RECENTLY on my lunch hour I had the misfortune to overhear a conversation between two women, one of whom was deciding whether to take a job offer or carry on claiming benefits.

Her friend then turned to her and said: “Why don’t you get pregnant again?’’

I nearly hit the floor.

It’s sad to hear a conversation like this when some people are really desperate to work and hate being on benefits.

It also riles me when people flatly refuse a job, stating they get more on benefits by staying in bed.

This is what’s wrong with Britain. Get them out of bed and doing voluntary work like they do in America. Make them earn their benefits money, then they may decide to take the job next time they are offered one.

I wonder every day why I go to work. After all, I have to pay tax, national insurance, council tax, mortgage payments, food, bills.

After all this is paid out I don’t have much left, but I feel I need to justify not sponging off the government. Some people really do think the government owes them.

Claire

Linthwaite

For convenience’s sake

FIRSTLY I would like to thank the Examiner and Linda Whitwam for highlighting the problem of no public conveniences in and around Huddersfield (Examiner, 27 October).

Secondly, Clr David Ridgway (Mailbag, November 7), if people are urinating and defecating in the streets it’s clear that we need our public toilets back in service.

It seems to me that Clr Ridgway and colleagues have no idea what it’s like for all of us who have been prescribed water tablets. We need to use the toilet more, not less.

The government of the State of Jersey is facing the same economic challenges but yet there is a wide availability of public toilets there and when you need them.

Just think of the negative perception this must give to those who visit our town. Unlike some councillors, I care and passionately believe in Huddersfield. We deserve much better.

Alan Robinson

Lindley

Development needs

I’M saddened to see firms who began and grew in the town disappear over the hills to another locality due to a lack of development land.

I live in the Grimescar Valley. While I will be deeply saddened to see much of this fantastic landscape altered for the creation of jobs and homes, I understand the greater need of the town.

Unless something is done soon, we will forever be known as another commuter town to the larger conurbations.

I endorse the plea to councillors by another letter writer. Please show confidence in your decisions on November 23 (the day the LDF is discussed by full council).

Although you may not be popular, at least our descendants will be able to get a job in the town as opposed to joining the thousands of commuters every day.

DC

Birkby

Our best interests

I WAS under the impression that we were given the right to vote for our local councillors on the understanding that they would represent our best interests in local matters.

In a free and open democracy their dealings should be at least a little transparent.

This is obviously not the case when it comes to the thorny issue of the Local Development Framework.

Some of our councillors seem hell bent on pushing this very unpopular scheme onto the people of Kirklees when the case has not been made for all this extra housing.

There are a large number of empty properties in the area.

The councillors initially gave the impression that these matters are nothing to do with the voters and secret meetings were being considered. They were opened up to the voters only after a huge cry of foul.

This shows a massive disrespect for the good folk of this area.

There is also the issue of the new Tesco store and the unwillingness of the council to press for a better deal on the sports centre. Much as it galls me, I have to agree with MP Barry Sheerman that a degree of backbone shown by the council in the face of this retail giant would be good.

On the matter of the closure of Silentnight bedding company in Batley, Clr Mehboob Khan went on TV to say that the Green Belt land that may have helped the company to stay in Kirklees was sacrosanct.

Given that the planners are considering building great swathes of housing on such land, it doesn’t seem to tie in with the Khan statement.

Edward Livingstone

Newsome

Being ‘misinformed’

I read HG of Lindley’s views ‘careful what you ask for’ in Monday’s Mailbag. He seems to misunderstand the thrust of the objections to Kirklees Council’s LDF draft.

As I see it the objections are to the dog’s breakfast that the Planning Department are trying to pass off as a proper and considered consultation, not the need for the LDF.

They must really be concerned about the possibility that the council might reject it.

Readers will note the beginning of the drip, drip of what I see as misinformation similar to that which preceded the Lindley Moor planning meeting.

There, a council spokesman warned that a rejection of the plans would result in huge legal costs that the council would have to meet. Needless to say, the councillors caved in.

The latest drip comments that as 70% of Kirklees is ‘Green Belt’ we wouldn’t miss the 1% that 25,000 houses would be built on.

I wonder if our council will develop the courage to stand up against its officers and listen to the people who matter.

Trevor Woolley

Linthwaite

Made in the UK

I FOUND it both interesting and enlightening that department store retailer John Lewis is to put ‘Made in UK’ identifier on 4,000 products from early next year.

It would be good to think that many other prominent retailers would follow suit, maybe aiding the manufacturing industry in this island nation and not before time.

One prominent name in the UK retailing, Marks and Spencer, used to proudly display large banner boards in its store claiming 99% of St Michael goods were British made. Perhaps they may take a cue from John Lewis.

David J Summerson

Highfields

Thanks for your help

ON behalf of my mum and the rest of our family I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to two members of the public.

On Thursday, October 27, my mum, who is in her early 70s, had a bad fall. She was on her way from the bus station to the sports centre and was late to meet me so she was rushing when she fell.

A young man came over to help her to her feet and then a woman came over to help too. The woman offered to take my mum in her car to the sports centre.

How nice was that? It just shows that there are some lovely caring people in Huddersfield and I would like to say a big thank you to them.

Jolene Gaffney

Highburton

Scooter problems

THERE are two points to note about the Examiner’s recent story about a disabled man who was having difficulty negotiating his mobility scooter and his dog at a new pedestrian crossing.

The first is that this man should not be in control of a mobility scooter and a dog at the same time. I have recently seen many people adopting similar methods of exercising their dogs.

This is not a safe or suitable way to provide a dog with exercise. It is highly dangerous and could be injurious to the dog.

Secondly, these mobility scooters should not be on the pavement ... they pose a risk to other pedestrians.

Nick Stephenson

Shelley

Christmas booklet

I HAVE just spent a lovely morning with a cup of coffee and the Examiner’s Christmas 2011 booklet.

Well done to you all. I love to support local businesses. There are some good vouchers included. Go on people of Huddersfield – support local businesses and local jobs!

Jane Renshaw

Almondbury