True culprit behind flooding

The true culprit is the weir behind Aire Bank Terrace. If its width is measured it is found to be 18-20 metres wide.

The bridge in the middle of Gargrave has an underspan width of 26 metres. If, at peak flow, all the spans are used, the weir has insufficient capacity to deal with the influx and water backs up to flood behind it.

The weir has also artificially reduced the gradient of the river upstream.

It is this that the parish council has to make its target to get an effective solution in discussions with the river authorities.

Roger Bell,

Skipton Road, Gargrave.

SIR - There is a lot of milk in plastic bottles sold daily from supermarkets and shops.

What happens to the plastic?

There are few banks for plastic here as there are in Bradford and the supermarkets should subsidise some.

E Foreman,

Badgergate, Threshfield.

SIR - I am writing on behalf of all the members of our family to thank the many residents in Craven and the Dales who have provided such overwhelming comfort and support to us during the past 11 years.

Richard's long and ultimately unsuccessful fight against leukaemia I know has touched the hearts of all who knew him.

Over 200 people, young, old and in between, attended the memorial service for Richard held at Hetton Chapel last Saturday, a service which through words and music was the great celebration of Richard's life and achievements that we as a family had hoped for.

Richard's body was buried at Tarn Moor memorial woodland near Skipton during a family service but the memory of a bright, happy courageous boy with an infectious cheeky smile will be the abiding one.

Andrew Armstrong

(Richard's father),

Hetton.

SIR - I would like to use your column to thank all the exhibitors and visitors who attended the Choices 2003 careers convention at the town hall on Wednesday November 13. I hope that visitors to the convention found the range of information available, and specialists on hand for discussion, useful for their future decision-making.

I would also like to take the opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the early closure of the event, required by Craven District Council as a result of the Fire Brigade Union strike action.

If anyone would like further information on courses available at Craven College, please call College reception on 01756 791411.

Martin Williamson,

Craven College, Skipton.

SIR - I have just spent a wonderful week in your area celebrating my 50th birthday with friends.

Based in Draughton we enjoyed walks, playing golf at Skipton Golf Club, food and drink in the company of some of the loveliest people I have met in a long time.

What a joy to holiday in such wonderful surroundings. As a BBC Radio presenter who spends so much time talking about places to visit, it was a delight to find somewhere that lived up to the promises that your tourist authorities made.

Skipton and its surrounding countryside met all my expectations and proved to be the perfect setting for a memorable holiday and one that I would hope to repeat in the future.

If I am allowed through your pages to heap praises on one outstanding part of my visit to Skipton, it would be to thank everyone at the "No 1" restaurant who made my birthday celebrations a night to remember.

Thank you to all for the friendship that we experienced in Skipton.

Dave Bussey,

Grange Lane,

Willoughby on Stow.

SIR - I would like to answer some of the points made in a letter printed in your paper regarding the article about my trip to Palestine.

Firstly I would like to clarify a point, the ambulances I was travelling in were not stopped because we were trying to leave the Occupied Territories, we were stopped at checkpoints within Nablus when we were trying to get to patients, sometimes only a few streets away.

Even when the soldiers had searched our ambulances we were held at checkpoints for hours, sometimes with patients inside and sometimes refused access to hospitals. We often had shots fired around us even though we were obviously an ambulance.

With regards to the questioning I experienced entering and leaving Israel, over 2,000 humanitarian aid workers have been refused entry to Israel after stating their reason for visiting to be to help the Palestinians, including the UN inspection team wanting to find out what had happened in Jenin. This sounds like a country with something to hide.

We could argue for pages upon pages as to why the current Intifada is taking place. Both sides have committed crimes, both sides have committed murders, and on both sides civilians and innocent people have tragically lost their lives. The crimes of a minority, no matter how serious, are no excuse for the punishment of an entire population. It is in fact illegal to carry out such collective punishments; this law was one of those created after the horrors of the holocaust to ensure that such appalling crimes would never happen again.

It is not just "well meaning" people being "fed propaganda" who disagree with the actions of the Israeli military. Over 100,000 Israelis marched in Tel Aviv when the IDF went into Palestine in April, there are over 400 Israeli serving soldiers who whilst happy to protect Israel are refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories despite being sent to jail repeatedly for being conscientious objectors.

Nelson Mandela has said that the current occupation is worse than apartheid and I trust his opinion on matters like this.

I agree that propaganda has been an important tool abused by many people committing crimes throughout history, this is one reason why I am speaking out against the propaganda put out by the Israeli government.

I have not just been "fed propaganda", I actually spent time in Palestine, something very few Israelis are able to do due to restrictions in place. They are not allowed to enter the cities under occupation. It is hard to know what is going on in your own back yard when there is a media blackout about it.

I am full of sadness every time I hear on the news about more innocent Israelis being murdered by Palestinian suicide bombers. However, the news of Palestinians being murdered, despite far more being murdered, is rarely reported by the British media.

Whilst we are preparing for a war against Iraq because the Iraqi regime has broken UN resolutions we are ignoring the repeated flouting of UN resolutions by the Israeli government.

There should be an immediate end to violence on both sides and both sides need to start, not only talking to each other, but listening to each other. I went to Palestine to support people, not a government.

My "limited" experiences in Palestine included being beaten up by Israeli soldiers for delivering food and medicine to a refugee camp, witnessing a boy having his dressing changed where he had been shot in the arm by an Israeli sniper in his own home, and being woken each morning by the sound of tank fire around the medical centre I stayed in.

If anyone is interested in reading the report I have compiled on my experiences I would be happy to provide them with a copy and they can judge for themselves. Or even better, don't just take my word for it, visit Israel and Palestine and see for yourselves.

Jenny Gaiawyn

Hardy Meadows

Grassington.

SIR - With regard to the photo in the Craven Herald of the Skipton football team playing Italian prisoners of war. The second on the right of the picture was my father Frank (Yank) Smith.

The player at the end next to him looks to me to be Tommy Foster, who I played with for Rolls Royce during the Lancashire Combination days. As far as I can remember Chris Fawcett also played for Earby Victoria in the early 1950s.

Bob Smith,

Avon Drive, Barnoldswick.

Hitting the jackpot

SIR - Stop, stop - enough is enough!

I said in a letter published a couple of months ago that there must be a large cash prize waiting for the person who keeps roadworks on Broughton Road for the longest period.

The diggings are open yet again this week. We give in - please pay the prize money.

Why do North Yorkshire, Craven District and Skipton Town Councils allow this disruptive pantomime to go on and on.

Malcolm Wiseman,

Nethergyll Lane, Cononley.

SIR - I would like to thank Dorothy Bertwhistle for the photograph from bygone years of the Young Farmers Club trip to Port Sunlight in 1951.

What a lot of memories for me seeing Mrs Hayes, the founder of the Lothersdale Club, Cedric Throup, Mr Woods, even the coach driver, Raymond Cowgill.

I could go on and name another 20 or so. Thank you.

Mary Rushton (nee Stead),

Long Syke Edge Farm,

Cowling.

H

SIR - The Heritage Lottery Fund and National Youth Agency have just launched a major new scheme to help young people celebrate their heritage in communities throughout Skipton area.

Called 'Young Roots', it will provide grants from £5,000 to £25,000 for groups working with 13-20 year-olds to carry out a wide range of heritage projects.

The aim of the scheme is to help young people to find out about, look after, enjoy and celebrate their local heritage. It also seeks to build skills, confidence and community involvement along the way.

There are no restrictions on the types of projects the scheme can fund, as long as they are linked to heritage. For example, your project could be about wildlife, old stories and legends, crafts and traditions, the way our grandparents lived, local places of interest or even the historic origins of a football club. The possibilities are limitless.

If you would like to know more about getting a grant to help you with a 'Young Roots' heritage project, Louise or Joanne, in our new Leeds office, would like to hear from you on 0113 388 8030.

Ian Carstairs,

Heritage Lottery Fund,

4th Floor Carlton Tower,

34 St Paul's Street

Leeds LS1 2QB

SIR - I write in response to Jack Knoll's letter (Craven Herald November 8) regarding the Women Empowering Women Hearts Scheme.

My first question is do you have names of the "victims" that have been damaged by this "scheme of human greed" and have they lost their investment or are they just unable to understand the procedure?

My first hand experience is that all the many hundreds of women participating are "victims of success".

The system has changed their lives for the better; they have gained self-respect, a purpose in life (beyond children and shopping), are able to help each other and have developed a comradeship that we men could never do.

It is far from anything remotely connected to a "scam" or "greed". No single lady gains more than any other, unlike the notorious pyramid system.

It would appear, Jack, that you have been grossly mis-informed, or maybe influenced by financial institutions that cannot offer such a marvellous opening for women. It is, in fact, such financial institutions that continue to "rip off" the community and over whose extortionate charges we have no control.

As a man I am unable to participate in "Women Empowering Women" but I applaud all those that take part in the scheme and their very charitable actions to ladies who cannot afford the initial gift. They really do voluntarily gift to strangers and yet you say it's based on human greed!

Far from greed, the hearts scheme is based on loyalty, honesty, trust and human generosity.

Contrary to your comments about Janet Brennand, I consider these excellent social skills for a teacher to possess and teach our children, particularly in today's climate of backstabbing, cheating, lying and just looking after number one.

Each participant has between seven and 20 ladies helping them to achieve success and, for the majority the first bit of financial independence in their lives. The reliance on "hand-outs" from us lesser male mortals is something that we have to adjust to but it will take enormous financial pressures from our shoulders.

I envy the marvellous bonding and support gained in this gifting procedure and wish all those participating and those who have the courage to ignore the negativity in our society, success and good fortune. It will change your lives for the better.

Brian F Williamson,

Lower North Avenue,

Barnoldswick.