Letters to the Editor

Whilst Laith Azeez is having difficulty at the moment getting his designated place at Denholme Primary, at least the opportunity is there for those with autism to be able to access specialist provision within a mainstream school. Children and young people with Downs Syndrome are not so fortunate!

Despite many having significant speech difficulties, no specialist provision is available for children with learning difficulties. No one from the Early years and Learning Support Services has been trained in our children's' specific learning profile and has the sole responsibility to look after children with Downs Syndrome. Whilst many of our children are able to access resource and community nursery places, which enables them to mix with typically developing children and receive specialist help, nothing is available for them when they reach school age. The choice is rigid mainstream or special school.

With Education Bradford, health and Social Services neglecting to keep records showing the numbers of people with Downs Syndrome within the Bradford district how can we be sure that these young people are being properly provided for now and in the future?

David McNulty

Elm View, Steeton

SIR - I must strongly complain about the negative reporting of Keighley news in your newspaper. Surely as a local newspaper you are trying to promote Keighley as a town to live in and be proud of being part of.

Instead it seems that the news, which makes the front page, is critical, sensational, and linked to negative issues which shows Keighley as a place to avoid.

Last week's issue painted Keighley as a town which suffers from racism on a major scale. Is this true or is it a small minority who perpetuate the myth that Keighley is unsafe to live in and unsafe at night?

The Lund Park area has suffered from a great deal of negative reporting which highlights assaults, muggings, vandalism and crime in the area. As a result of these negative myths The Lund Park Community Group was formed to combat these myths by people who live around the park and enjoy living around the park.

We celebrate the positive aspects of Lund Park. So far we have organised a number of events to include all members of the community.

Consequently, community cohesion is important and living together in a multi-cultural community is a privilege. Keighley offers that privilege of being able to claim that it consists of people from different parts of the world.

Many people live in Keighley from across Europe and South Asia. We have a thriving Bangladeshi and Pakistani community which provides cultural diversity to our town. Our group spent six months planning a 'Celebration in the Park' on September 13, 2003 in which five bands played music free to everyone in Lund Park.

The sun shone and we heard music which spanned a mixture of cultural tastes. From Brass to Bhangra permeated the atmosphere of the Lund park area. We saw over 500 people from all the communities of the area come together to celebrate music in peace.

There was no trouble but there was a great deal of people smiling because they were all enjoying themselves together. No matter what their background, religion, or ethnicity. This is what needs reporting on the front page of the Keighley News. But today I see on page three a headline which reads: 'Keighley in the top 40 of the worst places'

The article reads that, 'The publication - Crap Towns - is out today'-- 'it was basically a bit of fun, but some serious issues have arisen from it.'

This is an example of the negative reporting which is not needed or required to promote a positive image of a town.

Is the Keighley News short of good positive news to report?

The Lund Park Community Group would like to extend it's membership and would love to hear from you, if you would be interested in our real vision.

If so then please contact us. chris@hugginshouse.freeserve.co.uk

THE LUND PARK

COMMUNITY GROUP

Editor's reply: see Dear Reader opposite

SIR -Well done Michelle Corcoran for highlighting the problems of the pavements up Halifax Road.

I am disabled and I am lucky enough to own an electric mobility scooter, bought mainly to enable me to exercise my dog in Whinswood and Crossroads parks and to visit friends who live in the area.

Sadly because of the of the overhanging vegetation on one side and atrocious parking on the other this is now impossible.

While I appreciate that there is a shortage of parking and the narrowness of the 40mph road necessitates parking partly on the pavement, common sense should prevail.

In some cases there is barely room for a pedestrian never mind a pram or wheelchair etc, and it is far too dangerous to go on to the road itself to negotiate these obstacles. If the vehicle owners won't act responsibly surely the police should at least issue warnings.

Regarding the overhanging vegetation, this is all too typical of the neglect this area suffers under the Council.

There is a much used public bench at Wesley Place that is now rotted and derelict and has been for months. Where there were once rose beds and lawned areas up past Hermit Hole, there is now rough grass which is occasionally and halfheartedly mown and the cuttings left to rot.

Halifax Road is the main route from Keighley to Halifax and the tourist destination of Haworth etc. Lets make it at least look nice but most of all accessible.

G Smith

Hermit Hole, Halifax Road

SIR - I agree wholeheartedly with Tom Smith's views about snobbery regarding one's address.

However, I must confess that, when house-hunting some time ago, I rejected a property solely on the grounds of its address - Number Two, Slack Bottom!

JEAN SMITH

Exley Grove, Keighley

SIR - Could I through your letters page thank the women from St Anne's Social Club for their kindness in donating the proceeds from their various fundraising events over the year to Keighley Community Transport, Saferider and Dial a Ride.

How welcome you made us all feel. After the many setbacks, the fact that KCT has had this kind of support is very gratifying. I thank you all.

B HUDSON

Chairman, Keighley

Community Transport

Sir - So houses are to be built on the Bronte School site.

Now why does this not surprise me ?

It may be cynical but I do really wonder as to which decision was made first. To abolish Middle Schools, or to turn the site into cash? Not pointing any finger but as a comic actor used to say " I only asked ".

Ray Garner

Vernon Court, Keighley

Sir - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This annual campaign is supported by all the major cancer charities and is intended to raise awareness as well as funds for research into the cause, prevention and cure of the disease and to provide information and support to those affected by it.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is planning a series of initiatives in October to raise funds for further research, including Big Pink Friday on October 17.

Ideas for fundraising include Dress Pink Day to encourage everyone at work (including the men!) to wear something pink and make a donation to Yorkshire Cancer Research; inviting friends around for a pink-themed lunch; organising a pink party with pink drinks; or a pink walk where everyone wears pink.

Anyone who would like to hold an event on our behalf can find out more by visiting www.bigpink.org.uk or contacting Sally Crerar on 01423 501269.

At Yorkshire Cancer Research we raise funds for research into all types of cancer, including breast cancer, which is the most common form of cancer in women in the UK, with 39,500 new cases diagnosed every year.

I appeal to readers to help Yorkshire Cancer Research fund more research locally. For more information on Yorkshire Cancer Research please call 01423 501269 or visit www.ycr.org.uk

ELAINE KING

Chief Executive,

Yorkshire Cancer Research

SIR - It is very sad news that Keighley has been voted number 40 of the worst towns to live in in Britain.

It is even sadder that a senior representative responded to this publication in the manner he did.

With councillors like Mr Mallinson, who thinks it's a good thing to be on any list, perhaps it's not surprising.

E HODGSON

Exley Road, Keighley

SIR - Keighley Cat Care was set up this summer to help with the unwanted, neglected and abandoned cats and kittens in this area.

We now have a number of beautiful kittens and cats in need of safe, loving homes.

We ask your readers to contact Paddy Russell on 01535 644567 if they are able to offer a home to kitten(s) or cats seeking the continued and continuing tender loving care of a place to call their own home.

KEIGHLEY CAT CARE

SIR - The directors and management of Morrisons should be congratulated for the wonderful store and restaurant they have presented to the town, plus the parking and petrol station now available.

The public have no doubt been very patient, but the wait has been well worth it.

Here's wishing it great success

CYRIL ISHERWOOD

Carr Lane, Riddlesden

SIR - Re research for my new book 'Forgotten heroes of Dunkirk and France 1940'.

After finding accounts describing the heroic actions fought by the Duke of Wellington's, Green Howards, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and East Riding Yeomanry regiments -- particularly near Bergues/Dunkirk, Cassel, Ypres, Gravelines, Pont L'Arche and Les Andelys on the River Seine and St Valery -- in France in 1940, I am now searching for other verbal or written accounts of these actions.

I am also searching for accounts from other soldiers or sailors who served in the British Expeditionary Force, the Royal Navy, and in little or HMS ships or cross Channel steamers, during the campaign in France and Belgium in 1940 -- or their families if they hold written memoirs about the campaign.

This is in connection with a book commissioned by Penguin about Dunkirk/the other evacuations from France in 1940, the forgotten heroes whose last ditch stands and daring acts at sea made the 1940 evacuations from France possible, and the British sinking of the French Fleet at Oran/Mers-el-Kebir.

My last book was Enigma: The Battle For The Code. If anyone can help, please contact me at 37 Tanza Road, London NW3 2UA Tel 0207-435-1035(wk) or 1181(ho), email sebags@dircon.co.uk"

HUGH

SEBAG-MONTEFIORE

SIR - I read with interest about the abuse and verbal attacks on street sweepers/cleaners.

The street cleaners do a excellent job.

They get on with the task of emptying rubbish containers and litter picking, litter thrown down by careless hands and litter louts.

It's one of the most degrading jobs a person can take on but somebody has to do it. These men do the job to keep the wolves from the door and they try to keep the streets of Keighley respectable.

Most have pride in their jobs and a big percentage of the public respect the job they are doing.

Some years ago I worked with a team of street cleaners in Skipton. One Saturday night I was litter picking on Skipton High Street when a group of ladies came and kicked me up the backside as I was picking up rubbish. They thought it was a joke.

A fortnight later the same group of ladies came down the street laughing to each other but this time I was alert.

As the lady tried to kick me I moved forward and she landed on her backside on the setts. 'Who's laughing now' I told her. I never had any more trouble.

ALLAN MARSON

Jennygill Crescent, Skipton

SIR - I wish to complain about the lack of toilet facilities in the whole of the Keighley area, it is against the law, the parliamentary act of decency.

There are thousands of workers here who work outside all day long with no facilities at all.

If the ratepayer here refused to pay their rates would that be alright too?

The councillor who can get off his leather chair in his plush carpeted office to go to the hi-tech bathroom in the council building is OK - until he does not get ratepayers funds.

RICHARD STEWART

Beechcliffe, Keighley