I AM heartened that the new Colne Valley MP appears to be supporting the residents of Nettleton Hill in their fight against the giant turbines proposed for a site on their doorstep (Examiner, July 20).
Huddersfield Civic Society has opposed both applications for this development as they are detrimental to the open aspect of a Green Belt site and would have an injurious effect on the settings of 13 listed buildings.
Many local people could have been misled by the wording of the planning application which refers to them as ‘small’ turbines: they are nothing of the sort.
Your article states that each turbine is 18 metres high, but that is just to the rotor. They are, in fact, nearly 25 metres from the ground to the tip of the vertical blade, three times the height of a two storey house.
The visual impact of these turbines has been amply demonstrated by the recent erection of two identical structures on a nearby site close to Scapegoat Hill. They loom over the whole area, visible through 360deg.
When this application went before the planning committee last year, the officers recommended its rejection, but this advice was over-ridden by the councillors who seemed so desperate to claim green credentials, no matter the damage to the local residents.
These are not small turbines for domestic use, as they can power over 20 homes.
I wish Mr Warmby and his fellow residents much luck in their fight against this inappropriate proposal.
Frank O'Brien
Civic Society Planning Officer
Tory scourge
WHY does everyone keep going on about this Con/Dem coalition? ThereŠisn’tŠone. All we have is theŠToriesŠand their lapdogs. During the electionŠcampaignŠtheŠToriesŠby accident let out that they hated the NHS, so why is everybody soŠ surprisedŠ they are trying toŠ destroy Šit?
It is just theŠToriesŠthat are in power, doing what they do best – making the rich richer and the poor poorer. I can’t ŠbelieveŠ everybody hasŠforgottenŠpre-1997 when £1.25 per hour Šwas anŠOKŠwage, if you fell ill you were lucky to see aŠ doctor Šbefore you died and many elderly people were leftŠ hungry, cold, lonely and Šunable to afford care on their pensions.
Some people never learn from past mistakes. They are called theŠTories.
Vanessa Mallalieu
Huddersfield
Breath of fresh air
I CAN’T believe people are whingeing about Jonathan Ross, a truly original and witty broadcaster and a sad loss for the BBC.
You only have to remember the excruciating Parkinson, with his long-winded questions that even he looked bored by, and Wogan, with his unfunny smarminess, to realise that Ross was a breath of fresh air – a quick-witted performer who established Ša real rapport with most of his guests and members of the public.
ŠOnly a humourless prude or the Daily Mail could describe Ross as crude – he had a Carry On-style humour leavened with self-deprecation.
As for his salary, which included costs for his production team, no-one seems to complain about Wogan, most overrated broadcaster ever, and charmless Jeremy Clarkson.
ŠDo you think the licence fee will go down now Ross has gone? No, it’ll stay the same and we’ll get a load of bland presenters who don’t offend the professional whingers.
Dave Griffiths
Huddersfield
Winning ways
A PRESS Association reporter, in his article ‘World Cup Verdict’, (Examiner, July 13) July, quotes legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi as saying, ‘Winning isn’t everything, it is the only thing’.
He fails to add that, on his death bed, Mr. Lombardi added: ‘I wish I’d never said the damn thing. I meant the effort. I meant having a goal. I sure didn’t mean for people to crush human values and morality.’
T Howard Firth
Salendine Nook
Graveyard dogs
WE are a small working party of committed people who are trying to restore the graveyard at Lindley Methodist Church.
We wish to make the graveyard a place for people to visit, trace their relatives, sit and stay awhile, and encourage wildlife.
As on many of our open spaces and playing fields, dogs are exercised on a regular basis, with most owners collecting their dog waste and disposing of it in the correct manner.
However, there are some owners happy to collect the waste, then either hang it from a tree, deposit on the wall, or just throw it into the bushes – not welcome when we are doing ground clearance!
Can I put out a plea for this practice to cease, not just from our church land, but from the surrounding area? And just maybe, someone from Kirklees Council will read this, and put into place a few dog bins – no good putting up signs without giving people bins!
ST
Lindley
Ban the vuvuzela
HAVING attended the Town v Millwall game, and watched the World Cup on TV, all I can say is that this vuvuzela thing is an aberration and should be banned forever.
I was unfortunate enough to be sitting in the main stand for the Millwall game and it was the worst match day experience I have ever had watching Town. I left the stadium with my ears buzzing and a severe headache.
Similarly for the World Cup, the footballing atmosphere was entirely spoilt.
The usual singing and chanting of the fans, which is an integral part of any match day experience, was completely lost over that din.
In my opinion you might just as well play loud music throughout the match, because to me the atmosphere within the stadium, with the chanting and singing of both sets of fans, is an important factor in my enjoyment of the game.
I can honestly say that if Town sanction this horrendous thing then I will not be attending any more games!
Peter Jackson
Holmbridge
Beautiful park
I’D like to praise all those involved in the refurbishing of Greenhead Park. Even now during all the excavation, bridge building, lake filling and laying of paths, beautiful scenes can be found.
This will be a lovely space which will be well used by all for many more years to come, as it is now.
Also thanks to Friends of Greenhead Park: keep up the good work.
N Hampson
Huddersfield
Burkha by choice?
Ms Spellman (who last week claimed burkha-wearing was empowering) is rapidly becoming the Harridan Harperson of the Tories.
A correspondent last week said it would be un-British and undemocratic to ban the burkha and I had, with some misgivings, to agree with him.
At the same time, however, is it the Asian woman’s choice or that of her father, brother, or husband for her to wear the full veil?
Ms Spellman certainly does not know and neither do I. Until someone in this Government ascertains that those who wear it do so of their own free will, there will always be questions, will there not?
Burkhas empowering Muslim women? I doubt that.
M B Fletcher
Emley
Where’s Kirklees?
TOWN fans will be pleased that our club has secured a £75,000 partnership deal with what was Huddersfield Technical College.
“This partnership represents a more efficient use of public money, with incredible national exposure together with hitting our core objectives, whilst also raising the profile of ‘Kirklees’ as an area. ”says the college.
Many town fans will not be so pleased that a big ‘Kirklees’ has found its way on to the front of the famous blue and white striped shirt.
‘Kirklees’ is not merely the name of a council, but is openly promoted as an area. Depressing, isn’t it?
Uncle Grumpy
Golcar
Nice to know
IT WAS nice to find out in the Examiner about Kirklees College sponsoring Town.
Job cuts. Less money to spend. No mention of this to staff for opinions, but that’s the usual management. Say what you think, then you are out.
Disgruntled employee
Brilliant choir
I WOULD like to add a personal word of congratulation to the Lindley Junior Choir on their success in Birmingham recently.
A few weeks ago I was privileged to be involved in a concert which featured the joint forces of Huddersfield Philharmonic and the hugely talented Kirklees Youth Orchestra in the Town Hall.
Lindley Choir provided vocal slots between orchestral pieces.
Now I have to be honest and say that whenever this happens in such concerts, I tend to hope that the choir will hurry up and get it over with so that we can get back to playing.
However, on this occasion I could have happily packed my instrument away and listened to the Lindley choir all night.
They were totally focused on what they were doing and sang with superb precision and clarity of tone and diction. ‘Rhythm of Life’ just took my breath away.
Whatever magic it is that Alison North weaves on these youngsters certainly produces astonishing results. I can’t wait to hear them again.
Alan Starr
Golcar
A worthy ‘fuss’
IN the Examiner’s report about the great crested newts near the new Tesco site in Scissett (July 27), you report that the Tesco survey found no newts, but that the local council then did find evidence of them because, according to the Tesco spokeswoman, there was ‘some fuss from local people.’
Such ‘fuss’ obviously helped prompt the council to make sure that Tesco fulfilled their legal obligations. This issue is not about Tesco building on a brownfield site, but it is about protecting rare creatures. Long may folk continue to make a ‘fuss’ about caring for the countryside.
Philip Reynolds
Skelmanthorpe
Speed limits
REFERRING to the photograph and article on page 19 (Examiner, July 21) there is no confusion, only an obvious lack of knowledge on the complainant’s behalf.
The sign on the right, 40 in a red circle, indicates a mandatory speed limit, the one on the left ‘max speed 20’ is an advisory speed limit, the figures not being enclosed in a red circle.
From the photograph it is hardly surprising 20mph is advised judging the severity of the first part of a double bend and limited visibility.
I Starkey
Marsden
Use of money
I DON’T begrudge the free festivals but it seems wrong that cash is there for them, yet Voluntary Action Kirklees must close for lack of £200,000.
Hilary Cooper
Newsome
