Readers' Letters: Abandoned roadworks signs go 'unchecked' in Harrogate district

Readers’ Letters is a free weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Whilst not a Harrogate resident, albeit a fairly regular visitor, I fully concur with the various letters published last week regarding aspects of roadworks in and around the town. In addition, and I think it is symptomatic of the "attitude" towards carrying out works, planned or otherwise, are the number of times advisory signs are not collected back in once the works (including diversion signs relating to them) and are just left. 

I live in Ripon and often count the abandoned signs on a journey to say Harrogate or Northallerton. I then report them using the NYC report it system, but rarely get any response and certainly not any communication from the highways team. In one case I reported easels that had held signs, late last year but despite follow up emails, promises of action "within 5 working days" from the customer services team and even engaging the new highways portfolio member, there has still been no action. I am sure that if you added up "value" of the abandoned signs across the county, the total would be significant, but no the efforts to "cut this waste" as promised me in an email from a former council leader, goes unchecked.

Bernard White, Ripon

'Stop mistaking media noise for public will'

John Harris recently noted in The Guardian that too much of our national conversation is shaped by “a bundle of clichés” about voters in so-called red wall seats. This lazy narrative dominates the media and gives the impression that government policy must endlessly contort to satisfy a loud and often reactionary minority, while the real centre ground is largely ignored.

In truth, there is a silent majority in this country that is far more progressive than we are led to believe. Consider this: 45% of British adults believe Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide. Nearly half the population (49%) strongly support a wealth tax. Forty-five percent want immigration to either increase or remain the same. And when it comes to climate policy, 61% of people support the government's net zero targets, while only 12% strongly oppose them.

The idea that Britain is a fundamentally conservative country craving culture wars and punitive policies is simply not borne out by the evidence. Policies that acknowledge the climate emergency, embrace our place in Europe, and promote careful redistribution are not fringe—they are mainstream. Rather than pandering to the politics of resentment or chasing after Nigel Farage and his Reform-ish imitators, our politicians should have the courage to speak to this broad, reasonable middle ground.

It’s time we stopped mistaking media noise for public will.

David Ingham, Ripon

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