Letters to the Editor

SIR, - The sleep of the Ilkley residents in the promixity of the Craiglands Hotel was rudely disturbed once again in the early hours of Sunday morning as a result of thoughtless and inconsiderate action by this establishment.

At four minutes past midnight, the skies erupted into an horrendous maelstrom of detonations and bursts of light. This firework 'display' continued for some ten minutes, by which time one's senses had been totally assaulted and dulled by a continuous barrage of bangs and flashes.

This behaviour is completely reprehensible and constitutes a public nuisance, and possibly a breach of human rights in depriving folk of a peaceful night's rest.

If these people have to express themselves in such a loud and violent manner, then would it be too much to ask that the ritual takes place earlier in the evening?

These disturbances are becoming more and more common as fireworks, which were once restricted to around Guy Fawkes Night, are being sold and used throughout the year. The hotel mentioned above is not the only culprit, as the peace of many a night is disrupted by this so-called entertainment.

If Ilkley parish councillors are not fully aware of this nuisance, then it should be brought to their attention and, hopefully, they could put an end to these nefarious incidents.

R W GLISTER

Cowpasture Road,

Ilkley.

Monstrous egotist

SIR, - It's midnight on Sunday and the fireworks start.

Quite a long way off, they go on for a quarter of an hour. They wake every person in the household.

If they wake everyone in my house, then they must wake everybody in Ilkley. Young children, elderly grandparents, the healthy, the sick, those desperate for sleep after a hard day's work, those just drifting off into a pleasant dream; everybody.

What sort of monstrous egotist, that their birthday, their wedding, their party, their anything is more important than the sleep of thousands of their neighbours?

O R WELLS

23 Eaton Road,

Ilkley.

Origin of the noise

SIR, - Darwinians need no reminding that last Saturday was the anniversary of the Origin of the Species being published.

Had the great man been in town, he would have written about the pyrotechnic promulgation which hit slumbering residents.

Hardly the missing link. More missing brain cells. Some idiot decided that the ideal time to let off explosive charges was between midnight and 12.15am.

No doubt intoxication had something to do with it. Hardly actions to go alongside 'The Address'.

One hopes that new residents will voice their opinions more strongly before things really get out of hand. The peace and tranquility for which people move to this area was destroyed again last weekend - probably by some 'out of towner'.

Did the idiot think what could happen if one of the explosives started a fire?

Or caused a resident to have an accident because of their ill-timed pyrotechnics? I suggest letting off fireworks over a certain size should carry the same penalty as using unlicensed explosives.

FRAZER IRWIN

Queen's Road,

Ilkley.

Bandstand plea

SIR, - As a member of the Ilkley Bandstand Committee and a resident of the town, I am asking you to put a smile on The Grove and promote the use of the bandstand.

The bandstand, situated on The Grove, is already helping to give pleasure to residents. It is available at weekends and on summer evenings.

We invite bands, singers and musicians to perform on this beautiful landmark. The Grove is Ilkley's most prominent thoroughtfare and a great venue for up and coming bands.

We welcome practice sessions, especially junsior and youth bands. Any interested music-makers should contact John Metcalf on (01943) 609379.

PAUL BOOTH

Ilkley Bandstand 2000 Trust.

Unusual sign

SIR, - Within The National Railway Museum at York there is a section called 'The Warehouse'. This comprises a large number of artefacts which there is not room to display properly, but which are, nonetheless, on view to the public.

Item catalogue number 1998-10445 is a very unusual station name sign from Ben Rhydding, made from two long blocks of stone placed end to end, with 'Ben Rhydding' in raised letters. The letters are white on a tangerine background, being the 'corporate' colours used by the North Eastern Region of British Railways.

The stone name sign is clearly visible in photographs of Ben Rhydding Station in the days before the platform buildings were reduced to bus shelters. It was built into the masonary of the main station building, on the side facing the platform, high up above the entrance to the Booking Office.

The NRM catalogue number of 1998-10445 tends to imply that it did not enter the national collection until 1998, so we must wonder where it has been since the station buildings were demolished?

Ian R Henderson

3 Wheatley Avenue,

Ben Rhydding.

Precept damage

SIR, - The Chairman of Ilkley Parish Council complains that the parish councillors were not consulted by Bradford Council about the withdrawal of the £25,000 administration grant.

But not one of the parish councillors stood for election telling us that they would increase our council tax by precept or in any other way. Our money, Coun Gibbons, not your money.

District councillor Ian Greenwood, the Labour leader, signalled clearly that the precept would lead to the administration costs being levied upon us (Ilkley Gazette, April 11 2002), Letters from council taxpayers living in Ilkley pointed out that it would happen. Now district councillor Anne Hawkesworth and district councillor Chris Greaves have both said that the precept has led to the administration costs falling upon us.

Any parish councillor who thinks otherwise is living on another planet.

What is now wanted is 'damage limitation'. Otherwise, Ilkley will find that it has its very own council tax - which will be constantly increasing above the odds. No further precept whatever should be levied by the parish council for anything except those administration costs,

Let we who pay the money see clearly that it is the district council which is to blame for increasing our council tax in Ilkley. At present, both they and the parish council are clearly to blame.

Edwin Schirn

Victoria Grove,

Ilkley.

Council view

SIR, - Once again Mr Cheney (Letters, November 21) has the story all wrong and seeks to attack Ilkley Parish Council for his own pathetic political ends.

Why, if he dislikes it so much, has he made so many previous unsuccessful attempts to gain election to the parish council?

The council remains committed to preserving and enhancing the quality of life for all its citizens. Perhaps Mr Cheney's efforts could be channelled in the same direction.

Coun M P GIBBONS

Chairman,

Ilkley arish Council..

Rail progress

SIR, - In his book, 'On Ilkley Moor'. Tim Binding mentions (page 187): "The 5.24pm express from Bradford, which reaches Ilkley at 5.50pm." The year was 1910.

The current rail timetable shows the 17.19 traing from Bradford due to arrive in Ilkley at 17.51.

So much for progress.

R K COLLARD

Flat 3,

11 Riddings Road,

Ilkley.

More information

SIR - Curmudgeons 'fictitious' item (November 21) was, as usual, missing some facts. Those MPs who are not wanting to start earlier in the day are mostly his old friends the Tories,

Why? Sixty-four per cent of them have outside jobs as opposed to eight per cent Labour - the remainder are Lib Dems.

He (Curmudgeon) also needs more info on Jerry Paxman who in his early days was a socialist (heaven forbid). Now he goes home each evening to 'his partner' ,which is in keeping with how things are these days - Prince Charles, Angus Deayton,

Oh dear, Curmudgeon, you do pick 'em.

F Dickinson

48A Larkfield Road

Rawdon.