Stray Views 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.

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I despair with the latest idea from the Prime Minister. 

The concept of making all children study maths to age 18 shows how out of touch with reality Rishi Sunak is. Apart from the fact that this would cause chaos in schools at a time when there are so many other issues that the public want sorting out, beggars’ belief. 

As a retired teacher and a life-long conservative. I would love to get Rishi in a room and give him a verbal thrashing. This ’intellectual’ ideal of maths to age 18 does not square with the reality that not all children are academic, and that there is a need for more practical and vocational training. Already in a post pandemic era there are thousands of young people who are disaffected and uninspired by the present education system. 

This is partly due to rigid and inflexible curricula and staff protocols. The PM’s priority should be setting up a system like the pandemic ‘Nightingale Hospitals’ to take the ‘bed blockers’ out of hospitals, thus also reducing the blockages at A&E and freeing up ambulances. 

We clearly need to train more doctors and nurses, but not every nurse needs a degree and perhaps going back to ‘on the ward’ training with paid trainees is the answer. 

As for all the strikes such as rail workers and postal workers, the government needs to be more proactive in getting a resolution. Teaching maths to age 18 will not solve any of these issues.

Brian Souter, Starbeck

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• Stray Views: Where is green energy in Maltkiln plans?


• Stray Views: Harrogate’s Wetherby Road crossing ‘poorly thought out’

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Another hospital for Harrogate should be built

Is there any reason why another hospital cannot be built instead of all the available land being used for housing?

I remember people saying it was a good idea for “another” hospital when it was proposed to demolish the general. It was said the hospital was getting a bit tatty, but there was surprise when land was sold for housing and not another hospital. 

Also Carlton Lodge on Leeds Road which was used in addition for maternity was sold and everything - and I mean everything - was to be in the new district hospital. 

There really should be another hospital. Not a bigger one, another one.

Anne Smith, Pannal

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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.