Letters to the Editor

Surely the town council can find somewhere for the skaters to build a proper skate park and let the memorial be.

It is not too much to ask so these proud men, some of the "Lost Generation" who gave their all, can be remembered in peace.

Kevin Robinson

Annie Street

Cross Roads

SIR - It seems some fox hunters intend to break the law in order to test the legislation. Perhaps they imagine that by remaining unarrested they will demonstrate that the law is a bad one because it is "unworkable."

What nonsense! The law against murder is tested almost daily, and some murderers get away with it, but this does not mean there ought not to be such a law. It exists, not because it can ever make murder entirely a thing of the past, but because our civilised society would be less civilised without it, and the same is true of the law on hunting with dogs.

ROBERT SWINDELLS

Denholme Road,

Oxenhope

SIR - Once again the cast of the Oakworth Methodist Church pantomime have excelled! What an excellent and entertaining performance "Old Mother Hubbard" was.

From the smallest to the tallest (and oldest) every individual put the very most into their parts. I have been to watch three different pantomimes this year in various venues and have to say this one outshone the rest.

The scenery and special effects were outstanding and everyone involved behind the scenes and on the stage deserve a massive 'well done'. Thanks again to everyone involved.

Here's to lots of more years of traditional fun.

Val and

Ken Hargreaves

Prospect Mount,

Fell Lane

Keighley

SIR - Recent events cannot go unmentioned with regards to the home of district councillor Angela Clarke, which became a target once again last weekend.

Some small minded individual/s on Saturday, February 19, decided to attack her home by throwing a large brick through her living room window, narrowly missing her pet dog.

This time they smashed her left hand side window as the right hand side is still boarded up from the earlier attack a few weeks previous. This is the third attack on her home in the last few months and is an utter disgrace by the vermin who carried these mindless attacks out.

Councillor Clarke is a single mother with two teenage children who was elected unanimously last year to represent the ward she actually lives on, whether or not a few people agree with her party or despise it, scaring two young children is a total disgrace and you need to be ashamed of who ever you are.

I ask the residents of the Braithwaite estate to get behind your councillor and root out those responsible and report this to both Councillor Clarke and the police. Obviously your information will be treated in the strictest confidence, and a conviction may even result in a reward being given by our party.

Again I must stress to everyone who opposes our party, bully boy tactics will not work but only strengthen our case within this town.

At the end of the day our message is simple, if you do not wish to be part of our legitimate party, then do not vote for us.

CLLR CHRIS KIRBY

Shann Lane

Keighley

SIR - I have a great deal of respect for the staff of Airedale Hospital. They do a very good job -- often under difficult circumstances.

But this doesn't connect with "the Prof's" assignment of reviewing his own performances, and deciding -- after much consideration -- that he is doing an excellent job.

This exercise reads like a political advertisement. His last review "Waiting List" has bedevilled the NHS since its inception, some 60 years ago, despite the constant tweaking of the figures.

Now with an election coming up the "Prof'" reports waiting lists are becoming a thing of the past! It's amazing what a forthcoming election can do!

K SWEETING

Skipton Road,

Silsden

SIR - What will you be doing in the year 2020? If I'm lucky enough to survive I will probably be wheelchair-bound by then.

I was disappointed to learn that the powers that be deem it appropriate to wait 15 years before the section of the Disability Discrimination Act relating to transport becomes law.

Surely transport is paramount to all normal people. Personally I hate being disabled, I would much rather be enabled, wouldn't everyone?

Disability strikes indiscriminately, even politicians aren't excepted, so please when they appear at your door canvassing for votes, ask what plans they have to bring the date forward.

After all, in 15 years time will they or you be able bodied? We might even find ourselves in the same boat, train, bus or taxi!

ANNE MCKIE

Cliffe Street,

Haworth

SIR -- Having decided that the best way to handle the BNP is to ignore them, and hearing of their projected party political broadcast, I suggest that all decent people switch off their televisions as soon as it starts.

To further make the point they should wait for two minutes and switch on their electric kettles. Why? Because this mass action would cause a recordable fluctuation in the National Grid, observable at power stations across the country. This would demonstrate the strength of feeling against the BNP and the hopelessness of their case.

Then maybe, having been ignored, they will go away.

George Speller

Hill Top Road

Keighley

SIR - It's that time again when Tony decides to pop up all over the country with his shirt sleeves rolled up -- (shorthand for I mean business).

The shirt sleeves and smarmy smile may have worked in '97 and 2001, but the gimmick is wearing a bit thin, along with his new 10 year plans to solve problems from his first term.

I am amazed that he can present himself to the electorate in such a squeaky clean fashion, as if nothing untoward had happened in the last eight years, never mind the corruption, cronyism, lies, mismanagement etc he has been a party to.

Tony is hoping that the electorate have short memories, or only take an interest in politics for five minutes every four years. He may be right to a certain degree, but let's hope not, because I for one object strongly to a third rate actor taking the mickey out of me for such a long time.

R I DEWHIRST

Elm View,

Steeton

SIR - The letter from the BNP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate and his subsequent Press Release published in your paper last week demonstrates how easy it is to fall off a very narrow political platform.

However, I feel I must respond to his derisory side swipe at the Member of Parliament for Keighley.

Ann Cryer was a major contributor to the new Domestic Violence Bill currently awaiting Royal Assent. This Bill will give greater protection to women, who make up 50 per cent of our population.

She deserves credit for her courage in voting against the government's War on Iraq, not being convinced by the evidence presented to her about weapons of mass destruction.

Her views on the difficult issue of immigration, although not universally popular, give a constructive approach to the problem.

My personal request to her for help in taking on a large local authority on behalf of a young person brought a swift positive response from the minister concerned.

Many people of differing political colours recognise we have in Ann Cryer an exceptionally hard working MP who represents all her constituents with equal vigour.

Show us your track record Mr Griffin.

IAN CROSBY

Whitley Head,

Steeton.

SIR - On February 4, the sitting Labour MP for Keighley voted against a Conservative Bill in Parliament that would allow householders to protect themselves from those who invade our homes.

The Bill would stop the Crown from prosecuting householders who kill or injure people who invade our homes, unless they used "grossly disproportionate force".

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and other senior police officers have backed the proposed change in the law. The change was also initially backed by Mr Blair, who said in December last year that he would "support a change in the law".

Now Mr Blair has backtracked, and believes "the existing law is adequate". Once again -- he is all talk. Why has Mr Blair's representative in our constituency decided to ignore the very deep concern felt by most householders in our area?

I believe that a change in the law will ensure that householders are given the added reassurance and protection we deserve in the unfortunate event that we confront an intruder.

There is a choice for the people of Keighley at the General Election. I will stand up for the rights of concerned householders. Mr Blair's MP stands up for the rights of those who invade our homes.

Karl Poulsen

Conservative Parliamentary

Candidate for Keighley

SIR - I must say something regarding the new "Buy it in Bradford" campaign.

OK, if you live in Bradford and are proud of the City, but a majority of residents of the district don't live in Bradford and don't feel that they are a part of Bradford, but they believe that they are from Keighley, Haworth, Silsden, Ilkley, Bingley or Shipley, and are proud of their towns. They feel that they are not part of Bradford.

Bradford MDC also has the worst logo around and insists on the terrible logo being on everything, marking their territory if you like.

They also insist on putting Bradford on all the welcome signs when you enter a town. Thank god that Keighley Town Council have no mention of BMDC on their new signs, which inform you, with pride, that you are entering Oakworth, Utley and the rest of the sub-districts of the Town Council districts.

Lets start a "Keep it Keighley", "I love Ilkley", "Better off in Bingley" or "Hands off Haworth" campaign to remove all the Bradford wording from our proud towns that feel that they are not part of Bradford.

Christopher M Kelly

Haworth Road

Lees-cum-Crossroads

SIR- As a pensioner living on a fixed income I was delighted to hear that the Conservatives are going to take the worry of my massive council tax bill away from me.

Over the past few years my council tax bill has become much bigger than it once was -- I naively believed Mr Blair when he said he "would not increase taxes at all" -- all evidence to the contrary since!

The day after I heard of the Conservatives plans I met their parliamentary candidate here in Keighley - Karl Poulsen. I was impressed by the way he explained their policies and his clear respect for people of my generation.

I had had enough of Mr Blair saying one thing and doing another. I am convinced the Conservatives will deliver.

G BLACKBURN

Westfield Crescent

Riddlesden

SIR - Your correspondent last week expressed the feelings of many when she thanked Lynda Godden for all her years of work at Eastwood School.

Children, staff and the local community have all benefited from the caring approach and commitment with which she fulfilled her role as headteacher. We wish her a speedy recovery.

KATH BALTY and

LYNDA HARDCASTLE

Former Eastwood staff