YEP Letters: April 16

‘Lamentable’ state of Leeds United

Peter Keighley, by email

The city of Leeds just about has everything a city of its size can possibly offer.

Fantastic shopping centres, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, a central hub for business and commerce, it can even boast one of the biggest rugby league clubs in the world with Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire County Cricket Club with the Emerald Stadium as its main home. What is very lamentable is the state of its football club, Leeds United.

This city deserves much better than the club is currently offering in my opinion. The ambition, or should I say lack of, is a crying shame for a city of this size. This club should be at the very least competing in the Championship instead of being in the bottom half going through the motions of what is yet another season of bitter disappointment.

Making bus users’ lives more complicated

Janet Porter, by email

I’ve just contacted Metro regarding the No 7 buses which travel down Scott Hall Road and flag up on the front of the bus that they go to the railway station in Leeds.

This is excellent and much appreciated as I use the train regularly to go to Huddersfield to visit family.

However, for some reason which I fail to understand, passengers are not allowed to get on the bus at the railway station to make a return journey.

Even though the No 7 bus is going to the next bus stop at Infirmary Street, passengers have to walk from the station down to the next bus stop!

Not too bad if you are fit, but if like me you have had physical problem, have to walk with a stick, or if you have heavy luggage, or small children it is a real pain. Apart from that there is absolutely no logic in it.

The driver told me the bus numbers change at Infirmary Street which is the reason. But as far as I know there is no law against travelling one stop on a bus.

Where I live I can use any No 7 bus so it doesn’t matter. In any case passengers should be given a choice, all they have to do is change buses at Infirmary Street if they need a different number.

We also get this inconsistency with No 36 Leeds to Harrogate buses which sometimes go to the railway station, sometimes not and at various stops on the route to Harrogate they will pick up passengers but not drop them off or vice versa.

It does make the lives of public transport users more complicated than they need to be. Can something please be done?

How can asylum seeker support himself?

M Whitehead, Chapel Allerton

I know I’m a bit past my best before date, but I can still do crossword puzzles.

However, an article in the YEP (April 9) has me perplexed. I expect there will be a simple explanation, but how did the “asylum granters” expect a “seeker” to support himself if he cannot legally work or claim benefits? Unsurprisingly he has fallen into debt.

The article explains he is the main carer for his sister who has cancer, and that is sad and very stressful, but nevertheless how was he expected to support himself? Tis’ a puzzlement.

Remembering those who were opposed to war

John Appleyard, Liversedge

WE rightly remember those who fought and died in the First World War, it was supposed to be the war to end all wars, but it didn’t. The carnage continues to this day relentlessly.

However we should also give a thought to those who opposed the war and there were many both British and German.

The Bradford Peace Museum recently gave an exhibition profiling the German anti-war groups who demonstrated and wrote pamphlets arguing for peace.

One of those involved was Hilde Kramer who organised a ‘down with the war, long live peace’ demonstration in Munich where 10,000 marched in protest.

Hilde spent the last years of her life living in Otley and was a vocal supporter of women’s rights.

Her friend Rosa Luxemburg was murdered with a shot to the head by the authorities in 1919. Her final words were ‘I was. I am. I will be’.

Supporting people with Parkinson’s

Stephanie Stone, Revitalise

This month we mark World Parkinson’s Day.

With over 145,000 people estimated to be living with Parkinson’s in the UK alone, I’d like to take a moment to tell readers why we’re passionate to do everything we can to be there for people in need of our support.

We understand that living with Parkinson’s can present daily challenges both for the people affected and for those they hold close.

We also understand that having the reassurance of knowing that help is at hand really can make all the difference.

That’s why, I’d like to take a moment to reassure your readers that they needn’t face the challenges that Parkinson’s can bring alone, we’re here to help.

I work for Revitalise an incredible charity that provides respite holidays for disabled people and carers at our Jubilee Lodge respite holiday centre in Chigwell in Essex.

We welcome guests with over 150 different conditions – including Parkinson’s – every year, seeing for ourselves the vital importance of respite in enabling our guests to spend quality time with one another and to continue coping.

If you would like to find out more about Revitalise, our breaks, or ways that we may be able to support you and your loved one, please visit: www.revitalise.org.uk or call: 0303 303 0145.

What happened to our country?

Tarquin Holman, Leeds 28

CAN I please ask what has happened to our once beautiful country?

NHS in crisis, crime, stabbing out of control in spite of extra millions, potholes and footpaths in a dangerous state.

Even our songbirds are in decline in our once green and pleasant land.

I wonder if the May Day elections will help solve this very sorry state of affairs. Let’s hope so!

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