Mixed views on renaissance

Skipton's "Renaissance Weekend" was a wonderful exercise. I should like to congratulate and thank the organisers very warmly for their efforts. It was also gratifying to see how the school children had taken the challenge seriously and had come up with some excellent suggestions.

Skipton is an attractive town architecturally and interesting historically. It should be made equally attractive socially. Just because it has had a reputation for rowdiness, drunkenness and anti-social behaviour for a long time and is still battling with these problems, it does not mean that it has to continue this way for ever.

It is easy to criticise and complain. It is less easy to do something about it. Here was a chance for all of us to contribute our ideas about the direction in which we think our town should develop.

It seems to me that our vision has to be on two levels: the spiritual and the practical.

The first might be called the intangible - the overall atmosphere of the town - and the second how this overall atmosphere is expressed in practical terms.

A new spirit of working together is noticeable in many aspects of life these days. It requires new ways of thinking and consultation is a necessary part of it. True consultation is not an easy skill to acquire; but it is infinitely rewarding when undertaken in the belief that it bestows understanding on those who partake in it.

May we go from strength to strength.

Madeline Hellaby,

Hothfield Terrace, Skipton.

SIR - I am writing with regard to Skipton's best kept secret.

Speaking with two hats, as a resident of Skipton and a trader on the High Street, I would like to know why the excellent events held in Skipton town hall were not advertised.

All that had been notified were the events in the marquee - discussion groups, reports back etc, very misleading as to what else was going on. What an opportunity missed.

Where was the advertising for the bands, the street entertainers and the farmers' market? Surely if Sheep Day warrants an advert and publicity, this event should have done as well.

A sign at the 'Little Chef' roundabout notified motorists that the High Street was closed, giving no clue as to why. Visitors to the town probably thought it was due to roadworks and therefore gave Skipton a miss this time. Certainly the lack of people in town on Sunday would indicate this.

As a trader on the High Street, I would have thought it common courtesy to let the shops know what was happening.

A pile of leaflets to put on the counter, a poster to put in the window might have been useful.

We don't mind the High Street being closed; it does affect our trade as our customers want to park outside in the evening and on Sundays but as long as the town is full of people on foot enjoying themselves it more than compensates.

Saturday night should have seen the High Street full of people enjoying the free entertainment on a lovely summer's evening. Instead I found myself having to explain what was going on to the puzzled and annoyed customers who had driven down to the shop only to find they couldn't get near. Later in the evening those lucky enough to be out in town were having a great time when I closed at 10pm the band was playing its heart out to a small crowd.

Sunday was the same: beautiful weather, excellent entertainment, superb produce at the farmers' market, no crowds.

I spoke to one of the band members who understandably was very disappointed with the turnout and who said that he had been told the people of Skipton weren't interested. I say the people of Skipton weren't informed.

Carolyn Hird-Rogers.

Deputy manager,

Thresher's,

High Street, Skipton.

SIR - Last Thursday Craven area committee confirmed the proposal to make East Street in Gargrave one way.

This, despite the fact that they were made aware that at a "site meeting" organised by the parish council only the 22 households on East Street were consulted. A mere 16 per cent of the households who will be affected. The rest of us were not given any chance to express our opinions or concerns.

The propsal has the very serious drawback in that there will now be only one exit out onto the main road (at a very awkward and busy junction) for all residents within the large area.

It is no wonder that local elections attract such low turnouts if the vast majority of residents are ignored on issues as important as this. It is an insult to the democracy that we are supposed to enjoy.

David E Wade,

River Place, Gargrave.

SIR - I was amused, on my annual visit to Skipton today, to see my photograph in the Craven Herald (Snapshots from Craven in bygone years, July 11).

Marie Chapman got it wrong - I am David not John (left end of front row), though Burnaby Drayson MP could never remember whether I was David or Donald, presumably confusing me with Donald Cowgill, who apparently was not on the Young Conservatives trip to London in 1957.

It was arranged to rally support for Anthony Eden in the aftermath of the Suez fiasco but by the time it was held Harold Macmillan had taken over as Premier.

This did not deter violent heckling by members of the League of Empire Loyalists, the most memorable feature of the meeting itself.

The rail trip back was quite hectic and most of us had little rest for well over 24 hours. I fell soundly asleep on return home the next morning.

I can be seen wearing a black tie, the only one I possessed, symbol of my rather mild rebellion in Ermysted's sixth form. Having discovered an acceptable alternative to the otherwise compulsory house or monitor's tie I asserted my right to wear the funereal black constantly for several years.

Unlike colleagues on the trip, my interest in Conservatism was mainly academic, rather than social or even (Heaven forbid) political and I later took two degrees in politics at Liverpool University.

I still possess a damning school report from my late headmaster, ML Forster (who chose to misinterpret my ambition, I suspect principally because of my pioneering choice to learn Greek, rather than his beloved German), to the effect that "for a boy who prefers to make a career in politics he is the most retiring person I know".

I have to confess that before I got the vote (at 21, rather than 18 in those days) I had seen the light and I have never actually voted Conservative in my life!

DC Watkinson,

North End, Durham.

SIR - Speaking to a neighbour who hails from a town, he remarked during the foot and mouth epidemic that it must be awful for the farmers to walk down their empty buildings.

My reply was that our vicars have been doing that for a few years now. He said nowt.

It is their chosen way of life. The support that they all gave to the farming community was amazing.

All churches had a collection plate for anyone who wished to help through this devastating time. These vicars have always been there in time of joy and at times of grief but we take them for granted.

The Dunblane massacre made me think. When it happened the people there didn't go to the pub, they didn't go to the entertainment centres, nor the playing fields; they went to the church.

So come on, bring your families to your church while we still have one. None of us want to go back to pre-Christian times.

The vicars too must feel awful walking down near-empty buildings.

Give him your physical support to gladden his heart - not that they ever grumble, they just keep trying and continue to do their best for us all.

Edith Peel,

Fir Trees, Rimington.

SIR - On Wednesday last, I took home an elderly lady who had been knocked down while walking along the footpath in Newmarket Street, she was hit from behind by an electric scooter.

Please understand, I have nothing against these vehicles, providing they are used in the proper manner.

The footpaths are for the use of us all, mothers with children and/or buggies, elderly people, shoppers, walkers with dogs. I do not wish to discriminate against any sector of society, certainly not the disabled.

I'm not so agile myself, but why should we have to be prepared, at any time, to leap to safety to avoid injury from these vehicles.

Surely a certain amount of consideration is necessary when using an electrically propelled machine on a footpath where there are people walking, and I know that most do give way but, who has priority?

This time it has cost this 87-year-old lady a split lip and bruising, and a considerable amount of shock. Are there to be more accidents before something is done?

I'm sure if it were a teenager on a bicycle the authorities would have something to say.

In conclusion I would just like to say to anyone out there who owns and uses one of these vehicles, please, take care, slow down and consider other footpath users.

Andrea Smith,

Otley Street,

Skipton.

SIR - Your correspondent S Dobson's assessment of the new traffic lights on Keighley Road is mistaken.

There have, of course, been delaying roadworks by Christ Church recently. The new lights are a great improvement. The considerable traffic from Carleton Road can now turn left and particularly right into Keighley Road in sequence.

Also, there is now generally room for traffic going south on Keighley Road to pass on the inside of vehicles waiting to turn into Carleton Road. Above all, there are now safe crossings for pedestrians, especially mothers with young children, schoolkids, the elderly and the infirm who previously had to take their lives in their hands daily.

Even if there was room for a roundabout, to expect protocol and courtesy at this major junction when there is little at other Skipton roundabouts is wishful thinking.

The sooner it is generally realised that Skipton's historic road network was not built for the volume and speed of today's traffic, the safer and more pleasant the town will be.

G Wood,

Calton Terrace, Skipton.

SIR - I would like to reply to Mr Midgley's attempt, in his article defending four wheel drivers (Craven Herald June 27), at self justification in destroying good farming land and creating conditions that nobody can walk across.

The piece of land to which he referred (between Otterburn and Settle) has been farmed by my family for the best part of 50 years and in that time the only track across it has been a grass footpath.

Over 25 years ago the field was rotovated, drained and levelled. There were no ruts and no bogs. Yes, it is a wet field but when it is very wet we do not go on with it with any machinery as (and this may surprise Mr Midgley) this creates ruts and makes a mess.

There are three fields between the lane from Otterburn and Langber Lane. The middle field (not ours) has a hardcore track across it which the farmer of the fields on either side put in 30 years ago at his own expense so that he did not damage his neighbour's land. Our field is 500 metres wide. If Mr Midgley thinks he could put a stone track across it "for a few hundred pounds" he must live in cloud cuckoo land.

But why should I, my landlords or the national park pay for a road that didn't exist in the first place, just because someone might have taken a horse and cart across the field 200 years ago? Does this give 30 to 40 motocross bikes and several 4x4 vehicles the right to trash the field every weekend?

When the weather is fine there is not much problem, apart from gates being left open and abuse from bikers when asked to keep a straight path between the gates. But in the middle of winter, when it is wet, anyone with half a brain or even a little consideration for farmers or walkers would stay at home.

Robert Phillip,

Green Farm,

Hellifield.

SIR - Further to the article in the Craven Herald on July 4 "Police enforce setts parking rules".

The problem is very easily solved by the stall holders being responsible for removing their own rubbish. Is this not a stipulation already in force?

The majority of stall holders do tidy up before leaving, it is only a few traders that leave the litter, and action should be taken against them by the market officer.

The restriction on people not being able to park after the stall holders leave, is very controversial and will only cause bad feeling, as happened before when it was enforced.

As the stalls move off at various times between 3pm and 6.30pm, cars should be able to park in those places so that the occupants can visit the library, banks, shops, college, pub etc.

We do not need another committee to take months if not years to decide how to approach the problem when there are one if not two Market Officers there to make sure that the stall holders do not infringe any obstruction or trading conditions.

Whilst mentioning litter and obstruction, surely it is time some control was brought in to restrict the number of signs, 'A' boards and notices proliferating in the town, and in particular the High Street and Sheep Street.

David Goldie,

High Street, Skipton.

SIR - What a sad and sorry event Skipton Sheep Day was. Instead of filling the town it was quieter than a normal Sunday.

This was the fourth Sheep Day and you would expect it to be bigger and better instead of going backwards. There was a total of nine sheep on show and two of them were there as part of the hand clipping demonstration. The organisers need to go to Masham Sheep Fair in September and see how it should be done. It was a sheep day and people would expect to see a variety of sheep. We have a large number of breeds locally, both commercial, rare and minority breeds. If they had put adverts in the paper for local exhibitors I'm sure they would have a good response.

Get your act together and go the extra mile and have a sheep day with lots of sheep. Its only once a year.

A Holmes,

Cononley

SIR - As two residents of Neville Road Gargrave, one of whom was present at the meeting on June 23 reported in the Craven Herald, we can assure Mrs Doran that the Craven Herald's report was totally accurate.

Had Mrs Doran attended the meeting she would have seen other residents of Neville Road saying the same thing. There are problems on Neville Road which need to be addressed and reported in the Craven Herald.

Name and address supplied.

SIR - Which charity shops not already represented in the town would Coun Paul English suggest might wish to occupy his proposed retail space in Belle Vue Mill?

Simon Myers,

Wenningber Farm, Hellifield.