YEP Letters November 14

Saddened at death of legend Stan Lee

David Gibbs, Leeds 7

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Stan Lee.

His influence on pop culture cannot be overestimated. As the creator or co-creator of comic book character such as the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk and of course Spider-Man he has left a legacy that far outstrips the comic books moving on to TV and the many films now in the Marvel Universe including the X-Men, Iron Man and the biggest of the lot The Avengers.

I bought the very first Spider-Man comic in Leeds Kirkgate market in 1965 for four old pennies and had it taken off me along with all my other Marvel comics a few weeks later. It’s worth hundreds of thousands of pounds now. It was second hand then from 1962 but in good condition and I wish I had it now.

Stan Lee was as much to pop culture as Elvis and the Beatles were to pop music. RIP.

Look at broader picture on transport

Mark Parry, by email

I write on behalf of the local Campaign for Better Transport Group. We have been interested in the suggestions proposed by Leeds City Council to improve our public transport and ease congestion.

This is usually a two pronged approach, restricting the volume of traffic on the one hand and investing in more efficient public transport on the other. Recently, consultations have taken place on specific traffic corridors in Leeds, these have been to improve the flow of buses, in so doing to attract more journeys onto the bus and reduce the number of vehicles on the road. We live in hope that the authorities will eventually suggest better than this on the busy corridors, such as light rail, but in the short term this is what they have to work on.

Unofficially our group has been told that many respondents to these consultations have been road users concerned about parking and proposed bus lanes taking up road space for cars.

We need to look at the broader picture. We cannot continue to provide more space for cars in an already crowded area, in so doing encouraging more cars onto the roads.

The current bus service is unreliable, partly because of the traffic congestion that impedes their progress, leading to lengthened schedules with more buses needed to maintain a frequency and so increasing costs. The longer journeys and higher fares do not encourage more people to share the bus and leave their car at home. To carry on as we are will lead to many more resorting to using a car. One bus can take typically three dozen cars off the road, imagine the situation if all the bus passengers, approximately 20 per cent of people travelling, all went by car. None of us we get anywhere quickly, whether in a car or bus. Only those cycling would squeeze through the gaps.

Brexit: turning point in history

Anthony Gledhill, Leeds 8

Further to recent extensive coverage of Brexit; although the full details of the final deal are not yet known, it is clear from what we know that the final deal (or no deal) will not be what was promised by the Leave campaign before the referendum.

They promised a quick and easy departure from the EU, followed by prosperous trade deals and the achievement of full sovereignty for our country. We now know the final deal (or no deal) will look nothing like that. We now stand at a turning point in history. Indeed it is no doubt the most significant turning point since the Second World War.

Whether or not Russia acted to influence the leave vote, Brexit achieves a long held Russian objective of destabilising the UK and Europe. The founding objective of the EU and its predecessor organisations was to maintain peace in Europe at a time when peace was sorely needed after the horrors and losses of the Second World War. For peace alone, and for security against all enemies, we need a united Europe. Brexit damages that severely.

The British public deserves the right to give or to withhold informed consent to the final Brexit deal (or no deal) and to have an option to remain. Therefore, I hope all readers will contact their MP to tell them they demand a People’s Vote on the final deal, with an option to remain.

Church honours the fallen

Warren Smith, Leeds

I was invited to visit to view the exhibition mounted at Kippax Methodist Church this weekend to honour those who gave their lives during the First World War. My first visit to the village.

The people of Kippax should be proud of their telling of the numerous touching stories of sadness, courage and bravery in memory of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice by giving up their lives to ensure we live free today.

We may never agree on every matter but if we don’t respect each other then we face a very uncertain future. Let’s never forget the consequences of World War or any deadly conflict. We live with them for life.

Cash disappears in a flash

A Ward, Leeds 8

Sunday afternoon, 3.30pm to be precise. It’s still full daylight and fireworks are banging away nearby.

I thought the point of fireworks was to enjoy the beautiful colourful displays. These cannot be seen in daylight so the only pleasure to be had is obviously the noise generated and the annoyance this causes anyone in the near vicinity. I understand they are now very expensive so where do these people get the money from, just to watch it disappear in a flash?

Airport is convenient

John Marshall, Yeadon

over the last few days there have been letters regarding Leeds Bradford Airport (Phil Brown, YEP Letters October 8 and Margaret Scott YEP Letters October 9). Both these contributors stating that the airport is not fit for purpose yet both have used the airport multiple times in the last year.

Now if they found the airport to be so horrendous why would they use it so often? Surely they would be taking their business to another airport say Manchester, Robin Hood or even East Midlands?

Could it be that they use Leeds Bradford because it is very convenient for all its ills?

I too use this airport multiple time a year and yes there are things that could be much better but I use it because it is convenient.

Transport blueprint

D Angood, by email

The WYCA transport committee have produced a paper outlining the plans to provide a mass transit system of a kind yet to be established but pertaining to be a hybrid animal combining bus,rail and tram/train.

This is to meet the future demands of the populace in and around Leeds City Region and incorporating Bradford, Wakefield, Dewsbury and the Five Towns.

The WYCA do not state how they have come up with such a scheme but one can surmise they have compiled the whole from suggestions and ideas submitted by the citizens who contributed to the consultation process. Would the WYCA care to disclose to the population whose ideas they have incorporated into their scheme?

The consultation process, one can assume, included many composite ideas from interested parties. There would have been many who advocated connecting the two Bradford Stations and also reopening the Spen Valley Line.

Perusing Figure2:3 in their paper does show some limitation in their thinking and planning with regard to people movement. The pertinent absentee is the lack of a connection direct to the airport, whether it be road or rail.

The three new lines whilst providing complementary services to the existing over capacity ones could be better linked. The blue and orange lines could be linked from Castleford through Wakefield to Dewsbury in the south and in the north by extending the Blue Line through to Horsforth and then to the airport linking with an extended Orange Line from Bradford through Shipley to Ghyll Royd then up to the airport. The whole system would have to be integrated into and work with the existing rail network and not just complement it.

The plans show the lines but do not say which preferred mode of travel will be used, though one can surmise it being some sort of tram/train because of the terminology that vehicles carrying 200 plus have to run on steel rails (technology might evolve some other mode prior to construction). The question also arises whether these lines will be underground or overground or comprise both. Surely the optimum choice in the CBD will essentially be underground and comprising of an inner circle which all modes of travel will ultimately serve. The WYCA should be commended for finally compiling a plan for a mass transit system but already there are criticisms that they haven’t produced a complete framework for the area.

East, west and the south seem to fare quite well but the north seems to be excluded. Is there a reason for its non inclusion? The Victorian entrepreneurs were obviously dissuaded by the difficult and conflicting contours of the area, can the same be said of today’s plans?

HS2 and NPR although separate entities would have to be considered in the plans just as these plans should be considered by those working for HS2 and NPR. A great deal of collaboration will be required to produce the envisaged epitome of a viable, successful network.

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