RICHARD BRIDGE (Letters, July 28) accuses other correspondents of “missing the point” with his sleep-in protest and petition to get rid of the council’s perfectly sensible and cost effective installation of bars on city centre benches.

It is Mr Bridge that misses the point. There is no reason whatsoever for anybody to spend the night on a bench in a bus shelter or anywhere else in York.

Resources have and continue to be provided by the council and a number of charity organisations to provide alternative accommodation.

If some individuals choose to ignore the help and engagement provided by the authorities and instead choose to spend their days drunk and/or drugged up, creating a nuisance and objectionable mess in city centre bus shelters then the council is right to choose to alleviate the problem in the interests of the genuine users of those facilities.

The point is, it’s all about choices and I for one support the council’s chosen course of action in this matter.

Mark Warters, Independent councillor for Osbaldwick & Derwent Ward

 

NOW that Richard Bridge has confirmed he will not be taking in rough sleepers under his roof (Letters, July 28) we all know what sort of socialist commitment he stands for. One that ends at his front door.

It is Mr Bridge that is missing the point. No one is denying him the opportunity to comment on the welfare state.

It is merely pointed out that action speaks louder than words. Instead of telling the rest of society how things should be, how about leading by example?

Perhaps Mr Bridge could explain how justice is served by denying public transport users the benefit of clean hygienic shelters so that these can be taken over by irresponsible anti-social individuals who trash them?

Matthew Laverack, Lord Mayors Walk, York

 

WHAT an honour Richard Bridge bestowed on me by mentioning my name alongside the stalwarts of The Press letters pages, mainly A P Cox and Matthew Laverack in his letter “Compassion at the heart of campaign” (The Press, July 28).

My amateurish scribbles are as nothing beside these giants of the letters pages.

Topical and interesting, I always look forward to their correspondence, along with Wojciech Simpson, whose letters inspire me to try harder and aspire to do better.

D M Deamer, Penleys Grove Street, Monkgate, York

 

RICHARD BRIDGE tells us his petition and sleeping bag demonstration was not really about armrests on public benches but a protest against injustice and inadequate welfare (Letters, July 28).

His view is obviously not shared by thousands of would-be migrants across the Channel who risk everything on a daily basis to pursue a new life in this “unjust” society.

John Jones, Sand Hutton, York