SIR - Until recently there stood on the counter of the Co-op in Gargrave High Street, a box, for people who did not wish to take their Co-op stamps, to donate them to a local charity - that is Gargrave Playgroup.

The stamps were collected regularly and stuck into stampbooks by volunteers, as this saved the Playgroup staff a lot of time.

Obviously, the stampbooks were used, along with cash, to purchase items from Gargrave Co-op such as food for the children's snacktime. Such a great help to the Playgroup.

Now however, we are informed that an e-mail from "somebody in authority" has forbidden this act of charity to continue. The box has now gone and without it there, people now just refuse their stamps or they are left on the counter as people do not take the time to pass them on to the Playgroup.

What a shame this is. The ladies at playgroup will now have to work even harder in their own time to raise funds, with such things as Fun Days and the Autumn Fair.

Having e-mailed North Yorkshire Co-op about the matter I am still awaiting a reply. I think you'll agree that North Yorkshire Co-operative is not being very co-operative! What does the Co-op gain from this policy?

Well, their profits will increase I suppose if people do not take and spend their stamps. Is this what it's all about I wonder, or is it just that nobody cares anymore?

Gargrave Playgroup is a valuable asset to this community. It gives our children an excellent start to their academic lives, helps them to develop social skills, boosts their confidence and paves the way for their entry into full time education. Children attend from the surrounding villages as well as from Gargrave. So many children benefit from this organisation.

We are all encouraged to support our local businesses. Gargrave Playgroup has supported Gargrave Co-op. Let's continue to support each other. It'll pay dividend in the end.

Mrs KM Lancaster.

Gargrave Playgroup.

A spokesman for United Co-operative said: "Gargrave was not the only store to have these types of collection boxes on the counter, which we were happy to provide space for.

"However, recently there has been a number of incidents in stores in Yorkshire which has led to an executive decision to stop the use of the boxes for security reasons. United Co-operatives feels it cannot compromise the safety of its staff or customers, and regrets it has had to make this decision to the detriment of the playgroup and other beneficiaries."

SIR - Following all the different items in your paper such as hospital closure, Skipton traffic management, litter, drinking etc, I would like to draw your readers' attention to the Skipton and West Craven area forum meeting on Wednesday October 23 at 7pm in Skipton Town Hall.

This is an opportunity for the council tax payers to put questions, ideas etc to the various organisations like North Yorkshire County Council, Craven District Council, police and many others who look after their social well-being and are able to take on board their concerns.

Come on Skipton and west Craven, we have a population of around 15,000 and judging by the letters in this paper and various complaints I receive, such an opportunity to have your say addressed to the proper organisation is worth taking the effort to attend.

Everyone is welcome to attend - Skipton Town Hall, October 23 at 7pm.

Coun Marcia Turner,

Area Forum Chairman,

Granville St, Skipton.

SIR - Although I personally have not lived in Skipton since 1938, may I add my protest to the proposal to close Skipton Hospital?

My reasons for doing so are:

1 My father, Dr Norman Macleod, was a GP in the town for over 30 years.

2 My mother, as a the wife of the then chairman of the hospital committee, laid the foundation stone of the "new" hospital at Whinfield.

3 My elder brother, the late Rt Hon Iain Macleod MP, who became Minister of Health, would certainly have opposed the closure.

4 I was born at Clifford House, on Keighley Road, in early 1920.

Reading the article about the Fisher medical practice in your issue of September 2, one is reminded of the contribution made to the health of the community in Craven by the old-style GPs before the days of the NHS.

Am I not correct in recalling that Winston Churchill's medical adviser, Lord Moran, was born in Dr Barlow's old house at the top of the High Street?

I would suggest that something more than mere administrative convenience is needed before Skipton is deprived of its last hospital.

Rhoderick Macleod,

Canonbie,

Dumfriesshire.

Editor's note: Mr Macleod is correct, Lord Moran was born in the doctor's house on High Street which is now occupied by David Goldie's shop.

SIR - On behalf of Skipton Hospital Friends I would like to thank those involved in collecting over 3,000 signatures against closing Skipton General Hospital.

Come Christmas this year, we, Skipton Hospital Friends, have been working for 50 years for the hospital and spent over £1 million on various things and still do.

Let's hope the hospital will still be there to need us.

Betty Patchett,

Westmoreland Street,

Skipton.

SIR - I, like many citizens, tourists and businesses that rely on visitors, care about the cleanliness and general appearance of Skipton.

The Mill Bridge area needs some attention and the memorial garden by the park on Gargrave Road needs constant attention. It is a beautiful memorial garden, when kept clean and tidy.

At last it appears something has been done to tidy it up.

Allan Mason,

Jennygill Crescent, Skipton.

SIR - I have read with interest the comments made by Mr Meyer and others regarding the decline in the general fabric and cleanliness of Skipton and who is responsible for what.

There are now three tiers of local government in Skipton - the town council (Skipton), the district council (Craven) and the county council (North Yorkshire). It appears that no-one wishes to be responsible and the buck is continually passed.

Prior to local government reorganisation in 1974 Skipton Urban Council was responsible for everything you can think of in the town except for trunk roads and the class three roads (ie Embsay Road, Carleton Road and Cavendish Street). But even on these roads Skipton Urban were agents for the street lighting, cleansing and gully cleaning.

As the public works superintendent, if any complaint came in regarding any form of public responsibility, I knew whether it was Skipton Urban or not and, no argument, it got attended to as soon as labour was available. I can honestly say there was always funding to do the work.

There are hundreds more housing and industrial units in Skipton now, all paying into the kitty so surely there should be no need for this neglect and rundown of services.

If KB Robinson, the engineer surveyor in my time at Skipton Urban District Council, could see what goes on now I am sure he would be very disappointed to see the whole town has gone into decline.

Stanley Phillips,

Keighley Road, Skipton.

SIR - Why has the Yorkshire Dales National Park given permission for a red sandstone arch to be erected in the midst of limestone country (reference the restored sheep fold at Thornton in Lonsdale) even though it will be in inside (hopefully) a limestone-constructed building?

I cannot think of anything more ludicrous, unless it was built with yellow London clay bricks.

I thought the national park objectives were to protect and approve aesthetically enhancing building in its region (see the refusals published in the Craven Herald).

John Fox,

Victoria Street, Settle.

Support

SIR - I would like to thank everyone who helped and those who gave so generously at the coffee morning at Abbeyfield House, Settle. We raised £257 for the Marie Curie nurses.

My thanks to the residents of Abbeyfield, and the housekeeper and her husband, who always give us so much support. We had so much pleasure in welcoming Skipton Abbeyfielders.

Betty Holgate,

Lower Greenfoot, Settle.