I AM somewhat surprised still to see letters complaining about having to cross a number of traffic lights to get the new number 6 bus service to the hospital.

When this service started on August 2, I wrote to First York complaining about the dangers of pensioners and the infirm having to cross over to Station Avenue to get this service. They wrote back saying they would be willing to allow passengers to get the number 6 at Station Rise.

Unfortunately, First York has not advertised this important change to all passengers concerned, so I would be grateful if you could advertise this.

Also, while I agree that the change is an inconvenience to those used to travelling all the way to the hospital for many a year, we should get used to it as it means all sides of the city have to change in the centre to get to the hospital.

Philip Torrance, Tang Hall Lane, York

 

REGARDING Mrs Hilton’s letter (The Press, August 22) about seagulls, a few points to consider.

Firstly, look in any good bird book and you will find no such thing as a seagull. Gulls have never been purely confined to the coast, and many species have always preferred to breed inland.

Like any bird that enters our environment, gulls are here because we create suitable conditions for them. We have vast open landfill sites, crammed with wasted food. We are haphazard with our litter, leaving yet more food lying around. And of course, we deliberately put food out, happy to see birds around us. Far from being pesky, they are cleaning up our mess.

It is also worth noting that gulls are actually in decline. They may have increased in urban sites, but that is one positive alongside a far greater negative. They have declined in part because natural food sources at the coast have been depleted, again due to our actions.

So what is our response to this human-made problem? Do we look at our own behaviour? No. Instead we propose culls of species already struggling. We are, apparently, a nation of animal lovers. I can’t help feeling that’s a very selective love.

David Craven, York 

 

I HOPE council leader Chris Steward rejects the advances from West Yorkshire to join them in a devolution pact (The Press, August 24).

York is strong enough as a single entity to stand on its own feet. Scaremongering that our city needs to join with other councils is false. Central government would never ignore our claims for extra funding, as long as the business and social cases are properly made.

Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington

 

YOUR correspondent Tim Short is correct (Letters, August 25). The democracy on which we all rely is under threat. In the few weeks since the election we have seen clearly which way the wind is blowing.

Housing associations are to be forced to offer their homes for sale, schools which do not meet certain standards are to be forced to become academies, northern cities are to be pressured to accept directly elected mayors.

The Government intends to take over decisions on licences for fracking if councils do not react quickly enough. What next, I wonder?

An ‘independent’ panel suggests Westminster politicians deserve a ten per cent salary increase. Most of us are lucky to get one or two per cent. Many ordinary folk have suffered redundancy or been forced to accept a pay a pay freeze or even a pay cut (see The Press report about porters at York University for example).

To paraphrase George Orwell: “All people are created equal, but some are more equal than others.” It is becoming apparent how much calming influence the Liberal Democrats exerted in the coalition.

Pamela Brown, Goodwood Grove, York

 

THE North Yorkshire branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust would like to say a massive ‘thank you’ to all those people who made a contribution at our charity collection on Saturday, August 22, at York Racecourse.

We received a total of £851.67, which is an amazing amount in one day. We were dressed up as Big Bird, Neon Girl and a Man In A Pink Wig so had a lot of fun with everyone. I think we were in a few selfie photos.

Moira Boast, Secretary, North Yorkshire branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, York