the new build residential streets where roads are narrower.

Parking on the pavement is illegal and a parking issue in the Honley area, and many other areas too I would wager.

Why then can’t Honley and other villages within the Kirklees area have their own couple of Traffic Wardens?

Let’s face it they are on the front line, they keep traffic moving safely and can prevent dangerous situations, even accidents occurring, due to illegally parked vehicles.

Their job if not given targets to reach is a responsible one. They bring in money from people that break the law by parking illegally, which in turn keeps traffic flowing safely.

Money that Kirklees Council would benefit from in today’s climate. Well in my mind if you park illegally then you deserve a ticket.

I personally have had two since passing my test back in 1968, one I definitely did deserve. Having these people doing a worthy job keeping the village safe and the traffic flowing is in my mind a good thing.

I do realise this letter will not go down well with some people, in fact probably a lot of people. But I say if you break the law by parking illegally, and you get caught then it’s a fair cop, and there is no need to get mad and go berserk. You knew you were going to park illegally and you took a chance.

Honley and other villages need these traffic wardens to patrol them and keep the traffic moving safely.

One place they definitely need to be is outside Honley Infant School at dropping off and picking up times.

If wardens had to work to targets, two days work and they would have reached their monthly target. It’s a wonder no child or parent has been knocked over or injured there.

Come on Kirklees surely investing in these traffic wardens are worth every penny keeping the traffic moving and the pedestrians safe !

Not an Illegal Parker