Absurd excuse to axe train service

It was one of the most deplorably short-sighted policies - no matter which political party was at the time involved - to implement the recommendations of the Beeching report in the early 1960s.

The person of normal intelligence has wondered how it comes about that so-called "specialists" or "advisers" in the field of public services can be so unaware of what ordinary, shrewd and mature members of the public want.

It seems we are still beset by civil servants of less than normal insight into the needs of a community. The bureaucratic manner in which such officials proclaim what shall happen is utterly staggering and absurd, more akin to the ridiculous plot of some French farce than real policies of responsible government.

I had, in the past, used the one-time splendid "Thames-Clyde" express and similar services on this line. In the early 1970s it was still possible for me to get a train at Skipton at 3am and arrive in Glasgow for an early start to a professional engagement and be able to take another train in the reverse direction later in the afternoon, and reach Skipton by mid-evening.

There could still be something like this if the SRA was led by persons of real vision and insight as to what could be possible in the future. The reduction in fearfully overcrowded roads could be done were the SRA to have vision and imagination.

Instead we are told that the SRA has come up with the utterly absurd and risible excuse that the trains might break down between Glasgow and Carlisle and be difficult to retrieve! No doubt the SRA will come up with other technically or commercially defeatist notions as to why the SRA should reduce the service.

Whatever would those splendid, visionary, enterprising Victorian engineers and entrepreneurs have thought of such weak-kneed, namby-pamby ideas as the SRA's present pusillanimous policy makers?

Arthur Butterworth,

Dales Avenue, Embsay.

Editor's note: This is a copy of Mr Butterworth's letter to the SRA

SIR - On April 2 two judges from the Yorkshire in Bloom organisation visited Addingham for the spring section of the competition.

The village was in almost ideal condition thanks to the rain on the previous day which rinsed off the dust and freshened the plants in the flower beds and planters. The daffodils were at their peak.

But most of all thanks must go to everyone who helped in their own way, however small, the village clean-up on the previous Saturday, the Ilkley depot of gardens and parks department and the street cleansing from Keighley, both from Bradford Council.

I personally would like to thank all the volunteers of our group who put in a lot of work, come rain or shine, both at the monthly working parties and at any other time that they have spare. It is encouraging to see that some businesses are becoming involved and this is one of the ways forward to improve our position in our category.

The group has various projects in the pipeline in conjunction with Mel Smith from Bradford Council and the parish council.

Not only was the group preparing for the judging, it also held a coffee morning on Saturday April 5th which was most successful by raising over £170, which will be used in the village for shrubs etc. Thank you to all who supported the event. It also was very encouraging to get positive comments from those attending.

Joe Maiden, from Radio Leeds fame, is coming to the Memorial Hall on Tuesday May 13 to give a talk and demonstration on 'hanging baskets' with the aim of having a competition in the village during the summer, look out for further details.

Alan Haigh,

Moor Park Drive, Addingham.

SIR - The new heart machine at Airedale Hospital (Craven Herald, April 4) represents good news and all those involved in its acquisition deserve congratulations and thanks.

Such advanced technology, along with advances in medicine increase life expectancy for young and old alike, making it possible for previously fatal diseases and congenital disorders to be treated.

Nevertheless, many of those who have benefited from improved treatments do still need physical support on a daily basis - such as children with severe handicaps or elderly persons recovering from stroke or heart disease.

The reality is that the bulk of such caring is done by an invisible army of unpaid relatives and friends, whose willingness to change their own lives in order to support a child or parent -sometimes a child supporting a parent - saves the taxpayer millions of pounds in care costs.

In the same issue, you report the loss of The Carers Resource for want of £120,000, and I take this opportunity to place on record my heartfelt thanks for all the support given me by this exemplary group over several years.

Carers are often isolated and overwhelmed by the daily demands of a frail and dependent relative - they rarely have time or energy to speak for themselves, and the Primary Care Trust has deprived them of a valuable lifeline.

Mrs Raye Whitten,

Leys Close, Carleton.

SIR - The Carers Resource is a saving not a cost to the PCT, because our carer support officers keep carers and cared for out of health and social services.

The 20,000 carers in Harrogate and Craven districts save an estimated £160 million for Government and local government budgets.

We are different. Our service is unique. By identifying and addressing specific needs of carers - with welfare benefits advice, breaks from caring, practical and emotional help, work training, leisure opportunities, support groups etc - our CSOs remove a potentially huge burden from the NHS.

I understand that the PCT has almost £170 million to spend this year. We seek just £120,000.

Our bid has not been sprung suddenly on the PCT. We have been negotiating reasonably and courteously over three years for a common sense outcome. We have now been compelled to "go public" after exhausting all other avenues

Our good practice fits entirely with Government policy on carers. Sir Nigel Crisp, Chief Executive, Department of Health and NHS, stresses "the need to inform and support carers at a local level through resources such as carer centres".

Carers have expressed distress and professionals dismay at the refusal of our bid. We have had many messages of support from GPs and social services staff who fear the impact on their workloads.

I am calling upon the PCT to consider seriously the vital role of carers and The Carers Resource. I am still hoping the PCT will demonstrate its understanding and support by funding a small team of carer support officers at The Carers' Resource so that they may continue their dedicated work, specifically to help carers.

Brian Murrell,

Chairman,

The Carers' Resource,

11 North Park Road, Harrogate.

SIR - The ancient pack horse track which crosses the Ribble between Settle and Giggleswick at Kendalman's Ford has been completely blocked by housing development on the adjoining King's Mill site.

North Yorkshire County Council and Settle Town Council had been advised of its earlier closure but had taken no action.

Along with one of our Giggleswick parish councillors, I attended a site meeting proposed by the builder who had been made aware of our concern.

In view of its overgrown state and the absence of any official representation he had not realised the importance of the track and had gone ahead with development. He had also been unable to find any record of it being a designated right of way.

Nevertheless, he has now undertaken to reinstate it and to consider proposals for the additional work of improvement and preservation.

This will involve some considerable expense in view of the building work already completed.

The purpose of this letter is to express appreciation of the public spiritedness of Brian Verity, managing director of Skipton Properties. We are lucky that he controls a firm that is prepared to put principles before profit.

CW Graham,

Bankwell Road, Giggleswick.

SIR - Regarding the withdrawal of the council's mobile bus, in the rural areas we rely on this for information and paying rates. Everybody does not have the relevant account and time for alternative payment means suggested.

We hear on the grapevine that after payment at the bus is withdrawn, it will be possible to pay at the local Post Office with a swipe card and without charge. We pay sufficiently increased council tax to be officially informed to prevent confusion. This could have been done in the current council tax demand. Does the council finance department rely on duplicate posting?

M Robinson,

Greenway, Glusburn.

SIR - Pick up your teddies Mr Pearlman and Mr Blackie! Your childish outbursts and ludicrous calls for police protection at a Yorkshire Dales National Park meeting are pathetic.

Sounds like you both need a good caning. Grow up and stop wasting public money.

S Person,

Gargrave Road, Skipton.

SIR - Two weeks ago the Herald was kind enough to publish my short letter regarding the War Widows Association's visit to Skipton last Wednesday.

Through your paper may I just be allowed to express my personal thanks to you for the publicity and to all the businesses in the town who displayed our 'welcome' posters. Just one or two declined - but not to worry. Our ladies enjoyed themselves thoroughly and the weather was very kind.

A great number of those visiting were from the 'Deep' South! The South West, Wales and the Home Counties. They found Skipton to be well worth the journey from our annual meeting in Blackpool.

Local people spotted the War Widows badges and stopped to talk on the streets. Thank you to all the smiling shop staff, the very considerate young people in the bakeries and cafs etc and the superb Craven College Art Show in the Town Hall. The majority of first time visitors in our own group said they would love to return.

Finally, on the day that Baghdad fell, we had a brief personal tribute to Phillip Guy in Holy Trinity Church and left our own 'War Widows' cross on the altar. A poignant reminder of the debt we owe to our service members, to their widowers (yes - there are quite a few now) and of course to the war widows themselves. Thank you Skipton,

David Mitchell

Whitehall Grove, Lincoln

SIR - I am disgusted to read in the Craven Herald (April 4) that certain council officials are reluctant to fly the Union flag.

Well, as a retired member of our local government with more than 30 years' service I think it's time some folk realised this is Great Britain and it's time we stood up and backed our boys without fear or favour.

In the Second World War five members of my family were involved. Two were at Dunkirk, one of them later captured and a prisoner of war for four years, the other severely wounded at El Alamein. Another brother was killed in action in Normandy and I saw service from Normandy through to VE Day and then Palestine and I am proud of the Union flag.

It may not have been flying from the Town Hall, but anyone travelling down Keighley Road will see the Union flag proudly displayed between my neighbours and my house.

This flag represents all Britons no matter which part of the British Isles you come from or what your religion is. This is the flag of the United Kingdom and while you live in it and enjoy the benefits of our society there is no reason why all this pussy-footing around should occur.

The editor did not publish my letter when I raised objections to the bunting being fastened to the war memorial at the Queen's jubilee because that war memorial happens to be the only gravestone in England which represents the symbol for us who lost loved ones in the wars to pay our respects. So come on, editor, nail your colours to the mast.

So come on, all of you, stand up and be counted whether you believe in this war or not. Support our lads out there who are doing their duty as directed by our elected Government and stop making excuses.

Stanley Phillips,

Keighley Road, Skipton.

Editor's note: The Union flag was flying from the Town Hall to mark the funeral of Captain Philip Guy.

SIR - How does one account for the anger in the letters sent in by Roger Ingham and ES Atkinson about the right to protest over the war on Iraq?

They are adults standing for, one presumes, responsible behaviour and the higher values of civility and democracy.

The vitriol they unleash is at odds with who they think they are. Is Mr Ingham serious when he conflates demonstrating youth in Skipton with "Saddam-style" behaviour and offers us offensive fantasies about an assault on one of your correspondents?

Mr Atkinson, a cold warrior, on the other hand seems to be reading history through old war movies and press releases from the White House. Surely Saddam and his henchmen can't be like the SS since they were once our allies and we had no problem conducting a lot of business with them.

Both correspondents scorn civil disobedience. Check your history gentlemen: demonstrating was the key to Ghandi and Indian independence, Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, the fall of the Eastern bloc, women's rights, unionism, the eight-hour working day, religious tolerance, as well as a free press. The list goes on.

Since the war began there has been an anti-war meeting for concerned youth every Monday and demonstrations either on Tuesday or Wednesday. After school.

Have some respect for our youth and our history!

Dr Bruce McLeod,

Bodkyn House, Otterburn.

SIR - I would like to question the legitimacy of a number of points that

were raised by Roger Ingham in his letter (Craven Herald, April 4).

Firstly he claims that airing your political views is acceptable providing that it is done so through the correct channels. As far as I am aware these "channels" are voting in a general election once every four years once you are above the age of 18. Mr Ingham seems to have missed the point that there are no such channels for school children.

Secondly, I would state that although a small minority were "bunking off" whilst walkouts occurred in Skipton schools, the majority were purely expressing their political views.

To say that at most one person may have taken part in a more formal protest on a Saturday is far from the truth. Many people from the schools have formed the Skipton Youth Takes Action anti-war group who meet for a business meeting to discuss issues once a week as well as protest outside of school hours.

In addition there was certainly a number into double figures of young people who attended the peace gathering on Saturday March 29.

My final point is that those "bunking" off school were certainly not the same people to which he was referring in the final paragraph of his letter. I would also add that by the tone of his letter it is obvious that he will be voting for the Conservative party in the next general election.

This is the party who plan to cut spending on education which would provide an even smaller platform for the local schools to work on in developing the political awareness of today's youths.Double standards?

Edward Vittery,

Wood Lane, Grassington

Permit poser

SIR - Why do Craven Council tax payers have to produce, specifically, a driving licence when buying a resident's parking permit at Skipton Town Hall?

Chris Mills,

Tufton Place, Skipton.