Letters to the Editor

I'm no critic, nor biased, but a very proud grandfather of two children who were in the cast.

The whole evening helped me to realise that there is hope for our future generations, underlined by the self-discipline, effort and dedication displayed by the young people and teachers of South Craven School.

I failed to notice any cast or team member not singing their loudest or giving their very best. The team spirit and showmanship was there for everyone to enjoy, with many good dancers among the boys and girls and the singing was undeniably top class show standard.

Unfortunately, some were unable to acquire seats for this very entertaining and invigorating show, as it was a complete sell out. Maybe next time an extra performance could be considered, although I am sure we all appreciate the amount of school and private time which is absorbed producing such a brilliant show.

Finally, well done to the headmaster and all the school.

A very proud grandfather.

Name and address withheld

SIR - Ten out of ten for Ann Cryer and her support for ID cards.

I knew and respected her late husband Bob, even though we had different political views.

I used to work on Bob's Armstrong Siddley cars.

Every time I go abroad I take out holiday insurance, just in case. The majority of visitors to this country probably do the same. However, there are probably a lot of visitors who come here just for the "no questions asked" health treatment.

I was once taken ill in the USA where I could not get treatment until they knew who was going to pay.

Even though I had insurance to cover me, I was glad to sign to say I would pay myself and claim the money back on my return to the UK.

We are a soft touch for many things and I would welcome the necessary legislation to correct this. Law abiding citizens have nothing to fear from ID cards. It will save us money in the long run.

D BARKER

Grafton Garage,

Worth Way, Keighley

SIR - Mrs Cryer's views on ID cards seem inconsistent and would solve none of the points she raises, or other Government issues, including:

1. Cards will become compulsory but not compulsory to carry? If it is to prove who I am is it to be used for other purposes also carrying a baggage of encoded information, what information and why?

2. Abuse of prescription charges: If health professionals and chemists are not to police the system where is the difference in asking for a DSS letter or payment book to demanding sight of an ID card? All benefits give free prescriptions? People can/do go on and off various benefits so is the ID card changed each time. How will this be checked and at what cost? What of those who purchase pre-payment cards? ID says resident -- OK for free prescriptions?

3. Abuse of NHS hospital treatment: If not staff/health professionals who -- in what circumstances and at what stage would treatment be refused? Perhaps the immigration service ought to just refuse entry to the UK for visitors with no medical insurance and return them at the cost to the airlines?

4. Forged passports: If these are that good then the individual would get an ID card with full, appropriate entitlements.

5. Illegal workers: Surely it is the dodgy employer/ag-ent/agency which pays no insurance/tax/minimum wage, etc that abuses the system?

6. Fingerprint or iris scans: How do I prove who I am in the first place? Will every bank, doctor, dentist, hospital, employer, shop, policeman have any way to check details against a data base?

7.Fighting terrorism: If there's any query on usual occupation is anyone likely to say "bomb maker"? Coming to the UK on a legitimate or good forged passport and when asked about the purpose of the visit, is anyone going to say they would like to succeed where Guy Fawkes failed?

8. Safeguards on access and use of this data base: Who will have access and use the information stored and for what purpose? Who will share what with how many government departments/quangos/police/local authorities/etc?

9. If I do not want an ID card I may be forced to pay for something I do not want but have to have but not have to carry? Or will I feel I dare not set foot outdoors without it?

10. Answers on a postcard please, including how these billions in costs might be better spent.

B E VARLEY

Mount View, Oakworth.

SIR - On Sunday November 23, I called the police to report what looked like a stolen vehicle that had been abandoned in Holycroft Street.

The vehicle had been left between two units making access to those units difficult and blocking the pavement. It had a broken rear window and damage to the near side front wing, probably several hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

The next morning the same vehicle was again reported to the police who said they had no record of the first report.

Mid-morning the vehicle was reported by the local community support officer.

The vehicle was eventually pushed out of the way by employees of the businesses whose access had been blocked.

At about eight o'clock that night the vehicle was completely destroyed in an arson attack.

Nearly every week we read in your paper that the police want us to contact them with information. Why do we bother?

We read that this area is a safe place. I don't think so.

The tax payers will have to foot the bill for the fire brigade being called out, how much will that cost £1000?

Insurance companies will have to pay the difference between a fairly minor repair and a total write off that will no doubt be reflected in our future premiums.

The two police cars that attended the fire could also have been put to better use.

We are told there are not enough officers. What about the one that was at the bottom of Victoria Road all morning pointing his speed camera up South Street. No doubt we will be told he was from a different unit. Well I don't care, to me he's still a bobby who could have got this car shifted saving time and money.

On Saturday,November 29, a recovery driver was lucky to escape serious injury when a stolen car he recovered, on behalf of the police, had petrol thrown over it and set on fire while still on the back of the recovery vehicle.

The police took over an hour to respond, yet there were six officers guarding a hole in the ground in Keighley.

What is going on? It appears that the police have turned into a profit making business rather than a public service.

Stephen Shorten

Transport Organiser.

Keighley Community

Transport

Holycroft Street, Keighley,

SIR - Earlier this year my elder brother was involved in a serious accident at the junction shown in your photograph outside the Dog and Gun pub.

It was a journey he had undertaken many times as a volunteer for Manorlands collecting out-patients.

On that day, as on many others he remembers having to proceed with extreme caution as his view to the right down Denholme Road was, as on many occasions, impeded by a vehicle parked in the pub car park.

His injuries were such that he had to be lifted by air ambulance to Airedale Hospital, which was marvellous in aiding his recovery, but he was unable to resume his work at Manorlands (for which incidentally he was acknowledged by Yorkshire folk in recent years awarding him the Yorkshire Unsung Hero accolade) for many months.

If you study the photograph in the KN the height of the pub car park wall does not appear to cause a problem. It looks as if it is the vehicles parked there that obstruct the view of motorists coming out of the junction.

Bernard Thompson

Dale View Grove, Keighley

SIR - Congratulations to Keighley town councillor Brocklesby for his adverse comments regarding the Keighley-based Bradford district councillors.

Cllr Brocklesby is of course reiterating criticisms I have made over many years, which concern the level of commitment some of these highly paid servants of the people give to Keighley.

It is a fact that if all of Keighley's taxes and support grants were spent in Keighley, and not on the stupidity that is Bradford, then the economic and cultural importance that this region is entitled to would be fulfilled.

The scandal of Bradford district councillors' inaction regarding Central Hall, in Alice Street, illustrates the tardiness that is endemic in Bradford's dealing with Keighley. Cllr Brocklesby's concern is for Keighley Library, highlighting the inequality of the financial and structural commitment received by Keighley tax payers from big bother Bradford.

However, I must add a word of warning to Cllr Brocklesby. While his letter is, in my view, honest, fully justified and of course totally true, one or two of his fellow Keighley town councillors who, in the future, may wish to emulate Judas by taking the 30 pieces of silver due to Keighley-based district councillors, may brand him as a corruptive element, as truth, honesty and the pursuit of democracy in local politics can sometimes be seen as alien rhetoric to those seeking to climb the slippery pole of party politics.

David Samuels

Main Street, Oxenhope

SIR - As the festive season is almost upon us once again, I would like to ask everyone to stop for a moment and consider how much money they will be spending on Christmas cards this year.

Just sending cards to friends and family can really add up and when you start to add on work colleagues as well it can start to get very expensive. Of course it is a natural, pleasant, sociable activity to want to wish those around us a very merry Christmas and I am not suggesting for one minute that we don't continue to do so.

But your readers may be interested to hear how they can send Christmas tidings and help local people living with cancer at the same time.

The Macmillan Cancer Relief Yorkshire Dales Appeal is launching a Make Christmas Count Campaign.

We are offering a lovely snowman collecting box and matching giant snowman card to any businesses, groups or organisations who would like to take part. Simply display the card and box together and ask people, instead of buying and sending individual cards, to sign their Christmas greeting to everyone on the large card and make a donation in the box. All you have to do is to get involved is call the appeal office on 01535 294536 and you really can Make Christmas Count for local people living with cancer.

Anna Jackson,

Appeal Co-ordinator

Yorkshire Dales

Macmillan Cancer Relief

Harewood Drive

Steeton

SIR - We would like to take this opportunity to say what a wonderful day we had on Sunday in the town centre.

Keighley Town Council is to be applauded for its organisation of the street entertainment and the variety of stalls that were around.

Judging by the faces of the children who were there, they too had a thoroughly enjoyable time. It would serve Keighley well if this was to be an annual event.

Many thanks to all concerned.

Gina Thompson and

Maria Robertson

Clover Rise, Keighley

SIR - We would like to put the case for all the traders in Keighley Market who did not have an increase in takings or customers due to the pot fair and itinerant traders last week.

We firmly believe that Bradford Council would be best advised to put its efforts into the market hall, doing repairs and promoting this market, rather than spending money and time on events like the street fair.

Many other town centre businesses were affected as well as the ones in Keighley Market. To claim that the event was a total success is wrong, you have only to ask the traders in the market.

We are at a prime trading time for Keighley businesses, who are here all the year round, not here today, gone tomorrow.

M SKINNER, Pellers Frames

N NUTTON, Pet Shops

SIR - On Sunday, November 23, I was in Keighley and I noticed a group of people with a lorry loaded with Christmas trees.

I was so surprised to find it was Keighley Town Council with the Mayor and Keighley councillors, giving up their time to erect all 40 trees and lights over shops in the town centre.

All credit to them for improving our Christmas lights and making Keighley very colourful.

B BRAMHAM

Cliffe Terrace, Spring Bank,

Keighley