YEP Letters: March 9

There could be cash in 60s vinyl

R Kimble, Hawksworth

I read Jayne Dawson’s comments about vinyl with interest: you would be surprised what some vinyl albums can be worth.

Take an album like Revolver by The Beatles. A common album you might think, possibly not worth that much. You might concede an original mono version is worth more? Yet there is a first pressing version, withdrawn on the day of release because Lennon wanted to remix Tomorrow Never Knows, the final track. It was duly remixed and (re)released. The Matrix number on the withdrawn album was XEX 606 - 1. Copies of this have become highly collectable and the original version of that track is now referred to as Remix 11. Mint mono copies have sold for over £550.

First pressings of their first album Please Please Me on the original FIRST black/gold Parlophone label PMC 1202 with the Dick James credit regularly sell for well over that amount. So there you go - check out your old 60s vinyl - you may have a gold mine. My anorak is green but I don’t go train spotting, that would be one step too far.

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Speaking out against EU criticism

Colin White, Pontefract

Those of us who believe that the UK should remain part of the EU need speak out against the prejudiced criticism of the EU.

This irresponsible referendum will determine our future for generations, not just for the next five years as in a general election. It is taking place because of a divided Tory party and the resulting uncertainty is already having a damaging effect on our economy and world standing.

This referendum is deflecting attention from emergencies that should be receiving priority such as the refugee catastrophe and the crisis in the NHS.

We are a European nation and most of our trade is with our European neighbours, it makes no sense whatsoever to sever the close trading links we have developed as partners in the EU and it defies logic that our Government is wasting time and money on this debate, apart from putting our future in danger.

More qualified people will make the strong economic arguments for remaining in the EU but for me it’s about the sort of country that I want to live in.

Out of Europe we will probably lose Scotland and no longer be Great Britain, but Little England.

Perhaps UKIP should change its name to LEIP. The assertion that Brexit would reclaim our sovereignty has about as much credibility as Donald Trump’s claim that he will make America great again.

Certainly, the EU is far from perfect and needs reform but we should be involved in driving that reform.

A united Europe has achieved much in the last 50 years, compared with what went before, and we have benefited greatly as a nation. We should continue to be part of this great European project.

Misinformation about EU

Alan Slomson, Leeds 6

P.D.Hainsworth (Letters, March 7) repeats the misinformation that “the EU has not has its accounts approved by auditors for almost 20 years”.

This is not true, as I pointed in my letter which you kindly printed on March 1.

Anyone can check by going to their website, www.eca.europa.eu, that the European Court of Auditors have signed off the EU’s account for all recent years. If there are good reasons for voting “no” in the referendum, why do some opponents of the EU feel the need to support their case by circulating myths?

Still waiting for decision

Christopher Todd, Leeds 6

As we all still await a decision over the patently poorly-conceived plan to reintroduce trolleybuses here, readers might like to know that one of the last places in France to have trolleybuses, Limoges, has now joined the growing list of towns seriously considering phasing them out.

The mayor of Limoges has expressed his wish to put an end to the overhead wires, as they get in the way of the renovation of the town’s many fine façades.

The district transport authority is looking at the possibility of introducing fast-charging electric buses for the urban areas, and hybrids for travel further out (Le Populaire du Centre, January 11 and 24, 2016). Inevitably, 55 citizens of the town have organised a petition, claiming that the trolleybus is not that ugly and that it is part of the heritage of the town.

We have seen similar misplaced nostalgia in discussions of trolleybuses here.

Down to vested interests?

Ernest Lundy, by email

The next on the list of business conglomerates to be fined by government appointed bodies is Npower, fined £26m by Ofgem for offences in customer pricing etc.

Their action has resulted in the (declared) imminent loss of 5000 jobs. One has to question the sense in this?

While dodgy practices must be addressed, wouldn’t a better solution be severe censure, waving fines and avoiding the necessity of under pressure companies to offload staff members? Another question is where do the fines go? It seems obvious that they go to fill government coffers.

But if these government bodies, established to police many industries, were better at their jobs, why is it they never step in when insurance companies are known to indulge in age discrimination? It is recorded that special dispensation is allowed by government in this matter.

Why? Why make rules and then be prepared to see them broken by a chosen few. It makes a farce of the whole business. Or could much of it be put down to vested interests?

The benefits of walking

Emily Humphreys, Director of Policy and Communications, Living Streets

The new Public Health England campaign, ‘One You’, aims to combat the high percentage of preventable diseases in adults and the number of deaths related to behaviour.

The campaign recognises that environmental pressures, such as desk jobs and long commutes, make healthy choices difficult. However, inactivity is making people unhealthy and unhappy; accounting for one in six deaths in the UK and costing the health service up to £10billion a year. One way or another, we need to find a way to introduce more activity into our lives. Swapping four wheels for two feet is one of the best places to start.

Walking is free and has many more benefits than people often realise. It reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and depression. What’s more, walking is very easy to fit into our daily lives.

Adults are recommended to be physically active for 150 minutes a week and by choosing to walk on the school run, popping out on your lunch hour for a stroll or taking a walk at the end of the day to unwind, you can easily start building these minutes up.

National Walking Month, organised by Living Streets, takes place each May, and this year we’re encouraging everyone to ‘Try20’ – that is, just fit 20 minutes of walking into their day. Try20 this May and start enjoying the many benefits walking brings.

Only half a job

Mr and Mrs A F Handforth, Morley

In response to Professor A C Roberts OBE on the subject of street cleaning, I completely agree.

We have rung Leeds City Council on numerous occasions this year regarding the disgusting state of Rein road and Tingley Bar roundabout.

Yes, the street cleaners have been but have only done half a job, why doesn’t the driver report back at the depot that the machines aren’t sufficient?

The edge of the roads are clogged up with mud, deposited from heavy wagons leaving Howley Park Quarry, so the rain cannot disperse down the grates which are blocked and this creates large puddles, which are numerous around the roundabout, for pedestrians to stride over when crossing the roads.

A situation occurred recently to ourselves striding over a puddle when straightaway a car drove through the puddle and drenched us. When walking past the traffic lights, going out of Rein Road, that area of the pavement is covered with leaves, mud, tree branches and litter. The wagons using Rein Road as a thoroughfare destined for Howley Park Quarry don’t help as they are unsheeted and deposit mud from their wheels, this has been reported to a local councillor. This situation makes residents feel ashamed when we have visitors.