Letters to the Editor

After the closure of the V.Shop, we are now left with just Woolworths, which, if I may say, don't cater for the ever growing popularity of a wider range of categories of music there is these days.

Take myself for instance. I went into "Woolies" the other day. I was after an album. As it wasn't the kind of music that's in the "pop charts", I couldn't buy it.

So, I have to wait until the weekend to go to Bradford. It's all very well saying you can order things over the Internet, but in some cases (not all), you've to pay for postage. You've also to wait for the item to arrive. And not everyone has access to a computer with the Internet.

I know I'm not alone. I have friends who feel the same and I know other people in Keighley who are into alternative music rather than "pop music".

So come on. Someone, somewhere must be able to do something about it. I can think of one reasonable place for maybe a HMV.

Janice Sunderland

Braithwaite Road, Keighley

SIR - I am writing to appeal to the people who walk their dogs in Utley Cemetery. We lost someone very special earlier this year, she died suddenly and unexpectedly.

She left behind a large family who miss her and are still trying to come to terms with her death. We regularly visit her grave, particularly when we need some time to think about her and the gap she has left in our lives.

On two occasions over the last week we have found dog mess on the silk flowers left by her granddaughter.

We have no objections to people walking their dogs in the cemetery, quite the opposite, but we would appreciate people cleaning up after their dogs as it can cause upset to others.

Denise Brown

Norbreck Drive

Cross Roads

SIR - "We can make a difference" was the theme of Chris Grayston's letter of hope regarding the Live8 concert and the Edinburgh March which is part of the campaign to Make Poverty History.

No doubt Chris has an admirable urge to do good but this in itself does not necessarily mean the good intentions will translate into lasting good.

Chris says the campaign has "given hope to a world where people are no longer content just to feather their own nests to enjoy the fruits of capitalism at the expense of the poorer nations".

This statement suggests of more of the old collectivist claptrap peddled for years by a ragbag of Liberal/Marxist churchmen, students, academics, trade unions and pushy charities who couldn't even point out Upper Volta on a map but blame everyone but the Africans for the tragedies of Africa.

Never mentioned is the outright corruption of African business, bureaucracy, government and its leaders. Nor is the amount of aid money that ends up in the private bank accounts of African despots. Furthermore, to delicately suggest that there appears to be little evidence that the mountain of aid given to Africa has lastingly improved the lives of ordinary Africans, but conversely may be making matters worse, would be to commit heresy in their eyes. Yet it is a fact that Africa is poorer per capita than 20 or even 40 years ago. There appears to be no fresh thinking in this latest initiative to allow Africa stand on its own feet but it seems there will be more of the same, resulting in Africa becoming some kind of permanent international welfare supplicant.

In conclusion it does sometimes seem a little odd that these highly conscionable organisers of Make Poverty History feel comfortably aligned with the colourful and often uncouth "zillionaire aristorockracy" who were performing their inimical musical rites at Live8, who are if nothing, the truest red blooded capitalists of all. Whilst urging the G8 governments to give money (that's mine and yours) they seek to shelter their fortunes in selective tax havens and use the slickest of investment boutiques to protect their fortunes from money grabbing governments. And who can blame them when they see governments throwing away good money after bad to fund despotic tyrannies in Africa!

Now I wonder what Bananarama or Madonna would say if their music were being pirated in Burkina Faso and successfully distributed worldwide? "Go ahead, we feel your pain!"

A J A Smith

Colne Road, Glusburn

SIR - The violinist (and possibly leader) of the band in last week's picture plea was my father, Norman Atkins, who founded a plumbing business during the l930s before war service in the RAF. I do not know the identities of the other band members.

The band's name is spelt correctly on the drum and incorrectly (with an E in the letter).

TREVOR ATKINS

Lynton Drive, Keighley

SIR - I read with sympathy your Opinion leader in the News issue of July 8. I recently questioned Bradford Council's support for the town by their withdrawing environmental health officers from Keighley, to be based solely in Bradford.

A further example of their lack of interest, in my opinion, has to be the long standing saga of the renovations to Keighley's public library -- the first Carnegie endowed library in the United Kingdom and a valuable focal point in the daily lives of many members of the local population, young and old. Surely Andrew Carnegie would have much to say about the current appalling, run down state of this public building.

Historic photographs show how popular the reading rooms were. Today's users may be found browsing the Internet, using microfiche readers, consulting reference books or reading the daily papers, as well as perusing the shelves of the lending library for their next bedtime read. How can its present dilapidated state have been allowed to arise? Did the Council's maintenance department never feel it necessary to check and clean the gutters etc before the water caused so much damage to the ceilings and interior? Why cannot the windows be cleaned, at least externally if funds are short, so that they present some sort of welcoming image?

The staff must be getting demoralised by the reduction in so many books available to borrowers; by the continued lack of a start date for the overdue renovations; by the depressing image presented to anyone entering the hallowed portals.

Come on Bradford Council, get to grips with the urgency of the work needed, tell English Heritage that this Listed building needs disabled facilities in order to comply with the law just as much as do their own historic properties. Will anyone from the Council pluck up courage enough to give a firm timetable for the completion of this work?

Brian Ward

Broadlands,

Shann Park, Keighley

SIR - As you are aware I only speak on behalf of myself, my ward and the planning committee in Keighley. I believe that some of the comments you made about Town Councillors in your leader article, July 8, should be addressed.

Some of the facts you made comment upon should be brought to light. Town Councillors, unlike District Councillors, do not get paid for days off work. However, they are more than willing to participate in meetings that are of benefit to this town.

Many request are made by Town Councillors to sit on the various official committees in this area which may be of benefit to the present and future citizens of Keighley, sadly most requests are turned down - for example, The Area committee, The Airedale Partnership, Keighley College, the former Town Centre Management and other groups) It is true that some Councillors do obtain seats on other committees, but they are representing other groups not Keighley Town Council.

One would think that 30 elected Councillors, who represent the views of the fifty four thousand of the population of this region, should have a input of ideas with which to improve the area of Keighley.

It is my belief that Keighley Town Councillors are closer to the people than possibly others, because we concentrate solely on our parish and all its problems.

One wonders why if we have so much to give then why are we not welcomed or even consulted? When the future of the Aire Valley is to be debated and the outcome for the next twenty five years is to be decided, it is important that the we, the Town Councillors, are heard and included in all discussions. Keighley, after all, is the largest Town Council in the North of England.

CLLR Brian Hudson

(Chair of Planning)

Bronte Drive, Oakworth

SIR - We shall soon be having a memorial stone erected at the top end of the plot, in Silsden churchyard, reserved for the interment of ashes. Carved on this stone will be the names and dates of those whose ashes have been interred in recent years.

We are trying to contact all the relatives concerned, but in some cases we do not know the names and addresses of relatives we need to contact.

If you are someone we have not contacted, or you know of someone who has not been contacted, please let us know.

Please write to, or telephone: Mr Brian Turner (Churchwarden), 43 Woodside Road, Silsden, BD20 OBX. Telephone 01535 655347.

BRIAN TURNER

SIR - Now a ratepayer since resigning on principle from Keighley Town Council over two years ago, I now attend council meetings, sitting happily in the public gallery listening to the sparkling repartee of some our eminent local worthies.

I had long noticed, on occasions, that when other people sat nearby, some had computer laptops, large and seemingly expensive recording equipment, whilst others held outsized notebooks with which to record the meetings. Nobody ever tried to hide the reality of their intentions.

When I, with an unknown member of the public, recently sat in the public gallery of Keighley council chambers, the seat of uncensored debating, I displayed an oversize microphone in my shirt lapel. Next to me the unknown gentleman, conspicuous with a large notebook, was busily taking copious notes of the proceedings. I contented myself with only making highlights of the odd events that were of interest to me.

A member of Keighley Town Council spotted my actions and moments later Cllr Westerman surreptitiously appeared, looking triumphantly, I thought, down on me in the public galley.

A nod of victorious elation from this worthy man of the people to another assumed disciple of public propriety sitting in the majestic enclosure of the Keighley Town Hall Chambers meant that I and the other person were breaching legal tenets.

Do I think this was small-minded, odious, and spiteful behaviour, directed solely at me? Of course not! All laws in Keighley must be obeyed, however dogmatic they seem.

David Samuels

Highcroft Gardens

Thwaites Brow

SIR - I felt I had to write in support of Tom Smith's article about children and their needs in last week's edition.

He is right to highlight the dangers of the situation where children who arrive at school at 8.50am and leave at 3.30 pm with a parent or close family carer are seen as different. There are certainly some very good day care institutions, but that is what they are, institutions.

Tom Smith does well to draw public attention to the dangers of institutionalising our young children. While he focuses on children there are also dangers for parents in this situation. Who knows what kind of psychological damage may be done, especially to young mothers who are told by society that they are of little or no value unless they work outside the home, leaving their children to be cared for by others? What value parenthood then and what preparation for the next generation of parents?

The Ten Year Strategy for Children states that parents should have choice for child care, but staying at home to look after one's own children gets very little mention and even less support. This should be seen as a real choice and not just for people with money. Perhaps staying at home while children are very young should be given a much higher profile and might prevent difficulties/problems with teenage youngsters later.

Some kind of support could be given for this through the tax system. Also, a clear distinction must be made between highly educated, highly paid women with careers and the majority who have jobs perhaps on minimum wage.

Cecily Hanlon

The Drive, Crossgates,

Leeds

SIR - Those horse riders who use the pavements and leave behind deposits -- as at the War Memorial at Haworth -- should be treated the same as dog owners who offend.

Those with children and prams have to deviate into the roadway and buses have to draw well past the stop to allow passengers to board or alight.

One consolation is that those who are responsible are not riding elephants.

F SLACK

Thornfield, Station Road,

Haworth