SIR - I attended a meeting of the Royal British Legion and the members were unanimous in their concern at the shabbiness of the Skipton War Memorial.

As it stands in such a prominent position and was in focus at the recent funeral of Captain Guy of the Royal Marines, it is suggested that a general spring clean and smartening up should be taken on and seriously maintained.

At Wings Week, Remembrance Week and any other times of national mourning, when the cenotaph is the focal point, the people of Skipton need not be distressed by a less than pristine cenotaph.

Shirley Haigh,

Raines Drive, Bradley.

The enforcer

SIR - Council tax has risen to such a height that many people on today's fixed or falling incomes are finding it difficult to pay.

Craven District Council's reaction to this, it seems, is to appoint an enforcer.

I understand that Craven has one of the most enviable records in the country for the ease with which it always gets 95 per cent and more of its tax.

But this year letters dated April 23, barely three weeks into the financial new year, have been posted stating: "I have not received payment...lf payment is not made..."

However, it's not the wording of the letter that's so ominous. It's the source, spelled out, though unsigned: "Les Martin, Investigation & Enforcement Team Leader."

It's a title straight out of Orwell; 1984 and Room 101. This isn't the Treasurer's Department doing a necessary reminder after a sensible lapse of time. It's Hitler Youth (team leader, indeed!) crossed with the Mafia. Pay up! Or we'll make you an offer you can't refuse.

Unfortunately it's too late to question our politicians seeking re-election to find out how much they knew of this "team."

How many are in this "team"? How much of our money is being spent on their salaries, and on paper, postage, general administration and legal costs?

In passing, Roget's Thesaurus lists "enforce" with: constrain, coerce, dictate, exact, extort, tie down, drag from, twist one's arm, turn the screw....

Michael Green,

Skipton Road, Gargrave.

SIR - I greatly applaud C Watson's neighbour for collecting rubbish along the A65 (Craven Herald Letters, April 25).

I too get very depressed at seeing the increasing rubbish, which never seems to get collected by the council. Much of it must be thrown out of vehicles along most of the roads in the area.

I wonder how many people would like to pay less to the police element of the council tax bill, which has gone up by 76 per cent this year, and have it put to better use by having rubbish picked up regularly?

Of course, if people took their rubbish home, this question would not arise!

J Smith,

Mewith, High Bentham.

SIR - Mr and Mrs Watson and family would like to thank all the staff at Gargrave Park Nursing Home for all the hard work they put into their Easter bonnet coffee morning and making it a very nice day for all the residents in there.

Also a very big thank you to the people who attended it.

Mr and Mrs Watson,

Neville Road, Gargrave.

SIR - It is an undoubted fact that the Carers Resource saved the NHS money as it is good preventative medicine.

I am a retired primary health worker and now, due to the lack of preventative care in Airedale Hospital, I now have to rely upon a carer. The health of the carer is extremely important and the Carers Resource helped to keep them healthy.

Airedale admitted to our MP, David Curry that they had not facilities for my care, blaming the Primary Care Trust along with other funding. They could have provided better training for the staff. They failed in preventative medicine.

Unfortunately Airedale is downsizing and trying to put a quart into a pint pot. The result is that Skipton Hospital is supposed to be transferred to the reorganised PCT in order to save Airedale finances.

The extra cost caused by the Airedale Trust to the PCT means that they have less money to spare for non-health professionals who are saving the NHS a great deal of money.

Preventative care is very important especially as I am at risk in hospital, which does not give me full comprehensive care. I and thousands of others depend upon these carers.

The Secretary of State for Health says he wants to promote preventative medicine so why is money not allocated? Preventative medicine is not only vaccinations.

M Metcalfe,

Moor View, Threshfield.

SIR - As a keen mountain biker, hill walker, motorbike enthusiast and nature lover, I should like to clarify some facts relating to Col Neils letter 'Rights and Wrongs' which appeared among the Craven Herald Letters (May 2).

Firstly, I wasn't aware that there had been a Roman invasion in the eighteen hundreds as Col Neils letter suggests, since several of the green lanes in the Yorkshire Dales are Roman, such as Cam High Road and Mastiles Lane. Others such as the monks' road out of Litton are said to have been used by monks from Fountains Abbey before the Reformation.

Frankly, I find the branding of Enduro (trail bike) riders as "typical joy riders" derogatory. The dictionary definition of a "joyrider" is: "a ride for pleasure in a motor car, esp. without the owner's permission", clearly a misnomer in this case.

As for the claim that Enduro riders are coming from nearby conurbations to ride in the Dales, well this may be true in some cases, but the national parks were not set up exclusively for locals.

There is an irresponsible minority in all groups of people using the Dales. For example, walkers have been known to take top stones off walls to stand on when crossing bogs, large coach parties of walkers have been seen crossing pastures six abreast and some with dogs running loose amongst livestock.

The accusations between these groups is pointless. In all the years I have walked and mountain biked in the Dales I have always been polite and have shown respect to other users, whether they are on foot, horseback or on two wheels, but have encountered rudeness and a confrontational attitude from a small number of ramblers.

Everyone using the rights of way in the Dales and other areas can cause some degree of erosion. It is unfair to single out motorbikes and to try and offer meaningful comparison between the erosion caused by a motorbike and a dozen walkers.

As I admire the beauty of the Three Peaks from a distance I notice the visible scars of the footpaths, which is a testament to the erosion caused by thousands of walking boots. Managed correctly this delicate environment can be used and enjoyed by all.

Whilst growing up on a farm, like many other lads, I have ridden two wheeled motorbikes. Col Neil's sweeping statements about the Enduro bikes (trail bikes) are erroneous. Enduro bikes, which are the type of bikes ridden on the green lanes in most cases are usually sold as fully road legal bikes with lighting kits, including indicators. The bikes will be road registered, taxed and insured and new bikes have to comply with strict emissions and noise regulations.

As the majority of public rights of way were never intended for recreational use, I feel that no group of people has exclusive access rights to them.

The Ramblers Association have been campaigning for the "Right to Roam" for years and have achieved this to some extent with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, due to be enforced by 2005. This act will give ramblers access to registered common land and open moorland, with little regard to wildlife and the interests of the farmers.

It is unfair that the Enduro riders are being forced off green lanes when the ramblers will be at liberty to roam across privately owned land when they already have in excess of 105,000 miles of footpaths, bridleways and byways to walk on in England alone.

With the ever increasing erosion of people's liberty there needs to be a greater understanding and tolerance, coupled with responsibility between groups of people who wish to enjoy the countryside for leisure activities.

Dr Luke Dugdale,

Martha Cottage, Tosside.

SIR - I would like to encourage all women in the Craven area to take part in the Race for Life at Broughton Hall on June 8.

I have run at Roundhay Park, Leeds, and three times at Blackburn and I'm delighted that Broughton Hall is hosting the event. Any age can take part, toddlers upwards. You can walk (that's what I do) or run. It's a brilliant day and I guarantee you will enjoy it, whatever the weather.

Cancer touches so many people's lives, we have to do something to try to stop it. I will be running alongside friends from "Bosom Friends" (a local charity group helping local people affected by cancer).

So come on ladies, let's make this a day to remember.

Sally Lambert,

East View Terrace, Barnoldswick

Editor's note: To register to take part in Race for Life call 08705 134314.

SIR - I was saddened to read your article "Meningitis claims couples only child" (Craven Herald, April 25), about the tragic death of Mia Rose Morphet-Barwick from Cross Hills.

Having lost my baby boy through meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia some time ago I can well imagine the distress and pain of everyone concerned.

Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia is such a cruel and complicated disease. In most cases it happens so quickly there is little time to realise something is seriously wrong. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that everyone concerned is aware of the common symptoms of meningitis and those that may exist with meningococcal septicaemia.

Specific research into meningococcal disease is being undertaken by a number of research teams throughout the country; they are making significant contributions in the fight to eradicate this disease. Regularly they find something new.

All the time it is a battle between the scientist and the bacteria. Through dogged persistent research a vaccine will be found.

The Spencer Dayman Meningitis Laboratories are currently making a significant contribution in vaccine development. It is our vision to see a vaccine against all forms of bacterial meningitis so that the devastation this horrific disease causes will be gone forever.

In the meantime knowing the facts could mean the difference between life and death.

Steve Dayman,

Spencer Dayman Meningitis Laboratories,

Clevewood Road,

Downend, Bristol.

SIR - I would like to express my warmest thanks to the young lady who took care of my bank card, after I had absent-mindedly failed to remove it from a "hole-in-the-wall" on Bank Holiday Monday.

She not only showed her immense integrity and honesty but also no small degree of courage when she "rescued" it from some undesirable characters who were contemplating a spending-spree. She also took the trouble to contact the bank to have the card cancelled and seek me out to let me know. Thanks to her honesty and quick-thinking all I suffered was embarrassment.

Senility in my 40s? Yes, maybe that as well. God bless, N - you're an angel.

Tim Clarke,

Byron Street, Skipton

SIR - I would, through your columns, like to publicly thank the anonymous person who took the trouble to post to my wife a small notebook she left in a shopping trolley at Tesco's.

It does make one realise the world ain't so bad after all!

T Hall,

Haw Park, Embsay.

SIR - Most Craven residents will rightly support the comments David Curry MP made in his article (Craven Herald April 25) to "put a spanner in the works of John Prescott's dangerous dream machine (regional government)".

There is little doubt that Craven will have little say in its affairs if it is established.

He goes on to state: "The whole process would take Government further from the people and make politicians less accountable".

Did I hear that right? On one hand Mr Curry is moralising about political accountability and effective democratic process at local level, yet as a well known Europhile, he has continually supported deeper integration into an undemocratic, corrupt, politician's plaything called the European Union which, as he well knows, will result in loss of sovereignty, accountability and true parliamentary democracy.

AJA Smith,

Colne Road, Glusburn.

SIR - I am writing to thank Craven District Council for their assistance and support in the planning of this year's Skipton Waterway Festival.

Last weekend's festival was a huge success and attracted up to 10,000 visitors to the town during the three days. The majority of the event took place on Craven District Council land, including Coach Street car park and the Promenade.

Without the help and co-operation of the council's employees, the festival would not have been the huge success it was and I would like to publicly thank them for their assistance.

Roll on Skipton Waterway Festival 2004!

Rebecca Sim,

Marketing and Events Officer,

British Waterways.

SIR - I would like to pass on Skipton Tourist Information Centre's thanks to everyone who donated gifts and their time for our fund-raising events at the British Waterways Festival held over the bank holiday weekend.

Local businesses came up trumps once again with their generous gifts supporting the information centre. The feedback we received from visitors and locals alike was tremendous - everyone commented on the real party atmosphere of the festival with something to do for everyone.

A good time was had by all, despite the fact that our marquee almost blew away on the Saturday evening and was bravely rescued by Rebecca Sim of British Waterways and her family.

Well done British Waterways, another great festival.

Total funds raised for the tourist information centre were £550.

Sue Swales,

Manager,

Skipton Tourist Information Centre.