I’VE been reading about the proposed additions to an already long list of so-called improvements thought up by our ideological planners.

We have the Folly-Hall/Manchester Road, Kingsgate, Queensgate, market hall and library conversion, which is far too much.

Then there is the newly announced Galpharm Project. When is this going to stop?

We have a town centre which is fraying at the seams, e.g, the old Co-op area which looks less than salubrious, the empty shops in Imperial Arcade and elsewhere.

We should be concentrating on keeping that which we have already got – namely our town centre – up to scratch.

All these new proposals are directing people further afield. The result will be more empty premises, to the detriment of the town centre.

We are approaching a recession. Who will have the money to spend on these expensive additions?

The open market has already felt the effects of our many supermarkets, who have greedily exploited the clothing, electrical and sports goods, formerly supporting small shopkeepers.

Can some common sense prevail at this late stage before we ruin our town altogether?

KATHLEEN ETCHES

Springwood

Hurray for the NHS

SIXTY years ago, as a demobbed, not yet discharged Serviceman, with professional qualifications I worked as a weaver in a textile mill when the NHS was created. I can still see it vividly before my eyes. Five shillings was deducted for it from our weekly wages of £3 15s (social security didn’t exist yet). Nobody quibbled about it; it was considered a godsend by the vast majority.

For the first time everybody was entitled to medical care and hospitalisation. To see a consultant in the hospital took about three weeks from the doctors’ referral. Of course there were big queues and examinations were speedy. The biggest gainers were the more mature people as the young didn’t need medical care as much.

TONY SOSNA

Huddersfield

Mr Sheerman’s vote

I SEE Mr Sheerman was ruled by his head and not by his heart when he voted for his £24,000-plus allowance for household goods etc.

I hope he will remember when he next buys his little extras that some pensioners are paying the tax on their less than £11,000 a year to allow him to do this.

MRS N CLARKE

Almondbury

Send in the Daleks

HOW long will it be before John Lewis is knighted? Whoever is in charge let the people take a vote. I think the majority would say send in the Daleks and exterminate the crawlers scuttling around the house of horrors (Westminster). Or better still re-create Guy Fawkes. I would do the task willingly. In fact my friends and I are already ‘plotting’ and I have acquired my tall black hat.

‘If only’; if we don’t live in hope we shall die in despair.

Mrs M H CHAMBERS

Newsome

Try gunpowder!

I THINK the only way to dislodge our greedy MPs’ snouts from the gravy train is to use a few barrels of gunpowder (methinks, only answer).

MIKE WARREN-MADDEN

Honley

Shoppers thanked

MANY thanks to the shoppers who came to my assistance when I fell in Sainsbury's on Market Street last Thursday. Also the two store staff who attended to me.

MRS D M HOLMES

Lepton

Well done Edward

WHAT a pleasure to read the Senior Moments page by Edward Lodge (July 4) about climate change.

I wish his attitude would rub off on to all purveyors of doom and gloom and make them lighten up a bit. I’d love to read more. Why don’t you give him a regular column?

V GLENNON

Netherton