It was, of course, predictable, but it is nonetheless disappointing that Yeadon High Street has been spoilt by the recent work. The materials used are vulgar and inappropriate. It is as if a dignified old lady had been dressed up as a tart.

There seems to be nothing the council can’t make worse.

David Brearley

Micklefield Lane, Rawdon

Parking nomads will only add to parking chaos

In your article (Council bid to scrap parking permits, Observer, February 11), Councillor Colin Campbell is quoted as saying it only affects 20 houses. This is absurd and shows he is not in touch with reality. At best, he is misguided in thinking that current permit holders are not affected. A house without parking will be more difficult to sell and, according to estate agents, its value will be devalued by up to 20 per cent.

Also, if a new resident decides he is happy to pay £1,248 per annum to “pay and display”, he will have to be up and dressed by 7.30am to put money in the ticket machine.

With regard to current permit holders, it is known that there are at least 30 households affected on North Parade alone, not to mention the other streets!

The reason these properties were given permits is the bus routes were changed in Otley which resulted in yellow lines being painted in front of properties. It wasn’t a problem as all car parks in Otley were free including North Parade and Walkergate.

Coun Campbell said this is a historical anomaly! And it is an inequity. There is a reason for this! Not all streets and towns can be standardised!

Approximately 20 years ago Leeds City Council introduced pay and display parking charges but at the time we had a council that cared and understood what problems would result for Otley residents and so permits were issued to affected households.

Unlike today, we have an uncaring and unsympathetic council who are obsessed with getting more taxes and money from already over-charged council tax payers.

The introduction of pay and display resulted in the remaining free car parks being swamped and so residents parking bays were introduced in Walkergate and permits for them issued, however, residents on Walkergate have had their bays removed without consultation, Another example of the council’s uncaring attitude to Otley residents.

Coun Campbell and his supporters’ proposed policies will create “parking nomads” in the town who will park anywhere they can outside other people’s houses and adding even more chaos and congestion to the already over-crowed streets.

Jacqueline Brown

North Parade, Otley

Park and ride is the answer to station parking problems

I was interested to read the article in this week's Wharfedale regarding the issue of parking on the streets surrounding Menston railway station and in particular on the Brooklands Estate. You may recall that I wrote in June last year to alert Menston residents of the very issues that have now arisen.

At the risk of being boring, can I repeat my point made in the June letter, ie, that what is needed is a proper park-and-ride scheme. There is plenty of spare land on the old High Royds Hospital site bordering Bingley Lane and even an existing under-utilised bus service currently running from the site.

Whatever happens we will not stop commuters wishing to use the excellent rail service into Leeds and Bradford and we should be supporting their efforts to keep their car journeys to a minimum by making it easier for them to do so.

Bradford MDC need to get a grip of the issue and propose a solution that solves the problem and does not merely paper over the cracks. What is going to happen to the 100 or so cars currently parking around the station that will be displaced by this scheme?

We should not have to involve our busy MP in these local issues but the apathy and inertia of our local councillors have forced this on us. Watch out, there's an election looming and people have long memories!

Phil Bland

Brooklands Lane, Menston

Bid to end confusion over Leeds North West constituency

I wonder if I could prevail upon your excellent local paper to help clear up a confusion about who our local MP is.

East Carlton is in the Parliamentary constituency of Leeds North West, but it is regularly leafleted by the MP of the adjacent Pudsey constituency. I wrote to him years ago to inform him that we were not his constituents and in the interests of economy and the planet he may wish to refrain from sending literature (delivered by Royal Mail) to us. He kindly replied that he knew we were outside his territory, but as we were near he thought some of what goes on in his area might be of interest to us.

This past week, however, a four-page glossy arrived in the post entitled “feedback from your local MP Paul Truswell”. I do not know how far into Leeds North West this leaflet had encroached. I left a message on Pudsey constituency’s phone number to find out, but have had, at the time of writing, no reply. Most of the residents of East Carlton know that our excellent local MP is Greg Mulholland. He visited each house in the village not long ago and listened to our gripes; within days our forgotten dustbins were empted. Even so, some residents of the affected parts of Leeds North West, especially newly arrived ones, may be confused. They might surmise that boundary changes have placed them in Pudsey for the coming General Election. This is not so! On the contrary: parts of Yeadon are coming into Leeds North West. Maps of the areas to show pre and post change boundaries would be so helpful.

Dr Kate Whelan

Manor Farm House, East Carlton

Dr Hilary helping carers to get the support they deserve

More than 5 million people across the UK currently care for a loved one, yet shockingly, more than two thirds of those do not see themselves as carers, and do not register on the radars of health or care organisations.

Many people take on the role of carer without acknowledging it; often starting with offering to help an elderly relative with shopping, or checking if they’ve taken their medication, but before they know it, they’re caring for several hours or more a week.

As a carer, it can be difficult to admit you need support – physically, emotionally or financially. Many carers often neglect their own health and wellbeing as – to them – the person they care for is their main priority.

Without help and support, before long you can find yourself struggling with what can be very physical and mental demands, trying to balance work and home life, and potentially risking your own health and wellbeing as a result. I’m supporting the NHS Carers Direct ‘Who Cares?’ campaign, to help ensure that the millions of carers across the UK are taking advantage of the support available to them. The Carers Direct helpline can be that all-important first port of call, whatever your concern, however large or small, and as many of the helpline advisors have been carers at some point, they can provide help and support not only for your family member, but also for you.

You can contact Carers Direct for support, information and advice by calling the helpline on 0808 802 02 02 or visiting nhs.uk/ carersdirect.

Dr Hilary Jones

Food is food, no matter what it looks like

Bendy bananas and knobbly fruit and vegetables could be for the chop again after Spanish MEPs began moves to get the EU to re-impose its ban on wonky fruit and veg.

The Spanish amendments, if passed, could spell misery for local farmers whose fruit and veg might not necessarily pass a beauty contest but whose flavour and quality is second to none.

Last July the rules were relaxed but now Spanish MEPs are demanding that the ludicrous rules are reintroduced.

Food is food, no matter what it looks like. To try to stop stores selling perfectly decent food simply because of its shape or size is morally unjustifiable, especially when we are worried about global food supplies and still in the mouth of an economic downturn.

These rules were the butt of jokes for the European Commission and I thought common sense had finally prevailed when they relaxed the rules last July. Local farmers were grateful too as it meant they could sell perfectly good and often better quality produce. If the Spanish MEPs get their way, we could see the re-introduction of the ludicrous bendy banana rules.

Needless to say Conservatives will be bitterly opposing the move and I will be campaigning on behalf of our local farmers. At the end of the day it's consumers who will decide what they want. Let the market decide, not the European Parliament.

Timothy Kirkhope

MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber

Good luck to new business

May I, through your letters page, congratulate the owners and staff of the newly opened Tiny Toes play centre in Town Street, Horsforth. I visited this very pleasant centre this week with my granddaughter, and was made very welcome by the friendly staff.

Good luck to the new owners. It is good to see new businesses opening in these difficult financial times and I wish them every success.

Barbara Hardaker

Raynel Way, Adel