Letters to the Editor

SIR - Your report on the charge of £12.30 for an answer to a question about the existence of a public highway makes one wonder how long it will be before we are asked to pay for any enquiry we may make in the reference library or for the emptying of our bins - or even for each book we borrow.

There might be a case for a full blooded pay-as-you-go local service, though I doubt if the public would stomach it.

What is certainly not acceptable, however, is that we should pay for the people who carry out this work through our council taxes and then pay additionally for the work they do for us.

A deep malaise seems to have afflicted Bradford Council, which needs to get its act together if it is to justify its existence as a Metropolitan District and to provide the benefits which a large local authority ought to provide.

The latest information which shows Bradford in 146th place out of 148 local education authorities is a symptom of something seriously wrong and which should be put right at every level.

There is one more point which borough treasurers never fail to make when it suits them. How much does it cost to prepare a bill in the sort of case quoted, to post it, to check its receipt and to process it through the system?

I pay each year, on demand, the sum of £10 for a right to use a pathway, but my request that it should be done by standing order has received no response.

There is enough evidence, overall, to justify a thorough investigation of the way our council is run.

FRANK PEDLEY,

Low Bank Lane,

Oakworth.

SIR - Sheer mindless vandalism - when will it ever stop?

Three weeks ago I was a passenger, along with my husband and a lady friend, coming back to Keighley from Bradford on the 9.15pm bus, Saturday eve.

When the bus was approaching East Riddlesden Hall the driver had to stop the bus. We heard a loud crack. Some hooligan, for want of a better word, had hurled something at the bus and smashed the windscreen on the driver's side.

Now come on all you vandals - hooligans - have some respect, this was one of Keighley's new Star buses.

Then the other day, I had just walked down Ingrow Lane after finishing my morning domestic shift at Ingrow Green, when coming past NSF reception entrance I see the vandals have been at it again, smashing the glass windows. Don't they ever think about what they are doing?

The bus driver could have been injured, even killed. The bus could have been involved in a serious crash and all because some mindless ****** whanged something at the bus without thinking what he was doing.

I'm sure I don't know when it's all going to stop but I know this, if I was ever on a jury service when any culprit was caught I'd have a say in having them locked away for all damage done, and for a long time.

MARGARET STORTON,

Prince Street, Haworth.

SIR - I would be grateful for the opportunity to add my comments to those of numerous other correspondents regarding Councillor Christopher Atkinson. Like Paul Bromley, I have always found Cllr Atkinson to be unfailingly courteous, professional and compassionate in all of the dealings I have had with him.

His work as a councillor is exemplary and an inspiration to every one of us privileged enough to know him through Silsden Parish Council.

As has been noted elsewhere, the Christopher Atkinson described in some reports is certainly not the person I have come to know, and respect.

There is no-one I regard more highly than Cllr Atkinson and I hope it will reassure him to know that this is not only my opinion.

I have lost count of the number of compliments I have received about his actions and behaviour, primarily in his capacity as a very effective councillor, but also as a true friend and neighbour to many local people.

Much of what is good in Silsden arises as a direct result of the actions and activities of Chris Atkinson, and I sincerely hope that he continues to serve the community and Silsden Parish Council for many years to come.

I accept that I may not 'appeal' to many people, but I would like to appeal to Chris Atkinson. Please Chris, continue to do what you have done so well and for so long.

The people of Silsden would be a lot worse off had you never served them in the way that you have, and the whole community has benefited from your kindness, wisdom and compassion. It is appreciated and needed in the future.

GEOFF WHITTAKER,

Hainsworth Road, Silsden.

SIR - Re your report in the Keighley News regarding Mr C Atkinson.

I think it was disgusting. There is no-one in Silsden who has done more for the old people on Gloucester Avenue than him and maybe a lot more in Silsden. But it's always the same if you are a Cobbydaler, you are the lowest of the low and it's always the offcumden ones who get all the praise.

I was born in Silsden, in the becks as it was called then, and I'm proud of it.

You cannot find anyone who would help anybody more than Chris Atkinson. I for one am proud to know him, so he wants to put all this trouble behind him.

EMMIE HARDING HILL,

Silsden.

SIR - I am a volunteer with the Keighley Join Group. On Sunday, December 10, volunteers and members of the Join Group did a sponsored walk around the ground of Keighley Rugby League Football Club and also had a bucket collection for funds at half-time.

May I, through your columns, thank all members of Keighley Rugby League Football Club for allowing us to carry out this event. We were very well received by all members of the Club we met. A very big thank you to them.

But even more so may I thank all the people in the ground who very kindly and so generously contributed to our collection. The response was absolutely marvellous and all the members of Join can't thank you enough for responding so magnificently.

We collected in the region of £100, and on behalf of Sonia Knight, who is our leader, I do assure people who so kindly contributed that the money will be well spent on behalf of those people with learning difficulties.

The money collected helps these people to go out to places of interest, to see pantomimes, and also to buy useful equipment which helps them to experience life more fully.

It is all part of their ongoing education to help them to lead a more normal life and to mix with ordinary members of the public.

Once more, from all members of Join Group, a very big thank you for giving so much with such kindness and generosity.

D LIGHTBOWN,

Westgate Gardens, Keighley.

SIR - MCC Auto Centres is not a 'car firm' but a business carrying out repairs and servicing, in many ways not dissimilar activities to those carried out by AG Autopoint.

Should councillors with a vested interest comment on the activities of a competitor?

Councillor Mallinson cannot view MCC's entrance on Worth Way from his auto business around the corner.

However, Cllr Mallinson has on occasion used MCC's services and has used the very entrance he claims no-one turns into.

Planning for this entrance was passed three years ago and the developer paid at that time for the road markings.

Most of MCC's customers use this entrance from Worth Way. Without this entrance our business in Keighley would not be viable and up to ten jobs would be lost.

It is not appropriate for Cllr Mallinson to comment on which access roads our customers use. Both Marley Street and Waddington Street are often completely blocked by lorries delivering to the same engineering firms in the warren of streets he mentions in the article.

The fears and concerns regarding fire engines, ambulances and 40 tonne lorries and rush hour traffic expressed by Cllr Mallinson and Cllr Miller affect their business equally if not more, as it is situated on the same road - albeit around the bend in a more congested area.

Surely the provision of road hatching and traffic calming measures would be a positive step not a negative one.

Perhaps the two councillors are more interested in stopping our access from Worth Way entirely, rather than expressing genuine concern about traffic dangers. I wonder why?

JOHN A EDWARDS,

MD, Co SEC, AE,

MCC Auto Centres,

Keighley.

SIR - I have just sent a letter of complaint to the chief executive at Airedale General Hospital, and I would like to find out if any of your readers have experienced the same problem that I have encountered.

My doctor referred me to AGH with an acute back problem. On August 15 I was examined by the back specialist Mr Ravindran, who sent me to make an appointment for a CT scan.

I was told the waiting time for a CT scan was 14 weeks. At the time I thought it was a ridiculous time to have to wait, but there was nothing I could do about it.

After 12 weeks (just two weeks to go) and having heard nothing from the hospital, I contacted them only to be told "the waiting time is now 16 weeks". After another two weeks (just two weeks to go) I again contacted the hospital only to be told "the waiting time for a CT scan is now 21 weeks".

I pointed out that it would then be January 9, 2001, but was then told "I'm not promising we'll be able to see you in January". This has now gone from the ridiculous to the sublime.

I have made enquiries at Bradford Royal Infirmary and the waiting time for non urgent CT scans is seven weeks, and the waiting time for non urgent CT scans at Lancaster Royal Infirmary is six to eight weeks. Both hospitals were horrified when I told them the waiting time at AGH is six months.

It would seem quite obvious that the CT scan department at AGH has no system whatsoever when it comes to making appointments and seems to work in a completely haphazard way.

Either that or the waiting time is deliberately being extended to make people pay, over and above the money they have paid to the National Health, for their treatment.

If any of your readers have similar experiences to this, would they let me know at 3 Coppy Road, Steeton, BD20 6PJ Tel 653657. Perhaps, through sheer weight of number, we may be able to get rid of some of the useless executives who make all the decisions, and get them replaced with what we need, ie doctors, nurses, porters, cleaners and other staff without whom the hospital could not function.

LESLIE H HOWARD,

Coppy Road, Steeton.

SIR - Your article 'New Year hope on relief road' quoted a piece of newspeak worthy of George Orwell's Nineteen-Eighty-Four.

If Chris Leslie MP really said that tree felling is 'tidying up', I suggest his New Year resolution should be to learn to call things by their correct names.

Misleading euphemisms might be useful for some purposes, such as furthering political ambitions, but for most ends they are quite ineffective.

For example, clever words will not help control the natural elements.

Recent flooding ought to remind us that it is time to start treating the natural environment with respect. What hope is there for international agreements protecting the climate from instability caused by deforestation and atmospheric carbon release, if politicians do not say what they mean even to their own people?

The roadbuilding policies of Mr Leslie's government are becoming increasingly indistinguishable from those of the corrupt Conservative administration they replaced.

They are about as cogent as a drunk who thinks that another little tipple will make him sober. The next thing after the Bingley relief road is built will be the discovery that it has made traffic worse in Keighley, and a push for a new relief road here.

What has happened to the integrated transport policy we heard so much of at the last General Election?

DR N A ANDREWS,

John Street,

Oakworth.

SIR - We have all read and listened to stories about how our local hospitals and clinics have struggled to deal with 'winter pressures'.

Often it seems that it is older people who bear the brunt of long trolley waits, cancelled operations, and overstays in hospitals.

Age Concern would be interested to hear from any older person who has already experienced the NHS during the difficult winter months - either this year or last year.

This would help us immensely in our work to improve the NHS and to ensure that it learns from the experiences of older people.

Experiences might include being unable to leave hospital because care at home has not been organised; having an operation cancelled due to a lack of beds; or being kept waiting for a long time in Accident and Emergency.

Anyone interested in sharing their experiences and views should write to Katey Karam, Public Affairs Department, AGe Concern England, 1268 London, Lond Road, London Sw16 4ER.

KATEY KARAM,

Public Affairs,

Age Concern.

SIR - Having studied the plans for the proposed Cowling village hall we are in agreement with Mrs Tindale (letter 8/12/00) that this project is far and away too elaborate for a village hall. It is more suited for a small town such as Barnoldswick.

However, more information has surfaced since Mrs Tindale's letter was written. At the parish council meeting on Monday 4/12/00 the chairman stated that this building was for the use of the whole of the South Craven area.

If this is the case then the building should be erected at Cross Hills, which is the centre of the South Craven area. Accordingly, if it's for use by all parishes then it should be funded by Craven District Council not by Cowling alone.

The second point the chairman admitted to was that of the 300 signatures, a large number were not Cowling ratepayers but outsiders and youngsters who would, if things go wrong, have no financial liability.

Perhaps those from outside the village could get their own parish councils to donate a handsome amount to the project and they themselves could do some fundraising! We doubt if either will be forthcoming.

Since Mrs Tindale's letter some costs have been mooted for this building. Between £1.2 and £1.6 million, and we do not know if this includes furnishings and equipment.

The Project Committee is already in debt to Skipton Building Society to the tune of £200,000 for the site, and how long will Skipton Building Society hold this money remains to be seen.

Now we come to the Grant Aid. At a public meeting held in St Andrew's Church hall on 2/12/98 County Councillor Irene Greaves told the meeting that the whole project could be fully financed by Grant Aid from various sources.

It was pointed out to her that a good proportion of the total cost had to be raised by local subscription, or events. This was admitted 12 months later in the August Cowling Newsletter.

If the project is ever completed then there come the running costs, which will have to be financed by the users of the hall (not from the Parish Precept). Just to list a few of these cost: A caretaker (9am-10pm) 6 days a week at £3.60 an hour = £14,601; a daily cleaner 2 hours a day at £3.60 = £2,246.

Then we come to rates, staffing a cafe (many hours a week if it is to pay its way), electric, gas and water charges and these could be considerable if the 'halls' are to be fully used.

Insurance will be another big item in view of there being 12 computers, storage space for Youth Club and Pinnacle Players, nursery equipment and props (fire risk). Then the normal maintenance of computers and equipment in public use. How will anyone be able to afford to hire these halls and rooms?

May we suggest that the project committee starts afresh by going and looking at other village halls which would be ideal for Cowling, eg Cracoe, Bradley, Bolton Abbey, Addingham.

Without being too ambitious there 'could' be more chance of getting grants and it would be a true village hall for Cowling.

DEAN SMITH

in collaboration with

many Cowling ratepayers,

Walton Street, Cowling.