Letters to the Editor

Can I stress that, as I said in last week’s article, there are many streets in Ilkley where motorists have no choice other than to park with two wheels on the pavement.

If they didn’t in some residential streets the town would grind to a halt.

The article was referring primarily to large vans (with heavy loads) delivering particularly to the shops on the Grove. That along with the Council’s neglect in not pursuing the utilities is not helping to keep. The Grove pavement to the level it should be Councillor Anne Hawkesworth Ilkley ward councillor I agree with Joe’s musical stars dream I totally agree with Joe McHugh (my dream to get back great musical stars 14/02/2013).

Look at the great acts the Kings Hall Ilkley has on a regular basis.

Ken Arundel, Lawn Ave, Burley-in-Wharfedale

What law has to say on school decisions

Your story about the admissions controversy at a local school made me think that your readers might be interested to know what the law has to say about this subject.

Every year many parents seek legal advice as they are absolutely livid about school selection decisions.

The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 entitles every parent to express a preference as to where their child should be educated.

That is why the council sends out forms asking parents to name schools they prefer. They do it because the law requires them to, not because they want to.

The Act goes on to say that the preference of the parent must be complied with. Simple as that. There is always a catch though, isn’t there?

The catch is that the parent’s preference can be overridden if it would ‘prejudice the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources’, whatever that means. In practice local authorities tend to take it to mean that they can do as they like, which of course involves systematically ignoring the primacy of parental preference if they feel like it. But there is an appeal process, and parents concerned about the futures of their children do not hesitate to use it.

John Wilson, Wilsons Solicitors, Horsforth

Hollow words on the infamous blacklisting?

As one of those on the infamous Consulting Association Blacklist I was interested, if surprised, in our local MP’s comments on the blacklisting issue that was debated in Parliament last week.

Condemnation is welcome, but honeyed words about no evidence that the practice continues would sound hollow to my mate Steve Acheson, who has been protesting outside Fiddlers Ferry power station for the past five years due to this appalling attack on fundamental human rights.

Or to those victimised recently on the London Crossrail project for raising Health and Safety issues after a horrific accident. When I had a meeting with the lawyers taking details about my case for the forthcoming High Court case we talked about some of the blatant reasons for some people being put on the Blacklist – one of the most nonsensical being a health and safety rep being put on it for raising Health and Safety issues. Maybe they thought he shouldn’t have been breathing! A lot of nonsense is raised about Health and Safety but it should be realised that the building industry is a highly dangerous place to work. Deaths are perhaps down from the two a week of thirty years ago but are still about half of that and thousands are seriously maimed and injured every year.

That is why the Blacklist Support Group are calling for a full public inquiry into this dreadful practice, for it to be made a criminal offence and restrospective compensation to be made.

So I would like to challenge our local MP to learn a bit more about the issue and support these demands.

I was perhaps more fortunate than many building workers forced into near destitution, in that as an electrician with an exceptionally useful transferable skill and also having had a higher education, I could find work in a large variety of industries and occupations outside construction.

But being on the blacklist was perhaps why I was refused a job with the local Electrical Engineering Company N G Bailey. Perhaps I was unfortunate in belonging to a trade union that seemed more interested in sweetheart deals with employers than putting their members first.

Some TU officials played a less than glorious part in this saga and there were other Machiavellian ways to emasculate effective organisation on sites than crude blacklisting. There is more going on under the surface of this society than most people realise.

Sandy Macpherson, Wheatley Lane, Ben Rhydding

We are committed to upgraded civic centre

In response to Mr Mulholland’s recent letter, let me say again that Otley Town Council is fully committed to a refurbished and upgraded Civic Centre.

I look forward to his future support as we seek the same goal.

The building is owned by Leeds City Council and despite some setbacks because Heritage Lottery Fund criteria changed last year, and despite the recession, the city council is making active progress to draw together funding for the refurbishment, to which Otley Town Council will contribute. Work will hopefully start this year.

This is the first stage. We must also identify where the annual running costs of the building will come from.

This is estimated at around £120,000 per annum, using industry standard calculations.

Since assuming the leadership of the town council in May 2011, I’ve had a number of meetings with senior Leeds City officers The city council are in discussion with a potential tenant who will lease part of the building, which will contribute to running costs.

But the real work now begins to identify how the building can become a self-sustaining community and events venue.

We all accept the old way of running the civic centre is unaffordable. Developing a realistic business plan and making it work is complex and involves careful negotiations with a range of parties.

Mr Mulholland is plain wrong to assert that moving the town council back in solves the problem.

This won’t generate revenue to run the building.

It is deeply disappointing that Mr Mulholland makes misinformed accusations in the press, rather than seeking to work constructively with the town council, as we all seem to want the same thing.

I am happy to meet him and I’m surprised he didn’t come to me with his concerns before going to the press to accuse town councillors of being somehow ‘dishonest’.

I hope once he is fully informed of the facts he will withdraw this offensive slur, and work with us to secure the long-term future of the building.

After all, he has the back-up of the most expensive Parliamentary office in the country, while town councillors work for the town on an entirely voluntary basis.

Councillor John Eveleigh, Leader of Otley Town Council

Local plan is different to neighbourhood one!

Bradford Local Plan (LDF) v Ilkley Neighbourhood Plan.

Several people have commented to me regarding part of the recent editorial comment and as a result I would like to offer some clarification.

Your comment last week could be taken to imply that there is a direct link between the Bradford Local Plan ( LDF) and the proposed Ilkley Neighbourhood Plan and that the commencement of work on the Ilkley Neighbourhood Plan implies acceptance of the consequences of the Bradford Local Plan (LDF).

This, whilst a common belief, is NOT the case: The Bradford Local Plan (LDF) is a response to the demands of Central Government for “more houses” and proposes where and to what extent housing development should take place between now and the year 2028. The current version of the Bradford Local Plan (LDF) proposes 3000 new houses in the Wharfe Valley, of which 1300 are allocated to Ilkley. As we now find out, this plan, originally scheduled for BMDC adoption in March/April, has now been put back – probably until 2014 – as Bradford MDC review and consider further information prior to final submission….but I suspect the volume of housing proposed will certainly not change or be reduced.

The Neighbourhood Plan will be an exercise undertaken in Ilkley, led by the Parish Council. Ilkley Future Group has been asked to make initial recommendations as a platform for development.

The Neighbourhood Plan is primarily concerned with planning matters and events which occur after the Bradford Local Plan (LDF) has been adopted by the Secretary of State and Local Authority ( that is Bradford MDC). Under statute, the Neighbourhood Plan cannot influence the outcome of the Bradford Local Plan (LDF) and neither does it have any power or authority over the number and type of houses which the Bradford Local Plan (LDF) allocates to the area bounded within Ilkley Parish. There are thus two distinct areas of activity where residents can contest or accept as they wish: First, to lobby Bradford MDC regarding the allocation of housing to the Ilkley area – and to respond effectively to the consulting processes which are available. An effective group addressing these issues is led by independent district councillors Anne Hawkesworth and Adrian Naylor Issues here include building of houses on green belt, building on brownfield sites, parameters for affordable housing in Wharfedale and even the basis of statistical forecasting of housing and population projections which may have led to unnecessary intentions for deregulation of green belt land and the potential destruction of the hinterland of Ilkley. There is quite a separate and distinct “battleground” to be fought on here.

Second, to participate in the development of the Neighbourhood Plan for Ilkley which will enable maintenance and protection of the Cultural, and Built Heritage of Ilkley by enabling incorporation of design and environmental standards for the future of the town into planning statute at Bradford MDC – building on the work of the Ilkley Design Statement – which in effect makes Ilkley into the characterful place that it is today. The Neighbourhood Plan cannot by law influence the number of houses planned for Ilkley and so logically falls into place only when the Bradford Local Plan (LDF) is finalised and adopted by Bradford MDC as detailed above.

The Parish Council has registered an area within the bounds of Ilkley Parish which has now been accepted by Bradford as a ‘designated area’ for the Ilkley Neighbourhood Plan. A part of the work currently being undertaken by Ilkley Future Group is seen as initial preparation.

The process for creation of a Neighbourhood Plan MUST include input from the community at large, a definitive inspection by an appointed independent inspector and ultimately a public referendum where a 60 per cent majority is required in order for it to be passed. I hope that this clarifies the position for your readers.

Paul Kitching, Ilkley Parish Councillor