People power pays off in planning

As a resident of the latter, I have to say that Otley still experiences the same ominous threat to its own 'special character', a character which is so visually evident in the town's distinctive buildings, streets, yards and green spaces, irrespective of the existence of a town council.

This is not to say that town councils are ineffective. Although the unhappy consequences of some speculative developers' schemes of recent years can be seen in Otley, several more have fortunately been scuppered. This was driven by the combined efforts of local groups, naturally including the town council but crucially including local people.

It is up to those who would be affected most by developments in their neighbourhood to take the initiative and alert whomever can balance the debate and ultimately determine planning applications.

For both Ilkley and Otley, planning applications are handled by a distant metropolitan council. It is however, a panel of councillors that determines applications, irrespective of wherever there is a parish or town council.

It is unfortunate that a panel of metropolitan councillors is likely to include few that know a town like Otley or Ilkley well enough to make objective decisions unless local people take part. The existence of a parish or town council can help, but only if local people do take part.

By the time a planning application is notified, a developer will at his leisure have quietly plotted his detailed strategy, assisted by paid professional experts who know well how to present a planning application that will win, probably against the wishes of those who must live with the aftermath.

Unless local people present their cases effectively in the short time available (often only 21 days), schemes for clearing sites of serviceable old buildings, or stripping them of attractive gardens then cramming the resulting gaps with mediocrity, will continue relentlessly.

Ian Andrew

Ramsey Terrace

Otley.

Hospital delight

SIR, - I am delighted that the Regional Health Executive has approved plans for a new hospital to be built on the site of the present Wharfedale Hospital.

Ever since I became the prospective Parliamentary candidate for this constituency, the people of Otley have raised their concerns over this issue more than any other. I know that for so many of them who rely on the hospital this decision will be a great comfort.

The Conservatives in Otley and Wharfedale, led by Councillor Clive Fox are pledged to do anything that we can to help to attract a private partner as soon as possible. Let us hope that now that plans have been approved, there will be no further delays and we will get the hospital that Otley so richly deserves.

Adam Pritchard

Prospective Conservative

Parliamentary Candidate,

Leeds NW

460A Roundhay Road,

Leeds.

Dirty old town

SIR, - It is with regret that I write this letter. I came to live in Otley 53 years ago and have been pleased to walk to shop. But not anymore.

My streets - East Chevin Road, Gay Lane, Bondgate and Charles Street - are filthy and I walk through the same rubbish, rotten paper, bottles, tins and dog faeces week after week.

Three of the streets have double yellow lines so parked cars are not a problem. In future, I shall drive to the clear environs of a supermarket. Leeds Metropolitan district with its expensive signs have little of which to be proud.

F Lofthouse (Mrs)

Forest Gate

Otley.

Names saved

SIR, - Following on the report headlined 'Town to lose historic link' in the Wharfedale Observer of January 4 (referring to the housing development of part of the Silver Cross and former Claughton's Boot Factory site), I would like to inform any interested readers of correspondence I have had with Bryant Homes.

I wrote a letter in December to inform them of the history of the site, and to suggest that the Claughton and Marsden names could be used for the street names of the new development.

I further suggested in the letters that remembering part of Guiseley's history in this way would be a fitting tribute, and also a gesture popular with the people of Guiseley, particularly in the current climate of frequent confrontation between developers and local residents in this region.

A couple of days ago, I received a letter from Bryant Homes, stating that the street names have already been registered, but that the luxury apartment blocks on the site will be named 'Marsden House' and 'Claughton House' following my suggestion.

ANDREW CLAUGHTON

14 Wynford Terrace,

West Park,

Bramhope.

Voting plea

SIR, - British politics needs a fundamental sea change to sweep away the three major parties, all of which offer the same Tory policies in different packaging.

Blair's failed policies on education, health, social welfare, the environment, crime and transport are compounded with sleaze and corruption which makes Conservatives look amateurs by comparison.

Since Blair took power, education is privatised and on a four-day week. Hospitals are dirty, have inadequate numbers of beds, nurses and doctors and waiting times are as long as ever. Violent crime has increased, 162 police stations closed, hundreds more had their operating hours reduced and we have 2,500 fewer policemen.

Blair made his first speech on the environment three years after being elected. And as for transport, the less said the better.

Labour's web of corruption is extensive. After tax avoiding and fraudster Ministers we now have policy made by those who can afford to pay for it. Of the three latest £2 million donors to Labour, two have been given peerages by Blair and the third, a committed Tory, awaits his reward in the next Honours List.

Are they philanthropists or manipulators of democracy for their own ends? Consider on, Lord Hamlyn. He a Dukedom from Thatcher. Does this sound like a man of principle who has the good of the country at heart? And then there is the Millennium Dome! Its current buyer, Legacy, donated £100,000 to New Labour before the bids were submitted. Does something smell?

Blair's unforgivable offence is his treachery and betrayal of those he was elected to represent. He is an insult to socialism and I appeal to all socialists to unite and throw him and his Tory cronies out.

To those who say that a vote for the Greens and left Alliance is a waste , may I remind them the most successful and prosperous country in Europe, Germany, is governed by a coalition of Greens and Social Democrats.

Also remember the Republic of Germany exported its monarchy to us where it has forever been a parasitic burden and upholder of the class system. If a socialist republic can work for them, it can work us.

Malcolm Naylor

21 Grange View,

Otley.

Happy dogs

SIR, - On behalf of all of us at the National Canine Defence League rehoming centre at Leeds, we would like to thank everyone who kindly sent us Christmas gifts and treats for the dogs to enjoy.

They were very gratefully received and it was because of these generous donations that we were able to make the festive season extra special for all the dogs in the centre.

Thanks again to all readers for their continued support and here's to a successful 2001.

Amanda Sands

Manager,

NCDL,

Leeds.

Fuel donations

SIR, - How very grateful we are to readers for responding to my letter with regard to Mr E's donation of his 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 the 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.

On behalf of those who will ultimately benefit from these gifts, may I thank you again and wish everyone prosperity and happiness in the New Year ahead.

Martin Wileman

Divisional director,

Public Relations,

The Salvation Army,

1 Cadman Court,

Hanley Road,

Morley,

Leeds.

BSE scandal

SIR, - Oh dear! We mustn't criticise the Tories too much - our 'wild assertions' are just not on.

Come off it Clive Fox (letters, January 11), BSE was an unprecedented bungle with 170,000 cows being infected, 4.7 million slaughtered and almost £5 billion paid to farmers and meat renderers in compensation and a thriving meat export industry destroyed - under the Tories.

The Phillips report lifted a few stones and we saw the dirt there is in politics but we also saw the shameful legacy of people who slept easily at night, ignoring the fact that their incompetence and arrogance or servitude to their paymasters put millions of fellow human beings at risk.

I note Tory politicians who were in power during the ten years from 1989 were queuing up with their excuses - I also note two ministers in Germany resigned over BSE in stark contrast to Tory Ministers Dorrel, MacGregor, Hogg, and Gummer who clung to office when the BSE crisis exploded.

Finally, I hope those with CJD and relatives get some recompense - I don't suppose those mentioned above will chip in, though. Who knows, they may make a New Year's resolution to do so.

F Dickinson

Larkfield Road

Rawdon.