Protecting the environment as we recover from the virus

From: Kirsty Hallett, Harrogate.

WE must make sure our household finances and the local economy recover from the pandemic as soon as possible.

This must be done without forgetting that the use of oil and gas are committing us to higher temperatures and more extreme weather in future.

While we are in isolation, some of us may find strength in reminding our elected representatives that job and training opportunities could be created that will also help to protect our natural world.

For example, money put aside for environmentally damaging road building across North Yorkshire would be better spent on developing local employment and skills in renewable power technologies and heat pumps.

Once lockdown is eased, most of us will be able to do our bit to support local businesses by calling in at shops and cafes as we continue to walk and cycle.

Transport is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the Harrogate District, so leaving our cars at home would also help us to limit climate change and biodiversity loss.

From: Dr Andy Asquith, Massey University, New Zealand.

GREETINGS from a Yorkshireman on the other side of the world.

Just a note to correct something in your front page leader ‘VE Day 75’ (The Yorkshire Post, May 8).

You make reference to Sir Winston Churchill making his radio broadcast in 1945. In fact

Churchill wasn’t knighted until 1953 – ergo, he was simply Mr Winston Churchill.

A minor error in an otherwise poignant piece.

From: John Edwards, Carlisle.

AM I missing something, but were not both Nicola Sturgeon and Sir Keir Starmer pressing for a plan to end the lockdown and move on just a week or so ago? Now they seem to be arguing caution and for the lockdown to continue. Why are the aggressive journalists not making more of this situation? Seems that it is fine to continue to criticise the Government and not those who do the criticising!

From: Paul Morley, Long Preston, Skipton.

HALF the country seems to think the lockdown has gone on too long and the other half think it needs to go on a lot longer. Boris Johnson, his Cabinet and their health advisors may as well just close their eyes and stick a pin in the calendar for the date to lift lockdown.