Letters to the Editor

no answer to traffic issue

SIR, - I do hope there is no knee-jerk reaction in support of Ian Henderson's proposal to scrap the parking bays outside Ilkley Post Office without considering the possible outcome.

In the first place, there is no comparison with the situation arising from the Victoria Avenue traffic lights. In that instance the consequences of that particular decision have given rise to queues of anything from 20 to 50 vehicles for several periods each day and must surely be re-addressed.

At Station Road there are minor hold-ups to allow trade deliveries to the three business properties on the south side of the road. As most of these do not occur at peak times car drivers may have to wait for no longer than they would wait at a busy pedestrian crossing.

Is it right to handicap hundreds of people wanting to use the main Post Office for such a minor inconvenience? Apart from tired business people at the end of their busy day there are scores of disabled and elderly throughout the day who would suffer.

No regular users of the railway (Kwik Save) car park would want the extra traffic movements that could be caused by some of the displaced drivers using that area, particularly as its exit/entrance is so difficult. Another disadvantage could be the knock-on effect of parking in Dean Street and Ben Rhydding as more people tried the two alternative sub-post offices.

A change at Victoria Avenue would help many people. A change at Station Road would satisfy only a handful of impatient drivers.

Barbara J Cussons

4 Curly Hill,

Ilkley.

That precept

SIR, - Except for administrative costs, I am absolutely opposed to the levying of a parish council precept/council tax.

There is one exception. I would support a donation totalling £30,000 split between, say five ex-service charities from the precept monies already collected.

The money is already lying unused. A sum of £50,000 is being kept in hand for the purchase of redundant Yorkshire Water buildings for use as a 'heritage centre' (reported July 22). That money could be used for donations. The true heritage of this country comes from people like those who saved the freedom of our country during the war. The dead cannot be helped - but those whose lives were physically or mentally shattered, yet who still live, can he helped by such a donation.

The fact that help to those charities would also go to other ex-service men and women whose lives were shattered during later conflicts such as Korea and Northern Ireland would be a bonus. St Dunstan's, for example, is a charity to help those who have lost their sight in the service of our country. It depends entirely upon public generosity.

What I am suggesting would be a proper way to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. It would show generosity and spirit.

Our present freedom did not come at no expense. Those of us who were part of the war know that we really were threatened by invasion and the brutal repression of our freedom. The people these ex-service charities help paid a large part of the price of fighting against that.

Edwin Schirn

18 Victoria Grove,

Ilkley.

Speeding

SIR, - It is good to read (report on Page 1, November 18) that Ilkley Parish Council recognises that speeding causes problems in our town. We welcome their aspirations for more permanent measures to ensure that traffic travels within the speed limit.

Illuminated signs and traffic calming measures have been used effectively in other areas of the country for many years. Concerned residents, members and supporters of ICAS will be very happy to support them in this endeavour and look forward to working with them.

In the meantime, we are grateful to Inspector Tony Walker in particular, the Police, Bradford Council leader Margaret Eaton (Con), Bradford Met, Keighley councillors and the Casualty Reduction Partnership who are sponsoring Speedwatch as an immediate means of trying to safeguard our community from the dangers of speeding.

Barbara Davey

(ICAS),

The Willows,

Parklands,

Ilkley.

Taking over

SIR, - At the Ilkley Flower Show annual meeting last on Thursday I had the privilege to be elected as the new president, replacing Ken Williams who has done such sterling work for the show over many years.

I will do my very best to follow in Ken's footsteps and I certainly have plenty of experience having been on the committee in numerous roles since the mid 1960s.

I would also like to thank everyone - committee, friends and local companies - for all their support over the years. The show us growing year by year and is always well-supported by exhibitors and visitors alike. We have lost a really valued member of the team following Margaret Sorah's move to Australia this month (her husband, Phil, also provided help in the background) but perhaps they will be back in a year or two. My special thanks go to Margaret Willson who took on the office of chairman last year and has done a splendid job with great enthusiasm and following her re-election will continue to do so in the year to come.

Make a note in your diary: coffee morning on May 21, with a celebrity guest, and the show on August 21 - come and join us!

Maureen A Pollard

Guiseley.

Garden news

SIR, - I am writing to publicly express our thanks to the kind lady who recently sent us a generous donation for maintenance of Darwin Gardens (if you are reading this - I have written to you privately) and to inform your readership of how the trust carries out its duties.

The Millennium Green was largely created during 2000-2002 with grant support from the Countryside Agency and other bodies, and donations from a wide range of local community groups, businesses and private individuals, including dedications of the Millennium Maze flagstones.

However, although grant support may become available for specific repairs or enhancements of the site, we do not receive regular financial contributions from any national or local authority to cover continuing maintenance of the area.

Bradford Council mows the larger areas of grass, empties the litter bins, removes dangerous timber and keeps the bridges in repair, but almost all other maintenance work is performed by volunteers, using funds raised mainly from dedications of trees and hedgerow bushes, or general donations.

Such support plays an essential role in ensuring the long-term upkeep of the area to a standard, which we feel, is merited by the unique character of the site and appreciated by our many visitors.

The trust's achievements have been recognised by awards from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Yorkshire in Bloom (including the Millennium Project Trophy, which we now hold permanently), and have played a significant role in Ilkley's success in this year's Britain in Bloom competition.

We are also keen to share our experiences with other groups engaged in similar activities, for which the website (www.darwingardens.co.uk) provides a valuable continuing resource.

PETER HARNETT

Chairman,

The Darwin Gardens

Trust,

The Cottage,

Crossbeck Close,

Ilkley.

Rethink plea

SIR, - The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, influenced by the general public's reaction in the North East, had a dramatic rethink on the benefits of Regional Assemblies and scrapped the whole idea.

Will he have a similar rethink about the proposed new Menston Mini Parish Council his department has recently approved.

Geoffrey A Maldwyn-Jones,

Southpiece Cottage,

Bleach Mill Lane,

Menston.

Fair Trade

SIR, - Further to last weeks' feature about Fair Trade, the directory of Fair Trade foods in Ilkley is now available on the Ilkley pages on the internet. The address is www.ilkley.org/fairtrade.

If anyone would like to help launch the Fair Trade Town initiative in Ilkley, please contact lift2004@btinternet.com.

Stephanie Atkinson

Walden

Stubham Rise,

Ilkley.