YEP Letters: May 25

We’ll all have to get on our bikes

Barrie Leonard, by email

having read the YEP the last few nights it seems the council still come up with new ways to try and cure the traffic gridlock on the city roads.

If we take a look at the motorways around the country they are turning the hard shoulder into an extra lane to cope with the amount of traffic - but here in Leeds all they come up with is a cycle lane added on to the already crowded highway making the roads more narrow. If a bus stops on this road you cannot get round it so there is a line of traffic until the bus moves. If you happen to find another way home no doubt you will come across all the humps they put down If this does not get you the potholes will. But still, all this only cost £29m so we will all have to get a cycle and hope we get our money’s worth.

Decline of the Rhinos is no real surprise to me

Martin Davison, Whitwood

First of all I would like to say it has been a pleasure to be involved in the Rhinos golden era.

But as a proud Leeds Rhinos supporter for many years , this season’s decline comes as no real surprise to myself.

Even accounting for retirements and injuries, this shouldn’t have happened.

Brian inherited a decent side that already had good team spirit between themselves.

Throughout the last few seasons , the rugby has been inconsistent until they have reached the playoffs.

But the team spirit of this experienced bunch of guys shone through and gained their just rewards.

Sadly though this season the inability of the coach has proved right with poor tactics, no motivation and negative press conferences .

Whether you win or lose, the minimum you expect from your side is 100 per cent commitment.

This season there have been times when I have seen players giving up and that is unacceptable.

I am an optimist, but when I watch my beloved Rhinos this season I feel they are going to get beat before they start the game.

That can’t be right.

While the Rhinos were winning Grand Finals this papered over the cracks.

We need a coach that’s tactically aware, a real motivator and an inspiration to the fans.

As supporters we can’t expect success all the time and there is going to be ups and downs. But at least when we do lose let’s go down with fighting spirit.

I hope I am wrong and it all turns round dramatically, but with all respect to Batley we will be lucky to give them a game at this rate !

You must be pulling our leg!

Mrs Marjorie Whitehead, Chapel Allerton

I do hope that Jayne Dawson had her tongue firmly in her cheek when she wrote about putting feet up on the seat on public transport.

That is quite unbelieveable and unacceptable - just more bad manners.

Someone has to sit on that seat afterwards, perhaps in a light coloured garment.

Lovely!

This is just another in the ‘I can do what I like” attitude of today, together with eating and drinking onboard.

That wasn’t tolerated at one time but it happens now and don’t think about takingthe wrapper, can or bottle home with you, no just drop it on the floor.

My legs ache at times but I just wait until I get home before putting my feet up.

Anyway, at my age I don’t think I could get them up on a seat even if I wanted to!

Come on Jayne, you were pulling our aching legs, weren’t you!

This design has no merit

Ivan Kovacks, by email

Last week I went to the West Yorkshire Playhouse and had time to have a good look at the new John Lewis store, being built on the old car park and Millgarth police station. My first, second and lasting thoughts about the building it is what a horrendous and ugly building this is. The place is angular, brutalist and angry with little or no visual artistic merit. It looked so out of place opposite the old market buildings.

The same planning committee councillors that passed it had passed the vile, green new stand at the Yorkshire cricket ground, so perhaps they have little or no appreciation of what a good building looks like.

I have no doubt that both these buildings, and others equally meritless, are safe, well built and perform the functions they were designed to do but I’m sure the same can be said of a building that actually looks good as well.

One knows that the councillors are not trained architects and rely on the planning department to advise on the technical aspects of buildings but surely one basic requirement for having a post on this body is to have a minimum level of aesthetic appreciation. Is not one of the functions of these elected members to protect the people who voted for them, from this violation of the public’s eyes?

No doubt in ten years time this building will feature in the top ten buildings that Yorkshire Evening Post readers want to see demolished. And were I a responsible person at the Playhouse I’d be tempted to rethink having a new entrance to the building if it meant coming out of the theatre in a great mood after seeing a great show, only to have these positive thoughts trashed on seeing this lump on the other side of the road.

Solidarity led to community win

Coun Robert Finnigan, Leeds City Council, Morley North

I am writing to thank the residents of Tingley and Morley for their support with opposing the plan from McDonalds for a fast-food takeaway close to Woodkirk Academy.

Residents have battled for over five years against one of the richest and most powerful multinationals in the world and won with the strength of their arguments. It was a real David and Goliath battle and residents deserve our praise for continuing to work together while being put under extreme pressure from McDonalds to give in. They are a fine example of a community battling to put people and not profit first.

We have already offered to work with McDonalds on alternative sites in Morley as we have always been clear that we are not opposed to McDonalds but believed this site was the wrong location for their plan.

We have also offered to work with the owners of the site to look at a positive alternative planning proposal at the White Bear - perhaps to include affordable housing for local residents. It has been a privilege to work with this community and it shows that working together, in the spirit of solidarity, that seemingly unstoppable planning applications can be prevented.

Should voting be compulsory?

June Newton, Rothwell

In regard to the recent local election results, the turnout of eligible voters was disappointing.

The nationwide results were only 36 per cent. Evidently, almost two thirds of eligible voters had something better to do. But this is always happening. Ignoring the current political differences, admittedly, the burden of tuition fees may be a deterrent to younger voters and the bedroom tax is thought to be an imposition.

There are 30 countries throughout the world that have compulsory voting laws. In one country a non-voter is fined.

In early 20th century women were imprisoned for their actions in campaigning for votes for women. But the situation has deteriorated over the years. Now many voters are complacent and indifferent. Perhaps they are disillusioned with the succession of governments. There is a very important vote for the whole of our country taking place in June. Will the percentage of voters still be 36 per cent? How could it be if our ‘great’ country that hopefully endeavours to be a healthy democracy brought in a law making it compulsory to vote?

Just no sense in replacing Evans

Matthew Brault, via Facebook

I’ve been critical of Steve Evans at times, and I still don’t think he is a top six manager, but it makes absolutely no sense to replace a manager with Championship experience for a guy who is managing in League Two. He may well do an alright job but he isn’t going to get us promoted and he isn’t going to have any kind of influence in the transfer market.