Floods' legacy will be job losses

In some ways, they are the forgotten victims with media attention understandably focused on families who have been trying to pull together the pieces of their shattered lives since the floods hit. However, the impact on business will have far reaching consequences, spreading a shadow of uncertainty over a much wider area than was reached by the rising waters of our local rivers.

We have already seen job losses in our area, which were directly attributed to the effects of the floods. We fear that, unless firms receive the assistance that is essential, then our region could be facing an economic disaster which will echo the down turn of earlier reverses in the city's employment fortunes.

Where will traffic now go after gate?

ELEVEN years of drivers ignoring the tram gates at Hillsborough Corner appear to have come to an end after cameras were switched on, and offenders were given fixed penalty notices.

But there may be more to this story than simply worry of being hit in the pocket. We believe an extensive awareness campaign, where motorists were pre-warned about possible consequences before fines began being issues, may have done the trick.

This, therefore, would show that the council needs to work with motorists and help them understand the restrictions. They must also now wonder what to do about areas where traffic will now be heavier after drivers diverted from Hillsborough Corner.

Shake that wine

HAVING lost his role as 007 to Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan now claims he has his sights on a slightly less glamourous role. Clearly planning to take things more easily, he insists he'd like a role in The Last of the Summer Wine. Considering the average age of the viewers, though, we don't think it a good idea to either shake or stir them!