Letters to the Editor

First: Karen Robinson berates Ann Cryer for supporting the anti hunting bill as this will inevitably close down her business of hunt kennels and hounds. Whether the anti hunting bill is right or wrong, (and I believe it to be right), why does she think that her business and livelihood are sacrosanct? Far more important persons have lost their livelihood, to mention the miners and steelworkers as two examples. No, she has no axe to grind. Find yourself another income like everyone else has had to do.

Second: David Wright complains that an ASBO is set out in detail and the offender mentioned by name. It is such as he, (the do gooders), that have brought us to this sorry state of affairs where the young have no respect, self or otherwise, and no discipline.

As for the offender's feelings, the answer is simple, do nothing that will bring down an ASBO on your head and you will not have to suffer the indignities. It is also a salutary lesson to his cohorts. Unless they change their ways, they will suffer the same way.

The actions taken so far are patently correct, and should be vigorously pursued in the future, and as harshly as possible. The Keighley News should also continue to print in detail names and the details of their ASBO, and where possible, print a clear and unambiguous photograph.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

SIR - Your position as editor of the Keighley News is now untenable.

The people of this town have a right to fair, accurate, balanced news reporting.

Your recent coverage of the election of two BNP councillors has been biased, oppressive and totally undemocratic. 4,546 people, 12 per cent of the electorate, voted for the BNP in three wards, they are dismissed as racist, bigoted and short sighted.

In your recent opinion column your diatribes against the BNP and its supporters were self-opined and suggest a hidden agenda. You have misjudged the people of this town and can no longer bury your head in the sand, surely your recent postbag reflects this view.

Do the honest decent thing and resign, it is now the time for change and a new approach. Retirement would not be a bad thing, you could concentrate on your garden or golf handicap perhaps. A lot of people take up bowls, I understand Lund Park has a good green and always welcomes new members.

STUART ANDREW

Hainworth Wood Road,

Keighley.

SIR - I am worried that so many commentators on the recent electoral success of the BNP in Keighley, Bradford and elsewhere have referred to it as 'a wake-up call'.

There is little point in being woken up if you cannot switch on the light. The only communication I received from the BNP prior to the last election shed no light at all on the things that continue to bother our society, since it sought to ascribe their root cause to a phenomenon it called 'asylum' -- although halfway through the document it changed the term to 'immigrants'.

The German Nazi Party rode to power on the back of a similar technique, but this does not mean that the people who voted the BNP on to the council are all fascists.

Undoubtedly some of them are, but the remainder are all the more dangerous as they are those who do not think beyond a simplistic, shoddy and badly presented argument.

Bradford's four BNP councillors take their seats as legally elected representatives of their respective wards and they will occupy them for at least two years.

This is plenty of time for the people who elected them to watch their activities in the Council Chamber, to assess the contributions they make to the debate, to gauge how well they serve its committees and, from this performance, judge whether they are being genuinely represented.

Two years is plenty of time to turn on the light. I hope the electors (and the Keighley News) will make sure it is a searchlight.

ARTHUR ARNOLD

Beech Street, Bingley

SIR - Just a few lines to say 'Thank You' for following, and reporting on, the progress of St Anne's School on the creation of their first Heritage Walk.

The school, like I, know how important it is for the community to know of the efforts to which the children have gone to learn about their local history, and with your help, an awful lot of Keighley people now know a bit more about their surroundings than hitherto.

What also proved interesting was the power of the press, through your reporting, and subsequent letters on the subject, to influence the repairing of Bill O't Hoylus End's gravestone, after the vandalism that recently took place.

I can tell you that the children were very impressed to see the stone repaired, and to know they had played a part in this.

MALCOLM HANSON

Swadford Street, Skipton.

SIR - In your issue of June 6, Moira Harrison paid a well-earned tribute to the work of her father, Arthur Harrison, in the life of Keighley in an era when the Town Council played an effective role in governing almost every aspect of social life.

When I arrived in Keighley in 1956 as the newly appointed Borough Education Officer, Councillor Harrison was already well established as the cheerful, ebullient, but very tenacious trade union officer who was close enough to the people he served to be able to represent their views on any projected development.

He and his fellow Councillor, Frank Jeffrey, were always in the forefront of any controversial issue, though they were never guilty of intolerance and always ready to recognise others' points of view.

It was his deep concern for the welfare of others that led him to become Vice-Chairman of the newly formed International Friendship in the early sixties, when men from Pakistan began to come to Keighley and its initial success (later foiled by circumstances outside its control) was due to the genuine input of good will, which belied the attitudes of other trade unions in other parts of the country.

It was the devotion of people like Arthur Harrison, and others (Aldermen Taylor, Johns and Bell, amongst many others) which made the Keighley of the sixties a lively, vibrant town.

To say that the 1974 reorganisation of local government tore the heart out of the democratic life of the town is not the sour reflection of a 'grumpy old man' -- it is, I regret to say, a simple fact.

FRANK PEDLEY

Borough Education Officer,

1956-68.

Gisburn Road, Hellifield,

SIR - After reading the Beagles article I wanted to say that it is not only hunts that will be banned, it is all hunting with dogs.

I myself have Lurchers and have had this line of dog for lots of generations. Without hunting, this strain would die out. Being a bricklayer and tax payer, I would consider emigrating if hunting gets banned.

PETER DRAKE

Broomhill Avenue, Keighley

SIR - I think that Mrs Cryer has many more pressing matters to attend to than once again trying to ban hunting with hounds.

After Labour's pathetic showing in the local elections and Tony Blair's lowest ever showing in the opinion polls, the only way to get his countryside hating backbenchers back on his side is to bring back the hunting debate, wasting valuable Commons time.

As this area is not a great hunting area and Keighley has major problems of its own, our member for parliament should concentrate on those before wasting her constituents' time.

GUY KERSHAW

Haworth Moor, Haworth.

Editor's note:- The two previous letters are taken from a selection which came in following publication of the story.

The other letters make similar points.

SIR - We've all heard about the measures being taken to pass a law which will ban the killing of foxes and other animals by hunting with dogs.

How many of us have heard of the Mental Capacity Bill which was introduced into Parliament on June 18, which will legalise non-voluntary euthanasia?

This government has said that it is opposed to euthanasia as a deliberate individual act, but this Bill means that it does support euthanasia by neglect, by withdrawing basic medical care, food and fluids from vulnerable patients.

If a fox is killed it will be a crime.

If a patient dies because the withdrawal of treatment has been legalised, it won't be a crime. Evil is being legalised.

BARBARA ROCK

Daleside Road, Riddlesden.

SIR - I would like to thank most sincerely all my loyal supporters who voted for me in this month's election.

I shall carry on the good work as a town councillor in Silsden and with your support, hopefully I will make it next time.

CHRIS ATKINSON

Independent Candidate,

Craven Ward.

SIR - I would like to thank Glen Miller for all the help he gave to Haworth Primary School Gardening Club and Haworth in general while representing the Worth Valley ward as a councillor.

While some councillors just do a lot of talking without much action, you always knew Glen Miller would do everything possible to get something done.

Nothing was ever too much and he was the one who always turned up at the meetings.

I just find it amazing that he did not get elected, and without taking anything away from the candidates who did get in, I think the Worth Valley ward will be worse for not having him as a councillor and he will be sadly missed.

Once again, thanks for all your help Glen and good luck for the future.

STEVE THORPE

Prince Street,

Haworth.

SIR - I was speechless for the first time at the local elections. I couldn't believe so many people voted for the BNP.

Thanks to all those who voted for me in Keighley West.

I hope one day I can speak up for Keighley.

LUCY WILKINSON

Greenacres Drive, Keighley

SIR - I have recently been appointed as RNIB Community Fundraising Manager and am looking for volunteers to join my existing team in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Every day over 100 people start to lose their sight. The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) helps to rebuild lives devastated by sight loss by providing over 60 services for people who are blind or visually impaired.

As an organisation we receive no Government or statutory funding, and rely on generous donations from the general public. Much of our funding comes from our famous 'Sooty' boxes, which many of your readers may have seen in shops, restaurants and pubs throughout the area.

In order to collect, count and bank the £60,000 that is generated through 'Sooty' boxes in Yorkshire and Humberside I am looking for volunteers to help out as Box Collectors in their local villages, towns and cities

Any readers who feel they can offer help a few hours per month, to undertake this rewarding work, should contact me to discuss the flexible volunteering opportunities within RNIB.

I can be contacted on 01423 819 753, or via e-mail at scott.wall@rnib.org.uk.

Scott Wall

Community Fundraising

Manager RNIB (Yorkshire &

Humberside)

SIR - It has been reported this week that the Government is pressing ahead with plans for all-postal balloting in the referendums for regional assemblies.

Pressing ahead with more postal ballots, despite widespread concerns and the assurances which the Government gave last week, reeks of arrogance. Conservatives will oppose plans which deny voters the chance to vote in the ballot box.

Robert Collinson

Prospective Parliamentary

Candidate for Keighley