Letters to the Editor

SIR - Please allow me to respond to Mr Derek Mason's recent letter in which he accused me of 'losing interest' in the efforts to preserve the cinema on Beech Hill.

I don't wish to bore your readers with a long history lesson, but I think that it is right for my involvement to be understood. First of all, I was approached by the Folk Festival, who were concerned following the demise of the former bingo business, that an agreement with the then leasee of the building for the festival to use the building would not be honoured.

Clearly this problem, happening only a few weeks before the festival left a potential hole in the organisation, particularly as the cinema was to be the main venue for that year's festival. I set about securing the venue for the events, and had several meetings with the Leeds Development Agency, the owners of the building, to do just that.

Whilst the festival was in duration I was lobbied from all quarters to see if I would support the longer term use of the building for community use, as a cinema, and as a venue for large events. This I was more than -happy to do, as I could see the huge potential.

Far from backing off, as Mr Mason puts it, despite being told by the LDA that they had other plans for the site, I set about attempting to bring together interested parties. Many groups in the town were involved including the recently formed ' Arts for Otley'.

Clearly, a head of steam was building up, but the condition of the building was a major cause for concern. I persuaded the LDA to employ a surveyor to undertake a through condition survey (this against a backdrop remember, of their opposition).

The survey's findings were far from encouraging, and indicated major structural problems. Any group taking on the building would have had to put many thousands of pounds into bringing the building up to an adequate standard. This seemed highly unlikely, and the cinema operator who Mr Mason referred to, certainly did not indicate that he was willing to invest his capital.

It seemed obvious, after several months work that the cinema would not have been a viable option. However, undeterred, I then turned attention to securing the former Magistrates Courts, as 'Arts for Otley' and the other groups felt that this would be an excellent community resource, and could be used by the film society as a small 'cinema'.

The owners of the courts were again the LDA, and I was able to take up a strong bargaining position to secure the Magistrates Courts for Community use.

Arts for Otley transformed into The Courthouse Project, and, as we all know, this amazing group of people are about to bring back to life a wonderful building which will contain an imaginative arts and community centre.

I also gave an undertaking to the folk festival that I would work to get improvements in the Civic Centre to attempt to secure a larger capacity in the main hall. As many of your readers know, this formed a major part of the Labour town council's programme, and after widespread community consultation, and employing an architect, we put forward plans which would have transformed the Civic Centre.

Those plans, together with the funding source, could be activated at any time. However, we now have a Lib Dem/Tory coalition in control of the town council, who have opposed our proposals every inch of the way, so the likelihood of significant improvements there seem remote.

Your readers can, of course, be assured that Labour town councillors will continue to fight for improvements to the Civic Centre.

John Eveleigh

95 West Busk Lane

Otley.

Mr Cellophane

SIR, - I read the Wharfedale Observer today with no great surprise at its content, bearing in mind the recent council elections and the anticipated 'thank yous' from those who had gained seats. It was also no surprise to me to read the less than complimentary comments from some people about Nigel Francis, the Otley Mayor-Elect who has, apparently been a very naughty boy in that he allegedly had the audacity to go off on holiday to Holland with his family rather than attend his mayor-making ceremony.

It was, furthermore, no surprise to learn that Nigel Francis was to face a vote of 'no confidence' from his fellow council members on Monday when he took on his Mayoral office.

I find this proposed vote of no confidence in Nigel Francis to be the most petty, unjust and downright puerile act that I have witnessed in many a year. To even put oneself forward for consideration as a councillor in Otley or Leeds must be a very daunting task bearing in mind the 'slings and

arrows' that are outrageously waged at anyone seeking office by those in the hierarchy of all things political.

Quite frankly, I have no time for politics - but I have lots of time for people; especially people who 'do' things. Nigel Francis 'does' things - especially things for young people. He is quirky! He doesn't fit into the 'mould' that some might wish that he fitted into.

He is unique and he has the guts to say what he thinks whilst at the same time breathing some much needed 'fresh air' into the stuffiness of council chambers.

As a widow, with a 15-year-old son embarking on his course work this year for his GCSE exams next year, I was intrigued with the song that my son chose to sing as part of his course work. The song is from 'Chicago' the

musical - it is entitled 'Mr Cellophane" - and the words are rather intriguing in that, if we are to experience new people and especially the next generations putting their names forward for any kind of office, be it on local councils or, indeed, Government, we have to bear these words in mind:

"If someone stood up in a crowd and raised his voice up way out loud and waved his arm and shook his leg; you'd notice him.

If someone in the movie show yelled "Fire in the second row! This whole place is a powder keg"; you'd notice him.

And even without clucking like a hen, everyone gets noticed now and then unless of course that personage should be, invisible inconsequential me.

Cellophane, Mister Cellophane - should have been my name, Mister Cellophane 'cause you can look right through me, walk right by me and never know I'm there (this chorus repeated).

Suppose you was a little cat residing in a person's flat, who fed you fish and scratched your ears; you'd notice him.

Suppose you was a woman wed, and sleeping' in a double bed beside one man for seven years; you'd notice him.

A human beings made of more than air. With all that bulk you're bound to see him there

Unless that human being next to you is unimpressive, undistinguished, you know who.

Cellophane, Mister Cellophane - should have been my name, Mister Cellophane 'cause you can look right through me, walk right by me and never know I'm there (repeat)."

Mr Cellophane may be looked right through, walked right by and never acknowledged by those who have the audacity to suppose that they cannot be looked right through. 'Mr Cellophane' is to my mind, the people of Otley - they are not invisible, inconsequential, unimpressive, undistinguished, although some, suffering from delusions of grandeur, may imagine that.

Rather, the majority of the people in this wonderful town have clarity of vision, openness of heart, love of God and neighbour - they are as 'clear' folks should be; they can look right through, walk right by and you'll always know they're there!

Ann Whitehead

Myerscroft,

Otley.

Ban pettiness

SIR, - Re Otley Town Council. I write this letter having seen yet another example of the Labour Party on Otley Town Council wasting a lot of energy in trying to castigate Coun Nigel Francis for his unfortunate and rather regrettable absence from his mayor making ceremony.

Nigel has now repeatedly apologised for his absence, but we had to witness the spectacle of a thinly veiled attack on him yet again by the Labour group on the council. This was a real pity as for the first time in a long time, some 15 members of the public attended the Special Meeting of the Council, some out of interest, some following the revised mayor making ceremony and some waiting to attend the Community Development Committee of the Council.

I can assure you that everyone was left totally unsurprised at the general public's dwindling interest in politics. Please can we get rid of the petty politics, bickering and 'black and white' mentality of the Labour group and start co-operating to get something DONE for Otley.

The Labour group may not like the Liberal-Conservative-Independent co-operation, but to get the Labour group to do anything constructive with another party is a total antithesis to them - to quote a famous world leader (who I do not support) "If you're not with us, you're against us".

In 1999 when the Council was split 7-7-1 after the elections, the Labour Group refused to have any part of a joint management of the council and so it goes on. At the election in May, the Labour group lost a seat, thus reducing its credentials to run the council.

Debate by all means, but listen and reason and take a rational decision when it comes to the vote.

Lawrence Ross, 7 East View Terrace, Otley.

Bloom work

SIR, - Guiseley in Bloom would like to thank and congratulate everyone in Guiseley who contributed to the splendid result we achieved in the spring judging of Yorkshire in Bloom.

We are all delighted to have been placed first in the urban community category and if we can keep up the good work we hope to do equally well when we welcome the summer judges in July.

So many people have stopped and thanked us for the efforts, which has been reward enough and also the support we have received from so many different sources has again kept us focused on the tasks ahead.

If anyone would like to join us to keep Guiseley in Bloom and our streets cleaner we meet the second Wednesday in every month at the Aireborough Leisure Centre at 7pm. You will be assured of a very warm welcome.

One way everyone can help is to keep our streets as litter free as possible. We now have more litter bins, so let's all use them as much as possible. This small endeavour would make a tremendous difference to the look of our main shopping streets.

We welcome suggestions for future projects, offers of help, of course, and especially people's good wishes. With renewed thanks for everyone's past support, we now look forward to seeing Guiseley bloom again this summer.

Shirley Hughes-Rowlands

Co-ordinator,

Guiseley in Bloom,

101 Park Road,

Guiseley.

Nurse seeks some information

SIR, - For ten years I've worked in houses for the disabled, in which three to eight people are cared for by one or two duty staff. I've found care in almost all to have been exceptional.

I'm now researching the possibility of setting up a similar house for frail elderly people, as an alternative to larger care homes. To my knowledge, none currently exist.

Location wouldn't matter, as such a house would have a guest bedroom in which family and friends could stay, as well as an outbuilding for pets.

I'd love to hear from you if you're a giver or recipient of care with an opinion, or if you're familiar with current property management, social security or care legislation, and could advise me in any way.

Michael Page

Newly Qualifying Nurse,

Napier University

at Borders General Hospital,

Melrose,

TD6 9BD.