Over the past few months there has been a large amount of interest in the possibility that in Aireborough we might have to build some 2,300 homes over a period of 16 years, and the last three weeks has seen the examination of the Leeds Core Strategy by a Government Inspector.

At some time soon he will decide whether or not the Leeds proposals are ‘sound’. If he says yes then we are faced with a huge increase in the number of houses, most of which would have to be built on greenfield sites. If he says no then Leeds has to think again.

I am trying to stress just how important this hearing has been to us.

I have attended on a couple of occasions as has Coun Graham Latty. In fact he spoke forcibly in support of our area, alongside Stuart Andrew MP, and members of the Aireborough Neighbourhood Forum, several local residents and WARD.

At no time did I see any members of the other political parties.

The arguments we have been putting forward are that we simply cannot take any more building.

We have already over the last 15/20 years built nearly 2,000 homes in Aireborough, the majority in Guiseley. This means that the space for roads to service these properties cannot be provided as we have built where they would go.

Also, all these new residents and their cars would end up on the A65, a road which is already over capacity. Doctors, dentists, and most important of all school places, are nowhere near able to cope now, let alone if all these properties are built.

All this underlines what I am saying – Leeds has over-egged the cake.

We do not have the capacity in Aireborough to take this number of homes, as my husband keeps on saying: ‘Homes mean People, People mean Cars and People mean Children.’ Whichever way the Inspector decides, Leeds must rethink these impossible numbers and press developers to do their developing elsewhere, perhaps in the south of Leeds where space and infrastructure are in plentiful supply.

Councillor Pat Latty, Guiseley and Rawdon

Important to get checked out for Type 2 diabetes I am writing to thank Stuart Andrew MP for giving his support to our campaign to reach the seven million people in the UK who are at high risk of Type 2 diabetes and for urging people in Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough to have their risk of the condition checked.

The campaign, funded by our National Charity Partnership with Tesco, aims to help people understand the seriousness of Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to devastating health complications such as amputation, blindness and stroke.

This is why it is very important that people are aware of the risk factors, which include being over 40 (or over 25 if you are from a South Asian background), being overweight or having a close family member with diabetes.

We are urging people to take a risk assessment if any of these risk factors apply to them, as in most cases it is possible to prevent or delay the onset of the condition by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Your readers can get risk-assessed online at diabetes.org.uk/risk, by visiting a pharmacy or by going to their GP.

Diabetes can lead to devastating complications and shatter lives and families so it’s really essential that people get checked and this is why I’m delighted that Stuart Andrew MP has added his voice to this call.

Linda Woods, Diabetes UK, Northern and Yorkshire regional manager

Plant a tree now to benefit birds, bees - and ourselves

As we enter the tree-planting season may I remind the readers of this newspaper of the benefit to themselves, as well as birds and bees, of planting a tree that will give blossom in the spring and fruit in the autumn.

Plums, apples, pears, cherries and even almond nuts are worth the effort. Many such gardens would be able to carry such trees, even if only dwarf rootstocks.

Ornamental cherries such as The Grove in Ilkley may look nice but are of no use to bees and birds.

Wharfedale could become much improved if those with land or even a small garden planted for the future.

Imagine if 1,000 people from Addingham to Otley planted something useful this winter – things could only get better!

Ken Pickles, Park Crescent, Addingham

It seems British politicians are in denial of the truth

It would seem modern-day British politicians are now completely detached from reality. This week alone they have shown they are in complete denial of the truth.

First we had the nonsense of climbing on the popular bandwagon of blaming energy companies, not energy policy, for putting millions of us into fuel poverty.

The monumental failure of wind and solar, gradually being abandoned by the rest of the world, means our electricity prices are now the most expensive of all main industrial economies, driving manufacturing abroad as well as impoverishing old age pensioners.

Second we have the nonsense of trying to cap pension fund charges at 0.75 per cent. Referring to companies who ‘rip us off’. Pensioners are, of course, ‘ripped off’ but it is by government.

Zero interest rates on our savings, annuities not worth buying and inflation at double the rate they tell us.

The thrifty and hard-working baby boomer, I am one has been hung out to dry by the central and retail banksters.

How can we ever put them right when our professional journeymen politicians stay in denial?

Godfrey Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire