Letters to the Editor

What brilliant scenery, with the special water feature -- and the uv scenes were amazing -- the technical production gets better every year.

After the loss of so many excellent characters last year, we were wondering how they would manage to replace them. But they have. And so well! Judging by the talent of the characters this year, the pantomime will continue for many years to come and we can't wait to see Sinbad the Sailor next year.

The residents of Oakworth should be proud of their young people (and the rest).

Well done to everyone involved, for a truly entertaining evening.

Val and Ken Hargreaves

Prospect Mount,

Keighley

SIR - I am writing to state the fact that March is National Veggie Month, supported by the organisation 'Animal Aid' and its under 16s group called 'Youth 4 Animals' and I believe that Keighley, as a community, should get more involved in helping cut down on animal cruelty.

Animal Aid was founded in January 1977 to work, by all peaceful means, for an end to animal cruelty. It is well respected by those who have heard of it and who share the same goals as them.

As I stated previously, next month is Veggie Month and I have great faith in the fact that if the residents of Keighley tried, they could play a large part in making it a success. Veggie Month is not just about not eating meat for only one month each year, but cutting down on meat from your diet starting at this month then carrying it on for the rest of your life.

On average, a meat eater consumes around 1,900 animals in their lifetime. Just saving one animal each week results in vast amounts being saved overall!

Also, every year thousands of animals are used in experiments to test cosmetics and toiletries. Doing these tests doesn't mean that the products are completely safe for us to use as the effects chemicals have on animals are completely different to the effects they have on humans.

If Keighley was to, as a community joined together, take advantage of Veggie Month by cutting down/giving up meat and using more/only cruelty free cosmetics, we would be setting an example for the future generations that a group of people can do something great together.

ROBYN HOLMES (age 12)

Ingrow Lane

Keighley

Sir - As a Riddlesden & Stockbridge Ward town councillor and someone who believes that things should be recorded accurately, I feel I must comment on both Cllr Greaves' and Cllr Startin's letters in the KN 24/02/06.

1:- Cllr Greaves said in the first paragraph of his letter that he did not intend to insult the Stockbridge area, and I believe that.

In his second paragraph he said he was not referring to local children, well! I was in attendance at the planning meeting that day and I distinctly heard Cllr Greaves say when referring to the proposed play area, "I can see every child on the street getting an ASBO". He was most definitely referring to local children and your editorial advice about engaging one's brain before opening one's mouth was very sound advice indeed. This is even more relevant when you consider that Casey's Play Area would have been on private land, with a management committee, and was for the use of children from toddler to 11 year old. If you were to take up Cllr Greaves' challenge to publish the Police report in full then I would ask you to bear in mind that age group.

2:- In Cllr Startin's letter and attempt to bash Bradford MDC's 'bogey man' David Samuels, Cllr Startin got his numbers wrong in relation to and the make up of the Keighley Area Planning Panel on the day (I did not see Cllr Startin at the meeting).

Cllr Startin states in his letter that the majority of the Bradford Councillors who decided the issue represent and live in Keighley. Well, I don't think so -- the result of the panel vote was as follows, Cllr Greaves, (chair) Wharfedale, against; Cllr Powell, Ilkley, against; Cllr Joyce, Keighley Central, against.

Cllr Rowen, Keighley West, in favour; Cllr Prestage, Keighley Central, in favour; Cllr Briggs, Baildon, in favour; the application was defeated on the casting vote of the chairman, Wharfedale, against.

No, I am sorry Cllr Startin, I cannot accept that the majority of Bradford Councillors on the Panel that day live in and/or represent Keighley parishioners. As far as I am aware, of the six councillors present on that day, only three represent Keighley, and only two live here.

Bob Horrell

Keighley Town Council

Riddlesden &

Stockbridge Ward

SIR - We were amazed to read in your paper last week that the Applegarth Club in Riddlesden has received planning permission for housing and a play area to be included on the site.

No questions asked about equipment, insurance, fencing etc.

We are pleased to hear that the children of Riddlesden are going to get another play area (one already in Granby Lane) and do not seem to be a threat to neighbours and will not get ASBOS for playing on such a site -- as will the children of the deprived area of Stockbridge.

THE BREWER FAMILY

Bradford Road

Stockbridge

SIR - Re letter of the week 17/2/06, I too remember going to see the whale.

I have always had a memory of my grandma taking me to see a whale and knowing its name was Jonah. But whenever I mentioned it, no-one else could recall this. As my grandma is no longer alive, I was starting to doubt my recollection of events.

I was so pleased to see the letter of the week and photo, exactly as I remembered it. The date also fits as I too would have been ten years old then.

At the time I wasn't sure whether I liked the show. On the one hand it was a chance to see something never seen at such close quarters, but as a child I felt sad for the whale, being paraded all over the UK.

I have cut out the letter and now know my memory does serve me well!

C M THOMAS

Ruth Street,

Cross Roads

SIR - Once again the recommendations of Mr Armitage in his Haworth travel plan are going to affect the locals of Haworth and add to the safety problems that already exist on Rawdon Road.

Does this man ever take into consideration the needs of the council tax paying people of Haworth, or is he only interested in the visitors who, after all, cause most of the traffic problems and a lot don't even expect to have to pay to park, including some coach drivers who park at the side of the roads when there is plenty of room in the car parks.

Apart from the kindness of Mr Evans, who allows people to park in his car park to take children to and from school, Rawdon Road is the only other place for them to park, and it is the only place they can park when visiting the school during the day or when picking children up for appointments.

Would it be fair to these local council tax paying people of Haworth to have to pay to park to visit their child's school? The answer is no. Would it be fair to Mr Evans to make his car park the only dropping off point and wouldn't it be taking advantage of his kindness?

I would urge the police and councillors to stop any parking meter proposals on the grounds of safety. Even more people would use the school entrance and car park as a dropping off point, and it would only be a matter of time before a child is knocked down.

Come on, let's make Haworth a place for the people of Haworth.

STEVE THORPE

Haworth

SIR - In response to Steve Hewitt's letter last week re Islam and its message of peace, I can understand how people get dismayed and worried when they see some Muslims acting with violence.

However, I think it is entirely shortsighted to attribute that to Islam. I too get dismayed when I see so-called devout Palestinian Muslims blowing up innocent Jews, or so-called devout Jewish leaders blowing up innocent Palestinians, or even so-called devout Christians like George W Bush killing 100,000 Iraqis.

But, in the latter example for instance, no matter how Bush may justify it, I will never bring myself to believe that a man as great as Jesus, who sacrificed every part of his life for his noble beliefs, would advocate the killing of 100,000 Iraqis in order to bring about peace. It is simply a contradiction in terms.

Thus, with the deepest respect to Mr Hewitt, yes we should be concerned when people use religion to justify their own selfish agendas, but do not attribute that to any of the major religions as you will always find that the holy books and founders of the great religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam etc, taught peace and tolerance.

Further, if Mr Hewitt is being fair, he should address all religious fanatics, not just those of one religion.

Yousef Walker

Addingham

(full address supplied)

Sir - I am trying to locate a man named Michael I Poskitt, whom I believe was from Keighley and may have relatives there. He was my partner in publishing my books and song albums.

I would appreciate it if anyone who may be able to help could get in touch.

I was stationed in Keighley in 1944 with the Royal Artillery and played the piano for 10 shillings a night at a pub, which I believe was called The Tavern.

GORDON GRAHAM

WALLEY

12515 Sunbird Lane,

Victorville, CA 92392-7482

e-mail gbwalley@verizon.net

SIR - I was very pleased to see the publicity you gave to the photographic competition run on behalf of the new Local Produce Shop that will be opening soon in North Street.

This will be a bigger, better and full-time version of the present successful, part-time one squeezed into The Conservatory in Spencer Street courtesy of the Keighley Healthy Living Project.

However, Bradford Council does not spearhead B-FIT as the article said -- B-FIT is an independent charity reliant on funding from various sources and is supported by volunteers and has never been directly funded by the Council.

The plans for a permanent shop site in Keighley have been on-going for some time. Members of B-FIT (Bradford Food Information Trust) have been working in partnership with other groups in the South Pennines and across Northern Europe on projects to help rural areas. Many of these areas, like Keighley and Bradford, are under pressure from urban sprawl and need help to become sustainable. The Local Produce Shop is one of the projects that can help with this.

Bradford Council supports this through Pennine Prospects, the new regeneration company that has been set up as part of the the Sustainable Open Space II project, funded by European money (Interreg 2b). The council lead the local partnership, originally headed by Les Morgan, a passionate supporter with a vision of the potential of the South Pennines before he died and now headed by Ann Atkins.

B-FIT has been lucky enough to share experiences with projects looking at landscape marketing of local produce from France, Holland and Germany as well as the UK.

We are very grateful for the support of the Keighley News as well as from our many customers, and look forward to welcoming you all to our new premises in a few weeks time when the photos will be on display.

Marion Pencavel

(B-FIT Trustee)

Hospital Road

Riddlesden

Editor's note:- Delighted to set the record straight and good luck for the future.

SIR - As you may be aware, the BNP Councillor Angela Clarke resigned following a fall-out within the BNP and a by-election has been called for March 23.

In the past I have stood as a candidate myself in Keighley West on the grounds that Keighley needs an independent voice to represent it in Bradford.

This time I have decided not to stand for two reasons. Firstly, Keighley has lived with the shame of being represented by the BNP for too long.

The BNP has done nothing for our town other than give us a bad name. This by-election gives us the chance to get rid of the BNP once and for all.

There is only one candidate who can realistically beat the BNP and that is the Labour candidate, Angela Sinfield.

Secondly, I know that Angela Sinfield would bring the independent voice Keighley needs. She is a local lass who knows Keighley and wants the best for our town. The BNP candidate lives in Scarborough!

I will be voting for Angela on Thursday, March 23, and I would -- for the sake of our town -- strongly urge everyone who lives in the Keighley West ward to do likewise.

BRIAN HUDSON

Bronte Drive

Oakworth