Letters to the Editor

SIR, - I urge the Gazette to investigate the current incidence of burglary in Ilkley, draw conclusions and seek responses from the relevant local politicians and police authorities. On anecdotal evidence, the number of burglaries in the town appears to have increased steadily over recent years - to the point where it now seems to be completely out of control.

This suggestion is prompted by my witnessing the burglary at a neighbour's house on a recent late Sunday afternoon. Despite the efforts of fellow neighbours to stop them doing so, the criminals made off in their stolen car with a quantity of booty.

Even as it was happening, the onlooking neighbours phoned the police with details of the car, its occupants and the stolen goods. Nevertheless, it took more than 20 minutes before the police were in attendance - a fact for which the officers apologised.

It was explained that, although they had been the nearest available car, they were in Silsden when the call was put out. The only other car for the very large area which includes Ilkley was, apparently, otherwise engaged with a traffic accident.

I am not familiar with the incidence of burglary in Ilkley as a whole. However, I can tell you from personal knowledge that, aside from other cases known to me, nine immediately adjacent properties in my part of Middleton have been burgled at least once in recent years - not to mention numerous attempts/casings. The burglary referred to above was the second within a week!

The anger and frustration I felt during the incident will, doubtless, be understood by many Ilkley householders. A pro-active campaign by the Gazette would help to establish the true level of the problem and could spark off a meaningful debate about the adequacy of current police resources in the area and their deployment.

In this regard, the two excellent officers who attended the burglary I witnessed, left me with the distinct impression that there was little that could be done to prevent such crimes, given the present resourcing levels in the area. In short, it is now 'open house'.

If this is, indeed, the case then we need to know now - and the relevant politicians and agencies need to tell us what they are going to do about it

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Middleton,

Ilkley.

FOOTNOTE: The Gazette has followed up this reader's claims - see Page 1.

Call to youth

SIR, - On reading in last week's Gazette of the activities of younger people with regard to Iraq and animal rights movements, I grieved that no-one below the age of 60 seems to care about their own community nowadays.

The parish council has done an excellent job in spearheading a petition against the closure of the Coronation Hospital - one of the biggest petitions the area has ever responded with - but a sustained campaign to save the hospital by a one-issue group of people, hopefully made up of people of all ages, and perhaps led by a younger person, is still needed.

Previous generations provided the hospital for a tiny population. Now we are a large town and have access to transport. However, all modern planning indicates that travel should be kept to a minimum (although its decisions do not always reflect that need).

What a silly time to even contemplate moving medical services further away. Until the health trust confirms that closure of the Coronation Hospital is not simply a means of raising capital to cover (recurring) financial losses, and until it confirms that it is prepared to provide, say, an extension of the Health Centre encompassing all the services we enjoy at present, the people of this town must keep up the pressure to retain the hospital.

Given the money spent in recent years on the Physiotherapy Department., and even more recently on the Radiography Department, we can have no confidence that decisions of those now in power will produce 'joined up thinking' in respect of the needs of the people, but will instead waste more and more money.

BARBARA CUSSONS

4 Curly Hill,

Ilkley.

An opportunity

SIR, - This Government feels we do not need to have a referendum on the subject of the impending EU constitution.

Perhaps it might be interesting to ask Tony Blair what plans he is putting into place to mark the tri-centenary of the 1707 Act of Union that brought Great Britain into being.

Surely this is an opportunity to celebrate with at least as much national pride as that exhibited by the US and Australia in recent years when celebrating their own centennials.

A J ARMSTRONG

Moorside Lodge,

Panorama Drive,

Ilkley.

Bloom message

SIR, - Spring judging for the Yorkshire in Bloom competition put Ilkley in the top position in our small town category.

This is the first time we have appeared in this category, which is due to changes in the population criteria and so we were unsure how Ilkley would fare. However, an excellent result was achieved.

The weather on the day was perfect, the floral displays were superb, much litter had been collected and so the town looked at its best.

I should like to pay tribute to the hard work of our committee and volunteers without whose dedication our town would not look as delightful as it does.

The council gardeners also deserve special praise for wonderful floral displays and well cut grass. Council cleansing staff do a great job all year round and yet still manage an extra effort around judging time.

Finally, many make special efforts with their own gardens, quietly pick up litter or just help by keeping their own areas tidy. My thanks to you all.

We are busily preparing for summer judging in July and hop that we can repeat our success of the spring. With your help, I believe we can do it.

As ever, my thanks to the Ilkley Gazette for its unstinting support in our efforts to keep Ilkley looking good all the year round.

TONY GILROY

Chairman,

Ilkley in Bloom,

6 Heath Park

Ilkley.

Beyond headlines

SIR, - With the war in Iraq dominating the headlines in recent weeks, it's worth reflecting on the little known fact that Iraqis were far and away the largest single group among those applying for political asylum in the UK last year.

Coming to Britain to find a place of safety, away from human rights abuses in Saddam Hussein's Iraq, these vulnerable people deserved our welcome and understanding.

In return, as Amnesty International and countless refugee and community groups can testify, Iraqis and other refugees in Britain have made a valuable contribution to our society - in the arts, in sport, in business and in professions like teaching and nursing.

The rich input of refugees in this country is being celebrated this week in Refugee Week, which ends on Sunday.

We urge your readers to look beyond the headlines on asylum and find out why they can be proud of Britain's newest communities, and of its principle of providing a safe haven for those persecuted in other countries.

ian hobson

Secretary,

Wharfedale International

Amnesty Group,

74 Netherfield Road,

Guiseley.

Only one view

SIR, - I write in response to the inflammatory and prejudiced main story 'They're Back' (May 29), led by councillor Powell's fearful rhetoric.

Is there truly not enough space in this beautiful valley? Unless one enjoys fishing perchance! And respects privilege and money over heritage and tolerance.

Was anything but pride and arrogance irreparably damaged? Does Mr Brown, high on his soapbox, have no perspective, empathy or unselfish ethics; just scorn for the police and blatant disrespect for people he clearly despises?

To plough this relatively inconsequential layby will cause 'real' destruction and just move the situation on. Possibly to a more 'significant' beauty spot, i.e.White Wells, next time. Which there will be; whether we like it or not.

I believe this issue is more than rhetoric. For me it is about respect; BOTH ways.

There are two sides to hear and I have only heard one whingeing voice. Maybe next time we could please hear two sides and aspire to a compromise or solution. Not just try to 'plough it under the layby', so to speak!

D W Chapman

1 Yew Croft,

Ilkley.

Only tradition

SIR, - It comes as no surprise to me that the travellers came to Ilkley last week on their annual trek to Appleby Horse Fair. It has been happening for generations.

This town has always been a route for people passing through and leaving their mark - look at the Romans!

Growing up here in the fifties, I loved the diversity of people in Ilkley ,the painted wagons and strings of gipsy horses, magnificent turbaned Sikhs selling from door to door and the mysterious 'gentlemen of the road' on their obscure migrations.

These were magical events in an Ilkley where eccentrics have always been a driving force. Provisions can be made for rubbish and marked grass - you only have to

look as far as Otley Show, another yearly event,where people are catered for adequately

.Instead of standing pointing at churned up grass, surely our councillors would be better employed in working out a strategy for one of our annual celebrations. Residents have litter in their gardens on a daily basis where pupils have inadequate bins.

School playing fields are sold for development which surely constitutes a permanent vandalism. Dithering over a skateboard park keeps the children on roads this summer.

I shall remember this report during the next few months when tourists park on the grassy edges of both moorland and river leaving their debris, like the travellers an expected event.

So why can't we celebrate and provide, not marginalise living history by pointing at ruts in the ground.

Jude Lobley

43,Springs Lane

Ilkley

Time to sort out fireworks

SIR, - Are we ever going to be free of fireworks and bangers?

Once again I have a distraught dog who won't now walk round the river after some thoughtless children let off a banger of some sort one evening last week as we were out on our last walk (about 10pm) in the park.

There were around 15 to 20 children in this group who seem to be congregating there every night. At the rate fireworks are let off, my dog will be on tranquilisers for the whole year and not just around the three months of bon fire night, especially after the last array of bangs which went on for a good 30 minutes until 1030pm. Thank you to whoever had this finale. I could not get my dog out of the garden this time.

What do we have to do to convince this Government to stop the retail of fireworks to thew public.

Surely the time has come to minimise these things to organised events at organised times.

S HARRIS

14 Skipton Road,

Ilkley.