Letters to the Editor

As an old fashioned, retired nurse I have to disagree with the PS in his letter.

Every time I have to visit in the hospital I am disgusted at the state of the corridors and wards as I think they are not thoroughly cleaned. I worked at Airedale Hospital one-and-a-half years after it opened and the corridors gleamed and you could have eaten your food off the floor (though nobody would want to). The cleaning staff were under the control of the ward sister and to me things were very good then. Maybe it is time to look at some of the good old things that were done in the past instead of some of the new fangled ideas.

Of course, there were more nurses and cleaners then and people had time to wash their hands properly. We all worked as a team and took pride in our work and workplace.

ALISON K INGLIS

Elmore Terrace, Cross Hills.

SIR - In the Airedale Master Plan there seems to be a mixture of good ideas and daft dreams.

It is good to have a discussion that raises aspirations. It reminds us that we don't always have to live with the ex-manufacturing small- town lifestyle, we can have better educational facilities even though we are not a university town, and we can have some sort of long-term planning that goes beyond the Keighley-Bradford tension.

It is good that the environment came out as first priority in the public consultations, and the planners have taken up suggestions to enhance the Worth and the North Beck as amenities and as flood-plains. Good ideas too on cycle tracks, Park-and-Ride, and preventing the Asda supermarket. There is quite a lot here that is Green.

But the new hotel and health spa (what are they on?) sits on the tree-lined North Street without generating any extra road traffic. Like Wetherspoons, it seems to expect its patrons to walk. Lawkholme motor traffic, already unsatisfactory, will be virtually locked in. The workers of the future will commute to the continent, returning via Leeds-Bradford airport by taking trains, first to Guiseley, then to Shipley, then to Keighley. A world-leading centre of technical know-how will arise in a place that has not yet become even a national centre. Above all, there is the outdated reliance on putting public money into private projects to take advantage of economic growth, which is assumed to go on for ever, despite the relentless globalisation, decline in manufacturing, and rising energy costs.

We have yet to see any cost-benefitanalysis to justify putting public money into the hotel, the technical college move, the airport railway, the broadband conversions, or the misnamed "digital" centre. I hope that will be a requirement even for projects endorsed by Cllr Cooke and his sparkling team. And that reminds me: Keighley News, please tell us how much this Plan has cost.

Michael Yaffey,

Keighley Green Party

Editor's note:- The cost of the "plan" -- £475,000 -- has been published repeatedly in the Keighley News, the last time being March 11.

SIR -I read with interest the report on this plan, but regretted I had not been aware of the "launch" at Dalton Mills - was it publicised to local residents, or solely for dignitaries?

The local transport services are, in my opinion, already very good. The electric trains are amongst the most modern in the UK, but we all know those to Carlisle or More-cambe let the side down. I have written to Ann Cryer expressing concern about intended Government plans to reduce the means whereby local people can raise matters of transport interest - the proposal is to abolish Rail Passengers Committees; Mrs Cryer has said she has a great deal of sympathy with these concerns.

The proposed link to LBA and new station at Utley reinforce the need for improved public transport links; I am a car owner and motorist of nearly 40 years standing, but use public transport in preference to the car whenever possible. But I am aghast at comments about Keighley station - yes, it needs much better housekeeping than the weekly (?) visit by a litter picker -- how long will the latest re-painting in selected areas keep clean? But the historic character of the booking hall and frontage must not be wiped away like so many other local buildings -- just look at the facade of the beautiful Cycling Club in Cave-ndish Street for example. Do our Council planners care nothing for the image of their town?

I am also horrified at the suggested change of name for Keighley Library, to that of "Knowledge Exchange". Who are the faceless idiots who dream up such meaningless titles for our well established institutions? Do we really need to demolish shops in Cavendish Street to build a multi-screen cinema when we have a well adapted vintage cinema already? Do those residents who work hard to produce real life performances at the Playhouse want it to become an "art-house cinema"? Could the appalling 60s architecture of the town centre College really be adapted to become a hotel that visitors would want to stay in?

And finally, do the Queen's Buildings need to be demolished at the corner of Dalton Lane when perhaps the frontage at least could be incorporated into the new College, thus retaining something of the town's history?

Brian Ward

Broadlands, Shann Park

Sir - I was heartened by KN's leader headline: "Truth not fear must be victor in general election" but as I read on I was disappointed to find that KN was actually supporting the call for the BNP to be given a platform in Keighley.

What an insult to the people of the town, including those in legitimate political parties, who have already told the BNP to clear out.

I think you are right to be concerned about the BNP causing trouble. Wherever they become active the incidence of racial attacks increases.

Trouble is central to their politics: like Mussolini, Hitler and Franco the BNP use fear and violence as a means to an end. However, I don't agree with your view that the election of two BNP councillors in the district gives that party any legitimacy to put forward racist and fascist views, I don't think views and policies driven by hatred can ever be legitimate.

The reason why Griffin and his band of thugs do not deserve a platform is precisely because their views are utterly "despicable". When a party defines Britishness as whites only and advocates "resettlement" for those who don't fit this description they forfeit any rights to stand alongside decent people.

Their views are a direct assault on people and democracy. We don't need to have Griffin sharing a platform in Keighley or anywhere else to find out about their abhorrent policies.

R Thorp

Highfield

SIR - Was I the only reader to notice, in the letter from the spokesman for the Freight Transport Association, that the thing he was complaining about most loudly -- road congestion -- was precisely his own organisation's policy?

If his members had not blocked the roads a few years ago in their protest against taxes, we would not have such a problem now.

We might not even have had Blair and Bush's Oil War either. Unpopular though that undoubtedly still is, it looks set merely to dent Mr Blair's majority, whereas a small increase in the price of petrol almost cost him his job. He has reason to be more frightened of Malcolm Bingham's army than he was of Saddam Hussain's.

Does anyone remember Labour's transport policy of 1997, with its promise to reduce traffic congestion and promote public transport? If so, they might not be surprised that the party debate in KN letters now resembles a Punch and Judy show in which each puppet aims mud at the other, while spectators shout encouragement.

N A Andrews

Paros, Greece

SIR - I write with regard to the growing threat of extreme nationalism from the BNP and from those who want to treat them like any other party.

All forms of extremism, whether religious or political, only result in division and unrest. This universe has not been created for the benefit of a class, section or individual. I am not arguing that groups should not be critical of each other as all conflict is not bad.

It is not even desirable to abolish conflicts; conflict conducted in a decent and responsible manner is essential to any form of progress, whether in knowledge, in ideas, or in material things. Competition, as is said, is the child of progress.

We must try to bring to politics what many of us believe as a religious conviction, which is that, for all of our differences that make life more interesting, our common humanity is more important and we ought to organise our lives around it.

Isn't it ironic that we talk about sequencing the human genome in a world where the biggest problem is the oldest element of human society? We still are afraid of people who are different from us. And it's a short step from fear to dislike, to hatred, to dehumanisation, to death. Let us come to our senses and act responsibly.

Mujeeb Rahman

Ahmadiyya Muslim

Association

Shann Avenue,

Keighley

SIR - I was surprised to see a letter from Gary Waller in last week's Keighley News. One appearance in the Keighley News in eight years - about the same commitment as when he was the MP.

His letter came from his London address. Probably the same one he used when he was the MP. I look forward to next week's barrel scraping from Keighley Conservatives when I anticipate a letter from Lord Lucan highlighting his commitment to Keighley.

SANDRA HAIGH

West Lane, Haworth.

SIR - I wholeheartedly agree with Gary Waller. Ann Cryer should not refer to the Conservative candidate as "third choice".

First came Robert Collinson (a law lecturer from Chorley), followed by Mohammed Riaz, Anne Hawkesworth and then Andrew Mallinson. Finally, the Conservatives fifth choice candidate was selected - someone who fought the election in Tynemouth in 2001.

This simply reflects the Conservative commitment to Keighley

CAROLYN LOWING

Broomfield Street, Keighley

SIR - I know from reading successive issues of the KN how all traditional political parties have condemned the extremism of the BNP.

We do, however, live in a democracy and as a voter I should have the opportunity to see the candidates who are seeking my support, debate the issues of the day and understand how they could help our country.

Both Mr Poulsen and Mrs Cryer seem confident that they have the best solutions for our problems. Even the BNP leader admits that he will not win here in Keighley.

It is clear that the General Election in Keighley is a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives.

Perhaps Mrs Cryer's decision to rule out a debate between the candidates is because she is frightened of the Conservatives and how hard they are working. I have already received numerous letters, leaflets and phone calls from the Conservatives in the last six months or so, far more than I have had from Labour.

This seems to mirror the national picture. I have read that Mr Blair has refused to take part in a campaign debate with the leaders of the Conservative and Liberal parties. Is this further evidence that Mrs Cryer is Mr Blair's representative in Keighley?

P BARKER

Sun Street, Eastburn.

SIR - I enjoyed reading in last week's KN about the efforts of local people, young and old, in raising money for Comic Relief.

I am sure the vast majority of us feel that it is a great cause and are pleased that Keighley played its part. Those of us who saw the films about where the money has been spent in the UK and Africa will no doubt have been moved and inspired.

I am afraid, however, that not everyone feels this way. I thought it worth bringing to your readers' attention a statement by BNP press officer 'Doc Edwards' which is to be found on their website.

He writes: "Then there's that hideous "Sir" Bob Geldoff and his Red Nose day, whipping up the population to cavort around in public, cadging money to pour down the black hole (in both the astrophysical as well as the literal sense) of Africa."

It appears that the BNP hanker after a society which has no place for compassionate people moved by the plight of others near and far.

What a bleak world that would be, and how bleak for all of us in Keighley if a party with such strange and heartless ideas were to meet with electoral success.

ANNA PRITCHARD

View Road,

Keighley