Bollard money should have been spent elsewhere

A YEAR on after “bollardgate” the real impact of that farce is long lasting and can be seen in streets, roads and avenues all over the city.

The money that should have been spent repairing and resurfacing carriageways and footpaths has been squandered on sliding bollards that are effectively useless in preventing a determined attack.

Any terrorist wishing to inflict damage with a vehicle simply has to drive at speed down any of the unprotected areas and there are plenty of them.

Fossgate, and anywhere on the inner ring road would make a good killing ground.

Not forgetting of course the despicable use of explosives in backpacks that can bypass any bollard.

We are repeatedly told the bollards had to be installed because that was the advice of security experts. Nonsense. Advice is just that - advice. It can be accepted or rejected after proper and careful consideration of all issues.

Matthew Laverack,

Lord Mayors Walk,

York

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Starmer v Kinnock: Is history about to repeat itself?

STARMER claims there is “light at the end of the tunnel”, which reminds me of a famous newspaper headline on the day of a general election when Kinnock was Labour leader – it read – “Would the last person to leave the country please turn out the light”.

Is history about to repeat itself…?

Also: Now the Prime Minster, Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have sportingly volunteered to stop accepting “free clothing” charity shops in their respective constituencies should send them details of what they stock, for nobody wishes to see those living on the breadline earning over £2,000 per week be further embarrassed.

Peter Rickaby,

West Park,

Selby

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Get on with it!

THE Chancellor said in her Labour Party conference speech, we need to reform the planning laws. My friends at Historic England tell me, we have the weakest planning laws since 1947.

It seems to me, instead of wasting time changing the law - this government should be applying for planning permissions to build well built social housing and well built modern prisons.

Nigel Boddy,

Secretary to the Darlington Lib Dems,

Greencroft Close,

Darlington

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Hip, hip, hoopoe!

I REALLY appreciate the colourful contributions to The Press by the evidently thriving and active Camera Club.

All sorts of subjects are covered. Flora and fauna, scenery, sky scapes, seascapes, cityscapes, small details and close-ups. That’s just the start of an impressive list.

I liked the ‘Stamford Bridge Hoopoe’ picture on page 14 of the Press, September 25.

It took me back to my boyhood days many decades ago when I was awarded a school prize in the form of The Observer’s Book of Birds. The edition I received included this unusual bird.

I’ve been interested in our feathered friends ever since but never spotted a hoopoe.

It’s one of a number of birds that seem too colourful or exotic for a British background.

Almost tropical (and at this rate, with global warming, will be!).

If I ever saw a hoopoe, i’d hoopoe for joy!

Derek Reed,

Middlethorpe Drive,

York

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