Landfill site is creating rubbish

It's a pity Marcia Turner hasn't put more pressure on the council to clean up the verges on the Skipton bypass and up Otley Road to the junction with the A65. They are an utter disgrace and I get comments from visitors about what they think (we do B&B).

I often see Lancashire County Council cleaning up their verges but never Craven or North Yorkshire.

Quite a lot of the litter is thrown from vehicles but let's take a look at the northern bypass and Otley Road. Yorwaste of Skipton landfill are responsible for the vast majority.

When the wind blows from the north and east, the rubbish blows for miles. Living up the bypass we see it.

When Yorwaste first started the landfill, the then manager had litter pickers round regularly and they would come round our property and down the verges but now this has more or less stopped. They look after two properties but not ours.

I would like to suggest that Craven District Council put pressure on Yorwaste to clean up their act and get their litter picked up in Otley Road and as far down as the Grassington Road roundabout.

It is an offence to throw litter about and to have it blowing off vehicles. With the amount of rubbish tipped at Skibeden, they must be making millions.

L Simpson,

Low Skibeden Farm House.

SIR - In response to the article in the Craven Herald regarding Joe Grima's selection for the Yorkshire Under 15 Clubs side.

Firstly I would like to congratulate Joe on his selection, but I would also like to set the record straight with regards to a quote made by his father Joe "Senior" about rugby union "doing more" coaching in schools.

A number of years ago Wharfedale Rugby Club set up, with the financial backing of Skipton Building Society, the SBS Wharfedale Rugby Academy.

At present the academy works in two areas both of which are interlinked. The rugby development officers coach well over 1,500 children in over 40 primary and secondary schools in both the public and private sector. These schools are given quality coaching free of charge, which in the case of primary schools sees pupils learn the basic ball handling skills.

Common themes are adhered to throughout the duration of the visits to the primary schools. These are the development of hand eye coordination skills, the importance of physical exercise, the benefits of communication and teamwork and most importantly that sport is being played to be enjoyed.

These coaching sessions culminate in Tag Rugby tournaments held at various venues around the area. At Wharfedale rugby club eight primary schools from the Wharfedale area take part. At Ermysted's Grammar School 16 primary schools from the Skipton area take part and at Settle Middle School (a new initiative this year) eight schools from the North Craven area take part.

Secondary schools are also visited by the development officers who work alongside sportsmasters in the delivery of rugby as part of the curriculum. Much of this coaching is done after school and such has been the response that the academy actively assists with set up and running of these sessions.

In an effort to provide competitive rugby the academy also organises a floodlit tournament for schools, which is held at the rugby club.

In the past two years we have also looked to introduce tag rugby to girls into secondary schools. This is an area we are keen to develop in the future.

The Skipton Building Society Academy, in conjunction with Wharfedale RUFC, has a main objective in going into and coaching rugby and tag rugby in all of the afore-mentioned schools. The aim of all three development officers is to encourage children to participate in physical exercise whatever their ability.

Obviously the main focus of the visits into schools is rugby and if children express an interest in learning more about the game they will be encouraged to join their local club whether that be North Ribblesdale, Skipton, or Wharfedale. The more children who are part of an organised club and taking regular exercise must be of benefit to the whole community.

Hedley Verity

Director,

SBS Wharfedale Rugby Academy.

SIR - With reference to a recent article about the decision to refuse planning permission to change a farm building on the A65 near Long Preston into a shop and stop a field being used for quad bikes (Craven Herald March 19), I feel compelled to put pen to paper.

Quite how motorbikes and quads are considered disrupting to passing motorists seems ridiculous to me, are they more disrupting than the first lambs of spring? Or more disrupting than a steam train on the Settle Carlisle railway (which incidentally runs at the other side of the road to this site)?

Perhaps we should consider installing curtains along the side of the A65 to prevent motorists being distracted by our stunning local scenery!

As for the term 'racing track', on the occasions that I saw it being used, I only observed children's quad bikes phutt-phutting around some straw bales on a circular track about 200- 300 yards long. I doubt if they could even be heard over the noise of the traffic on the A65.

It seems to me that if anyone tries to do something that the National Park does not approve of, then you have no chance. This young man, after seeing his family's livelihood devastated by foot and mouth, is merely trying to earn a living and provide for a public need.

Unfortunately, as it involves motorcycles, it fails to meet with the national park's approval.

At least some of our local councillors seem to have local businesses and quite possibly local people's interest at heart by commenting that we need some provision for this type of activity. We all have different interests, so live and let live!

Andrew Morphet

Dowgill House, Newby.

SIR - I must call into question the accuracy of an article featured in the March 19 edition of the Craven Herald.

You state that "signposts are now in place at the entrances to the four greenlanes in Craven which are no-go routes for off-road vehicles and motorbikes".

When I visited all the sites on Saturday March 20, signs were clearly not in place in many locations, and consequently none of the routes were legally closed on that date (signs of the correct size and type must be in place and clearly visible for the closure order to be valid).

In addition, one of the signs is in the wrong place, giving the impression that the road is closed when, in fact, it is not.

I must also object to your use of the term "off road vehicles"; this type of road sign is quite correct for a public carriageway, therefore this term is inaccurate and potentially misleading.

One of the main reasons for alleged illegal use of green lanes and conflict amongst users is confusion over who can and should go where. When we cannot rely on our county council and national park authority to get the details of the regulation order right by the specified date (remember, they have nearly taken a year over this), or our local newspaper to accurately report the situation, how can the law abiding recreational motorist be expected to have any confidence that this experiment is being carried out in a competent and unbiased manner?

I suppose that any defiance of these orders will be blamed on the ever demonised motorcyclists and 4x4 users and not on the incompetent authorities who are becoming increasingly difficult to trust.

JH Eglin,

Blue Hall, Ingleton

SIR - You report (Craven Herald March 26) the second arson attack this year, and the seventh overall, on the waste paper trailer at Settle Swimming Pool. I understand that arson - a criminal offence - is the correct description and is the charge that might be made against the perpetrator(s).

The trailer is one used by the volunteers on behalf of the Friends of Settle Swimming Pool to contribute some £13,000 a year to the funds of the Friends, which are then used to ensure the continued improvement and maintenance of the pool's facilities.

It has done this for many years with the help of community minded volunteers who carry out the task in all seasons and weathers.

It is understandable that one of the volunteers makes the understated comment "it's disheartening." Not only is their collection effort wasted, but they also have to put in time and effort in clearing up the mess and repairing the trailer.

The pool committee is considering a plan to tile the pool during the next closedown period, primarily to eliminate the need for expensive and time consuming closures for re-painting every two years.

This is a heavy capital investment (the equivalent of several years work by the collectors) for which we would need to seek assistance from the Friends of the Pool among others. I doubt that it could take place if the waste paper collectors decided that enough was enough.

It is always possible that the perpetrators cannot remember their act on the following morning, but I am quite sure that others know their identity or saw some of the activity relating to the fire.

The pool represents one of the best community based efforts made in the area and contributes greatly to all sections and conditions of the people in that community.

It would be a matter of great regret if there were to be repetitions of these crimes, which put the future improvement and development of this Pool at risk.

Coun Helen Firth (chairman),

H Foxcroft (secretary),

Settle Area Swimming Pool Committee.

SIR - I now reside in France but always grab a Herald and a Stanforth's pie when passing through. Nothing touches either for depth and quality.

What a surprise to see a wallaby had escaped from a marsupial centre in the area, just weeks before the official opening which you obligingly plug the date of.

Whether you were party to or a victim of a publicity scam I care not.

I remember when the "hawk experience" at Settle was in its early days, the giant raptors would go missing, gaining lots of publicity for the enterprising owners.

Funny, when the place morphed into tea rooms etc the buns never went missing! Now, I read, it may be a zoo. With respect, I can see the headlines already.

Beryl O'Brien,

Gensal, Gironde,

France.

Editor's note: The missing wallaby first featured in our lost and found columns and was spotted by one of our eagle-eyed reporters. We contacted the people who placed the advert and asked to follow it up. Rather than seeking publicity, they had publicity thrust upon them, so to speak.

SIR - In the Craven Herald recently there was a suggestion that the Settle-Carlisle railway might be designated as a "Community Route"; but this is unlikely.

The Strategic Rail Authority have quite strict definitions for various classifications of railway routes and they have upgraded the Settle-Carlisle from 'rural' to 'main secondary'.

This recognises its importance for current passenger traffic and as a diversionary route when engineering takes place on the west coast main line but, most significantly, as a strategic freight route.

This is emphasised by the huge investment which has taken place over recent years to deliver new ballast, new sleepers and new heavy-duty long welded rails.

It is the 'main secondary route' status which has allowed this work.

Lines designated as 'community routes' are not likely to see such high levels of infrastructure renewals and they are more likely to be rural branch lines without heavy freight usage.

The confusion may have arisen because there are several organisations working with the railway authorities on the Settle-Carlisle line (Friends, Trust, Business Liaison Group, Development Company) to enhance the success of the route and they do carry out a number of schemes which could be construed as having the involvement of the community.

These include help with marketing, station operations, refurbishment programmes etc. And we already do provide couriers to go on the train with coach parties and point out features of interest on the journey.

Whilst these ancillary functions may constitute "community involvement" they do not conform to the term "Community Route".

Pete Shaw,

Vice-president,

Friends of the Settle-Carlisle line.

SIR - At the meeting of the Skipton and West Craven Forum on Monday last an update was given on the Skipton Renaissance Market Town Project by Alan Blackwell, deputy chairman of the new Renaissance team.

He was pre-empted by a question from the audience seeking an explanation as to why the former democratically-elected team had been sacked.

As the new chairman of the Renaissance team, Coun Doyle was at the meeting it seems rather strange that Mr Blackwell was lumbered with this item on the agenda when Coun Doyle could, no doubt, have given a clear explanation to the question from the audience, or could he?

Mr Blackwell's gallant attempt to answer the question failed and I am sure the audience felt he had been put in a very embarrassing position.

Jonathan Kerr, from Craven District Council, then took over the response and basically said that the whole idea of the committee had been flawed from the outset and it was necessary to start again. If that was the case, then why did he not sack the entire committee rather than the six members elected by the public meeting?

I raised the question about the appearance of new plans for the council offices, town hall etc which on the face of it seemed to have taken over from the concerns expressed by the public at various meetings: ie traffic, parking and clean streets.

I was under the impression that any money from Yorkshire Forward would be spent on the new plans, instead of those just mentioned. I am grateful to Gill Dixon, chief executive of Craven District Council, who told the audience that any new plans for the council properties would be funded by Craven District Council alone and not from Yorkshire Forward.

I believe this will settle a misunderstanding which is quite prevalent in Skipton at the moment.

Judith Hughes,

Rockwood Drive, Skipton.

SIR - Last week's editorial was much appreciated publicity for Skipton retailers who are off-the-beaten-track; unfortunately our Water Street shops were conspicuous by their absence!

Our shop, New England, has been here, next to Sam Houston's restaurant, for four and a half years now with an online shopping site and mail order service for customers who can't get into Skipton.

We offer a very unusual range of wallpapers, borders and fabrics, alongside cards, gifts and home accessories and also provide a curtain and blind making service for customers.

We thought the shops in Water Street deserved a little mention too this week - just so we don't feel left out!

Jane and Eddie Lesniak,

New England of Skipton,

Water Street, Skipton.

Editor's note: Indeed there are some good shops on Water Street, New England among them!