YEP Letters: May 12

Denise Lewis, Breast Cancer Care Ambassador

Like many readers, I’ve had close family and friends affected by breast cancer.

That is why I’m encouraging everyone to take a step forward for women with breast cancer this summer and sign up to a Pink Ribbonwalk to raise vital funds for leading charity Breast Cancer Care.

With five, 10 and 20 mile walks to choose from, you can get together with friends and family in some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside and cities including: Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire; Polesden Lacey in Surrey; Chatsworth in Derbyshire; Stourhead in Wiltshire; London and Glasgow. I’ve taken part in five Pink Ribbonwalks now and it really is so much more than just a day out!

Sadly every year, 60,000 people will receive the devastating news that they have breast cancer. But with your help the charity can continue to offer them vital care, support and information, every day, from day one.

Also May is National Walking Month – so really there’s no better time to lace up your boots and take a step forward for women with breast cancer. You can sign up for a Ribbonwalk near you at: www.breastcancercare.org.uk/ribbonwalk

We need to act or our heritage will be lost

Dr Colin White, Chair, Pontefract Heritage Partnership Ltd

we are trying to save the Dispensary and medieval Hermitage which lies in its basement; we have formed a community organisation, Pontefract Heritage Partnership Limited specifically for the purpose of taking ownership of the Dispensary and Hermitage from the current owners by asset transfer and returning it to community use.

The Dispensary was built and maintained by public subscription until 1948 when it became part of the NHS.

Now that the NHS has no further use for the building the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust Board has agreed in principle to give the building to us and we are in detailed negotiations about the details of the asset transfer, particularly the state of the building and Hermitage before we can accept ownership.

In addition, there is the very formidable challenge of raising the funding required to restore the building, estimated to be around £2m and we are in the process of preparing an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

In order to have a good chance of obtaining such a large grant we need to show that the community is fully supporting this project and will contribute to its success.

We are developing a business plan to convert the Dispensary to a heritage visitor centre for the Hermitage, liquorice, St Richard’s Friary and PGI, but we also need private enterprise partners involved to generate the income needed to run the building and ensure the sustainability of the project.

This is a community enterprise project, to protect and restore an important heritage site and must have the enthusiastic support of the community for its success.

If the Pontefract community doesn’t act, this heritage will be lost.

More details at www,pontefractdispensaryhermitageactiongroup.btck.co.uk.

Leeds Utd dream team

Meryl Knapp, Leeds

It would be brilliant to see an exhibition match at the start of next season by players released from Leeds United who are currently playing in the Premiership or the top teams in the Championship (many products of Leeds Academy) including: Schmeichel, Milner, Delph, Rose, Lennon, Byram, Howson, Carson, Johnson, Douglas, Snodgrass, Gradel, Clayton, Vokes, plus McCormack who has the misfortune of playing for a side with a defence like a sieve.

I suspect others could add a few more names.

What a team Leeds would have if just a third of these players were still at the club. An exhibition match is perhaps an unrealistic ides – but the list does tell a story.

I wonder what Mr Cellino’s thoughts would be on this list.

Weekend ruined

D Green, Leeds

My holiday weekend was spoilt as my television stopped televising.

There was “no signal” floating about on the screen of my TV, so I rang the housing department and they said, “oh no it won’t be repaired while after the May Day holidays”.

This was Saturday April 30, by May 5 it still wasn’t repaired. I was told it was not an emergency. It was to me, I’m 84 years old in June and I rely on the TV for company and entertainment.

I was told no-one had reported the fault, well I did.

The fault is the communal aerial. Why can’t something be done to rectify this happening as it has happened a few weeks ago - the same problem.

Come on council, get it sorted please.

Europhiles emerging

Ernest Lundy, by email

Like mayflies on warm May-day, Europhiles are emerging from the woodwork, offering reasons why we should stay in the EU.

The recently retired director of MI5 tells us our security will be impaired should we leave. Others say our trade relations will also suffer. Seems like a load of hogwash to me!

As if those in other countries with goods to sell would refuse to trade with our buyers; or not want to purchase our products, thereby losing profit.

Way back when Ted Heath had his yacht bought by a grateful government for his efforts to get us into this dictatorial entity, most believed it was an aid to trade. Since then however, it has proved to be an absolute drain on our resources, administered by a bunch of overpaid bureaucrats whose edicts often defy reason.

The open borders policy was never though through and has proved to be a nightmare, the outcome of which is still uncertain; although it has already created anarchy and mayhem. As for the outcome of the forthcoming referendum we will just have to wait and see. But meanwhile I’m sure the public at large would like to be told of the benefits we could obtain if we do leave, rather than the disadvantages. In any event we have stood alone before and prevailed.

Resettlement plan needed

Steve Oversby, Director, Barnardo’s East Region

When Barnardo’s founder Thomas Barnardo arrived in London in 1866, he was appalled to witness the suffering of street children – young people with nowhere to turn for help. He set out to give them a refuge, a place where they would be fed, cared for and given an education.

Now 150 years later tens of thousands of children are fleeing from different conflict zones, often alone with no family members to turn to, making them hugely vulnerable.

Following Dr Barnardo’s example we welcome the government’s commitment to resettle Syrian refugee children from Europe. But it must now urgently work with local authorities to establish a plan on how these children will be resettled.

This plan should set out details of a dispersal mechanism, long-term funding and specialist support so that these children can recover from the trauma they have suffered and integrate into their new communities.

It is vital that this process is completed quickly to ensure the safety of these vulnerable children as soon as possible.

Interesting history

Mavis Harrison, Leeds

Lucy Worsley’s ‘delving’ into our social history, through letters and postcards will be very interesting (Letters Page, May 2).

I have watched all her programmes, they bring history to life!

I wrote to her last year and received a personal reply, handwritten and not formal in the least.

PCC has done tremendous job

John Appleyard, Liversedge

I refer to yesterday’s letters page in the YEP.

I did not write the letter that has been ascribed to me ‘Police role should be apolitical’

I strongly disagree with whoever wrote the letter, I voted for Mark Burns Williamson who has done a tremendous job over the past four years as West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

EDITOR’S NOTE, We apologise to Mr Appleyard for our error, the letter should have been attributed to Mr Ian Smith, of Colston Cose, Bradford.