YEP Letters: January 29

Plea for positive action to help flood victims

Brian Scriven, Wakefield

I write regarding the recent flooding of Leeds and other parts of the country.

MP Yvette Cooper was quick to put the blame on the Tory government, she even beat MP Mary Creagh and she’s faster out the blocks that Usain Bolt where publicity is concerned.

It has been said that the authorities have known for more than ten years that flooding would happen in Leeds if a flood barrier was not built. In the 2007 flooding of homes in the Agbrigg area of Wakefield - my house included - the authorities were also aware that flooding would occur during inclement weather, but did nothing about it until it was too late. The government at the time was the Labour Party.

Surely it is time that the MPs on all sides did something more positive and constructive instead of silly name calling, after all, they are paid very well for the job they do.

It has been rumoured that the insurance companies may take the matter through the law courts, well, let’s face it, they can afford it unlike the average working man who has more chance of meeting Moses than finding thousands of pounds to hire barristers and solicitors. In the long run it will probably cost more than the flood barrier and will be paid for out of the public purse.

People may think that when properties are repaired and made habitable that it is the end of the matter - that is not true, it is just the start of many problems. Your house has been devalued by thousands of pounds, the insurance premiums and excesses have gone sky high, that’s if you can get insured, and the properties become almost impossible to sell.

Wouldn’t it be possible when incidents like this occur and where negligence is a factor to have a small, select committee of professional people, neutral to any government department, where Joe Public, who does not have finances like the large companies, can put his case forward?

Then the committee would have to determine whether he is entitled to full compensation for his losses and would have the power to award it. If this is not a possibility then maybe the times has come to get rid of these government departments, throw in a few MPs and with the money saved buy us all a houseboat.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE YEP NEWS HEADLINES

Work until you’re 80?

Ernest Lundy, by email

What has to be the revelation of the 21st Century is that a spokesperson has announced that children born today will have to work until they are 80 to avoid pension poverty!

This has to be a complete nonsense! If this comes about I wonder how much they’ll be paying out in disability benefits if retirement age continues to rise.

People might be living longer but age related problems are still here and disabling just as many as before. So although living longer their quality of life isn’t any better.

I also wonder where they expect to find all the extra jobs that the up and coming youngsters will need when they join the work force?

All the old folk who can get employment will be blocking them up as they will be unable to retire on a decent pension.

In addition, regardless of what we are told, wages are being cut by cheap foreign labour, and the average worker will be unable to afford a private pension fund.

In addition one also has to wonder what the over 70s will feel when, still having to wait another ten years for their pensions, in employment or not, they see civil servants and the like retiring at 50 plus?

Come to Holbeck

Liz Goodwill, by email

As someone born in Morley Hall, I can agree with Mrs Darwin (YEP Letters January 27).

I lived in Morley several years, later after becoming an adult, and was made to feel it was almost a “feudal encampment”. I moved.

Come to Holbeck/Beeston, it’s not the best area thanks to Leeds City Council, but at least we’re friendly.

Support SSAFA big brew

Major Stephen Marren, Branch Secretary, SSAFA, West Yorkshire Branch

SSAFA, the armed forces charity in West Yorkshire, are holding their “Big Brew” fundraising event on Saturday 29th January at Lloyds Bank, Briggate, Leeds.

They will be there for the day and will have soldiers present in support of this charity event at noon. SSAFA is the oldest military charity in Great Britain and it was started in 1885 by Major (later Colonel) Sir James Gildea who said: “No greater responsibility rests on men and women than the care of the wives and families of their soldiers and sailors.”

SSAFA has been giving this care for the last 130 years. We help all veterans and serving military personnel, their families and carers in a variety of ways. We source and supply goods and services needed such as fridges, washing machines, furniture, mobility scooters, stairlifts etc and we do this by approaching the service providers (Regimental Welfare Funds) of the Regiment that our clients served with, going as far back as World War 2 and National Service.

We are non-judgmental and are only here to help those ex service personnel and their families and dependants in their times of need. We believe the commitment of our forces and their families deserves our lifelong support.