LETTERS ROUND-UP

The BID team is suggesting evening car parking charges be reduced.

Perhaps complementary measures could be taken to encourage more evening cycling into York, by providing sheltered and secure parking.

This would reduce the risk of higher-value bikes being stolen or trashed while parked at on-street racks.

The Guildhall has an extensive basement, and it would not be beyond the wit of man to convert part of this into a secure bike park.

There are numerous examples around the UK of civic and other buildings being similarly converted. Leicester is one example.

Smartcard access for regular users would simplify evening access, and a modest annual or monthly payment would help recoup lighting costs.

It could also make a useful staffed commuter bike park during the day. Perhaps one of York’s many enterprising cycle shops could be invited to become a franchised operator?

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, York

IN RESPONSE to Cllr John Gates (Letters, September 12), North Yorkshire may be the safest place to live and work, which is all very commendable, but do not allow the status quo to become a victim of complacency.

Speaking from personal experience of having worked for many a year patrolling my home beat police patch in Wembley, London, in my day community policing was the icon in the prevention of crime.

Irrespective of race, colour or creed, daily contact with my flock, so to speak, ensured swift response policing by motorised units, not having to deal with non-emergency situations when advice could defuse most situations, especially domestic issues.

Difficult times lay ahead. Be forever on your guard and work as a community.

Kenneth Bowker, Huntington, York

JUST when you think you’ve seen everything, life has a habit of surprising you.

On a recent coach trip to Scotland, looking out from my lofty position on the coach and observing the drivers of cars, trucks and other road vehicles, we passed a young lady driving old Micra car with her left leg on the dashboard and her foot pressed against the windscreen.

As the traffic sped up we again passed this same lady, only this time she had adapted a half lotus position, her left leg on the seat with her right over the top of it.

Scotland reminded me of one of my father’s sayings: “Isn’t it funny that wherever you look, you can see something?”

In Scotland, we met a canny old Scot standing by his gate with a sign saying “boat for sale”.

He told me how his wife had just died and to put it in the local paper cost £5 a word.

Wanting to put “wife dead” he was told there had to be a minimum five words, so he put “wife dead, boat for sale”.

But you only have a cycle and an old wheelbarrow. “Yes, but they are boat for sale,” he said.

D M Deamer, Penleys Grove Street, Monkgate, York

I REFER to HF Perry’s letter (The Press, September 15). What planet is he living on? Not planet Earth.

He states: “I was always brought up to believe that people are innocent until proved by a court of law to be guilty.”

In general, I would agree. But to then state: “To blast two British men out of life.” These individuals decided to leave the UK and join an evil regime (Isis).

As far as I am concerned, these individuals gave up their rights to be called British when they left these shores.

These people do not care about the rights of people.

They are barbaric, abduct young women and girls, who are raped and murdered.

They have committed terrible acts against in the main Christians and military personnel who are captured.

They do not believe in human rights or a court of law.

By joining Isis, they became the enemy and subject to any attacks to destroy them.

Ivan T Jones, Acomb Wood Drive, Acomb Park, York

READING Sue Nelson’s article, “A time when tea was tea made me smile” (The Press, September 14), I wonder how far north she comes from.

Coming from a mining village near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, tea did mean tea.

No second knife and fork meal, and we always had to have bread and butter with either jam or treacle before we had cake.

My mam would, on the rare occasion, come out with the “sugar on” quote. My sister and I still smile about it. We were certainly not rough and lived in dark satanic backstreets.

Apart from the pit heads and heaps, we also had farmers’ fields and open spaces.

Coming from a big family, we had enough real aunties and all others were Mrs. I will always be grateful for the loving parents and happy childhood I had and wish all children could have the same.

M Robinson, Broadway, York

THE new Community Stadium in York has already become the best comic operetta never composed and written by Gilbert & Sullivan.

The misinformation that has been dished out to the fans and York ratepayers beggars belief. So let’s look at the situation in a different light.

FISF insists that the £2 million grant is offered on the condition that an 8,000 all-seater stadium is built despite fans wanting standing terraces.

The extra 2,000 seats will cost £4 million, so to get what the fans don’t want will cost the ratepayers an extra £2 million.

Refuse the grant, build what the fans want and save £2 million.

According to Football League regulations an all-seater stadium is not required for teams which have not played three seasons in the highest divisions.

Jim Bone, Danum Road, York