SURPRISE, surprise, Gillygate nitrogen dioxide levels exceed World Health Organisation guidelines, (The Press December 9).
City of York Council chiefs and Cllr Jenny Kent and Cllr Kate Ravilious must be the only people in the City who didn’t cotton on that closing connecting roads between Wigginton Road and Haxby Road some years ago would lead to not only major congestion but obviously increase pollution into the area, and then to make things even worse some lunatic decided to close the one remaining connecting road between Clarence Street and Huntington Road through the Groves area.
I believe closing these roads by the political parties responsible, Labour, Lib Dems and the Green Party, was a deliberate act in their war against motor vehicles knowing full well the congestion it would create which has become quite obvious over the years.
Then, surprise, surprise we have a polluted city and further action is needed.
Then to rub more salt into the wounds Cllr Ravilious says that one of the trials lasting a year to cut pollution would cost us taxpayers £100,000.
I can suggest a way of cutting pollution in the city overnight and it won’t cost a penny: open the roads you have closed and let traffic move freely around our city like it used to.
Robert Waite,
Windmill Rise,
Holgate, York
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Don’t spread rumours
MR Rickaby makes a very serious allegation when he claims that immigrants will be given priority over resident for new housing. (The Press, Unrealistic Targets, December 17).
He also claims that immigrants will have no jobs and no income. Can he provide any evidence for this?
There are people who have come to this country from war zones where their homes and livelihoods have been destroyed and their families is murdered.
Can we not offer them safety and the opportunity to work and pay their way?
Too many extreme politicians are promoting false rumours and conspiracy theories to sow discontent and destabilise our society. Don’t do their work for them, Mr Rickaby!
Anthony Day,
Lastingham Terrace,
York
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Farm land for houses
OVER the last few weeks two controversial policies by the Labour Party have been headline news in the media: the imposition of inheritance tax on family farms and the plans by the government to build up to two million homes on green belt land.
Perhaps the answer could be for the government to, in lieu of taxing the farmers, for the farmers to donate one per cent of their land for building houses.
This should exclude farms below a certain acreage. It would allow landowners and farmers to donate their non-productive land near roads and amenities for building on.
The farms would be saved for future generations and the government would receive the land potential free to build on.
It’s a win win situation for both parties involved.
D M Deamer,
Penleys Grove Street,
Monkgate,
York
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Questions on sale
WITH the sale of the Royal Mail to a Czech (cheque?) billionaire, will it still be able to retain the word ‘Royal’, with such a powerful cachet?
It doesn’t carry the same punch if it’s just referred to as ‘Mail’. Perhaps a compromise name might do such as ‘Prague Post? Anyone feel a national competition for a new title coming on?
Derek Reed
Middlethorpe Drive,
York
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What do you think?
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