IT was good to see the article in The Press this week about the urgent need for help for the independent pub sector in York when faced with the power of the very large pub companies – and credit to Rachael Maskell for getting actively involved with this.
However, it’s the day-to-day cost of running hospitality venues that’s more of a concern for most licensees I know, with increased National Insurance payments, higher wage costs, complicated new employment law legislation, a less generous business rates regime, and the possible banning of outdoor smoking creating a perfect storm at what is always a quiet time of year for pubs.
The sheer complexity of all of this puts a particularly large burden upon the typical small pub business which doesn’t have in-house HR, legal and accountancy departments to steer them through.
Pubs are one of the few great things left as the services we expect in a civilised society get worse and worse – so please Mr Starmer, make sure that we’ll continue to have somewhere to drown our sorrows at the thought of Britain in 2025 – and the people of York, come out and support your local pub.
There’s more to life than watching football at home with a few sad supermarket cans of lager!
John Walker,
Heworth Green,
York
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Trump’s plans for Gaza are a gift to Israel
I CAN fully understand US President Trump being utterly frustrated by the Middle East mess, but his latest idea of dismantling Gaza, rebuilding and “cleansing” it is all wrong.
No wonder the Israeli PM Netanyahu thinks Trump is the best friend Israel has ever had. Two “crooks” together. Netanyahu has always wanted the whole of Gaza to be part of a “greater Israel”.
The obvious and correct answer to the shambles in that area is the two state solution but Israel, and especially Netanyahu will NEVER agree to that. Trump’s plans are a gift to Israel which allows them to get away with even more war crimes and genocide and the illegal occupation of the West Bank.
The UK must support the Palestinians, who have unfairly suffered ever since the formation of Israel 75 years ago.
David Quarrie,
Lynden Way,
Holgate,York
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Time to think again on energy options
IN choosing Starmer’s Labour Party, a long-term thinker had been selected in place of the PR-obsessed politicians of the preceding parliament. Or at least that’s how it seemed.
How wrong could we have been?
The dash for neighbourhood nuclear (NN) is as much a fantasy as a Johnsonian garden bridge or Trussite monetary policy.
I’m not being a NIMBY. There are no functioning NN plants of the kind envisaged, anywhere in the world. The method of construction is in its infancy. The theory likewise. Any build time would be many years. The supply chain is long, vulnerable and potentially expensive. Even if all went to plan, it’d be the 2030s before they were on line.
If the arguments for NN are so secure, why is objection being marginalised?
If NN is so fab, why do its neighbours have to be bribed with cheap tariffs?
Alternatives – more solar, more onshore wind, tidal generation, pumped water, better house design and insulation – already exist, are ready to go right now, and are no more expensive.
Why are they being snubbed in the face of fantasy? Perhaps someone in power has been very well lunched and PowerPointed.
Bucks Fizz were right!
David Lewis,
Church End,
Cawood
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