SIR - Your article in the Craven Herald (December 21) entitled "Poor families fare badly in selection tests" raises some interesting points.

I believe it is right of all parents to give their child the best education possible. Some parents send their children to private primary schools in the hope that they will be better prepared for the 11 plus exams, others pay privately for extra tuition, again in the hope of gaining a competitive advantage in the local selection procedure.

Head teachers and staff at local state schools are told not to prepare or coach their pupils for the selection tests, since, the Local Education Authority wishes pupils to sit the tests without any prior tutoring or preparation for the tests.

Your article proves that this altruistic view of the Education Authority is far from reality, and many parents and teachers will confirm this fact.

I think the time has come for the education department to stop being so nave. It is the LEA that is putting pupils who adhere to the rules at a serious disadvantage.

In my role as Chairman of Governors of a local primary school, can I suggest that heads of state primary schools introduce an in-school coaching and tutoring system so that their pupils are on a level playing field when they sit the local selection tests.

Peter Marshall,

Raikes Avenue, Skipton.

No room at school

SIR - Once again we have an example of how the schools selective system in Skipton doesn't work.

Our son has been tested for entry into year eight of Ermysted's and has been "assessed as suitable for selective education" at the school. However, the school is unable to offer him a place in Year 8 as they are already "fully subscribed".

They are now "fully subscribed" due to allowing nearly 40 pupils from outside of the Skipton area into the year group last year. If I recall correctly it was believed only six Skipton boys were given a place at the school. The Headmaster has admitted that there were concerns over funding if the year group was not increased and advertisements were placed in newspapers outside the Skipton area in an attempt to fill the 'vacancies'.

The chairman of the governors at Ermysted's, Mr Roger Whittaker, has said that the governors are trying to resolve the issue of the lack of local boys attending the school, yet the school has steadfastly opposed our appeal to have our son, who is Skipton born and bred, admitted to the school.

It would be hard to find a more local family, one which has lived in the town for many generations, not one that has moved into the area to take advantage of the schooling system.

There will also be few local families with such a long history at the school, yet because our son is our eldest and does not therefore have a brother already at the school he is placed at a disadvantage.

A boy with an almost identical test score was given a place at the school due to his brother being a current pupil. Do father, uncle, cousin not offer at least the same value? Apparently not but the headmaster can give no evidence to support the reasoning behind it.

We would like to believe that the school is genuinely trying to rectify the issue of a lack of local boys attending, as they have been claiming for some time now, unfortunately our experience leads us to believe otherwise.

No doubt a school representative will respond stating various problems they have, particularly with a lack of space at the school but the year group which has just received its GCSE grades was "oversubscribed" yet managed to achieve the school's best GCSE results for five years. This seems to show that with the correct attitude and application the school is still able to work effectively.

Name and address supplied.

Court closure

SIR - The suggestion that the local magistrates court should be moved to Harrogate has been well covered by the Craven Herald, but I hope you will please permit me to extend the argument.

First to declare an interest. Prior to retirement I was for a few years a lay magistrate on the Keighley/Bingley bench. Currently I am a volunteer with the Craven Witness Service, part of Victim Support.

To move the court to Harrogate will make life immeasurably more difficult for those least able to afford it. The whole idea is a piece of Home Office bureaucratic 'quick fix'!

Nor is the idea new. In West Yorkshire most court work has now moved from Keighley to Bingley and it is on the cards that the whole works will be moved to Bradford.

Sure it's denied, but when central government denies something it's sure to happen!

Users of the courts whether in Skipton or Keighley often do not have the bus fare to travel. Consider the time and expense involved in simply getting to Harrogate or Bradford for 10am by public transport! With all respect I hope that those of your readers who might think "well, this does not concern me..." will think again.

It could very well concern them. It is just not known when they may be required as a witness or, dare I say, a defendant.

My primary purpose in writing is to express the hope that the Craven Herald will consider promoting a campaign - Save Our Court!

John Fidler,

Skipton Road,

Embsay.

Working Christmas

SIR - I am sure that your readers, like me, had had enough of shopping by the time the shops shut on Christmas Eve and they were looking forward to a day at home with friends and family on December 25.

That is the kind of Christmas Day that we want for Britain's 2.6 million shopworkers. However, year on year, more and more shops are opening their doors on Christmas Day, forcing our members to go to work.

Even Scrooge let his staff have Christmas Day off!

Budgens, Woolworths, Kwik Save, Sainsbury's, Safeway, Allders and Debenhams opened some stores on Christmas Day, or gave it serious consideration.

Many of your readers have supported our campaign to keep large shops shut on Christmas Day and I would like to thank them for signing our petition and writing to their Member of Parliament.

At present there is a measure called the Christmas Day (Trading) Bill going through Parliament, which will stop all large stores opening on Christmas Day. Unfortunately the new law won't come in force in time for this Christmas.

The Bill has been passed by the House of Lords and is due to be considered by the House of Commons next year.

Your readers can help our campaign by writing to their own MP asking that they support the Christmas Day (Trading) Bill when it comes before the Commons.

Christmas Day is a very special day and we believe it should remain so.

Bill Connor,

General Secretary,

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.

Low down the list

SIR - Once again our council has shown that residents come very far down its list of priorities.

The proposal to raise the cost of the already expensive parking permit, just when an increase in the council tax is being put forward by North Yorkshire is adding insult to injury.

It seems that in Skipton everything must give way to tourists, yet it is us the residents who shop in the town all through the year, patronise the local restaurants and pay our taxes.

Joan Smith,

Lytham Close, Skipton.

Delightful village

SIR - On Saturday passing through Gargrave, I decided to stop and look round the village and have coffee.

I called into the village hall, where a local event was taking place.

What a delight to see; stalls were raising money to fund a larger library facility.

There was Santa in a delightful grotto, children dancing, ladies singing, handbells being rung.

I had a really good lunch for £2.50.

I thought if that's village life, it must be great, all working together for a good cause.

The members of Gargrave Village Hall need a pat on the back for working so well.

Mrs Cynthia Weston,

Gravelly Lane,

Erdington, Birmingham.

Untidy town

SIR - It must come as a surprise to the many visitors to Skipton that the council doesn't make more of an effort to keep the quite restful town clean and litter free.

Whilst it's true that the large road sweepers roam about picking up the odd cigarette end and a few leaves, much more could be achieved if a few of these drivers were given brushes and shovels and sent along the canal banks etc collecting litter that has been there for weeks (if not years in some instances).

If the street cleaners of Skipton (for want of a better name) should require advice on how the job should be done, let them contact Brian, the guy who keeps Grassington clean.

Ray Potter,

Low Lane, Grassington.

Resentment

SIR - Reading the article on car park charges (Craven Herald December 21), I was staggered to see that Craven District Council has "excess charges" to the value of £42,000 in the income from car parking.

Having read letters in the past from people who have visited the town and suffered "excess charges", we know people have a strong resentment to the high value of this charge for they tell us they will not be returning to Skipton.

Are we talking here of some 1,250 people who will not be returning.

Exceeding the length of stay may well deserve a penalty, but at £60 it is exorbitant in my opinion. The prompt payment discounted to "only" £35 if paid in seven days is surely a rip off in itself.

Bob Wright,

Wright Wine Company,

Grassington Road, Skipton.

No golden age

SIR - I refer to my letter appearing in your issue of December 7 and replies from Stanley Hall and Brian Ormondroyd of December 14.

Mr Hall refers to the passengers killed on British Railways since nationalisation; I took my information from the radio, perhaps my figures referred to all deaths on the railways. If so, my apologies.

He also suggests that the railways were not dirty after steam was phased out.

In that case, why was I frequently not able to see out of the train windows? Why were there newspapers abandoned on the seats and coffee cups rolling in the aisles?

Both he and Mr Ormondroyd and I wish to see better railways in this country, but harking back to a so-called "Golden Age" is not the answer.

Geoffrey Theasby,

Middleton, Cowling.

Sour taste for choir

SIR - Skipton Ladies' Choir had a sour taste in their mouths at the end of their Christmas concert.

During the concert, held in Trinity Methodist Church on Monday December 17, eight or nine choir members had their handbags stolen from the Green Room while they sang.

Singers lost money, credit cards, cheque books, mobile phones, diaries and other less easily traceable things of value.

In the grand scheme of things, no-one died; in fact no-one was physically injured, though all of us felt sick when we discovered what had happened. That applied to the audience also. There was a palpable feeling of disgust when the word got out.

As always the police were great - they were there within 20 minutes and were very kind and gentle.

Be warned though, the spirit of Christmas lies very dormant in some people! Be aware and don't let them spoil your celebration of the birth of Christ.

Name and address supplied.

Running meter

SIR - I write further to the letter in the Craven Herald (December 7) regarding the cost of a taxi fare.

The marketing and licensing officer, Gary Bower, visited the taxi company and discussed the letter with the proprietor.

It was established that on December 2 the complainant, along with her party booked a taxi from Coniston Cold to Lothersdale. On arrival at the pick up point, the driver of the taxi was made to wait 30 minutes for the passengers (the taxi meter was set on arrival at the pick up point.

The route to be taken was agreed at the start of the journey by a member of the party and this included two passenger drops, prior to the final drop at the complainant's home. The price on the meter was £27.80.

Mr Bowyer is satisfied that the price was satisfactory, having taken into account the waiting time, the route taken to drop off passengers, and the fact that it was after midnight and therefore at a higher tariff.

The issue of bad language from the telephonist was raised with Mr Pickering and in defence of the telephonist Mr Bowyer was advised that the complainant had been abusive and argumentative and that the telephonist had said "something out of turn in reply".

Mr Bowyer advised the company that such language was not acceptable.

LB Quinn,

Environmental Health Officer,

Craven District Council.

Super service

SIR - After an enjoyable day in Skipton on Sunday December 9 for the first medieval market, my last port of call was Howard's in Craven Court Arcade, where I purchased a smart Christmassy jumper.

Back home in Rochdale by coach, I realised I'd left my earrings behind in the small changing room. Unable to locate a phone there on the Monday I rang Broughton's Shoes opposite and their assistant kindly called Dawn over from Howard's to discuss the situation and help me.

She immediately offered to post them on and they duly arrived safely packaged by first post next day.

I visit Skipton on a regular basis as the market, shops and eating facilities are good and have been back recently with chocolates for Dawn.

She is a credit to Howard's (and the town!)

Eileen Walker,

Hill Top Drive,

Rochdale.

Manorlands thanks

SIR - May I take this opportunity through the letters page to thank everyone who supported the Manorlands Christmas Draw.

The draw raised a grand total of £10,150.75 for Sue Ryder Care Centre Manorlands, which is a tremendous sum and a valuable contribution to our running costs.

On behalf of the fundraising team and everyone at Manorlands hospice, thank you to our supporters for their hard work in raising funds throughout the year and we wish you a very merry Christmas.

Sally Owthwaite

Fundraiser

Sue Ryder Care Centre,

Manorlands,

Oxenhope.