Doctors divide over future plans

I was born in Skipton and worked for 30 years as a GP in the town.

I have had the highest regard for the services provided by Airedale Hospital. This has now been further substantiated by a recent report on hospital standards throughout the country.

Airedale is considered to be the best hospital in Yorkshire and seventh in the whole country, this in spite of having a large ratio of patients per doctor.

If Airedale is to continue as one of the best hospitals in the country it must be allowed to remain independent.

The best chance of this happening is for Airedale General Hospital to be surrounded by an Airedale/Craven Primary Care Trust.

Dr Brian Fisher,

Cononley.

Independent survey

SIR - The letter by Dr Tom Gibson, who is a retired GP and ex-director of Airedale NHS Trust, repeats the view that Craven Primary Care Group should join with Airedale Primary Care Trust.

Probably the main reason for Craven joining Harrogate instead and staying in North Yorkshire is to take forward the integration of health and social services. The development of intermediate care, which is the provision of a wide range of health services in the community (including community hospitals like Skipton General) is high on the Government agenda.

Any proposals must include plans to take this agenda forward.

Craven PCG and North Yorkshire Health Authority have commissioned an independent enquiry (by the Kings Fund) into what is best for Craven.

This assessment is currently underway and will be completed by the end of January.

Dr Julian Allen,

Chairman,

Craven Primary Care Group.

Worrying picture

SIR - Dr Gibson paints a worrying picture of the coming reorganisation of our health services in Craven into the proposed primary care trusts (Craven Herald, January 12).

It is quite clear where his choice lies in this debate.

Will he tell us, please, what we the people of Craven can do to make our opinions clear to those who will make the final decision which could have such momentous consequences for us?

KJ Siddall,

Park Street, Skipton.

Editor's note: The Herald would be pleased to publish opinions on the topic. Dr Gibson has also agreed to forward letters expressing any views to the authorities. Write to him at High Barn, Stirton, Skipton.

Action not words

SIR - As one of two parish councillors representing Thornton-in-Craven at the Skipton and West Craven Area Forum meeting held in the Town Hall, Skipton, on November 30, I would like to give heart to the people who attended on that evening.

On a few occasions, it was stated that while issues were discussed at these meetings with the relevant principle officers in attendance to hear the various views expressed, it was felt that, after the meeting, little if anything would be done or achieved.

We in Thornton-in-Craven, as a parish are one of the villages on the border of Craven and it has been the opinion of the parish council, that we have not received some services from Craven District Council we ought to have had on a regular basis.

These are - road sweeping and footpath cleaning and in spring, spraying to eliminate weeds on the sides of footpaths.

In the past we have been able to thank a minority of residents who kindly did these jobs. However at the meeting, I discussed these matters with Rachel Mann, and was informed "leave it with me".

Obviously the lady's words resulted in action. In mid-December the footpaths were swept and the day after the road sweeper swept the roads.

This made the village look better, and, as we are one of the first villages travellers pass through into Craven, having pride in our village, we want to give a good impression.

May we on behalf of the villagers say, thank you.

SG Magee,

Boothbridge Lane,

Thornton-in-Craven.

Profit comes first

SIR - Thank you for your splendid editorial regarding the Post Office and Craven Herald name changes. The former is, as you say, ridiculous, the latter not even worth the quoted pint.

Your sentiments encapsulate so many concerns that officialdom rules and revels in calculatingly confusing the customer.

In the last four decades we have witnessed the rationalisation, centralisation, privatisation of our national assets, resulting in decline both nationally and internationally.

The privatised national monopolies, all of whom assure us they are "putting customers first" actually expect us to believe them, when all that really matters are the shareholders' dividends and "fat cat" bonuses.

The "sale" of British Water, Gas, Electricity and Railways was probably the biggest con trick of all time; by selling customers what already belonged to them and the nation in the first place.

There can be no doubt that this pandering to greed has been a contributory factor in our lack of initiative and mutual responsibility.

Septuagenarians and elders all remember the time when loyalty and duty were demanded of us, no questions asked, or answers expected. We are however grateful to have survived to enjoy the benefits of our modern society but please leave us the Craven Herald and Pioneer.

David Hoyle,

Skipton Road, Foulridge.

Sad farewell

SIR - I would like to express my thanks to Janet and Brian Pawson for the excellent service they have provided here in Gargrave running the village store so successfully over the last 23 years, and my regret that the shop had to close.

The shop was a focal point for the villagers and Janet could always be relied upon if help was needed.

Over the years she initiated and gave support to numerous charities and local good causes.

The shop will be greatly missed by its local customers and by the hundreds of visitors who appreciated the personal service provided by the Pawsons. I know everyone wishes them well in their retirement and we hope it will be a long and happy one.

Christine Baldwin,

High Street, Gargrave.

Gumption

SIR- I don't know if Coun Doyle's idea of making Newmarket Street one way will work (Craven Herald January 19) but I applaud him for at least having the gumption to try something.

I suppose opposition was raised when places like Coach Street and Otley Street were made one way but who in their right mind would revert to two way traffic here.

Newmarket Street corner is highly dangerous and pedestrians are badly served here. Yet I would imagine that more pedestrians use the street than cars.As Coun Doyle pointed out, if it doesn't work then it can be scrapped but it's about time something was tried.

S Dobson,

Keighley Road, Skipton.

Support for doctor

SIR - I am writing about the incident concerning Dr White.

He has been our family doctor since he came to Skipton and we have the greatest respect for him.

Last Easter I lost my husband and, for the last three years of his illness, no-one could have given me more help and support than Dr White did.

He is a kind, considerate and very caring and I am sure a lot of his patients will agree with me that he was the perfect gentleman and doctor.

Mrs E Cox,

Aldersley Avenue,

Skipton.

Unkind cuts

SIR - I was amazed to read in the Craven Herald that the Council is to consider an application to prune the lime trees in the High Street to facilitate the use of the CCTV cameras. What next - the fronts of the buildings to be painted white to aid the light for film quality?

This kind of equipment should be as unobtrusive as possible and should certainly accommodate the existing environment. Technology should be our servant, not our master.

I hope that the more sensible councillors will express their disapproval at such nonsense and concentrate their efforts on getting a more environmentally-friendly solution: police officers on the beat.

Miss JM Robinson,

Pasture Road, Embsay,

College grants

SIR - I am writing in response to the letter from Janet Clarke in last week's edition of the Craven Herald.

The Individual Learning Account (ILA) has recently undergone change, with some inevitable confusing messages being passed on to colleges and students in the process.

Originally a local authority scheme, the ILA is now administered from a central body, with new rules and regulations.

Janet Clarke, contrary to comments in her letter, was given all the advice available to Craven College at the time when she applied for her ILA under the new system. It is very unfortunate that her chosen course was not eligible under the new ILA system's rules and regulations, a matter beyond the control of the college.

Confusion also exists because a number of Janet Clarke's fellow students hold existing local authority ILAs, still valid for current courses under the old system.

Finally, I would like to add that ILAs provide positive opportunities for widening access to education, by helping towards the cost of certain course fees.

Craven College is committed to providing accessible further and higher education in the area and anyone wishing to find out more is encouraged to call Craven College on 01756 791411.

Martin Williamson,

Marketing manager,

Craven College, Skipton.

Village hall reply

SIR - Dean Smith's letter of January 5, in which he accused me of having misled the villagers of Cowling, is full of inaccuracies. He would seem to be trying to discredit me as chairman of the project group, as he did with the previous chairman of the Steering Group.

However, I would like to remind him that I was elected chairman on the basis of my impartiality and non-membership of any of the village societies and groups.

Minutes have been taken at every open meeting concerning the development of the new Community Centre and at no point have I personally informed Cowling villagers that the new venture would be funded 100 percent by outside bodies without any need for fundraising within the village.

Advice on funding on each occasion has always been given by a representative of the Yorkshire Rural Community Council, who has been invited for this specific purpose. She may have mentioned full funding but she has always discussed the need for fundraising by residents of the village as proof of their commitment to the idea of a new community centre.

As I mentioned in my previous letter, the project group has visited many village halls and has tried to learn from the experiences of their management teams.

I can assure Dean Smith and his anonymous supporters that the architects were fully briefed before they drew up the plans and we are still having regular meetings with them. We have agreed with them that the new community centre will be built in three stages as the funding becomes available.

If Dean Smith came along to the project group's meetings, he would know the answer to his questions. The hall can be used for other purposes, eg wedding receptions, fetes, discos, in addition to drama productions, whereas we are hoping to lease the IT lab to Craven College or Community Education to run computer courses.

The Regen Centre at Riccall, which we visited last Sunday, seemed to be an example of best practice. It is run by a manager and volunteers and the cafe is not staffed but has drinks machines, except when specific groups hire it and staff it themselves.

The business plan will be ready this week, as we are due to send off our first major bid to the Arts Lottery Board this weekend. We shall then place a copy of the business plan in Cowling Library for everyone to have an opportunity to read. Perhaps then Dean Smith and his anonymous ratepayers will acknowledge the hard work and dedication members of the project group have contributed.

County Coun Irene Greaves,

Chairman,

Cowling Community Centre Project Group.

Town hall drawback

SIR - I was very pleased to see the review of the Chilingirian String Quartet and all the monthly Skipton Music Society reviews printed in your paper.

I must point out that it really is not remarkable for a world famous quartet to be in Skipton. For 54 years Skipton Music Society has been presenting artists of this standard and we intend to continue for the foreseeable future.

There are a great many music lovers in Craven who attend classical concerts during the winter months and know that national and internationally renowned performers are happy to come to Skipton.

We are considered one of the most prestigious music societies in the country by these very same artists.

The only way to increase audience sizes is to provide more user friendly facilities - the Town Hall was excellent 50 years ago and could be again if modernised.

Live music making is thriving in places with comfortable, clean, updated venues. We "oldies" will accept the Town Hall for what it is - but to expect younger people to come into a 1950s environment, I think not.

It really is a problem that will not go away and will require a lot of courage (and money) to improve the situation. I wish it would be in my lifetime!

Bunty Leder,

Grassington.

Fringe issues

SIR - I noted recently in the Craven Herald the inclusion of a "rallying call" to encourage hunt supporters to attend a march promoting their leisure pursuit in the face of Labour proposals to outlaw this sport.

The banning of fox hunting is often opposed as being in violation of an individual's rights to indulge in this hobby, I say hobby because the hunting of foxes on horseback with a dog pack is by no means an efficient way of controlling the fox population. This is merely a smoke screen to defend a cruel, elitist status symbol, some hunts actively rear foxes for hunting where the local population is low.

The fox has become a scapegoat for the ritualised form of bloodletting we see practised by the ruling classes; no amount of pseudo-rationalising of the issue can disguise the core theme; that these people enjoy the thrill of pursuing and killing a wild animal.

Finally I would like to point out that there are far more potent and real threats to rural life than the poor old fox.

Who amongst the population which would include themselves as being concerned about "country life" have ever raised a finger to halt self serving government policies such as the enforced introduction and heavy policing of GM crop sites? Or the planning and building of new roads through green belt areas, even those that may bear the coveted "Site of Special Scientific Interest badge"?

It seems to me that the majority of "country people" have no desire to defend the environment; rather their agenda is to promote fringe issues like the dubious "benefits" of foxhunting as a means to preserve a ritual that satisfies a taste for cruelty.

Jeremy Blackwell,

Hobside lane, Todmorden.

Good response

SIR - How grateful we are to your readers for responding to my earlier letter with regard to donation of a Winter Fuel allowance towards the caring work of the Salvation Army this winter.

We have received many donations from people as a direct result of this letter and would want to say thank you to everyone who kindly gave in this way. The generosity of people is overwhelming and it is thanks to them that we are able to bring warmth and friendship into the lives of people who are lonely, miserable and facing hardship this winter.

Martin Wileman,

Divisional director,

Salvation Army,

Cadman Court, Leeds.