Letters to the Editor

The "mini-gritter and snow plough" seen clearing pavements was a revelation never seen elsewhere and much admired.

The gritting lorry was even seen around 3.30am spreading our road (admittedly a bus route), and the fact that at no time did the snow prove a problem on roads or pavements speaks volumes for the efforts of those involved.

It did actually make us wonder why so many local schools had to close, when getting around did not seem to be a problem.

MRS GILL DAMEN

Broadlands

Shann Park

Keighley

SIR - All around the world (thank goodness) there are lots of caring people who give their time, money and some even risk their lives trying to save animals from terrible cruelty.

On the other hand there are cowardly scum who think it's fun to put fear into small animals and hunt them down to a cruel death.

Don't they realise how pathetic and ugly they look? To me they come across as a mob of demented clowns from the medieval ages.

After the ban let's hope these clowns of a bygone age fade away and their children grow up normal, instead of thinking it's "big" to kill a small animal.

It's up to the general public to report any act of cruelty to the police, especially if they think the hunting ban law is being broken.

"Master of the Hounds", more like pathetic, sadistic coward.

S MOSS

2003 Supporter

International Fund for

Animal Welfare,

Thornhill Avenue,

Oakworth

SIR - I was sorry to read on the letter page (KN 26.2.05) about the vandalisation to Cllr Angela Clarke's home.

Having met Angela a short time ago, I found her to be one brave young woman, with both guts and determination.

This sort of mindless act will only serve to give more strength to the BNP cause along with the silly letter from George Spellor.

I really wonder if Mr Spellor realises that Nick Griffin looks on course to pick up a large share of the votes at the general election.

Does he and others like him realise that there is a possibility that Mr Griffin could even win? Whatever happens, Nick Griffin will have a strong bearing on who is Keighley's next MP by standing as a candidate.

You ignore the BNP Mr Spellor at your peril, but do you not think that it would be better to challenge head on with a sane, sensible and credible alternative, instead of writing nonsense?

Many will watch and listen to political broadcasts and debates, even the parties they do not propose to support, in order to form opinions. The KN has titled your letter correctly Mr Spellor, "Kettle Protest", and that is what it amounts to.

R P BEALE

Higher Row,

Hainworth Shaw,

Keighley

Sir - I have a great idea, an alternative one to George Speller's ill thought-out proposal of putting the kettle on and watching the National Grid flutter while BNP chairman Nick Griffin's party political broadcast is aired.

Mr Speller's suggestion of putting our fingers in our ears and singing La, La, La will not cancel out the truth.

Why not give democracy and free speech a try?

What about an open forum with chairman Nick Griffin, Ann Cryer MP and a few other political pundits to question the BNP chairman on its manifesto?

What are Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats afraid of?

Instead of using the politics of lies, fear and propaganda about the BNP, I have a novel idea, let the people listen to ALL the arguments from all sides and make up their own minds.

Or, as I suspect, they know that their own arguments and policies will not stand up to close scrutiny and, therefore, will continue to use the politics of lies and fear about others, rather than address their own inadequacies.

R HICKMAN

Craven Road

Keighley

Sir - Roads congestion is getting worse and worse. In particular, lack of space on our motorways is causing delays for car drivers and lorry operators, wasting billions of man hours and billions of pounds -- over £300 per year for every man, woman and child in our population.

It is a senseless waste. The Chancellor tells us that he is to grow the economy by over 3 per cent per year, and that will be welcomed by most of us, providing, as it will, increased comfort and security and a better lifestyle.

But the inevitable consequence of that growth is the increased movement of goods and people. No country in the world has achieved economic growth without generating more traffic.

Sadly the Government seems blind to this and is not presently prepared to invest in a road-building programme that will give us a network fit for the purpose of moving the world's fourth largest economy.

If ever there was a case for spending money in order to save money then this is it.

There is no question of "concreting all over Britain". At present the land take for all roads in the UK is tiny -- less than 2 per cent.

Widening motorways to deal with our current and future needs would create only a minute increase. The UK is, and will continue to be, green for grass, not black for tarmac.

But if we leave things much longer then congestion will grind us to a halt, wasting money, delaying people and deliveries, and amounting to an environmental problem in itself.

Common sense says that we must properly look at 21st century transport and travel needs. Building ourselves an adequate motorway network is part of that.

Let's get on with it.

Malcolm Bingham

North East Regional Policy Manager,

Freight Transport Association,

Springwood House,

Low Lane,

Horsforth

SIR - As a student at Keighley College studying citizenship and along with the other students -- of whom over 50 per cent are Asian - we are looking forward to being in a position to hear, at first hand, the political proposals from all the local candidates and a question and answering session at the conclusion.

With a general election being imminent, this is an important part of our tuition, as from it we can understand more fully the logic and reasonings applied by our democratic parliamentary system.

As an institution of learning it has to be able to provide and understand the teaching of all persuasions without censorship.

The BNP candidate is a free member of Britain who is entitled to his human rights and freedom of expression to the same degree as afforded to any and all people, including other political candidates.

It is then for the people of this town and country to listen and decide, then vote as they freely want to do, without intimidation, redress or exclusion by institutes of learning or politicians without a mandate to do so.

Have we not seen a Labour candidate singing the praises of Sadam Hussain? How many people has he killed in his own country and in what macabre ways did he do it? Who will say these persons should not be heard?

No sir, not for one moment has DEMOCRACY been seen, but we have seen how people can become bigoted in their views and fear relinquishment of their power, to the degree that they will use any and all methods to keep at the top. This time a home goal has been scored.

Perhaps we have learned more of the truth than we should have about this free democratic Britain we all live in.

NAME AND ADDRESS

SUPPLIED

Sir - I refer to the third choice Tory candidate's letter of last week.

I am sure that it will come as a great surprise to the Prime Minister for me to be described as his "representative", especially as I opposed the Government on all the six occasions where MPs were given the chance to vote on the war in Iraq.

Indeed, I have no hesitation in opposing the Government when I believe that the interests of the people of Keighley are best served.

I was chosen by them and not the Prime Minister. This, I think, is the difference. I represent the people of Keighley and the third choice Tory candidate is a slave to the diktats of Tory Central Office, in London.

It is quite clear that the Tories, devoid of anything constructive at all to say, are relying on instilling fear into people.

It is shameful for a political party and candidate to, on the one hand, suggest that they are tough on crime (referring to an issue where existing legislation is more than adequate) while, on the other, proposing sweeping cuts in public spending that would result in a reduction in police officers and the capability of the police to tackle crime.

The maths are simple. If the Tories are given the chance to implement the cuts they are proposing, crime will increase.

I am proud of the fact that I represent a constituency that has benefited from low unemployment, low inflation, low interest rates and investment in health, education and police over the last eight years, and I am committed to ensure that it continues to prosper.

ANN CRYER MP

SIR - We are sorry that your reader is saddened to learn that the town council, in partnership with the area committee and Keighley in Bloom, and with the blessing of the Royal British Legion, is considering some form of fencing around the war memorial.

We want to allay Mr Robinson's fears that these proud men can be remembered in peace.

It is with them in mind that the town council and others want to protect this magnificent memorial from future damage, not just by skateboarders but by BMX riders and others.

It is 80 years since the war memorial was erected and it now requires urgent attention to protect it for a further 80 years.

The monument will be cleaned and refurbished to its former glory and any fencing to be erected to protect it will be sympathetically chosen and will have the blessing of the Royal British Legion.

With regard to the town council providing a skateboard park, we are working again in partnership with sportKeighley and Prime Movers to do just that, so that our young people will have a suitable place to practice their sport.

MRS M E BAILEY

Keighley Town

Clerk/Administrator

Sir - I write with concern following last week's article regarding the illegal slaughtering of animals in the Ilkley area.

The opening statement tells us that "shops in Keighley were supplied with meat from a filthy illegal slaughterhouse" but you fail to mention in the outset that this disgusting, cruel, unlicensed operation was only carrying out halal killing.

I speak on behalf of all the local independent butchers -- we are most concerned regarding practices such as this.

Hygiene and animal welfare are paramount to food safety, that is why our suppliers are licensed and all slaughtering is carried out humanely and inspected by veterinary surgeons, plus meat inspectors -- these being under the control of the Meat Hygiene Service, the regulatory body of the meat industry.

We in this area are very fortunate to have excellent producers and suppliers of meat from GATE TO PLATE and we have every confidence in providing only the best for our customer.

MICHAEL WARD

National Federation

of Meat and Food Traders