WE are disappointed by the comments of Peter Putwain, chairman of the Community Health Council, who accuses Airedale National Health Trust of over-reacting to a proposed merger with Bradford.

Surely, as a politician, Mr Putwain knows that unless an early and robust defence against loss of service is made at an early stage, these "suggestions" have a nasty habit of becoming reality. Rather than over-reacting, the management, unions, doctors and most local politicians connected with Airedale pointed out that Craven people do not want their services administered from Bradford. We do not want any local health provision moved to the metropolis, a world away from residents in places like Settle.

The very first casualty of a merger would be Skipton General Hospital as funds are diverted away from this area to throw at Bradford's very major problems.

Mr Putwain's dismissal of "defensive, parochial and pedestrian attitudes" and assertion that Airedale cannot "go it alone" seems to be a call for merger with Bradford to go ahead. Why? Airedale has a long track record of outstanding service and is much respected in Craven (and indeed Keighley).

As more and more services are stripped away from rural areas like ours, we need to defend our interests. It is disappointing that the Community Health Council chairman sees it differently.

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