Letters to the Editor

The race will take place on August Bank Holiday Sunday, and is run (or in most cases walked) from Cowling, through Cross Hills, Eastburn and on to Sutton in Craven, visiting the hostelries en-route.

Over the years the many people taking part have helped to raise thousands of pounds for worthy charities, such as MS and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. To this end, we are inviting suggestions of worthy causes and charities which deserve our support. Please put your ideas or suggestions in writing to: The Great Pram Race 2005, c/o The Old White Bear, 6 Keighley Road, Cross Hills, Keighley BD20 7RN.

STEPHEN NAYLOR (organising committee)

Sir - I refer to the article regarding the application for the footpath adjacent to Dean's Laithe.

As a keen walker I enjoy not only long distance walks but also local walks around the footpaths of Keighley. I was therefore very disturbed to see that not only has the route of the footpath (allegedly) been altered to accommodate the needs of Skipton Properties, but now the occupant of one of these houses wants to build over it. It is a public footpath, which means that the public in general have the right to walk along it regardless of how many other paths there are in the vicinity.

This is a new development, so presumably the gentleman in question knew about the footpath when he bought the property. If he did not want to live beside what he claims to be such a dangerous footpath why did he buy a house next to it? How is it that no-one has previously felt the need to close this path because it is dangerous to use? Perhaps it was not perceived to be so before this development took place.

It is important that these town footpaths are kept intact as they provide such an insight into the history of the town, and this one should not be allowed to be closed simply because an individual wants to extend his property.

S Raven

Aireville Close

Keighley

SIR - It is quite clear from the letter you published last week from Mr Blair's representative in Keighley that she can not defend her own voting record in Parliament on this issue so she resorts to a series of personal attacks on me and seeks to lie about my Party's policies.

I drew attention to her failure to support a change in the law which would have afforded householders additional legal protection should we discover that a criminal had invaded our homes and we were forced to defend ourselves. Mr. Blair's representative says she believes that the existing law is "adequate". Well, she may be happy with "adequate" for the people of our constituency and our country -- I am not, and neither are the people I meet on the doorsteps.

I doubt Mr Blair would be surprised in the slightest to hear his MP in Keighley described as his "representative". After all, in January it was reported that Mr Blair had telephoned her to promise additional support in her fight to keep hold of her seat at the General Election. Somehow I doubt that he would make such calls unless there was something in it for him, like having an MP who supports him in over 96 per cent of all votes that she takes part in, in Parliament.

Most dishonestly, Mr Blair's MP claims that if elected the Conservatives would cut the number of police officers. Quite the opposite. We will provide West Yorkshire with over 1,500 additional police officers because we recognise they are desperately needed to help win the war on crime and drugs. We have set out quite openly how our spending priorities in this area, and others like health and education, will be paid for. The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies has examined our plans and confirmed that the sums do add up.

Karl Poulsen.

Conservative Parliamentary

Candidate for Keighley

SIR - A number of letters in the Keighley News of late are rather worrying. It seems that there are still people in Keighley who do not understand the nature of the BNP.

For example our anonymous student (who is obviously not studying politics) talks about freedom of expression and human rights, whilst Mr Hickman mentions democracy and free speech.

The BNP is an extremist party, out with the normal party system, concepts like democracy, human rights and freedom of speech (remember they tried to ban the Keighley News) are foreign to them. A recent item from the BNP website might be of interest, in it they stated that they were the party of the white majority. It would seem therefore that they do not support democracy (for everyone) human rights (for everyone) and freedom of speech (for everyone).

There seems to be a view from some correspondents that we should not criticise the BNP or question their existence, "give them a chance" appears to be the idea. I don't want to give them a chance. They want division and fear in our town, I don't. If BNP supporters can't take criticism, as President Trueman said, "If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen".

Incidentally, if our anonymous student is studying politics he might like to ask why the third choice Tory candidate is so silent on the BNP. Also if our anonymous student and Mr Hickman are hoping for a public meeting where the Labour Party shares a platform with the BNP, I fear they will be disappointed. The Labour Party does not share platforms with the BNP.

Trevor Lindley

Far Slack Farm

Stanbury

SIR - I read with interest letters in last week's KN questioning why the mainstream parties are not prepared to allow their candidates to debate the issues at the forthcoming General Election in open forum with the BNP candidate.

Clearly, I cannot speak for the Liberal Democrats (have they selected a candidate yet?) or the Labour Party. However, Keighley Conservatives would relish any opportunity for open debate between the candidates at the General Election. We look forward to demonstrating how Mr Blair and his candidate here in Keighley have presided over soaring levels of violence, crime, bureaucracy, waste, tax and cruelly betrayed the trust placed in them in 1997 and 2001

We look forward to showing how the Conservatives will deliver more police; clean hospitals; school discipline; lower taxes and value for money; and controlled and lower immigration.

The General Election here in Keighley will be won by either Mr Blair's candidate or the Conservatives. A vote for any other party will simply ensure that we have four more years of Mr Blair's talk, spin and deceit.

There is nothing to fear from debate.

Gerry Yates

Chairman

Keighley & Ilkley

Conservative Association

SIR - I am writing to appeal to your readers for their help in obtaining some information which I need in order to complete a family history which I am doing.

Does anyone have any information about a place just outside Haworth, known as 'Scartop Lodge'? It was a hunting lodge, and I would appreciate information about that era and also of what it was before then. I am also after information on the surrounding hamlets and villages. Was there an orphanage nearby, or even a workhouse from where children were sent to work in a mill? If so what were the names of these places and which mill would have been nearest to there that used shuttles and looms?

I am also interested in any folklore or legends or even facts regarding witchcraft in that region around the 17th/18th century, as I have been told that one of my ancestors was burned at the stake in that area.

If any of your readers can help, can they please send information to me.

DAWN LOCKWOOD

High Street, Steeton.

SIR - I was shocked to read the front page article about the Salvation Army appealing for food stuffs as it distributes "40 desperately needed parcels a week to families".

Shocked because like many of my friends we have heard Mr Blair and his representatives here in Keighley say "Britain is Working". Well, your story illustrates that statement isn't true. It appears to me that the motto of Mr Blair and his Party is, "say it often enough and people will believe you" - well we are starting to catch on.

Clearly, all the extra taxes I have paid since 1997 haven't gone to providing a hand up for those less fortunate than myself. No doubt they have been used to employ some more bureaucrats to nanny us some more.

A STABLES

Wheathead Drive,

Keighley

SIR - Reading the front page of the Keighley News this week.

I was devastated for the Mayor and her appeal; Shivered with Neil and those horrific arctic conditions. I ran for the "Yellow Pages" and looked under "WeightWatchers" after Sonia and Mark ate lettuce for three months.

Anxiety set in after reading about the surgery which has an electronic prescription service, how long will it be before my surgery follows?

Anyway, flickering through the pages, my eye caught the headline "Prison for man after sex attack on young girl". I read on to the disbelief of the sentence the judge gave for such a horrific, life ruining crime to such a young girl.

Then I started to realise to him it wasn't such a horrific crime. Why else would he give such a lenient sentence? Maybe there wasn't enough public pressure on him to give a more deserving sentence? Maybe, just maybe, the public didn't know of this crime, as I haven't noticed reports of this hideous crime until today. Why?

With such a misjustice to this young girl and her family, and their futures, it only deserved reporting on page seven?

The media is the voice of the people of every kind, not just for the politically correct, and certainly not for the "single minded do gooders".

Maybe, you the editor are out of your depth only reporting this outrage on page seven, and should go for a job at "The Beano"! and, maybe the judge can come along to keep you company! There you both can make as many misjudgements as you like only affecting "Beano" readers, oops sorry you've already done that!

MR FLAHERTY

High Cote, Riddlesden

PS. I wonder if I'll see this article in the "Editors letters" next week, but on your past performance it won't deserve it, and will end up in the obituaries.

Editor's note: I am always delighted to receive reader feedback. I don't know if this reader noticed the story was on the front page of the Keighley Target. If the reader would like to call me I'll give a full explanation of how the story selection process works. I also hope he will answer my question about a possible hidden agenda.

SIR - Malcolm Bingham of the Freight Transport Association doth protest too much. He tells us there is no question of "concreting all over Britain". At present the land take for all roads in the UK is tiny - less than two per cent.

He has clearly been stung by some criticism, and although he does not live locally he chooses to make his protest in our newspaper. I wonder why. How many other local papers has he hijacked for his public relations effort? Bit of an own goal, really, Malcolm.

It prompted me to take a look at the figure he mentions. Incredibly that tiny two per cent of UK land mass represents an area equal to the combined counties of Northampton and Cheshire. And he wants more! Another one per cent, Mr Bingham? Certainly, which county would you like us to tarmac over? Gloucestershire perhaps, Lancashire?

I put it to you, Mr Bingham, that your hideously powerful road lobby already has access to quite enough of our green and pleasant land. Were I not convinced that your real and only motivation is to make money for you and your shareholders I would invite you to join in a debate designed to "increased comfort and security and a better lifestyle" by finding ways to reduce the flow of goods being trucked all over the country (and the globe) and to find sustainable local supply chains for the bulk of our needs.

But obviously that wouldn't suit lorry owners.

George Speller

Hill Top Road

Hainworth