Letters to the Editor

SIR, - Further to Mr Schirn's letter last week, I am pleased to answer publicly through you the questions he raises.

The names of all the groups and organisations to whom grants have been made are available and, indeed you paper has published the names of the recipients, the amounts granted and for what purpose.

However as a result of councillor and resident concerns, the amount available to such capital projects has this year been reduced, allowing more money for Ilkley Parish Council projects, several of which are in the pipeline.

This year's 20 per cent increase in the precept is entirely due to the loss of the grant previously received from Bradford Council for the administration and running of the parish council.

Nothing the Parish Council does is hidden from the public and by law the council has to open its books to the public for two weeks each year for scrutiny and to give a chance for questions to be raised and answered. Last year only four residents out of a total of more than 19,000 took advantage of this. I would urge anyone to call in and see where the money has been spent.

The introduction of anything new always causes concern and had the parish council been levying a precept since 197, in line with virtually all other parish and town councils throughout the country, I believe it would be accepted as the norm. We were not required to have a referendum.

Finally, I would stress that all money raised through the precept is spent within the parish boundary for residents' benefit and the council always gives full consideration before spending any of our residents' money. This cannot be said of general taxation.

Coun Kate Brown

Chairman,

Ilkley Parish Council..

Sport point

SIR, - Like Edwin Schirn (Letters April 15), I too lived in Essex in the 1940s, but my recollection is rather different.

The Clacton Urban District Council provided the Recreation Ground (complete with park keepers/groundsmen) where amateur cricketers, like Mr Schirn played. I think they also owned the ground where Clacton Town Football Club played.

I can't remember whether it was the town council or the county council which owned the cricket ground where I saw the great Trevor Bailey bat for Essex. The town council certainly provided the magnificent salt water swimming pool and maintained the municipal bowling greens and tennis courts.

In other words, local councils in the 1940s and 50s put money into sport and recreation. I am sorry that his rural district council did not support his cricket club (though they probably maintained the village green where he will have played), and I am quite happy to see Ilkley Parish Council putting money into sports and recreation, so that young people today will be able to enjoy the same sort of facilities that I enjoyed 50 years ago.

Owen Wells

23 Eaton Road,

Ilkley.

Bridge rhyme

SIR, - Bridge Over Troubled Waters: After 100 years of hopes and fears, Burley's bridge in reality nears,

As it's now in the news, may I send you my views.

It seems like the right time to send you this rhyme.

Burley's Stepping Stones:

On a bridle-path with a right of way, but on the banks may have to stay.

These stepping stones you wish to cross are broken or missing and covered in moss.

You may lose your footing and slide or slip, and in the water take a dip.

So please take care whether young or old; this river's treacherous and cold.

Don't take the risk, I am not kidding, cross safely at Otley or Ben Rhydding.

And although Otley may make you vexed, better late in this life than early the next.

You would think that commonsense had taught us, we need a bridge over troubled waters.

P.S. When the bridge is built, we can say with pride, 'At last we have crossed to the other side

And enjoyed the countryside around, without the fear of getting drowned."

L. Kirkbright

26 Wrexham Road,

Burley in Wharfedale.

Bridge critic

SIR, - I read with interest your report on the open forum meeting in Burnley, about the proposals for a bridge over the River Wharfe. I attended the meeting and found your report rather one-sided.

The opposition against the bridge was more than questioning 'the need for a bridge at all'. Some of the concerns expressed were about traffic management, care of the environment and anti-social behaviour.

We live in a democratic society where everyone has the right to free speech and a fair hearing. I feel this right was not upheld in your report.

Kathryn Forrest

22 Fenton Street,

Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Health dismay

SIR, - We read the Behind the News piece on Mental Health Action Week by Annette Wright (Ilkley Gazette, April 8), with some dismay. We both work in the field of mental health and know the problems of stigma well.

But your piece presented an inaccurate picture. Particularly worrying was the blanket statement that 'many mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, can be managed with medication'.

While we know some people find medication helpful, others find the medication given for mental illness diagnosis deeply unhelpful, particularly when taken for more than a few weeks. Some experience unpleasant and dangerous side-effects.

Some people find psychotherapy more useful, or alternative therapies. Some find the help and support from others who have had similar experiences far more valuable than any involvement with mental health services.

To portray metal illness as being just the same as physical illness is misleading. What are frequently interpreted as the symptoms of mental illness may stem from traumatic events in that person's life, or be the result of social factors like unemployment, poor housing or racism.

Some of us question the validity or helpfulness of terms such as schizophrenia. Life is more complicated than your simplistic idea of 'mental illness' implies.

Peter and Louise Relton,

Flat 6,

Kings House,

40 Kings Road,

Ilkley.

Farm cruelty

SIR, - I was disappointed to read that the Government is to ignore the recommendation of the Farm Animal Welfare Council and allow religious slaughter to continue. However, even so-called humane slaughter is cruel.

Many animals are not properly stunned as they are pushed through the slaughterhouse as quickly as possible. Profit, not animal welfare, is the priority here.

Furthermore, the animals lives are miserable before they are killed. Most of the chickens and turkeys that we eat, for example, are kept in overcrowded sheds where they see no daylight, where they cannot form a natural pecking order and where most of their other natural behaviour patterns are frustrated. They also suffer physically.

A study by the Agricultural and Food Research Council found that selective breeding and high protein food forces chickens to grow unnaturally fast so that 90 per cent cannot walk properly and that 26 per cent suffer from chronic pain and discomfort.

How can this possibly be justifiable? It is not even as if meat is good for us. The British Medical Association report on Diet, Nutrition and Health stated that 'vegetarians have lower rates of obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, large bowel disorders and cancer and gallstones'.

Why not benefit animals and your own health by going vegetarian? There are lots of vegetarian recipe books available, and supermarkets sell a wide range of vegetarian meals. You could also contact Animal Aid for some free recipes and information on (01732) 354032 or visit our website (www.animalaid.org.uk).

Richard Mountford

Development Manager,

Animal Aid,

The Old Chapel,

Bradford Street,

Tonbridge,

Kent.

Issue dodged

SIR, - Through your letters columns, Councillor Hawkesworth challenged our local MPs, Ann Cryer and Christ Leslie, to echo Labour MP George Mudie's condemnation of the Government's attitude to those with Equitable Life Assurance company pension policies.

Thirty-two column inches of dodging and weaving later we are no nearer getting an answer. A straight answer please, Mrs Cryer and Mr Leslie to a straight question. Do you or do you not agree with George Mudie?

Angela Whalley

The Beeches,

24 Manley Road,

Ilkley.

Animal tests

SIR, - A survey by the BBC shows that the British public rank terrorism as their third biggest fear, behind the actions of large companies. Covance may not be the largest company, but their role in supporting some activities has attracted concern.

A UK medical journal has estimated that 70,000 people are seriously disabled or killed annually by medicines which passed animal tests. In recent years the House of Lords has discussed the claim that accidental deaths caused by medicines with a safety profile developed on animals kill more people than cancer.

Animal tests also provide a major stumbling block to victims gaining damages from drug manufacturers.

Deaths in America from drug side effects equate to a Twin Towers attack every 11 days.

Michael Edwards

32 East Parade,

Harrogate.

Jump to it!

SIR, - I'm writing to encourage your readers to consider doing a parachute jump on behalf of a very worthy cause, the Children's Liver Disease Foundation.

Every day in this country, two children are diagnosed with a liver disease. Every year, thousands of families are living with the consequences.

The Children's Liver Disease Foundation is a unique national charity which fights childhood liver diseases through funding pioneering research and educating healthcare professionals and the public into the signs and symptoms of liver disease.

It also provides vital emotional support to families affected and as a mother myself I can imagine how much that support must mean.

As the summer approaches, the foundation is looking for people to do parachute jumps to help raise much-needed funds to further its work. And, with a variety of different jumps taking place every weekend at sites all around the country it could not be simpler to get involved.

Having taken part in a parachute jump in Drop the Celebrity I know just what a brilliant experience it is, so I'd encourage anyone to have a go and raise money for this very special charity.

If readers would like more information on taking part in a parachute jump for CLDF they should contact the Children's Liver Disease Foundation on (0121) 212 3839. I know they would be delighted to hear from them.

Linda Lusardi

c/o Children's Liver Disease Foundation,

36 Great Charles Street,

Birmingham.