Letters to the Editor

SIR, - It's beginning to sink in the wonderful news of Otley coming second this Spring in the regional In Bloom competition. Well done everyone and many thanks for everyone's support.

We have been told that these spring results are the best ever results Otley has been awarded at this time of year since the town first took part in this competition. Community effort and participation is crucial for this competition and the judges were extremely impressed with the residents of Lea Croft who have transformed a grassy central reservation into a welcoming community garden.

The judges were also impressed with the plans the group has developed in collaboration with Rev Graham Buttanshaw regarding the parish churchyard.

The Otley in Bloom team is quite clear about how it wishes to progress with this competition. The town's recent success shows that Otley's various communities are collaborating and working effectively together and are putting Otley on the map in a positive way.

The results can give us all a very welcome pat on the back when we do well. However, we see our role as a group more than just getting results in the regional competition.

We have had two successful bids from Otley and Wharfedale Community Involvement Team (CIT) which, along with sponsorship, is making a big difference to the town centre environments. The Otley in Bloom team is making a significant investment in introducing evergreen plants into the town centre, which will provide more all year round colour.

New barrier plants are to replace existing ones at the Netto lights, Boroughgate, and will be introduced on the railings in Manor Square this summer.

The recent achievements and what is planned for the future is intended to benefit all the communities of Otley, young and old alike.

The good news is that acts of vandalism and theft of plants are reducing. Let's be honest about both these activities, they undermine communities and can even turn areas into places people don't want to go. A couple of moments of madness, whether in anger, envy or ecstacy, can unfortunately undermine hours of work of others.

Any such acts can be reported to PC Heidi Beardsmore our community police officer at Otley Police Station. Alternatively, if next day you yourself know you might have had a moment of madness, there's nothing to stop you making good the damage you did yourself.

Summer judging of Otley will take place between July 7 and July 25. Let's hope we can keep Otley on the positively blooming environmental map.

Sylvia Reid

Otley in Bloom,

Manor Books and Music,

Manor Square,

Otley.

Not friendly

SIR, - Your report of Otley Town Council annual meeting was very fair. Unfortunately this meeting was by no means a friendly affair and general back slapping that is often associated with AGMs.

The Town Mayor, Coun G Francis was reluctant to permit me a second bite of the cherry. This prevented me from responding to Colin Campbell and his implication that my ski holiday was also insensitive and showed a lack of respect for the town. First of all both Couns G Francis and C Campbell refused to answer my question and state that Nigel was on holiday. The apology given for Nigel was clearly meant to mislead.

The implication was that Nigel was a very busy man who was in demand and that he was on another engagement.

Secondly permit me to point out that as a councillor my attendance record was excellent and that my ski holiday was honest. My apology was not shrouded in mystery by stating that it was a 'prior engagement'. Furthermore the only people affected by my absence were my Labour Party colleagues.

Nigel, on the other hand, cajoled his alliance members into misleading those present and making them feel sorry that he, Nigel, was unable to be present.

What an insult to the people of Otley. There should be just one course open to Nigel. He should apologise and not take up his position as Town Mayor. He has shamed the honour and the position. He may not do the honourable thing in which case it is up to council members to have a vote of no confidence.

Ray Dunn

42 St. David's Road

Otley.

Town ignored

SIR, - With reference to the letter 'Individual towns' needs ignored' in last week's Wharfedale and Airedale Observer. I am convinced that many residents of Otley agree whole heartedly with the comments of Mr Blake in the Comment Page of your last edition.

Gradually Otley is being stripped of its identity and amenities. It would appear also that Leeds City Council wishes to bleed us financially in order to finance the development of their city.

I recall the days when rates were less to the residents of Otley than those of Leeds. Now the reverse is the case as we are asked to cough up a council tax surcharge on top of the council tax demanded by Leeds.

How about the recently elected Otley Council represent its electorate by producing a 'road map of devolution' from Leeds Council back to the Otley Urban District Council?

I am sure it will be well supported by residents but can we rely on the councillors? They generate little faith when we hear that a councillor cannot be bothered to attend his own mayor making ceremony.

Must we just sit back and let the local council accept this year on year downward spiral of events or do they start to campaign now.

Paul Hartley

20 St Clair Road,

Otley.

Crab farming?

SIR, - I noted in last week's Wharfedale Mr Smithson's concern at the Otley Farmers Market.

I myself noted that in the report of the first farmers' market, the stall which had done best was selling dressed crabs. I have heard of fish farming, but not crabs.

Also, last week there were several letters complaining about the bus service. Yet the chairman of the bus company was telling people to leave their cars at home and use buses, for the holiday weekend, there would be full Sunday service (one bus an hour).

How do these people think we will use buses when the service is so poor?

R W Perkin

Sunrising

302 Leeds Road,

Bramhope.

Benefits warning

SIR, - Your readers may be aware of worries about the Government's changes to the way benefits are paid.

Since April, some people have been unable to collect their pension or benefits in cash at their local post offices.

They have to have the money paid into a bank account, or to open a Post Office Card Account and then withdraw the cash. But the Government has made it too difficult for people to open these Post Office Accounts.

This new system will apply to everyone within the next two years. It will put local post offices under threat because some people will stop using their counter services and shopping there.

It will also make life more difficult for many of the most vulnerable in our local communities and the arrangements for relations or friends to collect benefits for them are inadequate.

So far, almost 40 per cent of those asked by the Government to move to the new system have not done so. It is not clear what is to become of them when their order books are withdrawn.

It should be made easier to open a Post Office Card Account and special arrangements should be in place to meet the needs of vulnerable people. If your readers are concerned about this issue, I would ask them to please write to me at Conservative Central Office, 32 Smith Square, London SW1P 3HH.

Oliver Heald MP,

Shadow Minister ,

Work and Pensions.

Police deterrent

SIR, - Police ask for proof of town's hooligans (Wharfedale and Airedale Observer, May 15).

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but perhaps Sergeant Colin Haigh may well consider the lack of trouble whilst he was in Yeadon town centre could well have been attributed to some form of police presence there. Or am I a little nave? Perhaps this form of policing could work elsewhere?

Paul Hatfield

(Address supplied)

Show thank you

SIR, - Can I through your newspaper say a very big thank you to all the committee members, stewards and volunteers for all their help, before, during and after Otley Show on Saturday, without whose help the show would not be possible.

Also my thanks to my family for all their help and support over the past five weeks.

Janet M Raw (Mrs)

Show Secretary,

15 Bridge Street,

Otley.

Wallet praise

SIR, - I would like to express my thanks to the kind person who found and handed in my seven-year-old nephew's wallet at the Otley Show on Saturday. The wallet contained very little money but he would have been disappointed to think that he had lost it. Thank-you for your honesty, you made a little boy very happy.

Janet Hartley

13 The Whartons,

Otley.

Thanks ....

SIR, - May I through your newspaper take this opportunity to thank all those who supported me in the recent local elections and say how honoured I am to have been elected as the new councillor for Aireborough on Leeds City Council.

I now look forward to representing everyone in my ward and working towards dealing with many of the concerns on local matters that were expressed to me during the election by local residents.

Should any of your readers wish to contact me on any matter they can do so by calling 07736 289556 and will be happy to help where I can.

Coun Stuart Andrew

Conservative, Aireborough,

43 Green Lane,

Yeadon.

... And again

SIR, - May I through your columns thank the people of the Broadfields ward in Horsforth for re-electing me as their representative on the Horsforth Town Council for a further four years.

I assure you of my total commitment to supporting all groups and individuals within the village, and will work closely with elected representatives and interested bodies for the development and enhancement of Horsforth.

Coun Tony Crossfield

(Lib Dem),

Horsforth Town Council

Many to benefit from rail bid

SIR, The Countryside Agency has recently published its report into rail reopenings. A section of the report looks into reopening Otley Railway Station.

Reopening the railway station could benefit at least nine Parliamentary constituencies. It could benefit the three Bradford constituencies, because direct services could run between Harrogate and Bradford.

It could benefit Pudsey, because Bradford-bound trains could stop at Guiseley and Leeds-bound trains could stop at Horsforth. It could benefit Shipley because constituents in Menston could have a direct connection with Otley and Bradford bound trains could pass through Shipley.

It could also benefit Ilkley and Ripon, either through direct or connecting services, if Ripon was also reopened. It would benefit Leeds West, because services to Otley could stop at Burley Park.

It would not only benefit people in Otley but also everybody in North Leeds, because it would lead to a massive reduction in traffic.

Mick Beaty

Friends of the Earth,

74 Kirkgate,

Leeds.