REGARDING your headline, “Emergency service facing big changes” (The Press, June 25).

As a rate-paying member of York city and a taxpayer, and probably the last ex-York County Borough Fire Brigade member serving in North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (albeit in a civilian role), I would like to make the following observations.

The county fire officer is tasked with saving an awful lot of money and the only way it can be done now is through losses of front-line personnel.

When I joined York City Fire Brigade in 1968, we attended about 800 incidents per annum and there was about 18 firemen on a watch. Now, there are probably seven firefighters on a watch.

Today, firefighters are tasked to attend probably more than twice as many incidents and in many more varied roles than we ever did.

I will let your readers decide whether this is a wise move. Quite frankly, I think it is disgraceful.

I am afraid these proposals will undo all of the good work that has been done in the past.

I concur with the comments made by Cllr Andy D’Agorne, that these proposals do express serious concerns for both the general public and the long-term welfare of firefighters throughout the county of North Yorkshire.

James Whitehead, Retired ex-York County Borough & North Yorkshire firefighter, Whenby Grove, Huntington, York

 

D M DALE asks why the residential restoration of St Leonard’s Place doesn’t include social housing (Letters, June 23).

In fact they are paying a limited commuted sum for off-site provision, but a more searching question is why should they?

The provision of social housing is a responsibility for all of society and not just those who happen to be in the construction industry.

Supermarkets are not required to sell food at a loss to low income groups and clothing retailers are not expected to provide subsidised garments for those of limited means. So why should builders be the only traders subject to this selective punitive form of double taxation?

It is an abuse of the planning system. It never formed a part of the planning acts first introduced in 1948 and none of it existed 20 years ago.

It is the Government who should be constructing social housing and paying for it through general taxation just like it used to do when substantial numbers of houses were built every year.

At a time of huge demand and limited supply there should be an enormous housebuilding boom but there isn’t.

It is time to scrap these affordable housing requirements. The way to solve the housing crisis is by making it easier, not harder, for builders to build.

Matthew Laverack, Lord Mayors Walk, York

 

I AM saddened to read that the new Conservative Liberal Democrat administration has stopped the building of eight much-needed council homes at Newbury Avenue (The Press, June 27).

This reduces the number of homes, since the council was financially able to build, to 63.

This decision is politically motivated. Cllr Andrew Waller long campaigned against it and there are Liberal Democrat leaflets to evidence this.

When choosing the sites for the 71 homes council officers fully investigated each site and a number were rejected due to constraints – Newbury Avenue was not.

To keep costs down the council has to build on land within the housing revenue account and cannot build on other council land as if vacant it has to, under government rules, be sold on the open market to help fund services.

What is worrying is the continual reduction of affordable homes in the city. I note council homes phase two has only 24 homes – rather than the 100-plus Labour had planned.

Over 80 homes are lost to Right To Buy each year and Government is raiding housing association homes.

The result – within a decade York will become an enclave of the rich with essential workers commuting here each day.

Tracey Simpson-Laing, Amberley Street, York

 

OVER the course of the afternoon of Saturday, June 27, two youths who stationed themselves below and inside the Bar Walls between the Merchant Taylors Hall and Monk Bar. They spent much time greeting passersby with a cheery “how are you doing?”, often followed by “banter”.

They described themselves as “lucky to live here” and as “modern day Romans”, which appeared to go down well with many.

Less pleasant, to this observer anyway, was the sight of them urinating on the walls and of the empty cans of beer they left behind.

Yes we are lucky to live in this beautiful city, indeed.

Tony Eves, Margaret Philipson Court, York

 

THE weeks and the season are rapidly passing by and we are no nearer a solution on the so-called community stadium.

I suggested a few weeks ago a change of negotiators from the council and nothing has been forthcoming. I ask again for this to happen.

Let’s get both teams playing at the football ground, unless that is no longer part of the agreement.

The fact that two of the council’s leading officers are leaving or have left makes it more essential the negotiators are changed and a new clean look and purpose is brought to the table.

Brian Watson, Beckfield Lane, Acomb