YEP Letters: March 18

Springsteen’s social conscience

John Appleyard, Liversedge

It took seven years for Bruce Springsteen to write his autobiography ‘Born to Run,’ a song that brought him into our lives.

In 1984 during his European tour Bruce came to England to play in concert at Roundhay Park in Leeds, seeing him that day I realised why they called him the ‘Boss,’ he was awesome. Bruce Springsteen has a social conscience and very much influenced by books such as John Steinbeck’s ‘Grapes of Wrath’, which portrays the great American depression.

Bruce Springsteen went on to record the ‘Ghost of Tom Joad’, a character from Steinbeck’s book, about a farmer paroled from prison. The Joad family set off to California for what they thought would be a better life, they set up camps with migrants and discovered it was not the land of milk and honey that they were led to believe.

Springsteen defends the role of migrants and how they helped to build America and despite the discrimination that exists in the world today, believes they will prove resilient and victorious.

Developers should give back to community

Patricia May, Gildersome

It has long been my concern that developers take from a community but never give back.

They may take green space, green fields, a tranquil area of the environment and a part of a community’s identity, but what do they contribute? Some say employment. But that comes at a great cost and rarely benefits the local community. Especially when you take in to account the increase in traffic congestion, noise and related pollution.

All developers should be made to contribute funding to a worthwhile scheme in the area that they have changed irrevocably. I refer particularly to the annihilation of the 70 acres of green fields in Gildersome by CDP Ltd, with the full permission of the Labour-led Leeds City Council.

Along with the granting of this application there should have been a proviso that CDP Ltd contribute to the restoration of Dean Wood as a useable community space.

Does adding to the natural environment instead of destroying it seem too big an ask? Especially when you consider the huge profits CPD Ltd will make after the construction of a massive 70 bay distribution centre and numerous warehouses. Will Gildersome see any of this money? I think not. While CDP Ltd makes huge profits, Gildersome Action Group struggles to find £100,000 to fund a multi-use games area following the closure of the Youth Centre by the council. So easy to close a community hub.

So easy to neglect a natural area of ancient woodland. So easy to annihilate 70 acres of green fields. Why so hard to create areas in our environment that will benefit the community of today and future generations?I wonder how many small parish councils such as Gildersome feel that they are a voice that is never heard, silenced forever by money, power and politics.

Leeds is falling behind

Martin J. Phillips, Leeds 16