SIR, May I through the Wharfedale Observer thank all the people who have helped with the charity Hang on to a Dream.

In these times of hardship, I am personally indebted to all the businesses who have made their donations and who have helped and assisted with Dream this year.

A number of local organisations have supported us by making donations and to these people again we offer our most sincere thanks. Our main fund raising event, the Otley Vintage Transport Extravaganza, was a major success this year and our thanks go especially to the Wharfedale Farmers Auction Mart for their continued support.

Also, no event would run smoothly but for the backroom boys. To Chevin Landscapes, Peter Gumby, Nigel and Jenny Wilkinson, Malcolm Barry, John Edwards, Andy Turnbull and so on - may I thank you once again for all your help.

Readers will be pleased to know that over £2, 300 was raised for Dream. Next year's event will be on Sunday, September 2, when we will look forward to seeing everyone again.

I am sure that I speak on behalf of all the children that we have helped when I say a great big thankyou and wish you all a Happy New Year.

Nigel Francis

Chairman,

Hang on to a Dream.,

6 Pearson's Buildings,

Otley.

Cars to blame

SIR, I am not surprised that Newall Carr Road, Otley, is one of the most accident-prone roads in Leeds.

I must take issue however with Councillor Kirkland as to the cause. Whilst I agree that the large number of lorries using this road is a nuisance in that they make much noise, in my experience they are mostly driven well and safely, which is more than can be said for many of the private cars.

Far too often these are driven at speeds well in excess of the speed limit which is, in itself, too high where the road passes the hospital and Prince Henry's Grammar School.

This is particularly so during the morning and evening rush hours when many motorists seem to take the word rush literally.

Unless and until the police in Otley take steps to uphold the law, accidents will continue to happen.

V G Heffer

St David's Road

Otley.

Comfort in Bible

SIR, In spite of all the wonderful achievements of the last millennium which have provided so many benefits for us, it seems that the proverbial peace, prosperity and plenty eludes the majority of the world's population.

Even when there is comparative prosperity, there is also a lack of real peace of mind, happiness and hope for the future.

My feeling is that the reason for this is that we have lost our way and departed from the help and comfort that the Bible offers.

The Bible promises its readers 'the peace of God, which passeth all understanding' (Philippians 4v7). For several years I have followed the Bible reading tables in the Bible Companion enabling me to read the entire Bible in a year.

As a millennial gesture I will be happy to send a copy of the Bible Companion to any reader who would like one so that they might experience for themselves the joy, happiness and hope the Bible offers.

Richard Benson

40 York Road,

Hitchin,

Herts.

Democracy sham

SIR, the defeatist attitude of Mrs M A Roper (Wharfedale Observer December 21) is I am afraid typical of the attitude which perpetrates enslavement. We live in a two-party state both of which are in reality, the same.

It is sad that she fails to see that both New Labour and Conservatives are both agencies of capitalism.

Our sham democracy and electoral system is designed to ensure they always hold power and if such attitudes prevail this will always be the case.

I am not a politician, but a carer who has looked after a severely disabled wife full time for the past 13 years. I have therefore been in the front line and experienced the hypocrisy and propaganda lies of Conservative and New Labour first hand.

Under New Tory Labour the situation has deteriorated for people like us. Even our MP will admit that. It is not my intention to insult anyone but only provoke thought and discussion on a fraudulent political system supported by the all powerful media.

There are other choices we can make and I suggest she examines the Green Party and Left Alliance or any other genuine socialist party. Vote for your principles, not as you are told by the media.

As I have said many times before, the electoral system is heavily biased against the smaller parties because the system requires huge amounts of capital to get the candidates elected.

The electorate are constantly brainwashed against voting for minor parties by the argument that to do so is a wasted vote. By this means, they perpetuate the status quo. If you want the greed and chaos of capitalism, then yes, by all means vote New Tory Labour.

Things can change but it requires a major change of vision and attitude and I hope Mrs Roper can take that step, or at least give it some thought. Make no mistake about it.

New Labour like the Conservatives are the enemies of ordinary people and not until we see the alternative possibilities can we hope to make any progress.

Things can change. Remember, they said the Berlin Wall would never come down, but it did. It's up to you.

Malcolm Naylor

21 Grange View,

Otley.

Tory 'joke'

SIR, who is kidding who? A recent Tory statement that they would cut taxes by £8 billion and not squeeze public spending must be a joke. Eighteen years and public services stagnant which were never once put first by the Tories.

The crisis in the National Health Service and transport system is largely due to under- investment by them.

If they are going to put it right why didn't they do it in all those marvellous years?

God knows, they had ample time.

F Dickinson

Larkfield Road

Rawdon.

Harnessing wind

BRITAIN'S just had one of its windiest ever years - but it's not all bad news.

Climate change, the end of the nuclear era and our increasing demand for electricity mean that we, already the windiest country in Europe, can harness the natural power of the wind for unlimited clean energy.

Let's make the best of the wind - a single modern turbine can now provide the electricity for 1,500 households. In the next few years we are likely to see several thousand new turbines both on land and offshore.

Planning applications to build wind farms are being made around the UK and I encourage you to take the time to find out about the proposals near you.

Information can be found at www.bwea.com.

Nick Goodall

Chief Executive,

British Wind Energy Association,

London, W2.

Email: info@bwea.com

Warning signs

SIR, - Every year at this time, the number of cases of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia rise dramatically, and sometimes the outcome is devastating.

Recently I have become concerned about the number of cases of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia reported in newspapers countrywide which have been misdiagnosed either by GPs or hospital casualty doctors, and the outcome has been catastrophic.

Last month alone, we had contact with ten families from different parts of the country here at our fundraising office in Bristol; all of them had lost loved ones who had been misdiagnosed in the preceding six weeks somewhere within the health care delivery system.

My growing impression is that some health professionals are still not distinguishing between the common symptoms of meningitis, and those that may exist with meningococcal septicaemia.

I also believe that the general public are under the misconception that once their children receive the meningitis C vaccine, they are protected against all forms of bacterial meningitis.

Everyone should be aware that there is still no vaccine to protect against the most common form of bacterial meningitis, meningococcal group B.

In my opinion it is utmost importance for families and health professionals to always consider meningitis or meningococcal septicaemia if someone becomes ill, especially if the illness has developed rapidly. The earlier the disease is identified and treated could mean the difference between life and death.

STEVE DAYMAN

Operations Officer,

Spencer Dayman Meningitis

Laboratories Fundraising Office,

Fishponds Road,

Bristol.

Go vegetarian

SIR, - With the New Year upon us, many of us will resolve to lead a healthier lifestyle than we did last year. Some of us will give up smoking or alcohol, others will vow to lose weight and take regular exercise.

However, the best way to ensure improved health in 2001 is to go vegetarian.

Hardly a day went by in the past year without BSE and CJD in the headlines. Swine fever, salmonella and e.Coli outbreaks all occupied the news for days on end. Add to this the well-documented link between a meat-based diet and Britain's three killers - heart disease, cancer and stroke - and it's no wonder that 2,000 people go vegetarian in the UK every week.

Thankfully supermarket shelves are now chock full of veggie burgers and sausages, meat-free pies and casseroles, nut roasts and veggie sandwich slices. Giving up meat is probably the easiest New Year's resolution you could make.

For a free veggie starter kit contact PETA, PO Box 3169, London, SW18 4WJ or visit www.petaeurope.org.

TONI VERNELLI

People for the Ethical Treatment

of Animals (PETA)