Letter to the Editor

Well done indeed to everyone concerned. All the council workers from the cleansing and gardening departments who worked extra shifts and extra hard to clean up. Well done to all the Keighley Town Councillors and everyone else who spent their spare time in picking litter.

It goes to prove that the small but combined efforts of a few people can make a big difference.

Thanks to those businesses who made the effort to add some flowers or just to display the poster. Thanks to those on the judging route who trimmed their lawns and picked up litter.

I am sure the Yorkshire in Bloom judges must have been impressed - only the weather let us down. Thanks again to you all - don't you just wish it was as good as that every day !

David Petyt

Hanover Street, Keighley

PS One of our councillors was picking litter in Low Street one evening when he was approached by a young man who enquired why he was working so late. " I'm doing it for the community," said the councillor, earning the approximate reply:. "Heck, you must have been a bad boy to get so many hours."

SIR - May I comment on your front page article regarding Haworth war memorial.

The people concerned can be seen adorning the war memorial most working days, not necessarily sunny days at break times. I am surprised that Sam Mitchell, trainee manager, has not been able to see them - not very good PR to me.

I do agree with Mrs Mitchell that this is a public place, but the workforce of any company are the ambassadors for that company and the shameful treatment of Haworth war memorial shows the company in a very bad light.

I would have thought that a company the size of the one concerned could create a small garden picnic area where the employees could sit and enjoy their leisure time away from the factory environment. I feel sure if the company asked Mr Thorpe and his band of little helpers, they would be able to advise them on this matter.

I feel very sorry for the organisers of Haworth's entry in Yorkshire in Bloom, especially Mr Thorpe and the Haworth Primary School Gardening Club, for all their hard work, and thank them for making Haworth and particularly the war memorial such a very colourful and attractive site.

So come on the people of Haworth, stand up and be counted if you also feel strongly about this matter, write to the Keighley News, local councillors, even your MP if necessary.

Lest we forget. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (Holy Bible, St John Chapter 15 Verse 13).

C CALLAGHAN

Ivy Bank Lane, Haworth

SIR - In reply to Bronte Foods' comments about the war memorial at Haworth being a public place.

Although open to the public the war memorial is not a picnic area but a place of remembrance, remembering the people who died fighting for our country.

It is totally unacceptable and disrespectful for anyone to cover our memorial in spit and then leave all their rubbish and cigarette ends.

Remember Bronte Foods management, if it had not been for these heroes you might not have a country to manage in.

Have some respect for the village you run your business from and think of the people who live in it.

A WRIGHT

Mytholmes Lane, Haworth

SIR - Through your columns may I thank the two young ladies who were kind enough to assist me when I suffered a blackout and fell at the bus stop at the bottom of Greenhead Lane on Tuesday, July 8.

All I can remember of them is that one had a silver coloured car and the other was with her two young children.

It is heartening to know that even in these days when it can be difficult to find something good in the human race there are still those who are prepared to be good Samaritans.

My heartfelt thanks to them, the paramedics who attended and to the A & E Department of Airedale General.

Whilst writing, I should also like to thank the management and staff of Beechcliffe Stores, Arctic Street, who were also so kind when a similar incident occurred in the week before Easter. Subsequently, I should also thank the Doctors and Staff of wards 15 and 2 at Airedale General for their care.

NAME AND ADDRESS

SUPPLIED

SIR - I am pleased and sorry about Ian Dewhirst's portrait, painted by David Hoyle of Foulridge, being displayed in the Keighley Reference Library.

I am sorry because the lift to the Keighley Reference Library does not work! It has not worked for the last twelve months, as far as I can recall.

As a practising artist, I would be interested to see this painting, but being disabled I will neither see this portrait nor be able to attend the 3rd Age monthly meetings in the Library Theatre.

I realise that one should not comment upon a fellow artist's work before seeing it, but the portrait of Ian has a definite likeness to Ashley out of 'Coronation Street'. But I may be wrong!

How many sittings did Ian have for his portrait?

DERRICK GREEN

Upper School Street,

Steeton

SIR - I am writing in connection with the letter about Brian Hudson and the Keighley Gala.

I am a member of the Keighley Gala committee and feel strongly about what was said against him and the Gala.

It takes a lot of hard work and months to plan the Gala and many of us on the Gala committee each have different things to organise.

As far as I know the procession lasted an hour and not 30 minutes as stated. Myself and other people did the balloon race down at Victoria Park, which we all enjoyed and didn't complain about it once.

Why? Because we had something to do and because we knew we were raising money for local charities. I also raise money for Epilepsy for Action because I suffer from Epilepsy and am also the chairperson for the local Group.

Andrea Walker

Keighley Town Councillor

Riddlesden/Stockbridge

Bar Lane, Riddlesden,

SIR - Last week's letter writer who was critical of the Town Mayor's plea to the Victoria Park travellers to move on would have done better contacting Keighley Town Council, the district council or the police before putting pen to paper.

She would have learned of the exciting and colourful addition they made as a number of them raced around the park on motorised trikes, making it a lethal obstacle course for other users.

As for the 'Cultural Heritage' of travellers being decorative, I suppose one could extend this to the piles of debris, grass cuttings, tree branches, sheets of old asbestos and animal offal left lying around the park.

They chose not to decorate their homes with tubs and flower baskets as suggested.

She can thank them on our behalf for leaving behind seven wagon loads of colourful memorabilia and large police and council bills for restoring the to park for the 'inclusive' and proper use of everyone.

Cllr Tony Wright,

Keighley Town Council.

SIR - On July 12 it was stated on BBC TV's Ceefax that an American CIA official named Tehet had openly criticised President Bush for being influenced by Tony Blair, intimating that Iraq was obtaining uranium from Africa to produce illegal weapons.

On this evidence, it was Tony Blair who was initially responsible for the aggression against Iraq, in his personal effort to emulate the late Sir Winston Churchill's war leadership.

This desperation of Tony Blair cost this country a mint of money and the aimless loss of life amongst our own British Forces, who paid the supreme sacrifice for no advantage to this country.

From the age of 18 I have been a Labour supporter for my entire lengthy life, but despite my admiration and respect for our efficient MP Ann Cryer, at the next general election I will be concentrating on getting rid of Tony Blair and his weak 'yes men' in his cabinet for the ultimate benefit of our country.

I sincerely hope that the democratic majority of the British electorate will do likewise.

Tony Blair never was or has been genuine Labour.

KEN MATHER

Greenhead Road, Utley.

SIR - I would publicly like to thank all the wonderful Cougar supporters who went on the coach trip to York, for the gesture they made to me on learning of my recent sad bereavement.

PAUL SHARP

Elsie Street, Keighley

SIR - I read with concern the attitude of Bradford Metropolitan Council in respect of the proposed Asda store in Keighley.

Keighley Town Council has in principle supported the proposed scheme by Asda on the Bradford Road site.

It appears from discussions with Asda representatives and Keighley Town Council that Bradford planners keep moving the goal posts each time plans are submitted. Asda have tried for at least 10 years to get permission for a Keighley store.

Perhaps Bradford feels it has some loyalty to its own home-grown supermarket chain. I might add, which has already made moves to take over Keighley Market and the shoppers car park in Worth Way.

Bradford Council will neither confirm nor deny if that car park has already been sold. Asda in my opinion have been more than patient with Bradford planners and their bosses.

Surely it is time we had some healthy competition and increased choice in this town and not what is virtually a monopoly by two large stores, one of which appears to have an insatiable appetite for land within the town centre and perceived disregard for conservation and planning laws.

The demolition of the Brittania Hall in Market Street one Sunday morning is a prime example.

CLLR B HUDSON

Keighley Town Council

Sir - I have to agree with the Bradford Council being branded as 'Perverse'.

They keep making noises about expanding the town centre, but every time an opportunity arises they try their best to find an excuse to refuse permission. There are currently at least two opportunities to expand the centre, Damside and the Peter Black site, and both are being discouraged.

On the Damside site the council wants to put yet another Health Centre. Well in my mind that does not expand, but actually contracts the town centre, bringing the residential areas closer to the town. Damside should be utilised for leisure and entertainment, but that would take potential customers away from the centre of Bradford, and that just would not do, would it?

Keeping the Peter Black site in the employment zone in the UDP does not wash either; I would like to ask the council, how many people, do they think are employed on that site at this moment in time?

I would argue that Asda would employ more than at present. It seems very perverse to me indeed, that when someone, not so long ago, offered to develop a couple of derelict sites in Keighley the council did not pursue that with the same vigour, but indeed encouraged the proposal to collapse.

The council argues that Asda may predict growth because that is what Asda wants. Well I believe Morrison's are also predicting growth, otherwise why would they spend large amounts of money on extending and improving their Keighley store? Yes I agree there is possible growth in Keighley but only if Bradford Council allows it.

To protect a business concern by not allowing a planning application, thereby stemming competition, is not acceptable and I think this is exactly what is happening here.

An Asda store would add an extra dimension to shopping in Keighley and no doubt attract more visitors from other areas (is this what the council is afraid of?). All of the above would benefit the local community as a whole, by providing the employment the council is so keen to protect.

I would urge Keighley Town Council to put their full weight behind this and any other project that would benefit this town with true growth and real employment, not just improvement for the chosen few.

Keighley has been held back for far too long and it is up to the KTC to make sure that for the benefit of Keighley as a whole, Bradford Council are shown that Keighley is a town in its own right and not a housing estate for Bradfordians.

I wonder how many other projects will fall through? I am waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the New College and Temperance Hall developments. Or do I already know?

J. Karkoszka

Coldshaw

Haworth