Live and let live in town and country

From: David Grigsby, Boston Spa.

EARLIER this month, a friend went on a run along a public footpath. He was told in more than one village to go home. He encountered barbed wire on stiles and signs telling him to go away.

I had similar experiences at the weekend in North Yorkshire with keep out signs and was interrogated by a villager as to where I had come from. I also noticed that farmers are putting bulls in fields that have footpaths.

It is ironic that these villages have no shops so their residents will be driving to towns for their shopping – would they feel it was reasonable if they were turned away from shops for not being local?

Like many, I live in a built-up area. If I walk locally, I encounter many people. When I walk in the country, I see few. I am more at risk of contracting or spreading the virus if I walk locally than in the country, and the nation is more at risk if people are packed into urban parks than spread out on public footpaths.

Villagers may feel that visitors bring the disease, but as the Government advisors have said, the risk outdoors is very low. It is easy to give other walkers a wide berth and cover your hands when you touch stiles.

Most of the shops, cafes and pubs that exist in the country are unsustainable without visitors. When lockdown is lifted, the countryside will need visitors. The town needs the country and the country needs the town, can’t we be kinder and live and let live?

From: Dick Lindley, Altofts,

Normanton.

CONGRATULATIONS to Boris Johnson on his masterful speech on May 10, about setting us free again while at the same time safeguarding us against this frightful virus.

He had a most difficult decision to make, either restoring some personal freedoms and some business activities to help the economy get started again or alternatively, as in Scotland and Wales, continuing a total shutdown of personal freedoms, culminating in a bankrupt Britain.

Every sane person will realise how he must have agonised over this speech. I, for one, sincerely hope that it is the correct policy and that the light at the end of the tunnel is not an incoming train.

Well done Boris.

From: Terry Canadine, Moorgate Road, Rotherham.

WITH reference to contributor Peter Asquith-Cowen (The Yorkshire Post, May 9), I was amazed at his comments.

He is correct that billions have been spent on preparing nuclear weapons over the years while both major parties have been in power over the last six or seven decades, in preparation for use against a nuclear power attacking the western world.

These events were a possibility due to words or actions voiced, or carried out, by potential human foes. The coronavirus pandemic, although active in the far east a few weeks before it crept up on our shores, did not shout from the roof tops about its approach or arrival.

Billions have now had to be spent in order to fight the evil disease which got the upper hand due to its silent arrival. It is sad to hear about all of the lives being lost with many more to come, no doubt.

As for the public being confused about what to do, I am sorry but they must have a brain cell or two missing if that is the case. If you want a face mask get one or make one, don’t wait to be told to do so.

I am in my mid-70s and can understand with clarity what advice has been published. I have conformed over the last couple of months but it has been difficult, do as you’re told at this time for the good of the rest of us.

If Mr Asquith-Cowen is not using his crystal ball, can he send it to the Government as they need to be made aware of what is going to happen to the economy in the next few weeks, because they are pumping billions into it and may not need to?

From: Canon Michael Storey, Healey Wood Road, Brighouse.

GOVERNMENT guidelines as to how we should all “behave” during this pandemic often leave something to be desired.

So, congratulations on your daily Q&A column which make Government guidelines understandable. Thank you.

From: Steve Wilson, Lenton Villas, Bradford.

AS a lifelong grassroots cricket club dogsbody, the inescapable reality to those without heads in buckets of sand has been that recreational cricket will be impossible this summer.

Chris Waters’ piece (The Yorkshire Post, May 13) nails it as usual with the challenges faced by club cricket, past and present. I urge leagues to get their heads together to use this time to think hard about what changes we need to make the grassroots game more relevant to today’s society.

Waters is right: we will lose both players, umpires and volunteers.

How we seek to replace them will not be with simply carrying on as before. Life has moved on and cricket was already struggling.

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

IT HAS been interesting to read that fewer people have attended A&E compared to the same period last year. Surely these figures are misleading unless we are told what conditions people are attending with?

I certainly don’t mind if more people with broken nails or drunks stay at home.