Letters to the Editor

I, for one, feel profoundly grateful when I see you've been down our road. (Perhaps it could have been three o'clock in the morning when you got to my patch?)

It is true that you rarely get to the two roads nearest my house, nor, probably, to everyone else's nook and cranny. However, I then have to take some personal responsibility for how I walk and drive. And there is always the option of joining with the neighbours for some rock salt!

We seem to be turning more and more into a 'complaining culture' as a nation. How about redressing the balance; giving a few more 'well dones' and effecting a bit of a change towards a 'complimenting culture' instead?

To all council workers - those on the job and doing the necessary unseen backup work in offices - who mend our roads and pipes, work the public recreational areas and clean and grit our roads etc, well done and thank you!

SYLVIA C WALKER

Styveton Way, Steeton

SIR - There were letters in your newspaper today, one from each of two correspondents, in which bitter comments were made about our Prime Minister's approach to the crisis in Iraq.

Whilst I respect the right of any individual to express their opinion in a candid manner, I feel that the vitriolic language which was used with reference to Tony Blair was uncalled for, and its implications inaccurate.

I write as an ex-serviceman, Royal Navy, and I can recall quite clearly the events which led up to the Second Word War. As a nation, we were aware of what was happening in Europe, of the horrors which Hitler was perpetrating, yet we chose to ignore the warning signals.

We did not listen to the voice of Winston Churchill with his grim forecast of what was to come, but instead we gave our attention to Neville Chamberlain and the assurance given by the German Chancellor, that he, Adolf Hitler, did not wish to go to war with Great Britain. In confirmation of this he gave to Chamberlain a piece of paper bearing the words 'Peace in our Time'.

The British public believed this worthless promise and we all know what happened next. I can hear the echo of Chamberlain in the voices of your correspondents and others like them.

Public opinion was wrong then, as it may well be wrong in the current crisis. The failure of this country to act in the 1930s led to the deaths of thousands of men, women and children in the concentration camps and ghettoes.

As one who has witnessed at first hand the tragedy of Poland and the horrors of Dachau, I believe that the appeasement of Saddam Hussein may well mean further tragedies, not just for our own country but for the whole world.

Saddam Hussein is an evil monster who has already sacrificed thousands of his own people in a desire to hang on to power.

He has played cat and mouse with the United Nations for 12 years, and he should be stopped at once.

Tony Blair is right to seek a Second Resolution from the United Nations, and, if necessary, and with their support, proceed to disarm Saddam Hussein.

Let us not make the mistake of the 1930s again. We have been warned.

ALEC ASPINALL

Westview Way, Keighley

SIR - I was saddened to hear recently through your newspaper of yet another accident at the junction of Trough Lane and Denholme Road; by the Dog & Gun at Oxenhope.

This time an elderly gentleman of 72 years was the victim and needed to be airlifted to Airedale Hospital for treatment.

It is almost a year ago (last Good Friday) that our daughter, Mrs Liz Hopper of Leeming, was travelling with her young son Will and was involved in a similar accident.

Luckily the injuries were less severe thanks to the safety features of their car and they were both able to walk away from the incident. She was six-months pregnant at the time so we could have lost both a daughter and two grandchildren; fortunately this was not the case.

Liz wrote to her local Councillor Margaret Eaton and also Bradford Council Traffic Unit about her concerns of this dangerous junction.

The mirror was subsequently replaced, but this has clearly not solved the problem. Such poor junction visibility cannot be resolved by using a mirror and more far reaching measures need to be considered.

Do we now have to wait until there is a fatal accident here before any improvements are to be made?

ANNE JARVIS

Gilstead Lane, Bingley

SIR - I read regular reports on the infamous landfill site in Cullingworth and, of course, agree that the site must be made safe and landscaped at whatever cost is required.

However, I would like to dispel the idea that Cullingworth has become some kind of disaster area.

People from other districts ask me about the tip, obviously under the impression that our quality of life has been ruined. Not so!

We have a thriving community with an active Parish Council, we have shops and facilities which many would envy, we have hanging baskets, show-standard gardens and thousands of daffodils planted by the Paths Association which will shortly be flowering on all the approaches to the village.

We also have an excellent, over-subscribed Secondary School, and this year will see a new Primary School built on the site of the old allotments.

Yes, we do have one problem area which is being dealt with, but this is still a good place to live.

JOHN L BRIGG

Fairfax Road,

Cullingworth

SIR - I would like to offer my support to Joanna Thompson, who wrote in about the Highfield SRB.

How ridiculous and sad that, under our very noses, there are families with young, dependent children, who, despite working hard, are struggling in conditions that we would normally associate with Third World countries.

No hot water or heating. Not even a toilet!

I would just like to say how unfair the situation seems, especially since I have found out that the 50 per cent that my boyfriend will be paying to have his house in Highfield renovated by the SRB will be going straight back into houses that have already taken almost two years to be done.

There doesn't seem any logic to it at all. If an area has been allocated money, that's exactly where it should go - and not to some conveniently sectioned-off part of that area - especially not repeatedly, when there are needy cases within the same area.

I would very much be interested in any response a spokesperson for SRB may have the good grace to convey following these letters.

Does "SRB" stand for "Selective Regeneration Budget?"

A GREGORY

Drewry Road, Keighley

SIR - I am writing about Cllr Kris Hopkins bragging about the new stock transfer buying council houses and giving us decent homes to live in.

Who is he kidding? He needs to put his money where his mouth is.

The letter printed last week next to his from Joanna Thompson proves how much they care how tenants live.

I have been asking for heating in my home since last year. Airedale Hospital and my doctor have written to the council telling them I need heating as it is affecting my health.

I am on disability and they don't want to know.

Ann Cryer has written to them and it's the same old tale, they have no money and we will not have any heating in next winter either, so they said. Tell Cllr Kris Hopkins to live in these houses that he expects tenants to live in and maybe then he will get something done.

CAROLYN JONES

Thwaites Brow Road,

Keighley

SIR - I am somewhat perplexed by town councillor Hudson's stance in making a complaint against fellow Councillors Payne and Roberts' charity appeal letters as reported on page 2 of last week's Keighley News.

That two councillors have come together to support and promote a very valuable local charity is highly commendable, and it is through the example of community spirit shown by these people that many others will be encouraged to come forward and support voluntary causes.

To be criticised for their unselfish efforts and forced to apologise for what would positively promote Keighley Town Council at the same time can only be damaging to the morale of the councillors involved, the groups and events they are trying to support, and for those considering volunteering, but in the light of Councillor Hudson's complaint will now be put off.

It is ironic that in trying to score points in town politics through his continual opposition, Councillor Hudson has surely damaged his own call for volunteers to come forward to support his own event, the Keighley Gala, as reported on the following page of last week's Keighley News.

DAVID MCKAY

Conservative spokesman,

Keighley West

SIR - Please note: Without any public thanks, or acknowledgement, it was Cllr A Wright who fulfiled the original role as Acting Proper Officer three weeks after the Acting Town Clerk and her assistant left the Keighley Town Hall office.

Cllr Wright did not claim financial assistance, via expenses, when undertaking the challenge asked of him.

Also, when Cllr Wright set up the Keighley Town Council website, work he continues to undertake, neither was he offered expenses nor did he wish to claim any.

Cllr Hudson was another person who put a great deal of time in building office units but also refused to claim money from Keighley ratepayers.

CLLR ROSE THOMPSON

Delph House,

Parkwood Rise

SIR - Queensbury to Cullingworth as a railway walk? Yes or No?

I'm a devotee of this superbly constructed old Great Northern Line, built by John Fraser between 1872 and 1888.

I have all the train times and can tell you it's history. I loved this incredible railway and I've walked over it from Ingrow to Ovenden and to Great Horton as well, including walking through all the tunnels.

A footpath? Well, will it bring a gateway for trouble makers, unwanteds and vandals? Do the powers that be have any idea of how big Hewenden Viaduct is?

I really would love this to come off, but I feel there are many problems. Cullingworth has been totally devastated and spoiled forever of late and we will get increased crime and an easy way out for the criminals. Vandals will have a field day. That said, I'm for the plan but we must think about it. "Rise again, oh great one" - but let us not spoil people's privacy and lives with it.

K ABBOTT

Parkside Terrace,

Cullingworth

SIR - The Management Committee of Keighley Community Transport would like to publicly thank all the residents of Keighley who, after reading of our troubles in the Keighley News, were kind enough to send in donations to help replace the vehicles destroyed in the arson attacks.

Many of the donations were received from our user groups and individuals who use the Dial A Ride service, some were anonymous, some from people who just wanted to help out, and even the volunteer drivers chipped in by donating their expenses.

Thanks should also go to the local councillors who have fought long and hard to secure funding for Community Transport.

Although the minibus side of the operation is safe for at least another year, it now looks almost certain that the Dial A Ride service will cease at the end of March due to a lack of funding.

Perhaps when the organisations that hold the purse strings realise how much extra it costs them to cover the work carried out by Dial A Ride the situation may change. Unfortunately this will be too late for the people who will be confined to their homes.

KCT Management

Committee

Holycroft St, Keighley.

SIR - I read with interest the article in last week's KN 'Cycle route would be a conduit for criminals'.

The article reported items from the parish council meeting and stated 'there was additional concern that the line would provide a stalking ground for perverts, particularly with its proximity to the village primary school'.

As chairman of the governors at Cullingworth Primary School, with two daughters at the school, I would take any such risk very seriously. However, I would like anyone who has the interests of the school and its pupils at heart to note the following points.

The school currently has a public footpath running through the middle of the site, and which it could be argued is a far greater risk than that of the proposed new school site adjacent to the great northern trail which will be separated from the school playgrounds by secure fencing.

Children are 50 times more likely to be killed in a traffic accident than they are to be killed by a stranger (source Department of Transport and Home Office).

Strangers kill an average of six children a year, and while no-one would wish that experience on anyone we must bear in mind that an average of six children a week are killed on our roads. It is a sad fact that these deaths are now so commonplace that they rarely make the news.

As such, Cullingworth Primary School enthusiastically supports the construction of the path, and has included it as part of our school travel plan as a possible measure to improve the safety of our children at the site of the proposed new primary school.

Chris George

Chair of Governors

Cullingworth Primary

School and

Cullingworth resident