Letters to the Editor

Who are these people who put our health at risk and make our clothes and anything we buy in the market stink of stale smoke?

The people who sit in the caf pumping clouds of nicotine filled fumes into the air.

It is very sad that these people can't manage an hour or so without smoking. Why don't they keep their habit to their back garden, away from such as I who have asthma and those poor baby animals who have to breathe in their poisons in day after day?

Perhaps they could save some of the enormous amount of money they spend on this habit (it must be nice to be rich enough to burn money!) and give it to some worthwhile animal or health charity.

I know, I know I've always been a bit of a dreamer.

Kayleigh Andrews aged 15

Address supplied

SIR - Could I please express my thanks and admiration to all those selfless people who gave their time and energy to make this year's Gala such a success.

The police were magnificent and worked tirelessly to keep the procession moving.

Everyone knuckled down and worked very hard on the field, filling balloons and tagging for the balloon race, which was a great success. Even some Town Councillors got into the spirit of things, collecting money en route to Victoria Park.

The floats, although not many, were terrific, with some improvisation where wagons were not available. I thank them all.

Everyone seemed to make such a big event flow easily - thanks Mel for the organisation. Support for Keighley Gala was given by St John's, the Air Cadets and many individuals, which cannot be measured in monetary terms.

I would like to thank everyone, the committee and friends alike for the help and kindness given to Maureen and myself on Gala Day.

Lastly, I would like to thank the Mayoral Party for their kind words and also MP Ann Cryer and the new Gala Royalty for the happiness they took to the five wards at Airedale Hospital.

BRIAN HUDSON

Chair, Keighley Gala

Bronte Drive,

Bogthorn, Keighley

SIR - The dental practice I have been attending for the past twenty years or so has recently announced the assignment of certain hours during the day for private dental care treatment only.

To its credit, the majority of the practice times are still devoted to NHS care.

However, my wife, who has been attending a different practice in the Keighley area for the last twenty-seven years, has just been issued with what can only be described as an ultimatum.

As from August 2003 the practice will be providing private dental treatment only.

It is felt they can no longer provide a decent level of service as things currently stand. Each patient will be assessed to find out the level of treatment they may require and then informed as to the monthly cost under a private dental plan. After making further enquiries, my wife was informed there would be a minimum charge of £13 per month rising to a maximum of £25 per month.

Now that equates to a minimum of £156 per year, for in my wife's case one visit to her dentist. This charge only covers the basics and any 'cosmetic' treatment will of course incur additional expense.

It appears more and more practices are opting to go the same way and I find this totally unacceptable.

This type of policy we could well understand when the Tories were in charge of the country, but here we have Mr Blair and his cohorts extolling the benefits of our wonderful NHS and what it has to offer, and at the same time we are being denied the right to quality NHS dental treatment on our own doorsteps.

The fees listed above do not seem to take into consideration an individual's personal financial circumstances and their ability to pay.

The £21,000 per annum average wage constantly being bandied about is far from an accurate assessment of the majority's ability to absorb these extra financial burdens.

Yes, we still have the right to treatment on the NHS, but why should people be forced against their wishes to seek treatment elsewhere?

This is yet another example of the increasing divisions being forced upon our society.

It's high time we got a fair deal in this country instead of being subjected to what purely and simply amounts to unadulterated greed.

Then again, it would appear in the world of today Greed is a perfectly acceptable sin to practice if you want to get on in life! Or is it?

GEOFF FOSTER

Thornhill Road

Steeton

SIR - This letter on litter won't be the first nor will it be the last.

However, the amount of litter outside The Holy Family Catholic School on Spring Gardens Lane and Greenhead High School is appaling.

These children come from all walks of life, are of all creeds and colours and are old enough to know better.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to include a respect for self, others and the environment in the schools curriculum on Citizenship.

T E RAMSDEN

Bar House Lane, Utley.

SIR - Some years ago a through road was created by demolishing a row of old houses in Parker Street and making a wider road going through to East Parade (what is now Worth Way) and onto Bradford Road.

This road then took all the traffic that was passing the town centre.

Then some bright spark came up with an idea to stop this traffic flow by suggesting that a set of traffic lights be put up at the junction of Church Way. Soon afterwards another set was put up at the junction of Cavendish street.

Now we have a build up of traffic on this road so drivers in their frustration look for other routes which has caused the havoc on North Street. Adding to this another set on each of the roads this year will only make things worse.

About three weeks ago the traffic lights by Morrison's were out of action for a full weekend, leaving the exit from Church Way in the capable hands of the motorist. I personally use it every day.

Not once did I have any difficulty leaving.

The answer now is obvious, which is to trial this road without the lights and allow the traffic to flow through.

A EARNSHAW

Bradford Road, Keighley

SIR - In the absence of solid foolproof evidence that Iraq did possess a secret stockpile of lethal weapons, I am in doubt of the honesty of Bush and Blair.

In order to uphold their power and principals, the United Nations should now impose a deadline for Bush and Blair to produce sound evidence in support of their aggression against Iraq.

Failure to provide such evidence should put both Bush and Blair on trial by the War Crimes Commission.

This would conform to democratic justice.

With regard to Blair himself, where there is smoke, there is fire, hence the reason why three of his cabinet ministers resigned on the Iraq issue.

Under Blair, this country is now governed by a dictator. Evidence of his action against Iraq, without the consent of the majority of our democratic electorate.

In support of my opinion on Blair, he recently refused to grant a request from Charles Kennedy, the leader of the Lib-Dems, for a debate on the Iraq issue.

At the same time, he refused former senior intelligence official Dame Pauline Neville-Jones an investigation into the Iraq issue.

He also attempted to block the BBC2 Correspondent programme, which showed the dead bodies (with faces covered, in respect) of British troops in Iraq. This poses the question, why is Blair afraid of the truth?

Large numbers of fee paying members have resigned from the Labour party, and if the rank and file Labour MPs do not dump Blair he will eventually dump them at the next general election.

KEN MATHER

Greenhead Road, Utley.

SIR - As a pensioner, but not a Lib Dem, I agree with Diana Wallis that there needs to be much more information, debate, and discussion about Euro Union (not the single currency).

I was alerted last year when the National Pensioners' Convention was asked by Brussels to submit its pension plans. I thought - why? Why should Brussels inspect our pensions?

Going into Euro is a serious business, it means signing the conditions laid down by Brussels. Public and welfare spending to be kept within 3 per cent, borrowing limited to 60 per cent GDP eg Ireland, in the EU and adhering to the fixed interest rates saw house prices hit the roof. There are now homeless people who cannot afford to buy.

When the Irish government tried to alter conditions it received a reprimand from the EU. More recently, social spending in France is running at 3.1 per cent so France has had a warning to get its budget under control to achieve 3 per cent.

A severe crticism of the EU is the 'one size fits all' policy creating a fixed interest rate across the EU. Different states have different economies and cultures and would find it hard to conform. The price stability pact stipulates that no government can subsidise its exports.

The Chancellor's five economic tests are designed to effect a 'soft landing' but are in effect a deferred yes. If we go in we are in! The Referendum is interesting, the Cabinet is pro-Euro but will not hold a vote until it is certain of winning it.

Finally, who benefits from the EU? - big business, transnationals no obstacles from democratic governments. Watch this space.

B WHITTAKER

Scott Lane West, Riddlesden

SIR - As MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, I welcome the government's recognition that it is in our long term interests to join the euro.

The government has announced a roadmap for eliminating the remaining obstacles to us joining. I look forward to this being achieved as soon as possible because the Treasury's report confirms that staying out means losing out in terms of jobs and prosperity.

RICHARD CORBETT

Euro MP for Yorkshire

and the Humber

SIR - Hi, I'm Meera Syal, writer, actress and comic, best known for my work on the television comedy series Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No 42.

I am writing to invite your readers to take part in an amazing cycle ride across India's colourful state of Rajasthan! I am helping Scope raise over £200,000 for their vital work with children and adults with cerebral palsy. They are looking to recruit 75 volunteers to take part in this spectacular new event: the India Bike Challenge in March 2004.This 400km cycling challenge will be an outstanding adventure through exotic Rajasthan, the Land of the Kings. The journey starts with a visit to the world famous monument to love, the Taj Mahal, and then continues off the beaten track over six days through beautiful countryside and charming villages up into the stunning Aravali hills. You will encounter a dazzling array of wildlife, experience traditional music and dancing, and sleep under the stars in the grounds of splendid palaces.

For further information about how to take part in this fantastic biking challenge, please call Scope on 0800 0191 200 or go to www.scope.org.uk/adventures/

Meera Syal