Letters To The Editor

Sir, - I am relieved that at last a parish councillor is prepared to support the architectural heritage campaign for the Coronation Hospital.

Councillor Kate Brown could also have explained that the application to have the 1905 building listed was made in March 2001, long before the hospital was under threat by Airedale NHS Trust and a year before the publication of the Ilkley Design Statement which has the support of our civic leaders and amenity groups.

It is interesting to know that the decision letter from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in London declared that the 1905 building is a 'pleasant example of an Edwardian style hospital' and that 'although of some local interest, Ilkley Coronation Hospital is not considered to be of sufficient architectural or historic interest, in a national context to merit listing'.

Well there you have it. London has decided it all for us and we should doff our flat caps. Or should we?

In the year that the IDS was launched this is a challenge which Ilkley should face up to. If we cannot protect and re-use a small building which is undoubtedly part of our architectural heritage then we cannot complain when trodden over by insensitive developers and disregarded by an uncaring health authority.

Christopher Clair

51 Bolling Road,

Ilkley.

Precept purpose

SIR, - I entirely agree with Victor M. Bean on the question of the Ilkley Parish Council precept. The fact that the parish council is appealing to organisations in Burley-in-Wharfedale to apply for grants seems to suggest that the precept is being raised before it is known what, if anything, needs to be done with it rather than as a way of meeting previously identified needs.

In other words, a few self-important councillors have taken advantage of an opportunity to appropriate council taxpayers' money and redistribute it to others as they see fit, with no evident purpose in mind other than merely to do so.

Mr Bean and, I think, Mr Schirn (in an earlier letter), have both pointed this out, and we should be grateful to them for this.

A D Inglis

62 Main Street,

Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Divided thoughts

SIR, - It was something of a surprise, if not a mild shock, to read in the Gazette of July 4 that we are being encouraged to join a sectarian group.

With recent race riots just over the hill from here and wars being fought in the name of religion in various parts of the world, I would have though that the 'buzz' words these days were 'inclusivity' not exclusivity, 'tolerance' not intolerance etc.

When schools are trying to address religion as a multi-faith subject, do we really want a local preacher proclaiming that 'There is only one way, Jesus himself said "I am the way", not a way, but the only way' and earlier, 'we have the other major religions... slowly but effectively eating into our Christian society... Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam etc'.

Those who know little on the subject may assume that it is only the packaging which is different and all roads lead to God - how wrong they are!!'

This just seems to me to be endorsing yet another division in what is already a divided world. By all means follow your chosen path, but please credit others with the wisdom to choose their own.

A thought from an Aboriginal elder - "Some of us seek a straight path, while others enjoy the wariness of making circles."

Yours, on a different path.

Catherine Griffett

Lyndhurst,

Denton Road,

Ben Rhydding,

Ilkley.

Empire building

SIR, - The world is in a funny state, but is that anything new? It is an old, old story about empires and what empires do, and finally how they come to a messy and sticky end.

Basically, some little lot gets some bright ideas about efficiency or war fighting. They do a bit of local conquering and squander all the local resources.

Having developed a desirable lifestyle, they are not willing to see it cancelled out by shortages so they grab some other, nearby resources. When those are also used up, they have to look a bit further so what we call an empire grows.

Bigger requires more resources ad infinitum, but as time goes on opposition to resource grabbing accelerates and soon the cost benefit also goes to infinity, as is currently the case.

Complex organisations may seem to be all-powerful but in fact are susceptible to massive disruption from quite minor interference. For example spreading a disease or a small gang of men with a big spanner.

Calling them unpleasant names is no defence. Counter measures may also suffer from intolerable cost benefit ratios.

The least painful escape for an empire is gentle dissolution.

William Boocock

17 Wheatley Lane,

Ben Rhydding,

Ilkley.

Two challenges

SIR, - Get in shape and feel good about yourself by signing up for one of two challenges in aid of Mencap, the UK's leading charity for children and adults with a learning disability.

The ten-day China bike ride in May/June 2003, offers men and women the chance to experience some of China's most beautiful and dramatic landscapes.

Pedal past cultivated fields, the tombs of the Ming emperors and through the beautiful Shidu Gogre on what promises to be an unforgettable adventure.

The Flora Light Fun Run is a girls-only event. Taking place on September 1 in London's Hyde Park, this three-mile run is perfect for anyone who's ever wanted to run a marathon without going the full 26.2 miles.

And if just the thought of running three miles leaves you puffing and panting, don't worry, you can take this marathon entirely at your own pace. Walk, skip or crawl it. Get your applications in now, closing date for entries is this Friday.

Experience all this while raising vital funds to help children and adults with a learning disability live better lives. For more information about either of these events, please call 0845 9777 779 or e-mail at (events@mencap.org.uk).

Anna Ryder-Richardson

Mencap.

New chimes

Sir, - How delightful it is to hear the bell on the new Middleton Lodge building chiming every three hours during the day. It was some time before we realised where the new sound was coming from, as the sound had not been heard on this side of town before. Are we witnessing history being made in Ilkley by having a bell chime on the north side of the river, or has there been one before?

Local historians may have an answer. Many thanks to the providers of the new bell and long may it bring its peaceful chimes.

M Braithwaite

Clifford Avenue,

Ilkley.

Parking ban

SIR, - I would like to say that I whole-heartedly support the suggestion that, 'All day' street parking in the centre of Ilkley be banned.

J C CHARLESWORTH

Annandale Court,

Ilkley.

SIR, - All-day parking in and around the centre of our town should be banned: the sooner the better!

Yours from across the parking roads.

Charles F Holmes

Wells Court,

Wells Promenade,

Ilkley.

Awards chance

Sir, - I would like to say how delighted I have been once again with the response from individuals in your area to the second stage of the Reading Families Millennium Award scheme. Last year we gave away grants totalling £320,000 to individuals who impressed the judges with their imaginative community reading project ideas.

We hope that many more of your readers will follow in their footsteps and contact us to apply for a Millennium Award of up to £3,000 in time for this year's closing date on September 2.

Millennium Awards is a unique programme of small grants which enable individual people across the UK to put their ideas into action, fulfilling a personal goal, in doing so, enriching their communities for the new millennium.

Winning projects funded so far have included: young offenders producing reading materials for their families; older people recording their life histories; Sudanese women producing a book of their own experiences and children writing a recipe book based on vegetables they have grown!

To apply for a Millennium Award, just call Annabel Amoh at the Campaign for learning on 020 7976 2011 for an application pack.

Susie Parsons

Chief Executive

Campaign for Learning