Tax bill 'bumf' is waste of paper

While it is no doubt necessary for us to be informed of where our money is being spent, I would have thought this could be shown much more efficiently on a single sheet of plain A4 paper rather than these flashy notes.

The same week these were sent out cuts in council support for some bus services were announced. Is this best use of public money?

The cost of these leaflets is three fold, firstly in their material and production; secondly the cost of their distribution; and thirdly the cost of disposal in the form of land fill tax. Ultimately all of these will go into the council's own blue bins and as such should be made as cheaply as possible.

At a time when council tax payers are being charged more and more each year and waste recycling is a major contributing factor to the increases, it seems hypercritical of the council to be wasting money and resources designing, producing and printing such extravagances, whilst moaning on about the cost of meeting recycling targets and making cost savings.

If Craven District and County Councils expect the residents and businesses to continue paying out year on year whilst suffering cuts in council spending they need to practice what they preach and lead by example.

Michael Bewes,

Burnside Avenue, Skipton.

SIR - I was very pleased to see Abu Musa's contribution to the "God Slot" (March 17).

We owe Muslims a debt of gratitude for helping to give religion a central place in national and local debate once more. While there are plenty of dangers lurking below the surface in discussions between members of the world's two most missionary religions, there are many riches to be had as well.

First, we need to be properly informed about each other's beliefs and not make claims we cannot substantiate. I am, to be honest, rather troubled by some of the author's misunderstandings about what Christians believe.

Like Islam, Christianity is a way of life and not merely a moralistic code. Abu Musa points towards the ideal of Islam, a society which is totally Muslim and ruled no doubt by Shariah Law.

I write on St Patrick's Day, a day when we remember how St Patrick way back in the 5th century, took a shamrock to teach the Irish from this three-in-one leaf that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and yet He is One. Christians do not worship three separate Gods as Muslims claim. I presume this is what Abu Musa means by referring to "God's partners".

The Triune God has been the Christian experience from the very beginning. The Triune God is closer to us than the vein in our neck, to illustrate with a quotation from the Qu'ran (surah 50).

Moreover, Christians, contrary to what Abu Musa states, do not "worship" Mary and the saints. Veneration and honour are not worship. Christians believe that the community of saints in heaven and on earth are one.

One of the most serious charges Muslims have made against the Bible is one of error. Abu Musa, for example, writes about the errors human hands have put into "God's words", no doubt referring to the parts of the Bible which undermine the claims of Islam. Muslims and Christians both describe their Scriptures as God's word. There the similarity ends.

Whereas the Bible has been subjected to the most thorough scholarly criticism since the 18th century, it is forbidden to subject the Qu'ran to the same intense scrutiny. It was some 200 years after Mohammed before his words were written down into what became the Qu'ran. Was there not some considerable disagreement amongst Islamic scholars as to what exactly his words were?

What can be testified on the other hand, is that complete manuscripts of the Greek New Testament are still in existence and there are no fundamental disagreements between them.

What puzzles me is that no Arabic version of the New Testament was in existence at the time of Mohammed for him to consult, so how come the charge of "error"?

As for the Old Testament, we have no reason to doubt the authenticity of the manuscripts upon which our modern translations are based. That authenticity has been further endorsed by discoveries amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls and amongst more recent Middle Eastern finds.

Why does Abu Musa refer to the Bible at all, when to him, its witness to God's Truth is unreliable? Does Abu Musa really believe, as he says he does, in the miracles of Jesus? Has Abu Musa got an "uncorrupted" version of the Bible? If so, where from?

I'm sorry Abu Musa and other Muslim friends cannot agree that it is good "to make a joyful noise unto the Lord" (from several Psalms). I do not play a musical instrument, nor am I into hand-clapping or dancing down the aisle, but I do enjoy singing to the Lord hymns and psalms as fervently and joyfully as I can.

Kathleen Kinder,

Station Road, Giggleswick.

SIR - In last week's Craven Herald you published a Public Notice from North Yorkshire County Council to the effect that Bareshaw Bridge (Woodside Lane Cononley) will be closed for a period of 12 weeks in a six months window to allow the bridge to be strengthened.

What an absolute waste of money.

This work will no doubt cost many thousands of our money, either council tax or income tax, and for what purpose.

The reason that this bridge is to be strengthened arises from a European Directive to allow goods vehicles of up to 77 tonnes to use our roads

Woodside Lane is already a dangerous road and over used by an ever increasing volume of larger and larger vehicles. Even a casual inspection of the road shows numerous areas where vehicles already have to use the verges or ditches having been squeezed off the highway. The last thing which we need is even larger vehicles.

Not only is the bridge not strong enough, the road itself along many stretches is not good or safe enough for even the present weight and volume of traffic. The solution is simple: there should be a weight limit along the whole length of the road which could be achieved for the cost of a few signs.

Malcolm Wiseman,

Netherghyll Lane

Cononley.

SIR - On March 20 at approximately 3pm, the metal post outside number 28 Duke Street, Settle, was demolished once again by a passing truck.

But this time the post was hit so hard that the pavement around the area erupted and the post was in the middle of the road. The truck in question did not stop or even slow down. Had someone been nearby they could have been injured by the flying debris.

In the last 15 months the post has been knocked down at least five times at cost to the council tax payers of Settle.

It never costs the drivers anything. They never stop or report the damage, they just carry on their merry way.

It's about time some drivers were fined to pay for the replacement of the post and repair of the pavement each time they demolish it. Then they might think twice about doing it in future.

The problem of trucks in Settle has caused a long running dispute between those for and those against.

With threats of violence and unspeakable things being put through letterboxes of those foolhardy enough to speak out against the trucks. What happened to democracy and free speech?

Unfortunately it is going to take someone getting killed or a major crash before anything is done about the lorries in settle. I just hope no one does get killed.

Name and address supplied,

Settle.

SIR - I read in last week's Craven Herald of the success of Ermysted's Grammar School pupils in the National Mock Trial competition, on which I congratulate them.

I then notice that they won the Bradford and Keighley event.

Last time I looked, Ermysted's was quite firmly in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Has there been a boundary change of which I am unaware or is this perhaps a reflection of the area from which Skipton's grammar school now draws its pupils?

Frances Sample,

Midland Terrace, Hellifield.

SIR - How stupidly inefficient some of our county council's work gets done (or not, in the case of Selside) did not come out clearly in your otherwise excellent article on traffic calming in our village.

For years, our democratically elected representatives on the county council's Area Committee had kept money aside for this particular project. All last year, we were in contact with Highways to work out how best to proceed. And now, without so much as a courtesy phone call or e-mail, local residents are told, via the Craven Herald, that "the money ... was no longer available".

At the same time, Horton-in-Ribblesdale Parish Council was informed that there weren't enough accidents in Selside. Yet, right through the last 18 months we have been sending accident reports including photographs to Highways.

Only last Sunday there was yet another collision here, photos of which we sent to the Craven Herald as Highways clearly took no notice of them.

We are now writing to our county councillor, David Heather, in the hope that he will use his good offices at Area Committee to re-instate the project forthwith.

It does not bear thinking about how much of the project money has been wasted so far by our county council doing little or nothing and how much time and effort has been expended by police and ambulance on totally avoidable accidents.

Spending a little on making Selside safer now would save emergency services a great deal more money and make the lives of road-users and local residents safer and more pleasant.

Wilf Fenten

Selside.

SIR - I was in the Royal Navy before the war on leave in 1939 and I went to the Imp in Nelson for an evening's dancing.

At the pay office I was welcomed and informed that I was not required to pay an entrance fee as it was management policy to allow servicemen in uniform free entry.

My service pay at that time was two shillings a day so I was very pleased to accept. A kind person offered me a lift back to Barnoldswick, so I was a very happy laddie that evening.

Eric Tucker,

Neville Crescent, Gargrave.

SIR - I had a very worrying experience whilst shopping in Morrisons on Saturday.

About 12.30 as I was going through the checkout I was enchanted by a large gentleman cooing over a young child in his trolley. What a lovely picture it presented.

However when he had passed through the checkout two young boys were waiting for him and, for whatever reason, this large gentleman began to shout at one of the boys.

I, as a middle-aged woman some feet away, felt threatened by his tone and the way in which he bent over the child and proceeded to shout right in his face. The actions were totally uncalled for. I know that I should have protested but the size of the man and his demeanour was frightening.

The child he was chastising must have been petrified but after this he still kept trying to speak to the man ( his father or grandfather or stepfather or uncle?) - and please him only to be met with silence or a raised voice.

The Government is currently looking at legislation against smacking children but how can mental cruelty like this be legislated against? I wish that I had been with one of my well built sons-in-law as I would then have felt brave enough to tackle this man.

How easy was it for this man who must have been almost 6 feet tall and weighing in excess of 14 stones to abuse this child? If he was faced with another man of the same proportions I dare say that his attitude would change dramatically.

I know that shopping with children is stressful but as adults we should be able to deal with the situation without resorting to what amount to mental abuse. Deal with the situation or make other arrangements for children to be cared for whilst you are shopping.

Surely I am not the only person who is upset by such scenes.

Perhaps this 'gentleman' recognises himself and feels a little ashamed. I hope so, but doubt it. Anyone who abuses children in this manner does not feel that it is wrong.

Put yourself in the child's shoes, with a giant in your face shouting and admonishing you without you being able to defend yourself. It would be very frightening and degrading wouldn't it?

I do not believe in violence in any form but sometimes, just sometimes, I would like some people to be given a taste of their own medicine.

I feel guilty for not intervening and I hope that when it happens again, as it surely will, I have the strength of character to speak up. However, I must also consider that my intervention might make the situation worse for the child.

Mrs Peggy Turpin,

Burnside Avenue, Skipton.

SIR - I am the owner and builder who is converting the abattoir in Cross Hills and would like to put a few facts straight.

Coun Nicholson says we have lifted the height of the roof by 1.1 metres. This should be 0.7 meters.

It is also stated the impact on nearby properties - this should be property as the owner of the rear yard has no complaints at all and cannot understand why the planning committee has not been in touch.

Coun English is reported to say "If we are making decisions that are being ignored we may as well go home". What about the professional planning officers who work five days a week in the planning office? They are not shopkeepers, work in textiles or housewives and they have approved the plans from day one - are they to go home as well?

Coun Turner is reported to say "If we say no to planning permission that should be it". Is she saying there should be no resubmitted plans - if so she would be out of a job because I would have thought 50 per cent of plans were resubmitted.

I would like to know how some firms can build three storey houses with two storey plans and get complimented for it. I put new plans in for less than 0.5, get a write up in the local paper. Perhaps it's because I am a small firm and they have to show their power.

I have had my own building firm for more than 25 years and hope to retire from it in two years time, so after that the committee can stick their plans where the sun doesn't shine.

CJ Manditsch,

Old Hall Farm, Glusburn.

SIR - I am writing to inform you of the success of this year's Keighley and Skipton Charity Ball held at the Rendezvous hotel.

The evening was a huge success, everyone had a wonderful time and we raised a total of more than £16,250 for the Keighley and Skipton NSPCC which is an absolutely fantastic amount for our dedicated but small committee.

I would personally like to thank all our sponsors and supporters for their generosity and the committee for their hard work. The money raised will help to promote awareness for the terrible tragedy that is child cruelty in this country from which, unbelievably, children are still suffering.

Alyson Robinson,

Chairman,

Keighley and Skipton NSPCC,

Rivock Avenue, Steeton.

SIR - Ken Luty wishes to thank his supporters for the strong personal vote he received in the Upper Wharfedale by-election for Craven District Council.

The opposing party majority was reduced from 247 to 68.

Ken Luty,

Independent candidate,

Old Hall Croft, Threshfield.

SIR - Could you kindly mention that the venue for meetings of the Craven Naturalists and Scientific Association is now the Swadford Centre, Swadford Street, Skipton.

This will include the association's annual general meeting which will be held there next Monday, March 27 at 7.30pm.

Barbara Martin,

Secretary

Craven Naturalists,

Church Croft, Gargrave.