YEP Letters: January 16

South of the city is being overloaded

Ernest Lundy, by email

According to an old proverb, a problem shared is a problem halved.

But as one among many who have noticed the propensity of the powers that be to overload the south of the city with all kinds of things likely to cause disruption of one kind or another, I cannot be other than surprised that while Leeds has the desire to be a ‘City of Culture’, the new city station entrance is opposite Bridgewater Place, with its problems of wind, and near the area in which the so-called working girls ply their trade.

A call-in centre for their convenience is already in place to encourage that their activities remain in locally. Hardly conducive with the desire for Leeds to be known as one of the best cities in the north to visit, or a city of culture.

With the proposed skating rink at Elland Road already in the pipeline and the further extensions of the White Rose Centre, one can but hope that these additional developments will be the last.

We already have a multiplicity of supermarkets, mosques and traveller sites contributing to congestion and social upheaval; and of course Leeds United.

While having to admit that a more accessible entrance to our railway station was essential, I cannot but reflect that once again all these so-called requisites are just a further imposition on south Leeds and its residents.

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Cut the costs
from the top

Peter Haddington, Bradford

After reading N Bywater’s letter (YEP January 6) about making the dog bins larger and seeing the photograph of the dog bin overflowing, it is not the first time I have seen this and I’ve seen a lot worse than this when the bags have broken and there is dog faeces all over.

I always understood that Leeds City Council had a zero tolerance approach to this issue or does this only apply when money can be made from the public? I know several people who have been caught by wardens over an accident who have been willing to clean up and have still been fined.As the picture showed,

There is evidence to suggest that the council are not as committed to solving the problem as they claim to be or they wouldn’t allow their bins to overflow in this manner.

The photograph underlines my belief that they’re not trying to stop the problem, they’re trying to make money from it. The council claims to be firm but fair but how can this be correct when they allow the dog bins to overflow but they’re fining people for accidents?

The photograph made me think of the incident a while ago when the refuse was left on the street because it was said the bin wagon was full and it was said they would return later for the rubbish.

Could you imagine a fly tipper using the same excuse to a council warden and getting away with it?

N Bywater is correct that ideas are needed to save money and larger dog bins would help to stop the overflow.

Why not start at the top by trimming the amounts in perks and expenses claimed by councillors who make cuts to public services?

Incomparable David Bowie

John Roberts, Wakefield

David Bowie. The Incomparable. My first memory was when Peter Green, a schoolmate at Matthew Murray, lent me the Ziggy Stardust and Man Who Sold the World albums.

Pete also had ‘Pinups’- I heard his version of ‘See Emily Play’ before I heard the original Pink Floyd version, which sounded odd by comparison. His version of The Merseybeats ‘ ‘Sorrow’ was so cool. Remember buying an ex-juke box single ‘John I’m Only Dancing ‘from a secondhand record shop on Domestic Street-affordable! What a guitarist he had in Mick Ronson; his ‘Jeff Beck’.

In summer 1972 I was on a family holiday at Kettleness near Whitby. In those days, you could call at farms for unpasteurised (greentop) milk. You can’t get it now, but it was delicious. The radio was on in the milking parlour, and I remember the cows gently swishing their tails to ‘Starman’.The legendary gig at that time was when Bowie came to The Rollerena at Kirkstall.

RIP David. You were a nice guy too!

Bowie’s links with Leeds

Vernon Wood, Garforth.

It is not widely known, but David Bowie had a tenuous connection with Leeds – a personal link from his formative years.

After leaving his first job as a trainee electrical engineer, he joined the London office of the Leeds advertising agency, Nevin D Hirst Ltd of Mount Preston, later to become the Advertising Bureau of Newton Road. David was employed in the creative studio as a junior visualiser during the 1963/4/5 era, which may have helped develop his artistic talents.

His Yorkshire born father Haywood Stenton “John” Jones moved to London to take a job with the children’s charity Dr Barnardo’s Homes. It is no accident that Barnardo was also a client of the Leeds agency, based in fashionable Ebury Street, and very probably dad looked after lad by putting in a good word with Ray Gledhill, Creative Director, who previously resided in Cookridge. David probably worked on London accounts before moving upwards and onwards to become a world icon in musical entertainment.