Letters to the Editor

SIR, - Your article on the Audit Commission report on cultural services last week (October 16) unfortunately missed one fundamental fact.

Last year in the full council assessment, the cultural services were given one star - fair - but viewed as having no chance of improvement. A radical shift in 12 months.

The report from the inspectors I consider fair and accurate, apart from one section - the part relevant to Ilkley. As the area-based items were included as experiments, they were brief, and, to my mind, inadequately researched. At the round table discussion with the inspectors, prior to publication, I made my views clear. To give the impression that the cultural life within Ilkley is poor is, in my view, inaccurate.

We have wonderful restaurants - a cultural experience in itself.

We have beautiful church buildings which provide venues for musical performances.

We have cultural groups, festivals, adequate halls for hiring, educational groups and amateur theatre groups - plus the Clarke Foley Centre. To say there is no theatrical training for the young is clearly inaccurate when there exists the wonderful Upstagers and the Amateurs, plus Ilkley Playhouse.

Not everything has to be provided by the council and here in Ilkley not everything is - nor indeed should it be.

The Audit Commission actually agrees with that statement. However, how many areas have a wonderful small Edwardian theatre such as the King's Hall?

Yes, admittedly as a ward councillor and portfolio holder, I know it needs improving. But this is happening at a steady pace, thanks to the efforts of the Friends and support of the community. Yes, Government inspectors and Mr Langan, I am suitably proud of our town and valley and we WILL make the facilities for the future.

Coun ANNE HAWKESWORTH

Ilkley.

Narrow view

SIR, - Re your front page report in last week's Gazette, 'Council criticised for lack of cultural facilities in Ilkley', it would seem that the Audit Commission Report (not yet received by Ilkley Parish Council) is concerned with the physical aspects of culture such as limited access, lack of maintenance of buildings, etc.

In this they may be correct but their restriction of the world 'culture' to this particular aspect is somewhat limited. Bradford Met lost out on its bid to become European City of Culture because 'culture' in its many forms had received a low funding priority from them over a number of years. Signs have begun to emerge that there may be a process of change in that attitude.

Indeed, all has not been doom and gloom in the past. Bradford Met has provided a certain amount of core funding for three of Ilkley's long established festivals - the recently renamed Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts, the Ilkley Literature Festival and the Ilkley Arts Festival - all of which, I am certain, are fully appreciative of Bradford Met's financial support.

The very varied Further Education programme supported by Bradford Met is a great credit to them.

Your report states: 'Inspectors recommend the council to carry out a wide ranging survey across the district on the cultural needs of all sections of the community'. I do not believe that it is the prerogative of a mamby pamby body, whether national or regional, to be the sole provider of local 'culture'.

Here in Ilkley we have a wealth of cultural activities, provided by groups and societies which have been in existence for decades and run by committees of dedicated enthusiasts. Readers of the Gazette's excellent entertainment pages over many years and of Ilkley's free monthly arts listings Go To It! are already well aware of the richness of Ilkley's arts scene.

The highly successful Ilkley Literature Festival has just finished. The Ilkley Arts Festival runs throughout November and anyone still unaware of the widely different cultural activities available in Ilkley is cordially invited to sample one of their lectures free of charge.

Leaflets for the Arts Festival are now readily available in the Library and Tourist Office. In addition the Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts Dance Championship is taking place on Saturday, November 22, at a new venue,

KEITH G HARTLEY

Chairman,

Ilkley and District

Arts Federation,

Future secure

SIR, - I refer to your recent report regarding the uncertainty about a number of Ilkley's historic sites. Whilst I am unable to comment on the future management of historic Bradford Council-owned buildings or Denton Hall, I can confirm that the future of Myddelton Lodge is very certain and confusion appears to have been created by the article.

I would also like to confirm that the Gazette has agreed that no negative inference should be taken from the article.

Major restoration works have been undertaken involving the planning authority, English Heritage and Bradford Council's conservation officer to secure the long-term future of this Grade I listed building. The Lodge is being brought back to life as a family home and whilst the early Victorian eastern wing has been sold, the building remains the same in terms of its historical structure.

English Heritage has recognised the efforts that have been made, and the Lodge has been removed from the 'at risk' register, which I would suggest is an important and positive milestone in the 'preservation' of one of Ilkley's historic buildings.

Bradford's conservation officer is also very pleased with the quality and extent of the work that has been undertaken, which again will give people confidence that the building's future is indeed secure.

MARK SAYER

Myddelton Lodge,

Langbar Road,

Ilkley.

Frustrated

SIR, - Yippee! Insurmountable road humps at Burley Woodhead, and now endless queues and traffic lights at Manor Park for the next three months.

What next - a moat and portcullis on the Denton/Askwith road? I remain your obedient, if somewhat frustrated servant.

THOMAS PARRY-JONES

Pendean, Mill View,

Burley-in-Wharfedale

Tax unfair

SIR, - I was interested to note your headline of last week which justifiably criticised the possibility of wind turbines on Ilkley Moor.

The very thought of this will fill any Wharfe Valley lover with horror. BUT why does no-one ever vocalise about that misinformed and deluded band of campaigners, The Burley Bridge Association, who seem hellbent on desecrating one of the most beautiful places on the River Wharfe, Leatherbank?

The proposed structure, which is ugly, and the site, which is inappropriate, would not only spoil this idyll but transgresses the wishes of landowners, local home owners, farmers and I am sure, the large majority of Burley residents who are not vocal in their disagreement. Only people who agree participate in surveys. The Burley Bridge Association members, who are mostly incomers to Burley or live outside the area, mistakenly believe that villagers want to cross the river.

Where would they go to anyway?. Does Burley really need a bridge and the inevitable cars looking for parking places? Why not leave moor and countryside in its natural glory without interference from man to sully its beauty?

Pat Asquith

West Terrace,

Burley in Wharfedale.

Small beer

SIR, - I read Paul Langan's report on wind farms with dismay. How are we going to deal with the world's problems with that sort of approach? Climate change is a serious matter which is going to cause all sorts of problems for us and particularly the Third World.

Wind farms are ugly, they do damage beautiful areas in which they are built but that is small beer along side the problems of climate change. They need to be built, they need to be spread around the country, and everywhere is in someone's back yard so he should stop whingeing and divert his energies into considering how their impact can be minimised and that we don't get more than our fair share of the things.

He also might spend a little time persuading people they really don't need 4x4s to take their child to the supermarket. And then he might spend time explaining the various ways that we could reduce our electricity consumption which, in turn, will reduce the need for wind farms.

And while he is at it he could tell councillor Greaves that it is not for John Prescott's benefit the view would be spoiled but for ours, our children and future generations.

CHRISTOPHER WILSON

High Mill,

Addingham.

Grateful

SIR, - Could I, through your newspaper, tell the residents of Ilkley how grateful I am for their help in answering the questionnaires which were part of my GCSE coursework about 'Tourism in Ilkley'. Everyone was very friendly and willing to give their opinions and I would like to express my thanks.

I would also like to thank the people involved in tourism in Ilkley who took time out for longer interviews and those who replied by letter. It has all been a great help to my GCSE work at Tong School.

JODIE PRICE

31 Woodrow Drive,

Bradford.

Accidents waiting to happen

SIR, - Previous correspondents have pointed out that both the single lane section at Ben Rhydding Railway Bridge, and the new built-out kerb in the downhill direction at the junction of Bolling Road and Wheatley Lane, represent accidents waiting to happen.

The built-out kerb encourages downhill vehicles towards the middle of the road, and sooner or later that will coincide with a vehicle in the opposite direction cutting the corner. The only real question is which of these locations will witness the first head-on collision.

Turning right from Bolling Road into Wheatley Lane has also been made more dangerous by the further built-out kerb on the east side of Wheatley Lane.

Another question concerns the status of two of the new 'speed platforms'. There is one outside the Health Centre, and one not far from Ben Rhydding Primary School, neither of which have been adorned with any road markings.

Both of these also have a depression in the top of the platform, the reason for which is far from obvious. Perhaps it is designed to hold rain, and create some sort of water obstacle to add to all the others. It is hard to believe that either of these 'speed platforms' satisfies the regulations for such obstacles, and if that is the case they should be removed immediately.

It would have been much simpler and cheaper to put up a row of bollards across the B6382 (yes, this is supposed to be part of the national network of 'A' and 'B' roads) part-way along Bolling Road. It's good to see our money being spent to make our roads more dangerous. Don't suppose there is any finance left now to rectify the numerous potholes and depressions along Bolling Road.

Ian henderson

3 Wheatley Avenue, Ben Rhydding.