New traffic layout is a real mess

I ride this way to work most days and find it dangerous enough trying to avoid wagons and cars as their impatient drivers try to run me off the road in their quest to overtake.

Roundabouts are a lottery for a cyclist (I've been run onto the pavement three times by incompetent wagon drivers) and now we have another threat to our lives in these ill conceived islands.

The one outside the Tadpole comes immediately after a roundabout and is way too narrow for a car and cyclist to pass through side by side (here's an idea, there's plenty of verge on this stretch of road for a cycle lane!).

Mark my words, it is only a short matter of time before an 'accident' occurs.

J Henstock,

Hargreaves Street, Cross Hills.

SIR - What is the local council up to? The road system around Skipton is in total chaos.

Let's start with Keighley Road. Why are we having pedestrian islands built along Keighley Road in the Snaygill area? There is only one footpath on one side of the main road, are people likely to want to rush to the middle, stand on an island and then run back to the pavement!

How much congestion will be caused when 40 feet wagons are trying to manoeuvre around them to get into or out of the industrial estate?

Let's now travel or not travel along Broughton Road. It is sad to see Ogdens packing up business because of the inability of the council to organise the road works/electricity/gas along the main road. Beware people of Gargrave you are next. Pack up and go on your holidays for six months from Easter, that's probably about how long the A65 will be dug up.

It seems impossible to have the roads mended without digging them up six or seven times. If we are to have decent roads and be proud of our town, then the High Street, which is in a terrible condition, should be resurfaced before all else. The High Street is where all the tourists and visitors as well as local people shop and visit everyday including Sundays.

Does this all boil down to inefficiency, or are our council taxes too high? Obviously the council needs to get rid of our money from the last fjnancial year before slapping another 10 per cent on top of the already large council taxes we pay.

Perhaps this is why large dog dirt coloured wheelie bins are being delivered which by the way you are not allowed to put anything in, other than leaves and dead grass.

Barry Dawson,

The Grove, Skipton.

SIR - Pennine Motors has been approached to consider providing an hourly bus service between Nicholas Smith's roundabout and Johnson and Johnson's entrance to the south of Gargrave, and the Anchor Inn to Long Preston to the north, to commence Tuesday April 22 for three weeks while the main road is closed for resurfacing.

A possible excuse might be the width of road required under health and safety law.

As there is a footpath, passengers will transfer by walking approximately one mile (old ladies with shopping?) We object most strongly. We have pointed out that we already provide an hourly service from Skipton to Settle.

Highways are important for the commerce of the country - the movement of goods and people for which privilege a billion pounds is paid in taxes. They were not created as a conduit for water, gas, electricity, TV and sewers, to be closed regularly without regard to those who use them. Nobody would think of using the railway in this way.

But the blind, uncaring arrogance of Lancashire Highways to contemplate closing the road for three weeks is not acceptable in an area where small businesses have already suffered financially from foot and mouth.

The work could be carried out in one night - the main runway at Heathrow was stripped and relayed in one night - or by working every night for three weeks.

Most of the road is now marked three lanes wide. In the centre, with its pretty red bricks, it was made four lanes wide at a cost of £250,000 the other year.

Temporary road surfaces could be laid on the verge, or hedges removed and replaced afterwards. The main street was excavated to a depth of four feet and filled with two inch tarred stone a few years ago. It could be by-passed by West Street and South Street plus the use of traffic lights.

Where there is a will, there is a way, so let us see our county councillors get stuck in and sort it out. Lancashire Highways must be made to think again.

Norman Simpson,

Calton Lodge, Airton.

SIR - Further to the proposed closure of the A65 at Gargrave for about four weeks between Easter and the Spring Bank Holiday, did anyone else see the North Yorkshire County Council notice of proposed closures of roads in Settle (Bond Lane, Station Road, Cammock Lane) envisaged for four weeks from March 10 2003 in the Craven Herald last Friday (page 24)?

Allan Gould

Higher Halsteads, Settle,

SIR - The might of "big business" is something that rarely enters the debate of the National Park Authority. However, with the major supermarkets queuing up to take over the Safeways chain, the impact of big business could send more than mere ripples across the Dales farming community.

Last year an investigation by the Competition Commission led to the introduction of a Code of Practice on supermarkets' dealings with suppliers. Already this "code" is set for review as concerns over its success continue to be raised by producers, with some describing it as "worse than useless".

This may seem a strange issue for a National Park Authority to raise, yet the boardroom decisions, which look set to reduce the number of retailers we have selling produce across the country, has the potential to have serious implications for the area.

The reason is simple: fewer supermarket chains means fewer buyers at the region's auction marts. Those that remain will have greater buying power; power that they can and will use to drive down even further the price 'at the farm gate'.

This is cause for concern. Not only does this have the potential to put further pressure on the area's farmers but it will also mean less money coming into the local area, and less for the farmers to invest in the landscape of the National Park.

Without this investment all businesses in the National Park will suffer as this area's landscape, its number one economic asset, brings in the tourists who spend in the area's towns and villages.

This authority will be writing to the Office of Fair Trading to raise this important issue and add its voice to the growing concern over the growth of the supermarket "super powers". We would encourage others to do likewise.

David Butterworth,

Chief Executive,

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority,

Colvend, Grassington.

SIR - I have no objection to being given a compost recycling wheelie bin, nor even to using it - but did they have to be such an awful colour?

What was wrong with deep chocolate brown, or a lighter green to the usual wheelies?

Whoever chose this eyesore of a colour should take a long ride round looking at the pale brown (for want of a better phrase to describe it) monstrosities sticking out everywhere. Or is that the idea - that we are actually seen to be doing our bit for country and conservation.

Patricia Mason,

Greatwood Avenue, Skipton.

SIR - In the back end of last year Tony Blair, presumably as our Prime Minister, made a landmark decision to shut down Threshfield's observer shelter, putting an end to the Cold War. What's more incredible he managed to do this without any hype, spin, a press leak or even a photo shoot.

The shelter was built during the Second World War, in the form of a wooden hut, was used by the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) for plane spotting and to monitor bomb drops etc. The shelter, replaced in the late 60s with a concrete structure underground with more sophisticated electrical equipment which could monitor radiation fall out etc, had been mothballed for a number of years.

Shutting down the shelter consisted of locking the trapdoor, removal of a telephone line (direct link to the war office?), and three telegraph poles. This was an unremarkable event, witnessed by a Piece Field resident who described the machine used as a "four wheel drive unit which pulled the poles out the ground as if they were pencils".

In the current political world climate this could be seen as a possibly hasty decision but you're never going to be able make the right decision unless you've got a crystal ball under your pillow.

As I look out of my bedroom window and watch a cow scratch its back end on the concrete structure, I realise that another hasty decision has been made.

I wonder if Tony knows that planning permission for change of use from defence hardware to farm implement should have been sought before shutting down.

Later, as I pull out on to Station Road I also wonder if Tony knows about the Threshfield cat's eyes crisis.

Abbo (Simon Abbey),

Piece Fields, Threshfield.

SIR - As residents of the Mill Hill area of Sutton we had to put pen to paper and speak out on behalf of the local children who are being victimised for being just that - ie children.

Are children no longer allowed to play out and have fun being children any more?

No doubt the few residents of Crofters Mill who have complained to the police were children once and also played out on the streets in their local area - or have they forgotten what it's like to be that young themselves?

Children from all over the village used to play in this area long before these houses were built, as did their parents and grandparents before them.

We do not find these children obnoxious or intimidating as stated last week. Perhaps if these residents were to integrate with their neighbours they would realise what a strong community spirit we have in Sutton. After all, it isn't everywhere in the country where parents feel it is safe enough to allow their children to play out these days, bearing in mind the lack of police presence on our streets.

As North Yorkshire Police are to get their 76 per cent increase, maybe we will see a local bobby walking the beat and incidents such as these would be totally avoidable, then again pigs might fly (forgive the pun).

Neil and Debbie Marklew,

Harker Street, Sutton.

SIR - I read with great interest your article about skateboarders on Crofters Mill estate in Sutton.

Sadly, children do play out. Outside my home children play football and rounders within very close proximity to the houses and cars.

They churn up the grass and leave rubbish after they leave. Perhaps some of these children are friends of our estate kids from Crofters Mill.

Never have we called the police nor described the children as obnoxious.

The fact of the matter is simple. Village life is about community, about being involved socially with your neighbours and their children.

I find the comments distasteful and arrogant.

I would also question whether the police should be wasting their valuable time and resources pandering to such petty squabbles. Perhaps she should do as we do. We sit out on the lawn and take pleasure in watching the children play.

Stephen Davies,

Park Avenue,

Sutton-in-Craven.

SIR - Can I strongly urge all Giggleswick village residents to attend one of the meetings in the Parish Rooms to discuss Giggleswick School's future aspirations with regard to the development of their facilities.

These will take place on March 1 between 2 and 4pm and Friday March 7 between 6 and 8pm. I attended a session on Saturday and feel it is imperative that as many people as possible take part in this consultation process and voice any concerns which they may have before the March 15 deadline.

The discussion document and plan issued at this session I am sure will be of interest to anyone with property opening on to Tems Beck and who may have concerns about how the future developments may affect the flood plains and the increased incidence of flooding in recent years.

As the majority of the school's aspirations for improvements to its facilities appear to rely on funding supplied by the sale of land which it owns around the village, I am sure that those who live near these areas will wish to use this consultation opportunity to the full in order to examine the school's plans for such sites and any subsequent developments following sales, be they for further housing or otherwise.

In more general terms, I am sure that the school's long-term views for the village will be of interest to residents, especially with regard to how it intends to minimise the potential stress on local utility services and amenities such as parking, classroom overcrowding at the primary school and avoidance of further environmental damage if proposed land sales were to lead to further housing development.

As the discussion paper states, it is intended to "provide a framework for the future and to increase awareness amongst local people as to the school's requirements and ambitions" and to "generate interest and community involvemment in the formulation and implementation of its proposals".

I feel it is therefore vital that the community responds to this opportunity to consider these proposals by providing considered feedback and suggestions, as requested, which reflect the interests of the community as a whole.

To do so, we need to be kept fully informed and so I urge you once again to obtain copies of the plans. Those unable to attend a session can request copies of the documentation from K Coote, secretary to the parish council, or via parish conncillors.

Gill O'Donnell,

Burnside, Giggleswick.

SIR - With reference to an alleged assault at the rear door of the Craven public house, Skipton, on New Year's Eve (Craven Herald January 10 - a woman was assaulted behind the Craven pub in Skipton at 1am on New Year's Day). Anyone with information should contact Skipton police. The landlord of the public house did just that.

Two phone calls to the police via Northallerton, Harrogate, then, amazingly he got through to Skipton. Alas the bobby concerned was not available.

No contact, no indication of whatever or anything.

So the landlord and landlady took a week's break after a seemingly convivial festive period.

Back refreshed, slightly tanned and just in time to pick up the Craven Herald on Friday morning (Husband offers reward after New Year assault). Note the clocks were striking 12 and not one in this missive to the local paper and still indicating the Craven pub as the theatre of perpetration.

Back on the blower goes the landlord, through the Reykjavik British Cod Club, the Ulan Bator Wild Horse Society and then, amazingly, Skipton Police. Alas the bobby concerned wasn't available.

Three weeks later the aforementioned bobby lost his way and blew in like a tumbleweed: "No statement required".

"What do you mean?" retorts the landlord.

"Just as it is sir. Good evening."

The landlord and landlady of The Craven justly feel they are equally the victims concerning an alleged offence they know nothing about.

Brian Smith,

On behalf of The Craven public house,

Skipton.

SIR - So the decision is made. At a time of low returns for savers, pension funds in disarray, share prices plunging ever lower and the consequential lowering of incomes for many, North Yorkshire Police Authority has chosen the most expensive option for council tax payers. An increase in precept of 77 per cent.

The choices available to the authority are outlined in the budget consultation fact sheet.

They are rises of 35, 53 or 77 per cent. The smallest of these would have more than covered the shortfall of £8.2 million caused by a change in government funding as well as allowing some improvements in services. Why then choose the most expensive?

Three principal reasons can be gleaned from the authority's web-site.

Firstly, consultations with council tax payers reveal that "people don't want the service to stay the same, they want a better one".

Secondly that North Yorkshire spends less on its policing than other rural areas.

Thirdly the Chief Constable has a list of "wants".

Taking these in turn. Why should we want a better service? The former Chief Constable, Mr David Kenworthy, in his last report to the authority, cautioned against allowing the fear of crime to blind us to the local picture. He tells us: "In most of our communities the incidents of crime are rare".

Why shouldn't we be proud that our policing costs are less than those in other areas. Surely this is a mark of our higher efficiency.

As to our Chief Constable's list of "wants", I welcome her enthusiasm and evident desire to do well for us. We are lucky to have attracted a person of such quality.

However, I am not convinced that her "wants" are our "needs".

Somewhere on the web site I recall the chief constable saying that if a large increase in budget was allowed, she was sure that the authority would set her stiff performance targets to ensure the money was well spent.

Surely this sequence of events cannot be right if we are discussing needs. Needs turned into performance targets, being costed to arrive at a budget is the business-like way to proceed. Not give me the money first and then....

So I join with your correspondents who, in previous weeks, have protested a rise which is both excessive and insensitive. At a time when council tax payers are tightening belts it is unbecoming for North Yorkshire Police Authority to be dipping its hand so deeply into our pockets.

Peter Drake,

Walker Close, Glusburn.

SIR - It appears that many people seem to agree with my sentiments expressed over the last few weeks in the Craven Herald regarding huge rises in rates, especially the police precept.

I have had many calls and e-mails on this subject, and with only one exception, they were strongly (very strongly in some cases!) against the massive rises.

The single exception did not like the huge rises, but blamed the Government.

Many objections came from people on fixed pensions, who objected very much to their total increase in pensions being swallowed by the increase in council tax, more so when these increases, such as the police precept, were described as small.

Accordingly, I think my next step will be to organise a meeting and, if sufficient numbers are interested, I shall contact such as councillors and North Yorkshire Police Authority for possible representation.

If there are more people interested, please get in touch with me, I'll keep your details on file, and let you know how we progress.

Please, all people who disagree with what's happening, it is important to get your voice heard. Do not merely sit back and allow others, often unelected (in the case of the North Yorkshire Police Authority) to control what you pay without having that voice heard. If you let apathy rule the day, then you will pay.

And pay.

And pay.

Alan Perrow,

Bannister Walk, Cowling

SIR - A year ago I attended the North Yorkshire Police Authority meeting when a whopping 41.5 per cent increase in precept was being proposed by the unelected quango otherwise known as the authority.

The case was put and, to be fair, there was a small voice of dissent from two or three members. The vote was then passed unanimously on the basis that this was a "one-off increase" to fund extra constables who would be visible on the streets and to meet increased pension costs as more officers were retiring early on "medical grounds".

At the recent public meeting of the authority in Skipton only the Craven representative, Jean Anderson, had seen all these extra police, much to the amusement of those present.

It was revealed also that across the force each officer took an extra 13 days per year "sick leave".

To coincide with this increase members of the authority also awarded themselves a substantial increase in attendance allowances and expenses but this was not made public in a press announcement.

During that year Mrs Anderson claimed £7,942 in expenses whilst chairman Jane Kenyon was paid £10,461. Total expenses for authority members amounted to £86,181 during the year to end March 2002.

Now we have a further 76 per cent increase - only an extra £1.30 per week on the current £1.70 per week we are told by the chairman of the authority, whose allowances this year are expected to increase by around 60 per cent to £17,000, whilst our local independent member will probably have to make ends meet with around £9,500.

Now try telling that to the thousands of pensioners who will not receive anywhere near those amounts to live on, let alone as expenses. And what do we get for our money? A police force that cannot be trusted and a lousy service to boot.

As Mr Perrow stated last week, regrettably we have no choice but to pay but we can remove the elected members who impose these charges in the knowledge their own increases are covered by expenses paid for by a passive public.

Act at the May elections for starters.

Trevor Hobson,

High Croft Way, Farnhill.

SIR - I would like to respond to the questions posed by your correspondent M Cardus (Craven Herald Letters, February 21).

Firstly, may I point out that I am indeed "the vocal Mr Fawcett". I am vocal on behalf of a very large body of people in Settle who have suffered for too long as a result of the ever-growing volume of quarry traffic passing through their town.

Now, to the specific questions:

Do I want to see the quarries closed? No. If M Cardus has read any of my correspondence to the Craven Herald over the years, it will be very clear that the problem lies in the route taken by the quarry trucks, rather than the existence of the quarries.

My comments in the article about Dry Rigg quarry were given in response to a question about the proposed changes to the truck movements through the town and have no bearing on the extension or otherwise to the quarry's life.

Regarding the extraction of granite from Dry Rigg in the event of closure in 2005, no I had not realised that this would accelerate the extraction rate. This possibility adds even more urgency to the need to find an alternative route for quarry traffic. If existing truck movements through the town centre are likely to increase even more, serious action needs to be taken.

Regarding the size of my table, this question really has been addressed in the first of my answers. Perhaps tables might be needed, however, for the families of the traders and shopkeepers in the town who are going out of business as visitors and tourists decide that Settle is not a place to which they wish to return. (This, incidentally, is not my own conclusion of the situation, but has been borne out by the results of a survey of visitors to Settle: 54 per cent of them stated that the high volume of heavy trucks had "spoilt their visit".)

During the last few weeks, several items have appeared in the Craven Herald detailing the activities of Settle Council and Chamber of Trade to find a solution to the quarry traffic problem. Clearly I, and the beleaguered residents of Settle are not the only people who find the existing situation totally unacceptable.

AR Fawcett,

Skipton Road, Settle

SIR - May I comment on the awful amount of litter on all the approach roads into Skipton.

February is the month when there is no vegetation to cover this awful advertisement for the town. Please put pressure on the council to clear it now, before the grass grows again.

Also I think we were assured that McDonalds litter would be picked up. No such thing - this has just added to the problem.

Can schools teach children to bin litter (or take it home)? Yes I know the parents should teach them this but it isn't working. How about schools doing a litter pick, it might make a difference.

Mrs Shirley Harrison,

Raines Drive, Bradley

SIR - The events of recent days, whereby three members of NATO (France, Germany and Belgium) have threatened to break this treaty which commits all members to a common defence of each other's countries, have clearly highlighted why the United Kingdom should now leave the European Union.

This is surely the final nail in the coffin and follows swiftly behind the illegal ban on the import of British beef into France. We can no longer trust these countries either in military, political or economic matters. With partners like these, who needs enemies?

In 1941, in Britain's "darkest hour" the United States of America came to our aid. This country was effectively bankrupt with $40 billion of debt. We were losing the war and the money had run out. President Roosevelt created what became known as Lend Lease, which provided us with all kinds of machinery, materials, ammunition etc which were all desperately needed.

There was no provision made for repayment, nor even a formal account kept in dollars or sterling. Winston Churchill later described this to Parliament as "the most unselfish act in the history of any nation." All this at least 12 months before America declared war on Germany and Japan.

In 1945 after Germany had surrendered General George C Marshall, the supreme commander of the US Department of Defence gave his name to a remarkable plan for economic aid to 16 European countries. This was the "seed corn" that enabled Europe to recover from the ashes, to rebuild their economies and their lives.

It has taken little time at all for the three countries who were the main beneficiaries to forget who saved their skin not only by winning them their freedom in 1945 and by rebuilding their economies, but then from 1945 to 1995 protecting them from assault by the communist bloc under the NATO umbrella.

In the 1960s the people of this country were asked in a referendum whether they wished to join a Common Market. Note the word "market." Most people ticked the box.

We were never asked if we wished to surrender our sovereignty and join up with a European state.

Leaving the EU is simple and requires little legislation. Billions of pounds per year of our tax-payers money will stay in this country and which we could use to improve our education and health services. Just as importantly it would restore our credibility, our morality and our democracy, and all of which are under severe pressure.

Under no circumstances should we sign up to the euro for that will be the end of our parliamentary democracy and of our sovereign nation.

Peter Rigby,

Lenner House, Beamsley

SIR - It was with some bemusement I read the letter entitled 'Coalition' the Craven Herald (February 21) authored by Coun David Crawford. He makes many statements so may I take this opportunity to reply.

Firstly he mentions an article in which I appeared in the Guardian. He mentions that I falsely claim that for many years Craven District Council was Conservative controlled.

He then gave the figures that Craven has been controlled by the Conservatives from 1975-1986 and again from 1999-2001. Craven District Council was established in 1974 and Coun Crawford's own statistics reveal that the Conservatives have controlled it for 13 of those years.

Conservatives actually controlled Craven from 1999 until 2002. I am surprised Coun Crawford cannot remember events less than 12 months ago. Only two years ago he was Leader of the Council!

Without digging too deep this reveals that Conservatives controlled Craven for 14 out of its 28 years. Half the time of its existence is hardly a false statement! Liberal Democrats have had time in control but I think most of the other years Craven has been in 'No Overall Control' as is the present situation.

At present there any many issues that the Liberal Democrats and Independent councillors agree on. However, should the Conservatives put forward policies of their own then they may find themselves working with the Independents or indeed the Liberal Democrats?

At the full council meeting the Conservative Group put forward two motions. One complained of our so-called "alliance" and the committee structures. It accused the Liberal Democrats and Independents of being the same party.

The committee places were decided in May 2002. Ten months later the Conservative group has decided to challenge them in an effort to get an extra seat on small working groups that will alter in two months anyway.

Wow! That will make Craven a better place, won't it!

The second motion then criticises the Liberal Democrats and Independents of voting differently! If that is the case, then what is the point of the first motion as it accuses us of being the same? Confused? I certainly am.

With earthshattering policies such as the two tabled is it any wonder the Liberal Democrats and Independents are working together.

Together we are bringing forward policies that the people of Craven want. We are addressing issues such as dog fouling, car clamping, parking problems, flooding, planning, Skipton Town Hall, availability of affordable housing for local people and tourism.

Yes, I do claim that I know what "pisses off" Skipton residents and I am trying to do something about it to such an extent that the national newspapers are now interested.

The Conservatives had their opportunity but failed. The voters of Craven got exactly what they voted for. How dare Coun Crawford underestimate them.

Coun Paul English,

Lib Dem Group Leader,

Craven District Council.

SIR - I just had to write to you in the hope you would pass on my congratulations to all at Bentham who took part in their production of Little Red Riding Hood pantomime - it was brilliant.

The funniest was 'Hilda Baker' and her sidekick. How 'he' managed to keep a straight face was excellent as everyone was in fits of laughter.

I'd also like to congratulate everyone backstage for scenery, props etc.

I hope Fox is OK as his head was injured with the trap door. Well done for carrying on as if nothing had happened when it must have been painful. I cannot wait till next year.

S Middleton,

Settle.

Correction: Authorship of a letter last week about the police was wrongly ascribed to Catherine Holland instead of Janet Blackwell. We apologise to both ladies for our error.