Letters to the Editor

SIR, - Any resident within the Wharfe Valley, having read the draft reports on Council Tax changes, can be excused for confirming the view that the Government has completely lost touch with reality and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is completely bonkers.

Many of us in the valley own houses of the value of half a million pounds. Most of those residents are not on lofty incomes. They are not on footballers' salaries.

Many are retired or on adequate incomes. They have a house of such value because they have lived in it for 20-plus years.

They marvel at the fact they could not afford to pay the mortgage required to buy it now. They have been walloped with their pension expectations.

They have to take insurance for their dental treatment and now they see the threat of £6,000 per year Council Tax looming.

Once more I ask for the assurances from our MPs, Ann Cryer and Chris Leslie, that they will vote against such proposals.

Anne Hawkesworth,

Conservative District

Councillor,

Ilkley Ward.

Town Hall,

Ilkley.

Meat imports

SIR, - With regard to 'Butcher promotes pork's positives' (Gazette, July 15), I was interested to read that David Lishman has been promoting British pork at the Great Yorkshire Show.

As he correctly points out, British farmers are forced to compete with cheap foreign imports from countries with inferior welfare standard to our own. Current World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules make it almost impossible for countries to introduce good farm animal welfare laws.

As they stand now, a country can ban a cruel farming system on its own soil but cannot ban the import of meat or eggs from animals reared in that system in other countries.

This means that if a country, like the UK, takes steps to improve animal welfare, its farmers suffer because cheaper, low-welfare products undermine their livelihood.

I am therefore puzzled as to why Mr Lishman finds it necessary to sell Danish bacon and Dutch veal in his shop.

Mrs HEATHER PARRY

17 Westwood Rise,

Ilkley.

Uncharitable

SIR, - I was browsing around the British Heart Foundation Charity Shop, in Brook Street, Ilkley, on the afternoon of July 5 with my 86-year-old mother when she found herself in urgent need of the toilet.

I approached the assistant asking permission to use their toilet, explaining my predicament and that she (my Mum) was a very slow walker.

To my amazement the assistant proceeded to call (on the internal phone) a colleague to seek permission for use of the toilet - and this was refused. No amount of pleading on my poor Mum's behalf would get this woman to change her mind.

I can assure you, and hopefully your readers, that I left the assistant in no doubt as to my feelings regarding this callous treatment of an old lady. Charity certainly does not begin at home in that shop,

Roy Frost

The Cottage,

Tevia,

Le-Bourg,

St Clement,

Jersey.

FOOTNOTE: A spokeswoman for the British Heart Foundation told the Gazette the shop could not make any exceptions to its policy. She said: "For reasons of health and safety, hygiene and security, we just can't let members of the public use our toilets, because they're for staff use only. It's unfortunate and nobody would like to think of being in a situation like the one that happened."

Shop contest

SIR, - Ilkley Flower Show Committee invites all shopkeepers who have not already replied, to join in our local shop window competition to make Ilkley look really colourful for our Britain in Bloom judging on August 6.

The theme is Summer Festival, size doesn't matter, and your display will be judged on content and innovation. This will be such a talking point for locals and all the visitors to Ilkley and Ben Rhydding during August, as it's the Summer Festival month. Judging will be from August 6 to 13 and the winner will be presented with a beautiful silver salver donated by Calders, at the Flower Show, on August 14, to keep for a year. Closing date for entries is Friday, July 30.

Please help make this idea a success, as we would like to make this competition an annual event. Please reply to me at the address below.

MARGARET WILLSON

1, Grange Close,

Ilkley.

Enthralled

SIR, - We sat enthralled on Thursday evening watching the Upstagers' production of The Boy Friend at the Kings Hall.

What a treat! Everyone in the cast was superb, a bevy of attractive young girls and handsome young men who could all sing, dance and act with such enthusiasm.

Our comment on leaving the theatre: "It was worthy of the West End."

Incidentally, I have no connection with this society, but the experience of dancing in West End musicals myself and 30 years as a choreographer in Bradford and Leeds.

PATRICIA ANNE TAYLOR

(Mrs P A Barker),

Illetas,

57 Skipton Road,

Ilkley.

Quarry fears

SIR, - At the risk of appearing a summer spoilsport, can I appeal to your readers to ensure that their children do not make local quarries a place for play during the coming holidays.

Worryingly, research amongst our members shows that it is a very real problem across Yorkshire. Quarries can look like fun places to swim, climb, dig or ride, but they carry a variety of unseen hazards.

In June this year, a 14-year-old girl broke her arm and leg after falling more than 50 feet on to a quarry ledge in the West Midlands, and at a quarry in Lancashire a 13-year old girl became stuck waist-deep in a muddy pool.

Fortunately, both these teenagers survived. Sadly there have been a number of incidents in which youngsters have not been so lucky. Children have drowned in deep cold lakes, been buried while digging a cave in the sand, or been seriously hurt when struck by a falling rock.

There is also a growing problem with teenage motor cyclists who don't recognise the potential hazards.

Our member companies do all they can to deter children, but warning notices are ignored and fences are broken down - often by irresponsible adults.

Full details of our 'Play Safe ... Stay Safe' campaign, including resources for teachers, can be viewed at www.qpa.org.

Elizabeth Clements

Quarry Products

Association,

Gillingham House,

38-44 Gillingham Street,

London.

Collecting

SIR, - I am collecting used stamps, postcards and picture phone cards for Guide Dogs for the Blind. I was wondering if any of your readers would be kind enough to send me any of their used stamps. Please send all stamps, postcards and picture phone cards to me at the address below.

Mrs Diana Ashton

66 Highbank,

Roe Lee,

Blackburn,

Lancs,

BB1 9SX.