New Clean Air Act

And the just released State of Sheffield report says the city needs to work together to tackle ‘long-standing’ air quality problems.

Because the city is surrounded by seven hills, air pollution accumulates and lingers on lower ground in still conditions.

If warnings are issued, people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can make informed decisions on whether to avoid areas like the city centre, where there are more pollution hot spots, or possibly, stay indoors altogether on the very worst days.

And all of us can make decisions on vigorous physical activity in which you inhale dangerous PM2.5 particulates more deeply.

So why is Sheffield council not issuing air pollution warnings like London and a rapidly increasing number of cities worldwide?

People have a right to know about situations that affect their health and wellbeing.

The Met Office now issue five-day pollution forecasts and our council could issue warnings via local media outlets when there is a need.

But they appear reluctant to do this or to take action that matches the scale of this public health crisis.

The council’s Air Quality Action Plan objectives to be achieved by 2015 have not been met and air pollution continues to contribute to an estimated 500 premature deaths in Sheffield every year.

That’s why Sheffield Greens are pushing for urgent action to protect our health – Let Sheffield Breathe! Sign the petition at www.change.org/p/sheffield-city-council-sheffield-needs-a-new-air-pollution-action-plan

Brian Webster

Broomhill & Sharrow Vale ward Green Party

Grey to green?

What are we to make of Grey to Green, the new City centre landscape at Shalesmoor/Snig Hill?

Some very comfortable seating but rather peculiar public art with interesting environmental and historical information and some nice relief features.

However, the information is hard to read and I raise my eyebrows when I see a reference to part of the Sheffield Workhouse being converted into apartments in Mayfield Court?

The plant containers are concrete and remind me of sewer pipes and what is the idea of the wooden posts with rope across them?

Discouraged, I lighten up as the Cathedral bells ring and the Sunday evening sun gleams on the windows of the apartments in Millsands.

I really must stay in more.

Ron Clayton

Avoidable

PR disaster

The council just needs to tell Amey to stop chopping down the trees, and spend the money on something else.

I have lived in the same house in Walkley since 1984 and have never had a letter through the door saying that cars cannot be parked in the street the next week because it is being fully resurfaced.

I can live with a few tree roots pushing up the pavements in Western Road and elsewhere.

The trees are an avoidable PR disaster.

Is Bryan Lodge a double agent for the Green Party?

Stan Taylor

by email

About time she got a life

How dare Jayne Grayson say she feels safe because she lives a pretty usual life?

And how dare The Star print her opinion that it was because of the world this young man lived in that he was shot dead.

Maybe some of his grieving family have read her pathetic opinion of someone she doesn’t even know.

It’s about time she got a life.

Disgusted reader

Fulwood

Health and social care

Two letters highlighting the problems in health care, from local politicians, appeared in Friday’s edition of the Star.

Having retired after 30 years’ service as a nurse I still find it hard to understand why politicians of all parties use health and social care as a political weapon.

Why with something so important has there been no effort to produce a plan supported by all parties.

A plan putting political dogma to one side .

A plan that runs for 10 years or so.

A plan where politicians explain how additional revenue will be raised which will upset some of their voters.

A plan that could be implemented by dedicated NHS staff with no political influence.

My conclusion is that this will not happen.

No politician plans further that the next election and well-financed and efficient Health and Social care would deprive our pathetic politicians of the opportunity to shed crocodile tears for the service while using it for cheap political point-scoring.

If you doubt my opinion watch last Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions where Corbyn and May threw figures at one another and probably accepted the congratulations of their advisers on a job well done.

Meanwhile, operations are cancelled and our elderly neglected.

Any politician who claims that their party alone can solve the problems in health and social care is either telling a lie or it’s delusional.

P Robb

S20

...a tad confusing

Not long ago drivers were encouraged to go diesel as that fuel was more environmentally-friendly than petrol... wrong!

Biomass fuel has also been considered the answer to a cleaner climate, but as suggested this week... wrong!

Butter v margarine, the debate goes on.

Statins good or bad? Experts disagree.

We are now advised that 10 portions of fruit and vegetables a day replaces five a day.

How long will it be before we are advised by health experts to smoke 10 cigarettes a day?

Jeremy Biggin

Upperthorpe, Sheffield, S6

Nothing has changed

Prior to being voted in as Stokes new MP, remainer Gareth Snell said Brexit was a pile of **** and that Brexiteers were all racist.

Stoke voted by almost 70 per cent to leave the EU in June’s referendum.

It would appear that nothing has changed over the last 50 years or so, in working class Stoke at least.

You could put a red Labour party rosette around the neck of a donkey and it would still get elected.

Terry Palmer

South Lea Avenue, Hoyland, Barnsley, S74

It’s more bad news

If only we could ask for a pay rise when the council comes asking for more money.

As if that would happen, better tighten that belt again.

Jayne Grayson

by email