Problems across town all stem back to poor climate change policy
■■1348: Edward III founded the Order of the Garter.
■■1564: William Shakespeare, English playwright, poet and actor, was born in Stratfordupon-Avon. He died on the same date in 1616.
■■1661: Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland was crowned king at Westminster Abbey.
■■1775: Joseph Mallord William Turner, English landscape painter, was born in London. ■■1915: Rupert Brooke, English poet, died of blood poisoning on the Greek island of Skyros. ■■1927: Cardiff City beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup Final to become the first club to take the cup out of England.
■■1968: The first decimal coins appeared in Britain. They were the 5p and 10p pieces which replaced the old one shilling and two shilling coins.
■■1983: Cliff Thorburn scored the first televised maximum break of 147 in the World Snooker championships, at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. ■■1984: The United States announced the discovery of the Aids virus.
■■1996: An auction of the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ possessions began at Sotheby’s in New York City.
■■2005: The first video was uploaded to YouTube.com.
■■ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Nature lovers were urged to join a national day to celebrate the “joy of blossom” to help boost their sense of wellbeing.
THURSDAY’S Examiner (April 21) had some very good reporting on what is really the failure of the Labour administration in Kirklees over a number of interrelated issues and plans concerning ‘£75m road scheme,’ ‘park gridlock,’ ‘fight to save wildlife’ etc.
They all, in the end, come under the rubric of the response to climate change and the environment.
Despite the many words and commitments, there is a complete failure to produce any practical schemes or solutions.
That this is so is proved by the apparent (unannounced) decision by the council to push back its zero carbon commitment to 2050 – so far down the line that it is worthless.
Welsh Labour has proved to be quite radical in dealing with, for instance, the car pollution/climate change problems but Labour both locally, regionally and nationally in England is showing itself, again and again, to be deeply conservative when it comes to the key questions of our time.
Stephen Dorril, Holmfirth
well-being of its people.
Well, you could have fooled me with this statement. From news reports over many decades, this statement does not appear to ring true. You could describe China as extremely secretive, an enigma wrapped in a conundrum.
China, a country ruled with an iron fist. An alternative view point or religion doesn’t get you thrown out of the country, they throw you in a re-education centre and throw away the key. Free thought and free speech do not seem to exist. Are we headed in the same direction?
R J Bray, Shelley
are running free in my childhood park, Examiner, Thursday, April 14).
I agree the park has fallen into disrepair, especially since Covid and the closure of the museum. It feels like it’s been abandoned.
We were in Crow Nest Park recently with the grandchildren – home of another closed museum and suffering a similar fate.
On walking round the pond area we were surprised by a family of five young rats that shot out of the undergrowth near our feet and converged under a large shrub a short distance away where I imagine the nest is.
This was closely followed by the grandkids with cries of ‘oooo grandma – they’re SO cute!’ – which left me torn between teaching them to always respect and care for nature, or leaping on the park bench with a yelp like the lady used to in Tom and Jerry!
In the end I compromised with a ‘yes, well come away now or you’ll frighten them’ while shuddering quietly to myself.
Anne B, via email
The country needs a reliable, affordable energy policy.
Like millions of other people, I want to protect our earth, however renewables – as they love to call them – are not the answer to our problems.
We stalled on nuclear when we should have pressed ahead; instead we have become bogged down with other forms of energy production which do not meet the needs of the people and our manufacturing base.
Now nuclear energy is back in favour, but it will take time to get it all up and running. In the meantime what happens?
I am not a socialist but when it comes to ownership of essential services which keep body and soul together, such as energy and water, these industries should not be in private hands. Recently, a gentleman from Scottish Power suggested that the government pay out £1,000 to every family who was struggling with their energy costs.
Our government hasn’t any money – the money it has is our money. Energy companies should for once take a hit on their profits. You cannot just keep upping the cost to the public to retain a healthy profit margin. The problem for the user is there is no alternative. We are a captive market.
Martin, Huddersfield