Local Plan protects Castle Hill against development

Neil Diamond (pictured), singer, 79; Aaron Neville, R&B singer, 79; Michael Des Barres, singer/actor, 72; Adrian Edmondson, actor, 63; Jools Holland, musician/TV presenter, 62; Vic Reeves (pictured), comedian, 61; Tatyana Ali, actress and singer, 41.

THE council decided to ask landowners to put forward land with the potential to be set aside for building over a 15-year period. The land was assessed and the local plan was produced.

Residents in beleaguered Lepton can’t understand why green belt land is now designated for development and brown field sites are not.

The first paragraph answers the second. Now that the Local Plan is in place every planning decision has to be backed by that. The presumption is every planning decision will pass unless you can show sound reasons why it should not.

Which brings me to Castle Hill and why the proposed building should not take place.

The Local Plan, which has designated areas for 31,000 houses, and industrial and economic development, specifically protects Castle Hill. It is the duty of the council to protect an area designated as a national monument.

As the land is part of the green belt any development must be for the benefit of the green belt. Commercial activity is not a special reason for building and there is no way round that.

So upholding the Local Plan, and making sure there is sufficient housing, also means stopping the building of a McDonald’’s lookalike on Castle Hill.

Where are the extra police you promised?

HOLME Valley Mountain Rescue has once again suffered damage and a burglary at its premises.

My grandson, like the rest of the volunteers, are called out at any time of the day or night to rescue people in all sorts of situations.

When local people go missing they join the search to find someone’s loved one and sometimes the worst is discovered and they have to deal with that.

This team is needing funds constantly and to have vital equipment stolen can mean the worst case scenario for those injured.

I know this letter will have little effect on those who do such crimes but Boris, if you are listening, do not forget the extra police you promised to stamp down on crime.

And we also need stiffer sentences for the low-lives who commit such crimes.

Knee op is well worth the discomfort

I had a half-knee replacement about four years ago due to arthritis. Two years ago the other knee went the same way. I had the operation done on December 2.

I had both ops done by Mr Walsh and his excellent staff at ward 8 at Halifax General. It’s a fantastic, modern hospital.

I was fast-tracked on the day of my surgery. I had the op all finished by 1pm.

I was sent for an X-ray soon afterwards, then told to get my bum out of bed and start walking with crutches.

I was dropped off at home in the early evening, where I was to be looked after by a resident nurse – my wife Jackie. I was in extreme pain for 10 days. I had a visit from a physio, once a week, in my case three visits. All the exercise is done at home with the use of a little gadget they can monitor online.

The Locala girl, called Joanna, did a fine job. The clear dressing was gone after two weeks and I was using a stick for the second week then walking unaided.

All was pretty normal after six weeks.

Was it worth it. Yes! The constant pain has gone and I can walk with ease.

It’s a painful experience but take my word for it, well worth it for the results you get.

My thanks to everyone involved in the NHS and Locala for this miraculous cure for knee problems.