Readers’ Letters: The council needs to consider disabled taxi users in Harrogate

Readers’ Letters is a 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. 

This letter follows news of a potential increase in Harrogate taxi fares. It sparked concern among drivers, with one saying, if approved, the town could be ‘swamped’ by Uber.

As a disabled person and a pensioner who regularly uses taxis, the proposed increase in fares concerns me.

Being both the above means life is curtailed in many ways, so please consider carefully the implications for the elderly and infirm.

Ann Townson, Harrogate 

Harrogate needs a council to maintain the town’s reputation

The Stray Ferret regularly receives letters expressing concern over Harrogate’s appearance and infrastructure. This reader is reiterating those frustrations.

The appalling state of our roads is well-documented but actual resurfacing is frustrating slow.

We now have the added problem of weeds and rubbish accumulating in gutters and on footpaths, causing blocked drains and unsightly puddles.

Visitors are told that Harrogate is an attractive and aesthetic town – well, not any longer.

Since North Yorkshire Council took on these responsibilities, maintenance and cleaning of public spaces has seemingly stopped.

Has anyone seen a street cleaner recently? We urgently need a local representation, like a town council, to ensure our town maintains its reputation and to protect the visitor income, which is vital to many of our businesses.

Jeremy Dexter, Harrogate

Why is there no alternative while Knaresborough is without a Post Office?

This letter comes after Knaresborough’s Post Office closed suddenly earlier this month. The move means the town will be without the service until August.

I find it strange that nobody put in a request for a mobile postal service to cover Knaresborough during the interim until it re-opens. 

There is one that already serves Staveley and parts of Ripon, so surely Knaresborough wouldn’t be much more of a stretch.

It’s seems very short sighted thought process…

Andy Harris, Knaresborough

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

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