YEP Letters: July 4

Permits could mean more fly tipping

David Speight, by email

I often feel Leeds City Council fail to think things through and go for an easy option which in many cases is the wrong option.

We will be allowed 12 visits to the council tip per year, if we have a permit. I amOK with a permit, however I wonder if this will cost more than it saves? Will it lead to an increase in fly tipping? I am sure the cost of fly tipping will cost far more than allowing us to use our permits when we need to use them and not limited to 12 visits.

Unfortunately the rear of where I live has had some selfish individuals fly tip. I rang it in, LCC had to answer my call or email, then send two men out in a vehicle to remove the rubbish that was tipped then of course take it to the landfill.

Where is the saving? Just another bill picked up by the public. Also is it fair? The owner of a small car may have to make three or four visits compared to my one.

Should schools enforce uniform during heatwave?

With temperatures expected to remain in the mid-20s for the foreseeable future many of us are enjoying the novelty of dusting off our summer clothes and leaving our jackets at home for a change. But what about our children? Some school kids are required to stick rigidly to their uniforms - even in sweltering weather - but not all parents are on board. We asked YEP readers for their views and here’s what some of them said on social media..

Stephen Brook

All this started off as discrimination against boys not being able to wear shorts, so enough clever boys being discriminated against went to school in skirts, so rather than the schools giving boys a choice, as they did girls, now they would rather have no choices at all for either gender.

The ironic thing is these schools will charge a fortune for their parents to buy the right sports kit for PE, which guess what, for boys will be shorts.

Boys should be allowed either trousers or shorts for summer and girls trousers if they wish or a skirt. Back in the 1950s and 1960s boys were made to wear shorts all year round at school. I wonder what clothes the teachers wear at school and how many women teachers wear dresses and skirts? It’s always the same, a far slacker and more practical clothing regime for girls and hardly any practical clothing for boys.

A lot of this uniform thing is down to the over priced deals these schools have with suppliers, making parents pay over the odds for school clothes and sports gear. In places like Asda and some other places both trousers, shorts and skirts cost very little and it’s time the grip schools had on making parents take out a bank loan for their school clothes stopped.

I can remember how much my parents had to pay for a pair of shorts and sports top every year when I was at school.

Joanne Boyes

At my son’s high school they have to walk about in their blazers in this weather; they’re not allowed to take them off.

Poor kids are boiling yet teachers walk about in shorts and T-shirts.

Beverly Golesworthy

Skirts for girls, shorts for boys, ridiculous making them wear trousers.

Dorothy Metcalfe

What’s wrong with summer uniform dresses for girls and short sleeve shirts for boys?

Moz Magister

Why not let them wear their choice of skirt, trousers or shorts?

The vast majority will choose what is comfortable and it is a choice the will have to make every morning as an adult – why not learn while they’re young?

Sharon Coyne

I havent been sending my son in uniform, he has had shorts and T -shirts on. But he is only five and in year 1 at primary school so nowhere near as strict as high schools.

Squeezing more tax from us

R Pearson, by email

I know that politicians are expected to go around promising the earth if we will offer them our vote.

I had hoped that by now the voters would have sussed out the false promises, but if the polls are to be believed, this is not the case. Is it possible that the polls are yet another way the wealthy and powerful elite can manipulate the voting public? The same kind of people who have come up with a new idiotic slogan “work is the way out of poverty”.

If this slogan had read “real jobs for real wages are the way out of poverty” I would have cheered. Part-time jobs, the rising cost of living and miserly interest for small savers means that around 20 million “workers” cannot afford to retire. I wonder how many are also aware that they cannot afford to die. The Tories have introduced (2020) a £100 death tax to be added to already overpriced funeral costs. They are now about to tell us we will have to pay another tax for the NHS.

The different ways of squeezing taxes from us grows longer and longer, it will soon be up to thirteen or more.

Let’s tackle climate change together

Bronagh Daly, CAFOD representative in Yorkshire, Leeds 6

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Climate Change Act, thousands of people across the country – including CAFOD groups across Yorkshire – are organising walks, nature events and picnics to make sure climate change is still on MPs agenda.

Since the Act, a lot of progress has been already made; and, there many positive examples of local action to tackle climate change, such as communities pledging to live more simply and sustainably.

This is something to celebrate. But the journey to tackle climate change has only just begun.

During the Climate Coalition’s Week of Action, which runs until July 8 and includes charities such as CAFOD, the Women’s Institute, WWF, and The National Trust, their supporters are asking the UK to increase its ambition on climate change. Calling for the UK to reclaim its place at the forefront of global climate ambition. So, why don’t you take the opportunity to have a heart to heart with your local MP? Share how climate change is impacting so many of the things we love, both close to home and across the world, and what we can do about it. Together, we can tackle climate change.

Looking after the wildlife

T Maunder, Leeds 5

As well as ensuring that you have plants/flowers like Ceanothus in the garden (if you have one) which attract bees plentifully, why not try this: put a cat litter tray or the cut off bottom of a washing up bowl in the garden balanced on bricks, fill with water and watch.

Sparrows have a dust bath then a water bath. A pigeon plopped into one and actually lifted its wings up to splash water onto its “armpits”, as it were, with its beak.

Magpies have a drink then put their heads under the water or have a full splash about.

They have become a veritable social scene all of their own and, of course, good for the birds as well in this particular weather.

Not to mention entertaining.

A simple plea

R Kimble, Leeds

A simple plea to men of a certain age, i.e. over 50. 
Please keep the beer belly covered with at least a T-shirt.

It is not pleasant to be sitting on a seat in the bus and suddenly be confronted with one at eye level and in close proximity if the bearer is standing up.

Spare us the flowery Bermuda shorts as well, especially if you have lucky legs. I have lucky legs - lucky they don’t snap. I would never expose anyone to them in public.

It does not look cool, especially if said legs are also adorned with varicose veins. Have some dignity, please.

Overgrown hedges threat to drivers

C Ingledew, Harrogate.

I AGREE with letters regarding weeds growing in residential roads making the area unsightly.

Knaresborough has the same problem but I do think residents who are able could help to make their own street better by spraying them themselves where it is safe to do so.

What I would like to bring to the council’s attention are the overgrown hedges.

After the wet spring and the warm weather over the last few weeks, hedges have grown more quickly than usual and many are overhanging pavements, causing danger to pedestrians by making it impossible to pass without walking onto the road.

It is also dangerous for motorists, as they have to pull forward of the stop line to see if it is safe to pull out.

In our street it is made worse by a car parking on the T-junction, causing cars and buses to pull over to the wrong side of the narrow road. An accident waiting to happen!

A few years ago, the council used to send out letters to offenders not cutting back their hedges, but this practice seems to have stopped.

Perhaps we could ask residents to think about the safety of their neighbours and cut back without being asked?

Get in touch

The YEP wants to hear your views. Please send your letters to [email protected]. Please keep letters under 300 words.