Moaning is a comment, not apathy

Frankly, I don't find that a cause for sadness but for one of common sense.

Why should we have planners from London coming to make suggestions on what is happening in a small town in Yorkshire?

What on earth, apart from some academic blueprint for an homogeneous "market town", have they got to offer the people of Skipton?

Our town is more than just traffic problems, setts, bridges, etc - it has a culture of its own.

This is part of the issue in that the people, with all their groans and grumbles, are by and large happy with Skipton as it is. The fact is that when you have friends you were at school with, get friendly with your neighbours and join in community events, you can enjoy the quality of life that comes with the special culture of living in our town.

This applies equally to the incomers -most people are welcome to come to live in the town, but some, in "fleeing" their city lives to take advantage of our town, eg the schools, don't want to join in with that culture, adopting the "you have to live here 20 years or more before they accept you" approach as a reason not to make any effort.

So the reason that I, and many people I have spoken to, did not take part in the Renaissance was

(a) we didn't understand the concept of a "Renaissance" for Skipton - most of us were struggling to spell it!

(b) we thought many of the problems could be resolved by the council taking robust action using existing laws. For example, they could stop wagons using the High Street; traffic wardens (do we have any at all?) could regulate the parking of vans and cars

(c) we're fed up with visions, initiatives, policies, guidance, consultations, ideas and anything else which seem to drain the public coffers without providing anything more than pointless bureaucrats on fat salaries.

We don't want to freeze Skipton in the 20th century, but let's get some basic problems sorted first and the other issues may then be seen in a proper perspective.

And, by the way, I see that because of the event last weekend, the police had no public order offences on Saturday evening and they suggested this "could" have been down to "increased visible security". Yes, to you and me that means that bobbies on the beat act as a deterrent.

The tried and trusted ways are the best and perhaps can also be seen in the fact that the Bay Horse inn at Snaygill, renamed the Tadpole, which had no connection with the people or the locality is now reverting to the old name because it is the name people associate with that particular pub.

Finally, Mr Editor, when you talk of Skipton people having a "good moan" perhaps next time you might like to consider that the "moan" is actually saying something constructive and this is our "consultation" process.

Arthur Blackett,

Broughton Grove, Skipton.

SIR - Both Settle and Skipton have recently gained 'Renaissance Market Town' status and have begun the process of getting to grips with what this actually means for the people living in these communities.

After speaking to several people in Settle over the last few weeks who have expressed real concerns about the Renaissance process, I realise that there is some confusion about what is happening.

The fact that Settle (and district) has been designated a Renaissance Town is an opportunity if we want to take it. The Government has decided that this is the process they will use to help rural regeneration and development.

John Thompson and Partners have been employed by Yorkshire Forward (a Government development agency) to come to Settle to help local people put together a plan for the future. They are trying to gather everyone's ideas and to form the ideas into a realistic plan.

I know that some people may think this has been done before and that some Settle people are tired of being "consulted", but it is a process that we and John Thompson and Partners have to go through to achieve the end goal - an action plan of projects.

This will build on the work of both the CIP (Community Investment Prospectus) document and the Erskine document. These documents showed the Government that Settle was a town that was cohesive and innovative and one that had the strength and determination to achieve things.

There is no guarantee of money but if we do nothing then there will be very little chance of obtaining funding for projects.

Many things can be achieved just by getting together and working towards a common goal - with or without money. These meetings are bringing people together again and already things are being revitalised!

I know that there are concerns about some of the more "imaginative" ideas that have come out of the meetings, but it is important to raise our aspirations and in reality nothing will happen unless enough people really want it to.

There have been many excellent ideas and plans for the future that would benefit a large number of people in Settle and the surrounding district. Things are moving at a pace now and I would encourage you to attend the next meeting if you would like to have some input.

The next meeting is on Monday at 6.30pm at Victoria Hall, Settle.

Ann Ambrose

Administrator,

Settle District Development Company

SIR - I would like to make your readers aware that the Rotary Club of Skipton Craven were facing the final year of their Read-i initiative which teaches children drug awareness because of a lack of funds.

The club raised £20,000 to launch the scheme in 2000 and all local primary schools have had the benefit of the initiative for three years.

The scheme involves specialist training of teachers, awareness evenings for parents and a 12 month series of talks and lessons, some from specialist agencies, for 10-year-olds on the dangers of drugs in various forms.

The interest and enthusiasm of all schools to participate has been complete confirmation that the subject and method to reach 10-year-olds before they leave for senior school is absolutely right.

Not wishing to see the scheme come to an end, I approached Councillors Turner and Knowles- Fitton for Government funding to enable the scheme to operate into the future.

Their efforts and those of the Craven Crime Reduction Partnership, co-ordinator Alan Atkins and the partnership's support officer, Jean Parkinson, have resulted in an award of £7,500 to keep the scheme operational for the next two years and hopefully beyond that.

I thank them all.

Bob Cleminson, (Founder President),

Skipton Rotary Club.

SIR - I write following your recent reports on Special Educational Needs provision at St Stephen's school in Skipton.

I have a nine-year-old daughter with Asperger's Syndrome who also attends St Stephen's School. Fortunately for my daughter, Ciara, she received an early diagnosis and started at St Stephen's with a "statement of educational needs" in place.

Ciara receives three hours support daily within the classroom setting to help keep her focused on her work. She has had her ups and downs, especially during the past six months, during which time the staff at St Stephen's have been a tremendous support to Ciara and I.

There were times when we wondered if Ciara would be able to continue at mainstream school, such have been the difficulties she has experienced.

Despite this, the headteacher Mr Thompson and his staff liaised with the professionals caring for Ciara and implemented strategies to help with her specific difficulties.

I couldn't recommend a school with a more caring and encouraging environment where tolerance is practiced rather than preached.

Many schools proudly display their ethos in a hall or doorway, few adhere to it in the way St Stephen's do.

Helen Humphreys,

Carleton Road, Skipton.

SIR - So, the Falconry Centre at Settle is on the market at £975,000. Expensive birds.

Surely this big price has always been the goal here as the property moved from a barn, to a bird centre, to tea rooms, to a restaurant and now a massive complex with permission to build in addition a 36 bedroom hotel, exhibition hall and no less than a six bedroom home for the owners.

The acquiescent planners only said "no more" when the owners requested permission for a shopping centre as well. I wonder how far the previous owner of the barn would have got if he had requested permission to extend it into a house for farm workers?

He certainly would never have got permission for a hotel, or even a six bedroom house.

No wonder the bulk of awards for the centre have come for business initiative. As a way of invading the green countryside it has been meticulously planned.

In nearby villages pubs are not even allowed to use plastic windows. Over the hill, in Kilnsey, the planners have rejected an application for a warden's accommodation at a conference centre. The disparity in decisions is bizarre.

I used to read the Craven Herald when I lived over here and always pick it up when back in the area.

Janet Vasey,

Holbrook Drive,

Scottsdale,

Arizona, USA.

SIR - I agree with S Dobson (Letters, 11.7.03) regarding the chaos at the traffic lights on Keighley Road at the junction with Carleton Road in Skipton.

Friday lunchtime I was in my car behind a truck which wanted to turn right into Carleton Road from Skipton. There was no space for my car to proceed between the kerb and truck when the lights changed to green.

I was still there when the lights changed to green the second and third time. I just wonder how many vehicles were held up, leaving Skipton town centre towards Keighley?

Please could we have a mini roundabout at this junction, they work well elsewhere?

Secondly, just outside my home two large road signs have been erected this week. I would say almost a total waste of money and time and not in keeping with the surrounding area. Further down the road there is a most attractive black and white iron signpost pointing to the four villages. Far more in keeping.

On the approach to Glusburn and Cross Hills from Lothersdale the new signs, as large as they are, are almost completely hidden by trees! The best view of them is from my lounge window!

The speed vehicles travel past my home, which is still in the 30mph area is unbelievable. Speed cameras would have been far more appropriate and much kinder to the eye, and may have succeeded in doing the job these signs are supposed to do, if they could be seen.

Beryl A Dalton (Mrs)

Lothersdale Road

Glusburn

SIR - S Dobson was spot on Craven Herald Letters, July 11) calling for a roundabout not traffic lights on Skipton's Keighley Road, Carleton Road junction.

The delays built up heading south if a couple of cars or a van wants to turn right are ridiculous and back up all the way into the High Street.

G Wood's argument (Craven Herald Letters, July 18) that people ignore roundabouts does not hold water. Yes, some form of control to allow cars out from Carleton Road was necessary but roundabouts are undoubtedly the best solution.

For example, roundabouts work well at Morrison's junction with Broughton Road, Caroline Square, the top of the High Street, all junctions on the bypass, where the four roads meet at the end of Newmarket Street etc. Why is Keighley Road so different that we need traffic lights here when there is no room to make a "filter lane" for southbound traffic turning right?

C Morris,

Regent Crescent, Skipton.

SIR - What is happening in Settle, have the watchdogs of the town given up?

The reason I ask is that on my last visit I chose to walk round Attermire via Mitchell lane (the moor road) and Lamberts lane, a walk I have done many times in my youth. Imagine my surprise when I got to the "rope walk", the section between the Old Catholic chapel and the pinfold, and found that either end of the ancient right of way had been, not only dug over but also built upon.

The first view was of some unsightly kennels on the highway, followed by a vegetable garden, and then there was a similar garden at the other end of the path before arriving at the farm.

All old maps show that the highway stretched from wall to wall (included the lane and the footway) and for centuries the people of Settle and travellers through the area have had unimpeded access.

This road is part of the heritage of Settle for, until the advent of the Keighley to Kendal turnpike, it was the main route out of the town to the south.

Has nobody in Settle brought this to the attention of the town council and if so, what are they doing about it? The Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Ramblers Association will also have an interest in this problem.

What is to stop the residents around The Green in Upper Settle digging up the land adjacent to their property and claiming the same right?

People of Settle please look to your heritage and take action before it is too late.

Peter Simpson,

Carleton Terrace, Penrith

SIR - I was sorry to read of the disappointment with Sheep Day expressed by one of your correspondents last week but the person who wrote the letter is perhaps unaware of the difficulties involved, not just in getting permission to show sheep on Skipton High Street but also the problems it presents to farmers following foot and mouth and the resulting regulations affecting the movement of animals.

Even Masham Sheep Fair has been reduced to one day of sheep show from two because of these new regulations and Masham is a different type of event where there is a sheep auction.

We are not trying to emulate Masham with Skipton's Sheep Day; we want an event with a variety of countryside attractions for the type of visitor that likes to come to Skipton.

We would like a few more sheep, especially some of the local breeds and if your readers can persuade farmers to bring examples of, say, Swaledale, Wensleydale, Masham, Dalesbred and Teeswater sheep so we can have a pen of each at Sheep Day on Sunday July 1 2004, the Sheep Day committee would be very grateful indeed.

We managed to get a sheep holding licence from DEFRA shortly before Sheep Day was held this year and we were able to show rare breeds because their owners, unlike the more commercial sheep farmers, are not so concerned about moving their sheep again soon after the event.

A lot of hard work by a small band of volunteers goes into organising Sheep Day which raises money for charity and has done so for four years now. If your readers would like to join us, they would be most welcome.

Richard Colley,

Chairman,

Skipton Sheep Day Committee,

Park Avenue, Skipton.

SIR - I too have been following the green lane debate in your columns and letters page and I think that the suggestions and solutions put forward by Mr T Hall (for a small number of dedicated roads for 4x4 drivers) in his letter were the most sensible, practical and workable to date.

Let's hope that the powers that be take them on board and run, or rev up and roar with them. On designated green lanes only!

Wendy Milner,

Church Street, Gargrave.

SIR - A collection day held in Skipton for Macmillan Cancer Relief, all of which will go to the Yorkshire Dales Macmillan Appeal funding posts at Airedale, raised £917 .

Our grateful thanks go to everyone who contributed, and of course, volunteer collectors for their support.

Ann Barker,

Chairman, Skipton and District Committee,

Macmillan Cancer Relief.