Letters to the Editor

We have now been successful in our campaign (despite one or two minor hiccups on route), and await its appearance in the near future.

Mrs Gower, Mr Pullen and many others have put in a great deal of time and effort over the years and I applaud them for that. I would now ask that motorists, parents dropping off pupils for school , and pedestrians alike all respect the need for care and courtesy in the vicinity of the school, and indeed along the length of Haworth Road.

M THOMPSON

Haworth Road, Cross Roads.

SIR - I was saddened to read in your article on the front of the Keighley Target this week that Mayor Nancy Holdsworth had made an 'impassioned plea' to travellers at Victoria Park to move before the judging of Yorkshire in Bloom.

Settled people have an unfortunate tendency to want to get rid of travelling people as soon as they arrive, rather than seeing them as an exciting and colourful addition to the population who could be approached to contribute something different whilst they are here.

Travelling people have a long cultural heritage of being decorative, and I would have hoped these travellers might have been asked to participate by decorating their homes with hanging baskets, tubs, and win dow boxes. This would be a far more inclusive and conciliatory path to take than asking them to leave.

Couldn't we try being positive and inclusive for a change?

Janet Russell

Silsden

SIR - 'Apathy as Key Seminar is Scrapped'

I, like a lot of people I assume, am very disappointed that the 'Squaring up to the future' seminar had to be cancelled.

Although I am not so sure it is apathy. I believe that our planners, town council, police and town centre partnership should think about what faces Keighley now and in the future and ask themselves 'would they invest in Keighley'. Especially when the following is considered.

Road Links, yes we will shortly see the opening of the Bingley bypass! Great, but all it will do is move the traffic jams to Keighley. Anyone who has tried to access the Aire Valley road network between 4.30 and 6.30pm must be dreading the future.

Quotes from the Keighley News, July 4, 2003.

Log jam in Keighley, see page 3; Apathy at Traffic Plan; page 5 The University of Westminster to help model the road transport system. I thought we had a planning authority that was doing this. I suggest you ask the people who live and work here what the answers are, and have we got the money to carry out the changes?

Crime - page 1 Ambush on a Train; page 5 Foot Path is Closed Over the Fear of Crime! - surely you resolve the crime and do not let the criminals win.

If you are looking at apathy look at the letters page, and the letter criticising the Keighley Gala. I suggest instead of complaining people get their hands dirty and help.

Councils worry about the flouting of planning rules, whereby I understand that Cllr Chris Greaves may be correct but what does he expect when the big players ignore the rules in a major way 'is it a 2 storey house or is it 3' to quote one of many. Chris, lets see some teeth and do something about these big fish; we all know who they are.

If I were a potential inward investor I think after reading the Keighley News, July 4, I would look elsewhere.

When as someone who lives and works in Keighley adds to the above, the apathy of the authorities to parking on double yellow lines, double parking, speeding, and the rubbish all over the district I am, surprised we have any investors. Like all other towns we have an ever-increasing problem with drugs, but we do not appear to have the resources on a permanent basis to make any major impact.

All in all I am a great believer in Keighley, but I feel if we do not start to work together to solve some of the above problems I have a fear for its future.

DICK TAYLOR

(Address supplied)

SIR - I totally agree with K Feather re bus fares.

As a pensioner, when the 20p subsidised fare was raised to 30p I felt it was time to ask questions so contacted our local Metro.

The spokeswoman explained that the present system of deregulation dating from 1985 gives the companies complete freedom, e.g. two companies can run on the same route and charge different fares. The busy routes are called committed, whilst the quiet and rural routes are tendered ie negotiable. She made two admissions.

One, it is profit driven and two, it is a minefield.

I do not see any alteration except higher fares. The remedy is renationalisation to let metro and local authorities set routes and fares.

It is a pity that there is not a national campaign for this.

BERNARD WHITTAKER

Scott Lane West,

Riddlesden

SIR - Yesterday on the ITV programme Countdown, Robin Hood's connection with Yorkshire was made by Richard Whitely - Robin Hood's Bay and Robin Hood's Cave on the east coast of Yorkshire.

I would like to know about the large rock called Robin Hood's Stone standing at the side of the road running from Keighley Gate (above Riddlesden) to Silsden, ending in a very steep hill down to Low Howden and then to Silsden.

This road has always been known as 'over Robin Hood' and there is a wood called Robin Hood's wood where motor bike scramblers sometime practice.

It would be interesting to know what, if any, is the connection with Robin Hood.

M WATSON

Airedale Mews, Silsden

SIR - I read with interest a letter by two ladies in a previous edition regarding Keighley Gala.

I thought it aired some valid points which should be taken on board by the committee, especially the safety of entrants and also the need for variety. I was dismayed by the amount of trade vehicles that were in this year's procession.

I thought I was in the wrong century after reading Brian Hudson's reply. Has he never heard of Emmeline Pankhurst or the suffragettes? We are no longer "tied to the kitchen sink".

I thought his reply bigoted, and if that letter was on behalf of the committee then any ladies associated with him should be ashamed of him. Does he think that he is the Keighley Gala?

I do appreciate that bands etc cost money, but you only reap what you sow.

The takings may be down by paying fees but I am sure the following year's spectators would increase as the gala procession would benefit from fresh interest and would be worth watching due to being more entertaining.

Could you please tell me, is Brian Hudson psychic, as I cannot remember the two ladies mentioning writing on behalf of any organisation?

I personally was disappointed by this year's gala as I brought my son who is 14 months old through to see it.

To my mind it lasted for about 30 minutes, but I remember it lasting a lot longer. I used to love watching it when I was younger.

I agree with the two ladies that the Gala does need to continue to benefit Keighley and local charities, and well done to all who support it voluntarily.

MISS K WATSON

Allerton Grange Drive,

Allerton

SIR - Nick Lajszczuk and I had bitter arguments regarding democratic procedures during our tour of duty on Keighley Town Council.

However, his letter, vis--vis his view of the disgraceful attempts by Bradford to ignore the analysis and opinion of local needs, I fully support.

Conservative-controlled Bradford Council is now seriously involved in mortgaging what was left of community assets their Bradford predecessors, the Labour Party, didn't sell off.

Asset-stripping is part and parcel of generating profit. PLC companies, large or small, have only one loyalty, to generate profit for dividends. People, customers, and certainly employees are all expendable in the pursuit of such ideas. Library services, museums, old people's homes, parks, schools and other assets, including employees, will be made to sweat or will be discarded and made redundant.

Cllr Simon Cooke, a businessman and Conservative party politician, is possibly 'spinning' if his pledge of £400,000 to be spent on Keighley Markets is not said to have a cost return on money invested by financial institutions.

Public services, including housing, were never designed as a profit motivation via the delivery of services; they were initiated as community ideals.

Neighbourhood assets and the running of local services by Keighley Town Council impact on other local areas: Cullingworth, Steeton, Haworth, Oxenhope etc. and therefore needs their full co-operation and equal input.

Keighley Town Councillor Joyce Newton's statement 'Because we have never run a market it would obviously be beneficial to use the expertise of people with experience of markets' can be looked upon as correct.

Therefore, locally qualified persons with a proficiency in managing local assets, in conjunction with other parish councils inside the 1974 Keighley borders, should be seen as the guardians of our interest, not Bradford Council who long ago reprehensibly abrogated its guardianship by its mismanagement of Keighley ratepayers' interest.

David Samuels

Oxenhope

SIR - In reply to Mr Long's letter, a couple of things to put straight.

One, the loft and the birds belong to my grandsons, who are disabled with learning difficulties. The pigeons are a way of keeping them interested at home where their father can keep an eye on them.

Secondly, the issue is being taken to the High Court, as is the right of my son to do. Even if the loft comes down the pigeons will be stopping.

They will just go into the garage.

MRS W KERNAN

(address supplied)

SIR - I would like to congratulate all the competitors /participants and organisers of the Oxenhope Straw Race for providing another outstanding event and raising money for charities.

An event like this is not only good for the local community and charities but also (from a health and fitness perspective) for individual achievement: it shows what can be done.

I would like particularly to congratulate the winners of the ladies vets group Denise Ross and Jennifer Mc Dowell, who not only won in their group comfortably but were the fastest women overall and very creditably positioned overall.

This win is a tribute to their fitness, their determination and drive and a result of regular exercise. However, their achievement does not come as a total surprise to me.

Both Jennifer and Denise attend my circuit training classes and have done for several years. They both exercise with determination, it is always focused and technically good which is reflected in this performance.

Correction, I should say 'nearly always focused' - they seem to make room for a chat at some point!

Well done ladies, you not only collected money for charity you also demonstrated a high level of fitness, high drive, high determination, and still maintained a high degree of femininity. A win is the least you deserve.

JOHN E FEARNLEY

Sport and Exercise

Physiologist

SIR - No parent would willingly put their child's life at risk, so may I ask them to think for a moment about the dangers faced by youngsters who decide to play in quarries during the long summer holidays?

Quarries can look like fun places to swim, climb, dig or ride, but they carry a variety of unseen hazards. Sadly children have drowned in deep cold lakes, been buried while digging a cave in the sand, or seriously hurt when struck by a falling rock.

Now there is a growing problem with teenage motorcyclists who seem to believe that quarries are the perfect places in which to ride.

Our member companies do all they can to deter children, but sadly warning notices are all too often ignored.

Companies in membership of the Quarry Products Association are happy to host school parties so that children remain safe. Schools wishing to organise such visits or to receive a copy of our Play Safe. Stay Safe resource pack can call me on 0207 730 8194 or e-mail me at clements@qpa.org. But in the meantime, will parents please check where their children are playing this summer and make sure it is not in a quarry.

Elizabeth Clements

Quarry Products

Association

SIR - A student midwife from Yorkshire starting a midwifery course this year could receive a helping hand with finances thanks to a new initiative from baby feeding company Cow & Gate.

The company is launching a scheme to sponsor a student midwife during the first year of their studies and is inviting applications for the bursary award from students across the UK.

With spending and loans always at the back of a student's mind, the first year of a new course in a different town can be a difficult time. To help take a little of the strain, Cow & Gate is offering a first year bursary of £2,000 to a student who will be starting a three or four-year degree course at a UK university in September 2003.

Anyone who wishes to apply for the bursary should write to: Bursary Award, Rosie Tyrwhitt-Drake, Cow & Gate, White Horse Business Park, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 0XQ, providing details of their course and why they would like to be sponsored by Cow & Gate. The letter must arrive by Friday, August 8, 2003.

Mel Murray