IN REPLY to Cllr Paul Doughty (Letters, August 21), I would suggest that he has a chat with the council’s economic strategy and policy team to understand why York needs to be in a devolution deal that includes West Yorkshire.

In recent funding to the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, the combined authority, and through the growth fund, transport fund and the European Economic Structural Infrastructural Fund, York has had access to a greater share of funding than through its North Yorkshire partnerships as funding is based on economic growth.

Cllr Doughty says my devolution views are skewed by politics in West Yorkshire. Perhaps he should speak to his Conservative colleagues in West Yorkshire who are signed up to the combined authority and to Craven, Harrogate and Selby, who are looking to be in a devolution deal that includes West Yorkshire.

In recent years, one senior North Yorkshire County Council officer said York was a market town that had got above itself... good.

York is not a market town but a city and for the sake of our children and children’s children, I am glad we got “above ourselves” otherwise we would be a “chocolate box” attraction with no future for our future generations.

Tracey Simpson-Laing, Amberley Street, York

 

BRADSHAW’S 1866 railway guide describes York as the “ancient capital” and Leeds as the “actual capital of Yorkshire”.

As a York citizen, even though I work in Leeds, I had never considered Leeds as the capital of Yorkshire. It was always York for me.

However, Bradshaw uses the additional word “actual” and in the heat of the industrial revolution, Leeds was undoubtedly the economic capital of Yorkshire. The reality is that, 150 years later, it still is.

The apparent anti-Leeds stance being taken regarding Yorkshire devolution by some of York’s coalition councillors and Conservative MP betrays Yorkshire’s economic past and undermines its future.

York will suffer if the splendid isolationists get their way. It is time for the ancient and the actual to work together for the good of Yorkshire.

Nick Emmerson, Dringhouses, York

 

PAUL Hepworth’s recent plea for us all to support joining the proposed West/South Yorkshire conurbation devolved region under a new mayor on the basis that there may be more money available for sustainable travel measures cannot be taken seriously (Letters, August 24).

While such a devolved structure would imply more overall funding, it would undoubtedly be subject to intense argument as to how it would be distributed, and York’s demands would count for little against the needs of the populations of West and South Yorkshire. Do we need a new mayor anyway?

Far better for York, with its successful economic record, world class educational and research facilities, respected business reputation and low unemployment to head a group of like-minded local authorities, currently forming the North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, in supporting our myriad smaller businesses, and the larger ones too.

Such a group would be able to attract significant additional Government devolved funding, which could go towards developing our many settlements so that they can become far more sustainable.

Of course the devolution debate revolves around much more than whether or not we can have more dedicated cycle tracks.

What an opportunity to change direction. Go for it York!.

Philip Crowe, Clifton, York