Precedent

SIR - I note from your columns that Ermysted's have been refused a planning application for a permanent car park; also they have been asked to re-instate grass where a temporary stone-covered car park existed.

Perhaps then they should pay an educational visit to Kettlewell where, some years ago a trees and grass covered area was turned into a stone-covered commercial car-park with the apparent approval of all and everybody amid the planning authorities.

Now I know that the learned gentry of Ermysted's are well-versed amid the finer rudiments of Ohm's Law, Archimedes' Principle, and Avogadro's Hypothesis, but when it comes to a test of "how to stifle the planning authorities" the Kettlewell Garage Method certainly seems to be a theorem to digest.

Take note then Ermysted's and indeed all others who cannot find a way past the planning authorities: Get up to Kettlewell and learn!

KP Humphreys,

Hurrs Road, Skipton.

Blameless Gordon

SIR - It's a bit rich for the proprietor of Bonaparte's Restaurant in Silsden to partly blame Gordon Ramsay's TV documentary for the failure of the business.

Trade before Mr Ramsay arrived was not good by her own admission. Let's not forget she had no idea what was happening in her kitchens - or so she said when Ramsay found mould on some food in the fridge.

She had employed kitchen staff who appeared to be as innocent as she was about the business.

It always amazes me that people jump from one business, where they have done well, into restauranting.

One other mistake Sue Ray made - location, location, location.

Bonaparte's in Silsden just do not have it. Pub food is just not enough for a clumsy restaurant to survive anywhere.

Can I suggest Mrs Ray spent not enough time out of sight in the kitchen, the heart of any succesful venture.

Janice Smith,

Long View,

Thwaites, Keighley.

Centenary

SIR - May I venture a reminder that this year is the centenary of General Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, visiting Skipton in what was then called the first motor cavalcade.

He stayed with the chairman of Skipton Urban District Council, Mr WRG Farey at the family home in Brooklands, Carleton Road, Skipton. The event had a deal of publicity and, at the request of the Salvation Army, was re-enacted in 1954. With an officer playing the part of the general another motor cavalcade took place with Mr Farey's daughter, Miss K Farey, receiving the general at the town hall, as her father had done in 1904.

Miss Farey was then the chairman of Skipton Council.

The general made three visits to Skipton, each time staying with the Farey family at his special request.

All the documents relating to the general's visit to Skipton are now in Craven Museum and the instructions from the London headquarters to his hostess, Mrs Farey, were similar to a visit by royalty.

Details of his accommodation and diet were extremely particular and demanding.

The three visits of the Farey family cemented a friendship that lasted throughout the years and Catherine Booth, the general's grandaughter, continued this until her death in 1987.

Miss MG Fluck,

Craven Terrace, Skipton.

Pet project

SIR - Through your paper I would like to highlight the need pet owners have to grieve when their beloved pet dies.

When a friend or a loved one dies people generally try and say the right words when they offer comfort. In time most people get through the grieving process.

There are also superb organisations like Cruse, who can help.

When a pet dies, generally people don't accept owners' need to grive. Unhelpful statements are made like "it was only a pet, go and get another".

The elderly are especially vulnerable. Their pets are often their reason for living. Owners who need to grieve are too embarrassed to show their feelings and this leads to other problems.

I really don't want people to suffer in silence. As a qualified pet bereavement counsellor I would like to help pet owners compassionately and in confidence. If you feel you need to talk please ring me on (01756) 794922 any weekday evening.

Lesley Patchett

Greenacres, Skipton.

Freeloaders

SIR - When big name performers such as John Sergeant are booked to appear at the Grassington Festival our festival committee faces a double whammy; how to meet the performer's fees without excessive ticket prices and how to satisfy the excess demand for such performances.

The festival attempts to resolve these problems by offering those unable to gain admission to the main hall the opportunity to watch the performance at a much reduced ticket price by a video link in the adjacent Octagon theatre.

Your reporter Jenny Speak appears to believe that she has some kind of automatic right to a free ticket which would otherwise be sold to an appreciative member of the general public.

Whether Ms Speak would have written a more objective review from a better seat is surely secondary to whether the festival needs such selfish freeloaders to attend at all.

Philip Sugden,

Festival Patron,

Town Head, Grassington.

Editor's note: What, one wonders, would Mr Sugden have said had the BBC wished to review the event. Would he have described their camera crew, sound recordist and reporter as "selfish freeloaders" and exiled them to another building? We suspect not. Any review requires proper facilities and the best selling newspaper in North Yorkshire merits reasonable treatment.

Out of proportion

SIR - Mr Phillips claims in his letter that smaller parties have a chance of gaining seats in proportion to the votes cast for them in the European elections.

If this were so the Green Party would have won four seats on June 10, as it achieved 6.3 per cent of the votes. In fact it finished up with only two, showing the unfairness of the present system.

Keith Bradshaw,

Dale Bank, Ingleton.

Collection

SIR - A collection day has been held at Morrison's by members of Skipton and District fund raising committee of Macmillan Cancer Relief which raised £640 and our thanks go to all who donated.

This money will go to the Yorkshire Dales Macmillan Appeal at Airedale General Hospital.

Ann Barker,

Chairman,

Skipton and District Committee

Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Good Samaritans

SIR - May I express my thanks to all the good people who came to my aid when I was taken ill on Skipton Gala Day.

Special thanks to the lady who got me a chair from a market trader, to the young lady who got the amublance and to the paramedics: they were wonderful.

With their care I recovered fully and was able to enjoy the rest of my holiday.

Mrs Ruby Garrett,

Tynwald Close,

Pedel, Isle of Man.