YEP Letters November 6

It’s time to get tough on EU deal

Terry Watson, Adel

Theresa May said she would walk away with no deal rather than accept a bad deal for Britain. Actions speak louder than words and as we are going to get nothing but a very bad deal, it’s time to get tough with Barnier.

He will settle for nothing less than complete capitulation with full membership of the customs union and single market. We can still trade with EU countries under WTO rules just as many other countries do and pay tariffs. The EU would also have to pay our tariffs, and as they export far more to us than we to Europe, they would be far worse off.

Barnier knows that May is weak and is making Britain look foolish with his demands. Leaving with no deal would soon bring the EU to their senses. The £40bn they would lose would soon make them think again.

Investment in centre is welcome news

Coun Peter Gruen, Cross Gates & Whinmoor Ward & Deputy Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport & Planning

The announcement that the owners of the Cross Gates centre are going to invest heavily to enhance the shopping experience of customers is very welcome.

It is very timely because for some time rumours have spread around the area about its future and this significant financial and business commitment should put paid to such unhelpful doubts.

Cross Gates is home to a thriving, diverse and proud local community and the ever increasing variety and quality of leisure and retail opportunities are important to our future.

People now have high expectations and our local ‘high street’ is well placed to satisfy a range of demands.

So, as we think about how local residents can further benefit into the future, I have two suggestions; first let us work together with businesses and outlets at the new Springs development , so that we compliment each other’s offer and both destinations are seen as excellent choices, and secondly, I know how immediately popular it would be if the parking charges at Cross Gates were reviewed to make life easier for the genuine shopper.

Such a move would increase footfall, but yes, need to deter the commuters looking for all day parking.

Landlord ‘tax’ does not tackle the issues

C Taylor, Leeds 17

Re the proposed selective licensing of Beeston and Harehills, I do not understand why the council feels that a punitive “tax” on responsible landlords addresses the issues in Beeston/Harehills, eg, general deprivation, a high level of crime/ anti social behaviour, excessive street litter, etc.

These issues are surely better dealt with by other actions including better street lighting, the use of CCTV to monitor “crime hotspots”, a more visible police presence, a reversal of the closure of refuse sites and a lifting of restrictions on those that remain, a more effective program of bin collections, working more closely with the police to identify/ address crime “hot spots”, job creation, private investment, etc.

Poor, inadequate private rented housing may well be a factor and these landlords need to be identified and held to account. Existing legislation provides the council with adequate powers to initiate and implement enforcement. An interrogation of those data bases available to the council of property ownership, council tax payment, etc can surely be used to create a list of all landlords and help identify the “rogues” by comparing it to those landlords who are members of/accredited by recognised trade associations. The cost of solving these issues will undoubtedly cost money. However, an open minded approach to consider, explore, evaluate and implement solutions addressing the key causes and involving representation from interested stakeholders seems a more productive and credible way forward than the current “consultation”.

The proposed selective licensing does not appear to benefit anyone, least of all the tenants, who may suffer from a lack of availability as responsible landlords exit the sector and pay higher rents due to the onerous fee and implementation costs being passed on and no improvement in their neigbourhood.

What’s happening to law and order?

Tarquin Holman, Farsley

As a 94-year-old veteran of World War Two can I ask what is happening to law and order in our once beautiful country?

Hospital staff, police and firemen and women being reported as being attacked simply for doing their job whilst our well paid and pensioned political class just talk with no action, liberal laws lead to the ‘Fall of Rome.’

Great Britain, the country I fought for, is sinking into a degenerate mud bath. We urgently need proper leadership that identifies with the man/woman in the street. Any responses would be welcome.

Concern over new bag charge

Martin J Phillips, Leeds 16

I note that Ryanair have just reduced the size of allowable hand-luggage so people with the original hand-luggage sized bags now have three options:

The first is to pay for priority boarding (at the cost of £6/€6).

Those with priority tickets are allowed to take on a suitcase, up to 10kg, to place in the overhead lockers.

The second option is to cough up an £8/€8 surcharge in addition to your ticket 
cost to bring your bag with you.

The third, and worst option, is leaving the decision til you get to the airport. If you try to board with a wheelie case and have not paid in advance you’ll find yourself having to cough up £25/€25 on the tarmac to put in the hold. The airline will also be capitalising on the many passengers who won’t be aware of the changes and will need to pay the higher £25 charge at the last minute.

And instead of causing delays on the aircraft, it will cause delays at check-in, like those seen at Stansted airport on Thursday morning when the changes were introduced. Ryanair will lose business over the new bag check-in.

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