Letters to the Editor

SIR, - I see from the Gazette (September 29) that Addingham is too small a stage for the Addingham Parish Council.

They have unilaterally extended their parish boundary so as to include people living in the West Ward of Ilkley Parish - and to organise us so as to suit the convenience of some people who live in Addingham.

I refer to their suggestion that there should be no right turn from Skipton Road into Victoria Avenue, Ilkley, at the traffic lights.

Let me try to enlighten the Addingham Parish Council.

1. Their brief lies within Addingham Parish boundaries.

2. Ilkley's town road network starts at those lights. The A65 through Ilkley is not a fast-track for impatient drivers from elsewhere. Many drivers are exceeding the speed limit in both directions.

3. There is a considerable number of people living in West Ward of Ilkley close to those lights who could wish to turn right there.

4. Traffic at those lights is not at a consistently high level throughout the day. At times there can be few or even no vehicles on the A65 at the Victoria Avenue lights.

What some people are really complaining about, but cannot comprehend, is that the morning rush-hour traffic from Addingham direction into Ilkley coincides with children using the light-controlled pedestrian-crossing at Stockeld Road in order to cross Skipton Road safely from the Middleton side, and get to school.

During that time a long queue of waiting vehicles entering Ilkley extends from Stockeld Road well past Easby Drive and towards the Victoria Avenue lights.

5. There is a continuous increase in motor-traffic everywhere in the country, and all vehicles, including those travelling from Addingham, are part of that increase.

6. If the complainants from Addingham are driving to or through Ilkley in order to get to work, then they need to leave home in good time - even if it means getting out of bed earlier.

Other people all over the country have to get out earlier because of traffic. All are in the 'same boat'.

To Addingham Parish Council I say: "Think on 't".

EDWIN SCHIRN

Ilkley.

(Full address supplied).

Mr Wimp

SIR, - If that dog dirt counter does walk on Ilkley Moor with his eyes permanently fixed to the ground (Letters, September 29,) he will walk into something very unpleasant. He will more than likely end up to the neck in one of the bogs or dykes that cover the moor.

He obviously does not know the difference between dog muck and sheep droppings, as the moor is so huge and vast it is not easy to see anything that the dogs have left behind. Every path and byway on the moor have traces of sheep droppings along the way. There are more sheep than dogs.

I suspect that the moor is a much too wild and dangerous to venture and suggest that he should pick more refined and delicate places to go for a walk, then he would not be offended so much.

He should try living on a local farm for a bit, then he would realise just how healthy it is to live amongst muck and slush in the wild. He must also take full responsibility for his two children's terror and fear of dogs. Most kids love dogs; dogs are kids' best friends and love to play together.

However if he wants to pamper them and wrap them in cotton wool, please tell him to stop bleating on at the rest of society who obviously don't share his views.

Incidentally I know who Mr Wimp is as I have seen and met him on the moor when I have been walking my two black Labradors, very wet and friendly. So please tell his kids to stop screaming, even though we aresome distance off.

J C Perry

Owler Park Road,

Ilkley.

Dog lesson

SIR, - I think that Tarn-User should think very carefully before he dismisses dog owners in such a way (Letters, September 29).

Most dog owners are responsible, sensitive to other people around them. If they do own a dog that bites it will have a muzzle on it, be on a lead and under tight control.

No child should be terrified of dogs. It is obvious that he, Mr Tarn-User, has transmitted his own terror of dogs to his children. They should be taught to understand and appreciate dogs.

There is no better way for a child to learn about life than for them to own a dog, be responsible for their upkeep, feeding, welfare and exercise, leading to an understanding that they are solely responsible for the life of a living being that respects, appreciates and responds to their love.

Mr Durkin did not say that 95 per cent of Ilkley residents are dog owners but he did say that most people in Ilkley had pets and 95 per cent of the people liked dogs - which is an accepted national figure for tolerance to dogs and dog haters.

If Tarn-User feels so strongly about these things he should have the strength of character to put his name and address at the end of his letter, but seeing that he is living in amongst a bunch of dog lovers, he has to be discreet and careful.

P N BOOTH

Parish Ghyll Drive,

Ilkley.

Dog distress

SIR, - I think it must be me and my dog that Tarn-User has unfortunately met on the moor. The situation has caused me much upset and distress.

I was on the moor deep in meditation with my dog sat patiently alongside (I must add a fully-trained prize-winning obedience dog), when our peace was disturbed with this noisy family descending on the scene. My dog, eager to defend our space and search out what the problem was, completely spooked out when the person went into hysterics, with much waving of arms and kicking of feet.

This started the children screaming and yelling in an uncontrolled manner. Completely uncalled for.

If this had happened on a main road involving a horse instead of a dog it could have caused a serious accident.

These unconsidered remarks in a local newspaper have caused me and my family major distress.

MADELEINE JOHNSON

Market Square,

Yeadon.

Parking fine

SIR, - Having recently incurred a fine in the car park adjacent to Kwik-Save and the railway for exceeding (by 13 minutes) the time limit of two hours, I feel that the people of Ilkley should be made aware of the cost of such an infringement.

Although £60 is stated in small print on the walls of the car park, how many of us stop to read this? All the Ilkley people I have questioned were not aware of this amount and were quite shocked to hear of it. The amount of £60 is equivalent to a speeding fine and I was not endangering life and limb.

I noted last week that even in Bradford Royal Infirmary car park, the charge for exceeding the time limit was £50.

I was unable to ascertain the owners of the car park and the company imposing the fine, and was obliged to send my cheque to UK PAO Ltd, P.O. Box 569, Leeds. Why should we be forced into sending our money to an unknown company with no proper address or telephone number?

I feel that these conditions should be much more clearly visible to the users of this car park.

Mrs Mavis Wilson

10 Stamp Hill Close,

Addingham.

No better

SIR, - I am somewhat baffled by what the recent roadworks throughout Ilkley town centre are supposed to have achieved.

The changes have been in place for some time now, and from what I can work out all we have now is narrower roads with lots of humps sticking out into them.

I am sure these works were motivated by good intentions, but I cannot fathom what they were. Ilkley seems to be a more dangerous place than it was before - how does making the pavement stick out into the road do anything other than make it more dangerous?

On top of this, the hodge podge pavements of Brook Street now look an even bigger mess, with slabs of tarmac and concrete thrown haphazardly together.

I realise that Ilkley is a town destined to have traffic problems whatever we do, but I can't see how these changes are doing anything to alleviate the situation.

Name and address supplied

Ilkley.

No place for fish shop

SIR, - Not everyone would agree with Mr Wealdon and his friends who would like to see a fish restaurant on the banks of the River Wharfe. There are several good restaurants in the vicinity, including 'the world's most famous', which would have fish and chips on their menus.

The developers want to build much more than a restaurant. They want to develop the whole riverside, including other amenities of their own choosing, without reference to the residents of Ilkley, Ben Rhydding and Burley-in-Wharfedale and perhaps not necessarily with free access. I, for one, would not welcome a sports centre on that particular site. However, I do support sports centres and I have already suggested other sites in Ben Rhydding to the Parish Council.

It would also involve a large car park along the river bank for cars, minibuses and even coaches - and we all know that the narrow road on the A65 between Denton Bridge and the notorious Manor Park Bends could not cope with cars coming from east and west, then slowing down to turn across the flow of traffic into the car park.

Just across the road there is a Little Chef restaurant which has stood derelict for a couple of years now and is ripe for development. It is a large and pleasant site in an elevated position, which could be redeveloped into a fish restaurant and, from its higher position, would have a good view across the river.

The present riverside site is an eyesore but there are no irremovable buildings. The existing concrete bases could be easily removed. It would be nice to have a riverside park, within walking and cycling distance (no car park) on the Ben Rhydding side of Ilkley, where residents could enjoy family picnics.

The green lung between is valued by Ilkley, Ben Rhydding and Burley-in-Wharfedale. Once it is covered in concrete, it is gone forever.

I would prefer that Ilkley Parish Council and Bradford Council should decide how to improve the riverside area for the benefit of local residents. And yes. residents should have their say.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Ilkley.