Letters to the Editor

Her late husband, Donald, his brother Harold and their father, George, all worked there for 40 years starting in 1946.

My grandma thought it would be a nice idea to use some names of people who were associated with High Royds for the names of streets within the new development. These could include Walker, who was the head doctor in the 1930s, Ryan, Cartie and Kingston, who were also doctors.

Other staff included matrons, sisters and nurses. Matrons included Mitchell and Dale and Skerratt. Sisters and nurses included Kempton (a name still associated with Menston), Woodhead, Welch (my grandma's name when she worked at High Royds), Weightman (old Menston family). There are also names such as Harlington, Hamer, Riggot and Hancock. I hope some of my grandma's ideas can be put forward.

Kimberley Allanson

Grange Avenue

Menston.

SIR, I understand that the Raven Group is looking for names for roads on the new High Royds site to be built in the future. For one of the roads my suggestion is Eggleston Way, or road, the reason being: I think this name would be a fitting tribute to a lady called Miss Mary Eggleston who worked most of her life (about 42 years) as medical secretary to the medical director of High Royds Hospital. By a quirk of fate, Miss Eggleston died last week and her cremation was on the very day that High Royds closed its doors for the last time. I worked at High Royds with Miss Eggleston and found her to be a lovely lady, dedicated to her job and worthy of some recognition for the happy years she spent there.

B Wright (Mrs)

Harrogate Road

Yeadon.

SIR, Further to the article in last week's Wharfedale and Airedale Observer about High Royds and the reference to my husband, Denis Whitaker, perhaps the name of our family - the builders - might somehow be used or Denison - my husband's full name. Denison Avenue or Road? Whitaker Walk? Or Close? Or whatever. We should be proud, as we are of the fine building. My husband also thought Fairfax Hall, as someone else suggested.

Marjorie Whitaker

Grosvenor Gardens,

Huby.

SIR, Having read in the Wharfedale all about High Royds, I remembered how I used to go with my mother from the 1930s to visit my uncle who I was told was then nearly 30 years old. We used to sit in a corridor where there were palm trees and a lovely tiled floor. Much later we went to sit in the dining room.

Years later, I used to take my son, my uncle was always interested in his school work and mechanical toys as he was a very clever person himself, he was a very big reader of poetry and the classics and played the flute.

His name was William Soole Standley and he died in the hospital there in 1957. He was a gardener and worked in the hospital gardens.

He also taught himself shorthand. When he died, I went with my mother and sister to a short burial service in the hospital chapel and he would be buried in the cemetery there. I still have his death certificate.

Mrs Pickles

Kelcliffe Avenue

Guiseley.

SIR - I used to consider Aireborough's main selling point to be its peaceful semi-ruralness. Unfortunately with the disappearance of the A660/A65 corridor development restrictions and, the "Provide Land for 1,930" homes a year" Unitary development plan - perhaps no longer. A potential gridlock around the proposed High Royds development, raised in a letter last week, does sound possible. Particularly as we now have a planning system that favours big business and offers little community engagement. The usual "sticking plasters" of speed humps and slow down graphics are not going to solve the boroughs problems. The concept of careful planning appears to have fallen down one of the councils pothole riddled roads.

G.C.

Yeadon

SIR, - High Royds Hospital is certainly not unique, far from it, for it is just one of literally hundreds of similar institutions which have been shut down over the last 20 years. The rationale given for such a policy is that it is somehow 'inhumane' in a supposedly civilised and modern society to continue to incarcerate psychiatric patients in places where they are 'out of sight, out of mind'. Hence the labyrinth of winding corridors and mass of dingy, gloomy rooms in a place such as High Royds has been seen to be a material and immoral anachronism, something that our nation can well do without.

However, is such a place as High Royds Hospital really so apparently useless and dysfunctional? Well, certainly it is for the State Treasury and the taxpayer because the system which is replacing places like High Royds, that of community-based services, is a lot less expensive, particularly in our currently stringent economic climate. So ostensibly 'civilised' and 'humane' arguments, couched as they are in overtones of apparent altruism and benevolence, have any genuine foundation? This is a highly moot point.

More specifically, as regards the relocation of High Royds' clients into urban Leeds, will there be an automatic, unhesitating public welcome, a warm empathising embrace? Or will there be, as is the case over most of the entire country, a receptiveness tinged with public suspicion, stigma founded upon an ignorance and incomprehension of the client's psychiatric afflictions?

Furthermore, will the new relocation have the same standard of outdoor amenities as High Royds Hospital has - such as Otley Chevin for walks, Hawksworth and Menston fields, and the convenience and localised camaraderie of White Cross shops and Harry Ramsden's? Such considerations are not trivial, for it is essential to try to maximise psychiatric patients' quality of life, especially as the illnesses are invariably of a lengthy duration.

So will the replacement offer an equivalent standard of quality of life of amenities and facilities for those patients and staff involved in the High Royds exodus? Here, obviously, only time will tell. But it is important at this juncture to try and ensure a smooth transition and satisfactory future for the rehoused High Royds' clients.

For if we are to do more than simply pay lip service to our claim to be members of a civilised nation then we need to recognise with an attitude of empathy those tragically afflicted with psychiatric disabilities. For mental illness does not discriminate, it can strike anybody unpredictably, at any time, being often devastating in its effects. Indeed, many years ago it was a tragedy to which I, myself, terribly succumbed.

IAN HUNTER

Winterton Hospital,

Sedgefield,

Co Durham

Unwarranted intrusion 'will ruin town'

SIR, - With regard to Gerald McGowan's letter of February 13, my position is that I am vehemently opposed to any development of the proposed greenfield site East of Otley as proposed by Leeds City Council.

It is an unwarranted intrusion into the beauty of lower Wharfedale and will, if allowed to take place, ruin Otley forever as an attractive area in which to live.

Gerald McGowan also seems to totally disregard the other obvious disadvantages that I and others have mentioned with regard to lack of infra-structure,traffic congestion and already stretched local medical and educational services.

I am not against so called 'affordable' houses being built on the many inner-town brownfield areas Otley has that would be highly suitable for such developments rather than remaining the eyesores most of them have been allowed to remain for years.

A breakdown of the housing list would, indeed, make interesting reading if one was available. I imagine it is so high because Otley is seen as a desirable place to live to many people from various areas in Leeds. However, Leeds City Council can't even manage their own 'affordable' housing areas effectively within their city boundaries as many of them have large numbers of dwellings that are boarded up and unoccupied for one reason or another.

The answer,therefore, seems to be to look at other areas to build upon before sorting their own problems out. I also find it strange that Leeds City Council have allowed the development of many inner-city brownfield areas for the building of luxury housing whichcould so easily have been used for 'affordable' housing.

It appears to me that they want the best of both worlds. The money generated from selling former industrial working class areas/properties to the luxury developers then the opportunity to build on flat agricultural land in a beautiful valley and provide 'affordable' housing at the cost of our environment because it is an easy and relatively cheap option for them. My advice to the people of Otley is to vigorously oppose this scheme as the planners have scant regard for the preservation and development of Otley in a manner sympathetic to its position,current size and needs in the future.

This proposed development is the thin end of the wedge to a town that has already been allowed to be over developed on its North side by planners so astute that they couldn't foresee a huge growth in traffic and the resulting bottleneck trying to travel north -south and vice-versa over the Wharfe. This proposed development has serious implications for every resident of Otley regardless of whether they are house owners or not and I think they should be told that!

Mick Johnson

65 Leeds Road,

Otley.

What's the point?

SIR, - Councillor McGowan (Wharfedale letters, February 13) still does not seem to have got the message on the question of affordable housing. His own government in its Planning Policy Guidelines requires a mix of housing on any new development.

His own Labour-run Leeds City council has interpreted this rightly or wrongly as requiring a 25 per cent quota of affordable housing on all new large estates with possibly a small variation in some circumstances.

Whatever Otley's waiting list, can I tell him planning consent cannot be given for a 75 per cent level of affordables east of Otley or anywhere else for that matter. To bring him further into the realms of reality, can I also point out there is no way any developer will look at building there if the enormous cost of constructing a new relief road can be recovered only from the sale of the remaining 25 per cent of the full market price houses.

He suggests that any new affordables should be reserved for Otley people in some way. I can go along with that but again we come up against the Labour Government which has brought in the Choice Based Letting policy under which it is unfairly discriminatory to give preference to local people.

Houses must be allocated on a citywide priority basis. So for example someone given a high priority, perhaps living a month or two the other side of Leeds who then chooses to relocate to Otley, will get a house ahead of an Otley person who has lived here for years.

The question has to be asked, since we cannot have 75 per cent affordables and those we do get cannot be reserved for Otley people, what was the point of making the submission in the first place?

Coun Clive Fox

(Con, Otley and Wharfedale),

99 Breary Lane Eas,

Bramhope.

Task Force facts

SIR, - Having read the current issue of a party political newsletter 'Otley Link', I would like to put the record straight regarding a reference to Otley Conservation Task Force.

Page four of Otley Link stated that councillors of the political party responsible for the newsletter have 'brought about many initiatives, including setting up Otley Conservation Task Force'. Whilst Otley Conservation Task Force was certainly initiated by a town councillor with a particular interest in conservation, that was more than six years ago.

The concern is that readers of Otley Link could form the impression that Otley Conservation Task Force is in 2003 a party political initiative, staffed by councillors. This is not so. We are a group of residents from all walks of life who are concerned about the future of the town's built heritage - its stone buildings and their settings.

Otley Conservation Task Force has its own constitution, a central point being that we would provide a forum for those who are interested in conservation of buildings of architectural and/or historical merit, or of value to Otley's townscape.

Whilst the alignment of our members to a particular political party is immaterial, we acknowledge that many a building's fate will eventually be determined by the planning process, involving a planning application that will be determined by councillors. It is therefore inevitable that we sometimes find ourselves working together with politicians, pressing the conservation issue home.

Maintaining the distance from party politics, however, provides us with the independence we need to take an effective part in promoting awareness to conservation, at that important time in the life of a fine building when its future must be decided.

Ian Andrew

Honorary Secretary,

Otley Conservation Task Force,

11 Ramsey Terrace,

Otley.

The wrong idea

SIR, - I refer to J A Heaton's letter concerning the possible replacement of Otley Civic Centre, Guiseley Theatre and Yeadon Town Hall. ''Sell them all," he says and let Leeds City Council use the proceeds to build a decent concert hall somewhere in the area.

This aforesaid council couldn't even build a decent bandstand at Yeadon Tarn and, what is more to the point, they have yet to provide their own city with a decent concert hall much less provide one of those for ratepayers on the periphery.

If they ever do get around to building this much needed facility for the centre of Leeds, they are not likely to build a further one in direct competition a few miles away. I cannot speak for the residents of Guiseley and Otley, but Yeadon Town Hall was built by the townsfolk of Yeadon with the help of a local mill owner and when Leeds wanted to scrap it as being 'underused', a local man, Ellis Brentley, led a successful campaign to save it.

Leeds have spent a good deal of money bringing it up to standard and with at least four local societies putting on shows, an annual pantomime, not to mention regular visits from top flight brass bands like Buy as You View Cory, Sellers International and Grimethorpe, it has become one of the most well used venues in the area. Finally, with the increased travel facilities afforded by the imminent Leeds Supertram, Yeadon folk are much more likely to go to Leeds Playhouse than travel by uncertain buses to any other venue.

R A Downs (old Yeadoner)

Old Park Road,

Bradford.

No independent

SIR, - I am astounded after reading Coun Nigel Francis's letter, about his so called impartiality. How can a councillor who gets elected as a Conservative councillor in Leeds still claim to be an Independent as an Otley Town Councillor?

Many of the Danefield (the Otley Town Council ward Nigel Francis represents) electorate thought voting for Nigel was because he was Independent and therefore independent of party politics. However, I bet many of the Danefield electorate will feel let down now Nigel Francis has joined the ranks of the depleted Tory Party.

I would also like to tackle the issue of there being no Lib - Tory alliance. On the few occasions I have attended council meetings as a member of the general public it was quite obvious to me when a vote is cast that the Lib Dems and Tories (including Nigel Francis) confer how they are going to vote! Finally, I was ashamed an Otley Town Councillor would use asylum as a weapon against the proposed East of Otley Bypass. The bypass will give much relief to the Lisker Drive area (during school time) and the rest of the Cambridge Estate. I would also like to tell Coun Francis that affordable housing would mean Otley people not having to leave our town, because they cannot afford the house prices!

Councillors McGowan and Dunn are extremely hard working councillors - if Councillor Francis worked as hard as them, instead of trying to score cheap points and soundbites Otley would be a better place.

Nigel J Gill

39 Ramsey Terrace,

Otley.

Nigel's dilemma

SIR, - I feel for Nigel Francis in the dilemma he faces. He must have real difficulty in being Independent as Otley town councillor for Danefield Ward when he is also the Conservative Leeds City Councillor for Otley and Wharfedale.

Which 'hat' does he choose to wear if issues come up in Leeds that directly affect Danefield Ward, such as the East of Otley extension? In addition, his personal loyalties must be strained by the fact that his brother Gerard is the Conservative Town Mayor in Otley, and also serves Danefield ward.

You can understand why Mr N Francis chose to counter-sign the questionnaire sent to Danefield ward under the banner of the Conservative Party.

Does it matter? Well, at the moment, Nigel Francis holds the casting vote on Otley Town Council (there are seven7 Labour Councillors, six Liberal Democrats and one Conservative). To many Otley voters, this was exactly the reason they voted for Nigel Francis in the first place - because they wanted a truly Independent voice. But is that how Mr N Francis has voted?

He has consistently voted against the Labour group, but that is understandable as his personal views quite obviously tend towards Conservative. He did vote against the East of Otley extension scheme; in fact, was the only person who did so. Is the value of Independence that you use your vote Independently only when it makes no difference to the outcome?

Lucy Nuttgens

44 Lisker Drive,

Otley.

G and S thanks

SIR, - Every year the Aireborough Gilbert and Sullivan Society give money to a local charity from the profits of our annual production. Our nominated charity

This year was the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the ticket sales enabled us to give £700 as a society.

However, we would be grateful if you could help us say a huge 'thank you' to the people of Aireborough who came to see our production of Iolanthe last week and who have helped raise £1,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as a result of collections made after the show.

Margaret Barnes

Business Manager,

AGSS,

30 Hunger Hills Drive,

Horsforth.

Churches in war message

SIR, - A letter to our Muslim friends: As the threat of war looms dangerously close, we write to extend to our Muslim brothers and sisters living in the area, our sincere good wishes and concern at this critical time.

We are anxious that this conflict should not generate strained relations between us. We want to assure you that this is not a war between Christians and Muslims, for both Christians and Muslims already suffer in Iraq, and both will suffer again in the event of war. We assure you of our heartfelt prayers for a speedy and peaceful resolution of this crisis.

We also want to extend the same good wishes and concern to service families living in the area, and to encourage you to be aware of the Open Door project in Station Road, Burley-in-Wharfedale. This church-run project provides a listening ear to all kinds of people, and we want you to know that at this very difficult time, you would be especially welcome there.

As Christians, we condemn all forms of prejudice, religious intolerance, racism and terrorism, and commit ourselves again to promote peace and mutual understanding among all people.

Rev Terry Porter

For and on behalf of Churches Together

Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston.