How can we change political attitudes?

BURBAGE Barry is spot on (HT Letters 11/10/17), but it is not just Mr Corbyn with a “magic money tree” – where else did the £2bn handed to the DUP come from?

The local government approach to spending is often based on the fact that some money has become “available” rather than based on either need or results.

The £6m spent on the local cycling scheme is a perfect example.

Firstly, the driving motive was, if we don’t spend it, it will be allocated elsewhere so let’s grab it whilst its going so we can then claim we are a progressive authority and boast accordingly to the electorate.

The truth is however that even at the outset the altruistic potential benefits were “sexed- up” – even the overall cycling community has mixed views on such schemes. The aims were described but (deliberately I am sure) in a way that would be hard if not impossible to measure, so nobody can now be held to account. Difficult or not, no attempt was even made to measure the two key aims – more cycling and less congestion.

The best LCC can do is make spurious claims over traffic speed reduction but ironically not to the level they themselves declared was the necessary maximum to take away one of cyclists’ greatest concerns.

I don’t know how we can bring a real change about as this attitude pervades all political persuasions. F Knapp, by email

A reader sent in this picture they found in the attic which was given to them by an aunt. It was still storing some old items from the relative who died a few years ago. In fact, with a bit of tape, it could still be useful as a box...or in a museum.