YEP Letters: February 23

Dechox to help heart charity

Jake Quickenden, X-Factor and I’m a Celebrity star

Every year, heart and circulatory disease kills around 14,000 in Yorkshire and the Humber and currently, around 616,000 people in the region are living with its burden. The need to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat these terrible conditions is urgent.

That’s why I’m calling on everyone in Yorkshire to join me in signing up to the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) DECHOX campaign to help fund life saving research. You could be on a mission to show your charitable side or get that little bit healthier for 2017. Or you could be a self-confessed chocoholic who’s looking to put your willpower to the test. Whatever your motivation, join me and go chocolate-free this March – you will be helping make a difference to millions across the UK.

It won’t be easy, but every pound you raise by ditching chocolate will be crucial in helping fund the cutting-edge breakthroughs we need to end the devastation caused by heart disease.

Last year, over 18,000 DECHOXERS took part, raising an incredible £860,000 for the BHF. This year we’re determined to raise even more. Sign up today at www.bhf.org.uk/dechox

Time to end ‘ridiculous’ schemes

Craig Sweaton, Middleton Park ward, by email

It would appear that “digital inclusion” is now a right and not something that people can live without, at least, that is what Councillor Trusswell and his colleagues have agreed.

I find it quite strange that, yet again, those on low incomes who work damned hard for their wages are discriminated against because they are working for a living. ette

Want your rent, council tax, free school meals and prescriptions paid for? Well you won’t get those things if you work, however hard you find making ends meet. It now seems that along with these necessities, superfast broadband is also considered to be an essential! I fail to see the logic in providing free internet and laptops or tablets to those who have already been seen to be able to use the internet. If people can be bothered to learn how to use Facebook, then surely they have the ability and technology to search and apply for jobs?

Councillor Trusswell should see from his own council ward what people really need: repairs to sub-standard council housing, better care for our elderly, more social housing for our city’s homeless, more school places, better life chances for youngsters, being more mindful of the impact on congestion because of overdevelopment, providing local charities with council premises so that they can deliver a service that the council neither wants or is able to... the list goes on.

It is long past time that these ridiculous and divisive schemes are shelved and the priorities of the majority of citizens are addressed, after all, that is what a councillor is elected and paid to do.

Council tax cuts for whistleblowers

Ivan Kovacks, by email

I JUST thought I’d put a couple of items together and see what readers make of it.

The first of the two themes is the numbers of letters and articles, published in this paper, over the last 
few months and about the large amount of low level crime, anti-social behaviour and fly tipping, littering 
and not clearing up dog mess.

The second is an idea mentioned on the national news about a local council, I think Liverpool, which is thinking of giving council tax discounts to payers who photograph people committing the above crimes.

Now I think this is a wonderful notion and reckon, that if I took my camera down the local high street and parks I could, in a couple of weeks, photograph enough of these miscreants, to get all my council tax discounted.

There are enough people who carry small cameras and phone cameras to do this so what do readers think? Do you perhaps see this as a community beneficial project? Or that why should we try to do something that the council should enforce themselves?

Then, I’ve just thought, how would the council identify these criminals?

Well perhaps once a week or month, depending on how many shots they get, they could take out a whole page ad in the YEP and see if they could be identified by locals.

Carrying this one step further; how about photographing or filming drivers seen going through red lights, using mobiles while driving and entering hatched junctions when their exit is not clear.

I’m not sure what reward could be dished out, perhaps a percentage of the fine would be just right. Any opinions?

Concerns over safety

Alex Gillies, Leeds 14

I’ve been aware for years that Leeds city planning is not fit for purpose.

They built the super cycle highway down York Road causing endless traffic congestion over two years, knowing full well that planning was in the latter stages for over 500 new houses to be built on the Seacroft Hospital site.

They have now dug it all up to make the exit/access to this site, closing a bus shelter and a lane into the city. Less than 400 yards further down York Road, planning permission has been granted for 25 houses, work units 
with more flats still to get planning on the old highways depot site.

The residents of Diadem Drive 100 per cent signed a petition to allow the buildings to go ahead, but no access/exit onto Diadem Drive.

We were informed by local councillors that the access/exit were going to be away from Diadem Drive to the already in place access/exit onto York Road and further round onto the A63 Selby Road.

Planners deemed it safer to only have access/exits from Diadem Drive.

Having lived nearly 40 years in this street, residents had endless battles and won with invaluable help from George Mudie, sadly retired MP, to stop the HGV vehicles leaving at all hours during gritting season via Diadem Drive.

LCC erected bollards and constructed the now in-place access/exits which were accident free from HGVs from highways depot, a garage forecourt, Little Chef, City Lights restaurant/bar, later a western themed play area, for nearly 30 years. Safety, they don’t know the meaning of the word in their blinkered ‘this is what we say and will do’ attitude towards the citizens of Leeds.

Insurers must accept responsibilities

Neil Sugarman, President, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)

Council tax bills are set to increase to help pay for care for elderly and disabled people, according to latest news reports.

A gap in the social care bill could be plugged if disabled people with injuries caused by negligent motorists or employers, for example, were to receive the correct level of compensation to meet their needs.

As it stands, taxpayers often pick up the tab.

Large compensation payments for severe injuries are discounted to offset any income which may be made over time through investments. It is supposed to ensure an injured person’s compensation does not exceed the cost of their care, equipment and basic needs.

After all, compensation is not a ‘win’ or a windfall. The current rate for the discount is far too high, having been last set in 2001 when interest rates were much higher.

Seriously injured people are undercompensated, sometimes by millions of pounds.

Families must stake their compensation on risky investments to try to make up the shortfall, or fall back on the social care system.

The Lord Chancellor has promised that a new discount rate will be announced this month.

The fairest outcome is that insurers must accept their responsibilities and pay what is due from the premiums they have already taken, so the state can be relieved of the responsibility of funding much-needed care.

Bus destination mystery

Mrs M Naylor, Leeds 10

Does any reader know where “Sorry not in Service” is in Leeds?

I wonder if there are any bungalows or small houses for sale.

Like I said, I don’t know the location but it has got a very good bus timetable. Every other bus that passes me has the destination “Sorry..etc, etc”.

Where are they going? Not to a garage, not picking up, it is a bit spooky. Make a good Midsomer Mystery!