Added 4/3/2009

'Elected politicians who just can't be bothered'

I ECHO Richard Heller's plea to Ministers in the postscript of his article "A letter to Gordon Brown" (Yorkshire Post, February 20). I have written numerous letters regarding the Environment Agency's Flood Risk Management Strategies which will return much of East Yorkshire to medieval bogs and I have received replies from most of the recipients, notably Anne McIntosh MP, who has been very supportive.

However, I have not received replies from any office holder in this Labour Government, namely Jane Kennedy, Huw Irranca-Davies, Alistair Darling and Hilary Benn, to whom I have written three letters. My third letter even praised Mr Benn for his speech in January which I felt gave farmers some encouragement when he said that food production and protecting the environment are not at odds with each other.

I am very disappointed that none of these elected officials, all Government Ministers, has taken the time to reply to my letters in which I outlined my fears, for our farm business, food security, the rural economy and house owners of East Yorkshire, should these ill-conceived plans be implemented.

It is a sad day when elected politicians hold the electorate in such contempt that they cannot be bothered to even acknowledge receipt of letters addressed to them personally.

 

After all, that is what we are paying them for and what they were elected to do.