I HAVE recently become aware of articles in the local paper about burglaries taking place in the Golcar and Milnsbridge areas.
We were the victims of a burglary at 9pm on January 10 and despite having a German Shepherd dog and a burglar alarm the thieves managed to force entry through the conservatory roof and then again through the locked interior door and stole several thousand pounds worth of electricals.
It is clear several people in the area are aware who is responsible and a small minority of them actually witnessed a 42ins television (mine!) carried off down the street to the rear of my property.
I would like to encourage people to come forward and feel more confident in talking not just for my sake but for everyone else that has been effected and for anyone else that may be targeted in the near future.
This is a serious issue in the area and really needs to be addressed.
Burgled
Milnsbridge
Ugly and useless turbines
FIONA Weir might be pleased that Valley Wind are seeking to build a wind farm on Slaithwaite Moor, but I can assure her that hard-pressed energy consumers will be far from enamoured at the extra costs which these useless and ugly turbines will add to their electricity bills.
The iniquitous renewables levy goes towards the ridiculously high feed-in tariffs which pay up to 36.2p per kwh to turbine owners – four times the retail cost paid by customers.
This is the economics of the madhouse and contributes to the extra £400 a year ‘green levy’ which researchers at the Policy Exchange claim will be added to all our energy bills by the end of the decade.
It doesn’t matter whether the money goes to greedy land owners, profiteering energy companies or lentil-eating green fanatics in Marsden – it is still completely bonkers.
Frank O’Brien
Salendine Nook
Tesco won’t shut shops
I WOULD like to Ask Arthur Quarmby where he thinks the majority of valley people do their supermarket shopping now?ŠŠ
Not at the Co-Operative in Holmfirth. They travel to Huddersfield.Š
The Co-op is far too expensive. Only last week I went to buy an item which was 20p dearer than the same thing sold in Tesco and Sainsbury’s – and this is only one item!
I think that Mr Quarmby is wrong in his assumption that people will not visit Holmfirth.
I, like many, get my basics from the supermarket in Huddersfield and then shop locally for bread, meat, cards etc, and will continue to do so.Š
If supermarket shoppers are kept in the vicinity of Holmfirth they will stay there and travel to the centre to get their specialist items. There will be a free car park at the new supermarket with courtesy buses into Holmfirth.
Is the shopkeepers’ protest really about the supermarket being located half a mile from the town centre or are they using this as an excuse to protest against competition?Š
No supermarket could compete with some of the specialist shops we have in Holmfirth.
Perhaps the traders should concentrate their efforts on maintaining and expanding their businesses instead of alienating locals by their pathetic boarding up antics.
If they were really serious in demonstrating what they believe a ghost town Holmfirth would become they should have shut up shop completely and not continued to trade.
Yvonne Radcliffe
Holmfirth
Holmfirth’s not special
I READ Mr Quarmby’s letter in the Examiner.
Perhaps he is happy to put up with high prices, lack of product availability and inconsistent service from some of the shops in Holmfirth.
For others a larger and more competitive supermarket will enable more people to avoid having to travel to Huddersfield or Meltham to do their major shopping.
They may then venture into Holmfirth for other shopping.
Clearly the answer is for Tesco to purchase the Co-op and enlarge it. This with the proposed Lidl supermarket would solve all the problems including those of the Holmfirth shopkeepers who are not against central supermarkets.
As a local resident for nearly 40 years there is nothing special about Holmfirth.
Mike Hirst
Wooldale
All about cheap petrol
MICHAEL Armitage (Mailbag, January 17) – it seems that your social circle is extremely limited if you have never come across anyone in Holmfirth who objects to the proposed Tesco store.
I do know a few people who are pro the store but they seem a rather humourless lot, driving around endlessly in search of a petrol station in Holmfirth.
And that is what it apparently comes down to. Not so much cheap (or even quality) food as cheap petrol.
In Mr Armitage’s world it is dog-eat-dog as the supermarkets Morrisons and the Co-op slug it out with giant Tesco to survive.
Of course, the new jobs that Tesco will create – the actual number of jobs at the new Hornsea branch that J&M Sheard referred to (Mailbag, January 18) are not as high as first believed – will just about make up for the loss of jobs by the other shops and businesses.
Mr Armitage is right on one thing. His conception of democracy – the majority rules – is, in this case, a mirage. The whole of the continuing public relations offensive by Tesco is, and always has been, a smokescreen.
The only thing that matters is are councillors willing to vote freely or will they simply fold when faced with further legal challenges by Tesco and the prospect of paying the full costs? Where does the democracy come in that?
With its share price falling and its overseas adventure a disaster Tesco has launched its biggest ever campaign to build out of town superstores.
This isn’t so much democracy as its exact opposite – the flexing of corporate muscle, the use of overwhelming financial power to exploit and thwart the planning laws, the professional PR campaign and the backing of a few happy muggins who only really want cheap petrol.
Stephen Dorril
Netherthong
Saving a fortune
I HAVE had the most marvellous idea to make Kirklees thousands of pounds.
Firstly, everyone must keep paying the exorbitant Council Tax.
Vulnerable and frail old people must pay for the majority of their care.
The X number of people who have children at school who can ‘afford’ to pay X amount towards their children’s education must pay a percentage. All services – street lighting, refuse collections, road repairs and all council services – could then be paid for according to income.
Then, when the people of Kirklees are virtually bankrupt, maybe our councillors will be happy and enjoy their allowances.
HMS
Lepton
Bad case of the blues
COULD it be that one of the factors in the depressing state of Huddersfield town centre is the awful blue colour of all the street furniture – lamp posts, litter bins, railings, benches, etc?
Why are Huddersfield and Dewsbury subjected to the blues when Batley and Holmfirth look grand with traditional black street furniture, complementing their mellow Yorkshire stone?
Who in Kirklees Council takes these important decisions – anyone?
Were the public consulted on these unfortunate matters of urban design policy – and should we be?
Batley is rightly proud of its heritage as ‘Shoddy Kingdom’ but unless Kirklees Council’s town centre policy of painting the town blue is changed back to black, Huddersfield could be in danger of becoming ‘Shabby Kingdom’.
Kenn Winter
Lindley
Run for meningitis
THE Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) estimates that there are around 3,400 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia every year in the UK.
This means that every day nine people become ill with the diseases. With one in 10 people dying, a death will occur almost every day. A further two people will be left with life-altering after effects as severe as brain damage, deafness and multiple amputations.
To help raise awareness and vital funds, MRF is appealing for runners to take part in the Great Manchester Run on Sunday, May 20. The race is staged over a course of 10km and takes in the sights of Manchester city centre.
Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) has places in this event and is looking for runners to take up the challenge so here’s your chance to join us, get fit, and run for a fantastic cause.
Sign up free and we will supply you with your own running and sponsorship pack to help you on your way and your own MRF running vest to wear for the race.
If you are interested in taking part please email Nikki from MRF at nikkim@meningitis.org or call her on 01454 280415. Places will be offered on a first come, first serve basis.
For further information on the Great Manchester Run please visit: http://www.meningitis.org/helping-us/fundraising-events/bupa-great-manchester-run-33392
Nikki May
Meningitis Research Foundation
