Letters to the Editor

SIR, - Whilst the Post Office may be concerned about the welfare of its staff by avoiding the carrying of heavy bags of mail, the continuation of the frequently robbed pouch box system shows its contempt for its customers.

These boxes look flimsy and remind me of the old metal money boxes for children which the most adept could easily relieve of the collected treasure.

The customer rarely knows what, if anything has gone missing until reminder bills or other follow-up letters do arrive. Since missed mail could mean missed hospital appointments this causes not only inconvenience to the customer but further problems for the already hard-pressed NHS.

Whilst a more secure 'box' would cost money there must be some benefit to the Post Office in the longer term.

A variation on the standard letter box should provide a ready design with structural strength. If things continue in the present sorry state further calls for a free market are bound to arise.

I understand ten boxes have been stolen from in the Horsforth areas in the past few weeks. Multiply that across some 28 districts of Leeds and the situation becomes horrific, yet someone has paid for a service which has not been provided.

Can we sue? Probably not, yet if others don't provide we soon take action. Wake up someone, take your feet off the desk and come up with a workable solution which will suit everyone.

There is a decided lack of confidence in the present arrangements.

R P Buchanan

Horsforth

Road issues

SIR, - May I say through your paper, my thanks to Mr Phillip Gwynne of the casualty Reduction Unit, to making a part reply to my letter re the 'speed cameras', and theft by extortion in the fines.

I regret that Mr Gwynne had to make distasteful, personal remarks about me, regarding being an ex-police Constable and should know better. Obviously Mr Gwynne does not know me, I would be only too pleased to be in correspondence with him and to have speech.

May I ask him: What is his present occupation, or what has he been in his working life? Does he hold a driving licence? How dedicated is he in accident prevention etc?

If he saw a dirty large piece of plastic blowing about in the road, would he stop and remove it? If he saw a damaged lamp post or other property likely to cause an accident, i.e. signal lights damaged/out of order, would he get involved by contacting the police or Leeds City Council or whoever?

Does he take photos to emphasise dangerous areas, when Leeds City Council has decided otherwise, as I have in all these matters.

Has he attended meetings on this matter in his own time and expense; has he attended fatal accidents, road accidents, post mortems, coroners' courts and been involved in the sad distress to all involved, both relatives, friends and witnesses? I have, as have all other beat police officers in my day.

I do care now, as always, in accident prevention , and also a person prepared to stand up and be counted, but also fair play to the general public both as pedestrians and drivers.

Vehicles are now going on to the side roads to get away from the cameras. What has he said to the Leeds City Council Planning Department regarding road safety, when they allow planning right up to the edge of road junctions of main roads when they have failed to widen roads, remove blind humps and bends.

Some of our road surfaces are in a terrible state; has he taken them to task on these matters?

I do ask Mr Gwynne to contact me; the newspaper will give you my full details. I would like to emphasis my points of view to you.

Mr N Copsey

29 Whackhouse Lane,

Yeadon.

Event thanks

SIR, - Our grateful thanks to everyone who attended the garden party at the Wharfedale General Hospital on Saturday in very adverse weather conditions.

The amount raised was £1,125. Our thanks also to everyone who sent donations and to friends who helped on the day. The amount raised will be used for additional comforts for patients.

Hopefully our next garden party, in 2005, will be held in the new hospital and we look forward to another successful event.

June Galling

Chairman,

Otley Ladies Hospital

Group.

Why no flag?

SIR, - Following on from my previous letter can I please beg the question to our local councillors, why is there no EU flag blowing in the wind outside the Civic Centre or somewhere in the town itself? Is it because they are too busy flapping inside and spewing hot air about little Englander issues alone? Would they rather have Robert Kilroy Silk on a big screen outside? I think we should be told.

I don't understand it. In virtually every village and town in Spain the national and EU flags fly side by side and proudly so. What is our problem here? It doesn't matter if you're pro or anti-Europe, there's no escaping it, we are a part of it, even in dear old Otley.

Where do you think Netto came from? Grimsby?

It would be very interesting to find out how many Otley people would object to the visual realisation that the town is part of the EU, and how many of them hypocritically use the travel agents, shops and services to trade directly or indirectly with our near neighbours.

You don't have to choke on your takeaway Italian pizza to accept we are living in a smaller world. You shouldn't drown your sorrows in French wines at the prospect of feeling European.

There's just no place any more for insular, small and narrow minded attitudes. We are not clones of Emmerdale's Dingle family.

Wake up, smell the coffee (croissants optional) and let's see the town council give us one good reason why the EU flag shouldn't go up with immediate effect.

Dan Cooney

Los Dolces,

Villamartin,

Spain.

Helpers plea

SIR, - I have recently been appointed as RNIB Community Fundraising Manager and am looking for volunteers to join my existing team in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Every day more than 100 people start to lose their sight. The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) helps to rebuild lives devastated by sight loss by providing more than 60 services for people who are blind or visually impaired.

As an organisation we receive no Government or statutory funding and rely on generous donations from the general public. Much of our funding comes from our famous 'Sooty' boxes, which many of your readers may have seen in shops, restaurants and pubs throughout the area.

In order to collect, count and bank the £60,000 that is generated through 'Sooty' boxes in Yorkshire and Humberside I am looking for volunteers to help out as box collectors in their local villages, towns and cities

Any readers who feel they can offer help a few hours per month, to undertake this rewarding work, should contact me to discuss the flexible volunteering opportunities within RNIB.

I can be contacted on (01423) 819753, or via e-mail at scott.wall@rnib.org.uk

Scott Wall

Community Fundraising

Manager,

RNIB (Yorkshire and

Humberside).

Demoralised

SIR, - In response to the letter (July 1) from the vice-chairman of Leeds and District Gardeners Federation, I wonder if he can have any influence in improving the management of one of the allotment sites in Otley.

I have had an allotment for several years at the Whitebridge site (near Gallows Hill) and I am extremely demoralised.

I have seen other allotments on site totally overgrown year on year, people taking on an allotment and abandoning them a few months later, rubbish dumped, asbestos sheets broken up (which are still there), poor access, deliberate fires to sheds, theft of tools and vegetables, fires and now there seems to be an influx of garden 'businesses'.

Who can help to regenerate this site? I am informed that the site is 'under review' but I am still waiting for the outcome of this review. In the meantime there are a few people, myself included, who are trying to grow vegetables! but it is not exactly a thriving and healthy allotment site!

Perhaps Phil Gomersal would like to visit the site and offer some expert advice before I give up completely!

L Marsden

Otley.

Fine plan

SIR, - Congratulations to Otley's traffic wardens for coming up with an imaginative scheme for a pedestrianised town centre and for a route for through traffic that leaves Market Square and a section of Boroughgate traffic-free.

The underlying street plans of towns like Otley were laid down centuries before motor vehicles were invented. The challenge now is to balance two competing needs - the need to keep modern motor traffic flowing through streets that were never designed to accommodate them, and the need to preserve the integrity of the centre of the town and to make it a safe and agreeable place for pedestrians.

The traffic wardens' proposal rises to this challenge. Let's hope that the scheme is swiftly adopted.

MICHAEL BARTHOLOMEW

9 Fern Bank, Otley.