Letters to the Editor

Sir,- As reported in last week's Wharfedale Observer, there is now little time remaining to raise objections to the proposed revisions to the Leeds Unitary Development Plan (UDP).

If unchallenged, this will result in

the building of many hundreds of new houses plus industrial developments on former green belt land on the east side of the town.

The house building is linked to the funding of the proposed relief road running from Stephen Smiths to the Leeds Road.

As I have learnt more about this proposal the more concerns I have. For

example:

l Upward of 800 houses plus industrial units may be built and the

relief road is likely to be elevated due to flooding concerns.

l A development of this scale will have considerable impact on the

character and environment of Otley.

l The combined development may result in little or no net

reduction in the volume of traffic in the town centre, and may increase

the heavy traffic crossing the river Wharfe.

l A target of 50per cent of affordable homes is being proposed, but this level would not fund the relief road. Is the scheme financially viable?

l Safety and environmental concerns due to rat-runs into town

along East Busk Lane and existing roads in the Cambridge area.

l The relief road need not be completed for up to five years after

house building commences (ensuring a considerable period of disruption

within the town).

The relevant documents can be inspected at the Library or found on the Leeds City Council web site (www.leeds.gov.uk). They are relatively clearly written but my personal experience is that you need to invest a considerable amount of time to gain a reasonable understanding.

Formal comments can be made using a form that can be downloaded from the website (but only against the proposed alterations to the UDP).

Completed forms must be received by August 6.

I have complied comments against five of the proposed alterations.

Should you like a copy of this text and the form please email me on

udpotley@hotmail.com.

Alastair Watson

Elm Terrace

Otley

On the wrong road

Sir,- I am writing to express my concern at Otley Town Council's support for the East of Otley Development proposed in the Leeds UDP.

I can only suppose that the councillors have failed to grasp the full extent of what they are supporting.

I believe the figure of 500 new houses was mentioned in relation to the councillors' report.

The UDP makes no mention of numbers of houses. Under current Government housing density guidance the number of houses that will fit on the site could be 800.

The developers will decide how many they want to build not the council. The council asks for 75per cent affordable houses.

The UDP allows for up to 50per cent, government requirements are for 25per cent. It will be up to the developers how many over 25per cent they actually build.

What are affordable houses? One thing they are not are low cost starter homes for first time buyers.

They are small high density housing units available for rent through an housing association or alternatively through a shared equity agreement, the resident only pays part of the value but also only owns part of the house and can only sell their part, the rest remains with the housing association.

Why is the town council supporting this scheme, to build on a green field site?

In order to pay for a relief road. Sounds like a fair deal to the councillors. The new road should take a lot of traffic away from the town centre. But will it.

Up to 800 new houses will mean at least 800 cars. The estate will be too far out of town to walk so that is more town centre car parking needed.

How many of those cars will be heading to work in Leeds each rush hour or doing the school run?

Most of the heavy traffic through Otley is north to south or west to south.

It will not use the relief road unless it is going to the new industrial estate and people may be tempted to take a short cut through the town to avoid the steep incline on the new road.

The line of the old railway was also mentioned in the report from the councillors.

They want to retain the track bed in the hope that the railway may one-day be restored.

The UDP makes no reference to the railway track bed. If the developers decide to put the road on part of the track bed then the town council will be powerless to stop them.

John Buck.

Danefield Terrace

Otley

Traffic nightmare

Sir,- We were dismayed to read that Otley Town Council's Environment and Economic Development Committee supports the Leeds UDP plan to place a large Strategic Housing site on Green field land adjacent to the Cambridge Estate, which is the only Green field site so designated.

While it may be true that HGVs are "killing the town" as Coun Eveleigh suggests, it would appear his support is being given to the housing purely in order to get the East of Otley Relief Road finally built.

He and the Council seem to be under the illusion that this will solve Ot-ley's traffic problems. We do not believe that it will.

The Relief Road would only be of limited value in easing the pressure of HGVs in the town as it would do nothing to alleviate traffic from the north.

The Strategic Housing will provide well in excess of the 500 houses mentioned in the article, together with some indus-trial units, so it is not hard to imagine what this would mean in terms in-crease in local traffic.

The resulting pressure on town centre roads and parking, together with the increase in traffic across our small medieval bridge, would negate any possible benefit gained from the bypass.

Alan and Susan carr

Moor Drive

Otley

West Yorkshire

Threat of the EU

SIR,- We would like to express our thanks to Councillor Clive Fox for his very clear letter exposing the real face behind the mask of European Union.

We heartily agree with his views.

The EU poses a very serious threat to our democratic way of life. Many brave British lives were sacrificed in World War Two to enable us to remain a free nation and governing ourselves.

That generation left us the precious heritage of liberty that we so much take for granted and enjoy today. We would ask the present generation what do we wish to hand over to our children?

A historic nation which is capable of democratically governing itself and making its own laws based on the will of its own people or a non-descript Federal region of the European Union governed from Brussels by non-elected commissioners about whom we know little and who govern by the use of 'directives'.

If we fail to defend our constitutional rights at this crucial time we shall go down in history as a nation that betr-ayed itself and all future generations of this realm.

The time is now for us to wake up and reject this unholy constitution which is being forced on us.

We demand a referendum on this matter and when the time comes we look forward to being able to reject the Euro currency by the same democratic means.

AF and Councillor SE (Betty) Bevan,

Wilkinson Way,

Otley.

Backing lorry ban

SIR,- On behalf of Otley's six Labour councillors and the members of Otley Labour Party to pledge our support for a total ban on HGV through traffic as called for by the committee for Safety on Otley's Roads (SOOR).

We ask the people of Otley to give their full support to the SOOR committee and to involve themselves in the campaign for a ban as it continues to develop.

The recent offer from quarry operators Hanson to reduce the number of lorries passing through the town is too little too late and nothing short of a total ban should be accepted. The fight for a ban will be a difficult one but if we are determined enough it can be achieved here as in other places such as Wetherby.

Councillor Kevin Cooney

Sunnydale Ridge

Otley.

Ray's discomfort

SIR - Ray Dunn's pious letter, wrapping himself in a cloak of religious self-righteousness, was clearly intended to invoke public sympathy and defend the integrity of himself and his fellow Labour party members. His discomfort was plain, but before we get out the fiddles and hankies, it should be recognised, this is self inflicted.

He suffers this pain, because he considers it more important to "remain loyal to his party" than the public. Ray made it very clear "party loyalty" always takes precedence and he would rather fall on his sword than resign.

I have no doubt those who, joined the Labour party did so in good faith. But under the guidance of Blair, not only have they lost their way, but their principles. To remain members of, and have "pride in being members of a Party" (Rays words), whose leader is, patronising and econmical with the truth, is not loyalty. It is insanity.

Ray says "Labour is the only party, which looks and takes corrective action to benefit under privileged people". But with our voting system, no one else gets a chance.

And like every thing else in this unequal society, the elected parties, are those with the biggest cheque book, even though, at the last election, they only took 23per cent of the votes.

Malcolm Naylor

Grange View

Otley

Brilliant show

SIR, through your letters page I would like to congratulate the children and staff of Westgate School, Otley, on their brilliant production of Joseph and his Technicoloured Dreamcoat.

Every aspect was spot on scenery, costumes, sound. It seemed that all the children were involved in some way, the music singing and dancing were filled with pride.

With such talent, commitment and sheer enjoyment in what they were doing, those children gave one hundred per cent and it bodes well for the future of Otley.

(Name and Address supPlied)

Hospital debate

SIR,- I refer to the letter from Gerard Francis regarding the hospital. He remarks that people were campaigning 25 years ago for a new hospital.

This is true but he should remember that for 18 of those years we had a Tory government which allowed the NHS to deteriorate to its 1997 state.

Labour has only had six years to restore it as yet and it is always quicker to destroy than to re-construct.

Edward P Brear

St David's Road

Otley

Part of our heritage

SIR,- Despite what many hoped to see converted and put to new use, Leeds Development Agency (LDA) will shortly demolish much of the historic Westgate industrial site.

This is where the printing machines that gave Otley world fame were made.

It may be remembered that LDA also owned and demolished the cinema that stood in front of this area.

Anyone wishing to personally record this significant part of our town's

heritage is urged to move quickly.

LDA also owns other significant historic parts of Otley, for example the

large former Walkers printing factory behind Kirkgate.

Some time ago it was suggested that this would make an ideal location for an indoor market.

PH Greaves

Newall Carr Road

Otley

Charity gets a lift

Sir,- I would like, through your paper, to thank all those people who travelled to foreign parts from Leeds Bradford Airport during June andput their spare coins in the collection boxes available. I have just received a cheque for £391.03 from the Customer Services Manager at the airport which will go to the work ofthe Arthritis Research Campaign.

There are over 200 types of rheumatism and arthiritis, so many of us are

affected in some way in our lifetime. Many advances have been made and

continue to be made, but all this costs money (about £25 million each year). Several new projects have been launched in Leeds recently; one particularly focusing on arthritis in the feet, which will hopefully bring relief to patients all around the country.

Thank you again for your support and if you would like to make a donation or are interested in receiving any more information on the workof arc, please contact me.

Elizabeth Hoyle

Otley Branch Chairman of arc,

Shaw Lane Gardens,

Guiseley