SIR - Dr James Fleming is right to call for a debate on the question of assisted suicide, raised by Reginald Crew's visit to Zurich, which was necessary to avoid his relatives being charged with a criminal offence.

He has done a great favour to people like myself who are unable to accept that "God giveth and God taketh away", and who dread the possibility of being locked into so-called palliative treatment.

My wife, who died of breast cancer, received every possible help from her GPs and district nurses when she died at home but she nevertheless had to endure the horrible indignity of having every vital organ ceasing to function one by one.

It was only her unwillingness to let me risk the possibility of imprisonment which prevented me from performing the ultimate act of love - helping her to die.

Of course there must be safeguards against abuse, but that possibility does not prevent us from having a humane policy in line with a civilised society - and any argument that a doctor's function is to preserve life and not to destroy it, which is valid, would be nullified by the assistance given by the relatives themselves. Any medical involvement would take the form of advice on practical issues.

I urge all those who agree that the law should be changed to join the only organisation which is devoted to this - the Voluntary Euthanasia Society at 13 Prince of Wales Terrace, London, W8.

Only by concerted action can we counter the sheer humanity of those who wish to prolong the agony of death.

Frank Pedley,

Gisburn Road, Hellifield.

SIR - On Friday I set off to take a form to the Town Hall and call for my Craven Herald.

It was a bitterly cold day so I drove to the back door of the Town Hall where there are a few invalidity places. Unfortunately these were all filled with stallholders etc, so I drove lower down and parked.

I walked across to Dalesway Newsagents, about 20 yards and when I came back my car was clamped.

This man came and said he wanted £50 to take the clamp off. I said I had a blue badge for parking but he said that part of the council car park is only for Town Hall workers.

I told him I did not have that amount of money on me, could he please unclamp me and I would drive home and get the money; he said "no way".

By then I was quite cold so I returned to Dalesway newsagents to see if the lady would loan me the money. The lady in there was lovely. She came across to the clampers and told him it was wrong, as did many passers-by as this part of the car park was only half full.

His response was to say he could call someone to take my car away and then it would "cost me".

The newsagent kindly loaned me the money for which I thank them.

I am 70 years of age and my basic pension is £42.60.

What I think of our council is unprintable.

Mrs Harrison,

Prince's Drive, Skipton.

SIR - I was appalled by the clamping treatment handed out to the Gargrave lady in Dacre, Son and Hartley's car park.

If a clamping sign is missing (I wonder why) then the clampers have not abided by their own woefully vague rules.

Why anyway are clampers operating on Saturday afternoons and Sunday when the car park is not needed?

It would be good PR to offer it free as a much needed utility.

Mrs Randal Pixley,

New Laithe, Brogden.

SIR - The statement made in your editorial of January 31 can only be described as outrageous.

As a journalist, I would have thought you were aware of the African culture where the wider as well as the immediate family help each other, particularly when education is needed, a completely worthy custom.

If we as a country cannot help people to help themselves when they live in a particularly difficult political and general climate, then we are in a sorry state.

You said you were making a direct quote from Dianne Abbott, yet no quotation marks were used in your item. To state that Mr and Mrs Climbie should "share culpability" for their daughter's demise is scandalous, and I think you owe them a public apology.

You surely cannot mean that they knew of her great aunt's violence, and sent her just the same?

Too many children have died at the hands of family members in this country and for 30 or more years people have been saying that this must not happen again, and yet it does, again and again.

Our various agencies have let down many children such as Victoria Climbie. To use your editorial with some positive suggestions as to how Britain can improve these services would have been more helpful.

Mrs Carmel Reynolds,

Aireside, Cononley.

SIR - With reference to your article in last week's Craven Herald about the Fraud Squad's warning about money prize "scams".

As a fairly recent subscriber to Sky TV, I receive their monthly magazine which often contains scratch cards.

Three times I have "won" and to claim the prize involves a premium rate phone call to tell me what it is plus a pin number. Each time I "won" £50 and £100 holiday vouchers.

Following instructions, I sent off the claim form along with a first class stamp to Sandylands House, Morecambe.

I am not normally a gullible person, and it was only three phone calls and three stamps but I'm still waiting.

My advice is - don't bother.

A Smith,

Church Street, Gargrave.

Editor's note: The small print on the card states that the call to claim a prize costs £1 per minute and "lasts no longer than four minutes 30 seconds".

SIR - Through your columns I would like to thank most sincerely the lady who found and handed in my purse at the Coffee Pot in Sunwin House on Friday January 24.

I do realise how very fortunate I was to get it back and was sorry that the lady didn't leave any details so that I could thank her in person.

Mrs Jean Dance,

Skipton.

SIR - As a March to October caravan owner I can appreciate the choice of the Skipton and Stirton residents of the Tarn House as a venue for various events.

They have the advantage of not being close enough to hear the pounding of disco music and taxi doors in the early hours which have caused many complaints to the police over several years.

I should imagine anyone wishing to live permanently on the Tarn site would do so for the peace and tranquillity of the area, as we do.

Mrs J Scarth,

Lilycroft, Bradford.

SIR - Congratulations on your 150th anniversary.

I have only been reading the Herald for 20 years but in that time I have been impressed by the improvements.

When I started to read the paper the pictures were difficult to discern, most of them being black splodges in the middle of articles. When they came out their structure was not that attractive anyway.

But now the colour, content, style and design is excellent. The edition of January 24 was typically exciting and challenging. Keep up the good work.

Peter McCabe,

Brook House, Ingleton.

SIR - As secretary of the Craven Neighbourhood Watch Association I would like to point out at least two misleading remarks in the article about Bliss Nightclub holding safety classes.

a) The items for sale are called personal attack alarms not "rape alarms".

b) The suggestion that one is small enough to fit into a handbag implies that that is where it should be kept. There are two kinds of alarm for sale and both need to be kept ready to hand (eg in a pocket) when and where personal security could be at risk.

It is a really good idea to teach "skills to deal with someone trying to grab you or your bag" but if the personal attack alarm is in the said bag it will be of no use to the person being attacked.

Margaret Benson,

Secretary,

Craven Neighbourhood Watch Association.

Editor's note: I trust readers would be sensible enough not be misled. A "rape alarm" is a widely used colloquial shorthand term for a "personal attack alarm" in much the same way a "disposable pen" is more frequently called a "Biro".

I also feel that a fair-minded reader would understand that such alarms can be kept in a handbag when on the nightclub dance floor or in a cinema but need to be taken out when the safety of such premises is left.

SIR - The question is simple, but could you answer it for me?

My wife and I had a thriving little business in Eastburn, a gymnasium and salon that proved itself to be a well needed addition to the area and its community.

Last August we made the decision to move to more modern premises in Cross Hills as the old mill we were in at Eastburn was deteriorating rapidly. Our members thought it was a great idea and so did we.

Every aspect was considered, but we didn't realise and nor did many of our members; just what an impact the nearby level crossing was going to have.

The last six months have witnessed a consistent drop in memberships and renewals and we can only think of one reason.

Since moving we've been regaled with many a story regarding the crossing and the delays it can create; as well as the failed attempts to bypass it or bridge it.

The crossing can add half an hour to a two-minute journey if you're unfortunate enough and get the timing wrong.

People's time today is valuable and they are not prepared to take the risk of spending time and money sitting waiting for the crossing to open. It's down for an unprecedented length of time now and it's keeping people away from our centre.

As long as 15 minutes can pass before a (usually empty) train goes by and I have personally sat and watched four trains go by over a 25 minute period.

In this day and age it's ridiculous that nothing can be done about it.

Sure, you could say it's our fault for choosing the location, but it was almost impossible to get planning permission elsewhere, we had little choice.

Why do the barriers on the crossing at Cross Hills have to be down so long?

The crossing is putting us out of business and though it's now too late for us, could this letter be published as a warning to others thinking of moving their business into this or other areas like it.

Allan and Karen Guest

Airedale Fitness Centre,

Cross Hills.

SIR - I am delighted to report that although Christmas has passed, Marie Curie Cancer Care is still experiencing the season of goodwill and generosity.

Our volunteers in Settle organised another book sale at the Watershed Mill and raised £1,940 for your local nursing service.

In addition to the financial generosity we have also experienced a generosity of time from a growing number of volunteers. By giving a couple of hours our volunteers have contributed to the success of the book sale. This combined with the support of the Co-op in Settle and the Watershed Mill has meant that our nurses continue to care for people who are able to stay in their own homes.

Brian Curran, Community Fundraising manager,

Marie Curie Cancer Care.

SIR - How highly appropriate for your Saddam-appeasing correspondent to quote the famous saying "for evil to triumph all it requires is for good men to do nothing". Particularly apt in the brutal regime currently in power in Iraq.

Iraq indubitably had huge stocks of poison gas which it used on its own people yet refuses to provide evidence of how this was disposed of.

War proved remarkably effective in halting the genocide in Kosovo and Bosnia and we have reached this last resort in Iraq. Few civilians will die; many more lives will be saved. War seems not only inevitable, it is, in this instance, justified. Indeed, for evil to triumph all it requires is for good men to do nothing.

S Dobson,

Keighley Road, Skipton.

SIR - We, the undersigned Christian leaders in Skipton, are deeply troubled about the prospect of war on Iraq. We are committed to working for a world where we live and work together creatively to realise the enormous potential that we all have for doing good.

This involves actively promoting greater justice and freedom, using power responsibly and tenderly, listening respectfully to others who are different from us and also sometimes asking challenging questions.

We are not naive about the many threats and dangers there are today to world peace and security, nor about the urgent need to do something about them. But we are fearful that the military solution which is being planned at the moment may not be the most appropriate or successful way. We fear it may unleash much more hatred, destruction and misery and destabilise and polarise nations, cultures and religions.

Genuinely to develop peaceful and trusting relationships is a long and costly business; it cost Christ everything. We urge your readers to take courage to wrestle with these matters, troubling and difficult though they are: to hold on to that vision of a global family, to yearn for it, pray for it and to do all that is possible to promote it. We ask you also to join us in praying for great wisdom for our world leaders upon whom rest such awesome responsibilities.

Rev John Gore (chairman of Churches Together), Canon Adrian Botwright (rector of Holy Trinity), Rev Dr Jonathan Pritchard (curate at Holy Trinity), Peter Copestake (member of the Society of Friends), Father Peter Dawber (parish priest at St Stephen's), Rev Graham Kidman (Methodist superintendent minister), Rev Paul Frampton (URC minister at St Andrew's), Rev Rob Harris (minister at Skipton Baptist Church), Rev Lisa Holmes (associate minister at Skipton Baptist Church), Phil Burns (youth minister at Skipton Baptist Church), Rev David Williams (vicar of Christ Church), Rev Alistair Ferneley (curate at Christ Church).