Letters to the Editor

I am not suggesting everything is perfect, but I want to highlight the excellent quality of care provided at Airedale General Hospital for my 97-year-old mother.

She attended clinics regularly over the past three years and the consultants, registrars, nurses and other qualified professionals did everything possible to help her during that time. Age seemed totally irrelevant when dealing with her.

In December, she was in Airedale hospital for two weeks and sadly died. However, during that time she was treated with such gentle professional kindness and good humour I certainly could not have asked for more.

Indeed, the same was true three years ago when my father, also 97, was a patient at the same hospital.

Most of us are guilty of being quick to complain when things go wrong and too slow to praise and acknowledge when a service is particularly good.

I very much hope you can find space in your correspondence column for this letter as I feel the consultants, doctors and nurses who work for our NHS deserve recognition for the wonderful work they do on our behalf.

I am indeed profoundly grateful for the treatment my family has received.

URSULA TURNER

Bracken Park, Scarcroft, Leeds

SIR - Some reasons why I felt it right to go with the Bradford peace march.

I see no moral justification for another war on Iraq, a country whose infrastructure - clean water, sewage and power - is already devastated, and whose population has suffered over a decade of deprivation as a result of sanctions.

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children have died from water-borne disease and mysterious cancers, and with essential hospital supplies like anaesthetics and medical isotopes for oncology treatment denied by sanctions.

If Saddam were overthrown there would be few regrets. However, there are many unpleasant regimes across the globe, and unless vested interests are directly involved, the major powers conveniently ignore them.

No direct link has been established between Iraq and any threat to the US, Britain or other Western nation. Surely Bush needs a pretext for war to control the oil reserves.

If the US administration genuinely believes Iraq is concealing biological and chemical nerve agents of weapon potential, then this belief is of course, based on the well documented fact that it was the US who actually supplied the many biological pathogens and chemical precursors during the Iraq - Iran war.

In much the same spirit the US equipped the Taliban in Afghanistan as a bulwark against Russia, before Russia's detente with the West.

UN weapons inspectors in Iraq are not being impeded and a new co-operation has been established. Now the inspectors must be given time to fulfil their UN mandate and confirm compliance. Tony Blair should not follow George W into open-ended war, which is opposed by many nations and the UN Security Council.

Surely another Gulf War would not only cause massive civilian casualties and refugees, but could create instability and anarchy, and be open to extremist fundamentalist groups.

Melvyn Harrison,

Kilnsey Fold,

Silsden

SIR - I would like to pay a small tribute to Mr Norman Gill, whose obituary appeared in last week's KN.

Being the sole surviving founder member of the Theatre Group, I remember well Norman joining us just after we moved from the Temperance Hall to Devonshire "Little Theatre."

He at once became a valued member, a very talented actor, especially in comedy roles.

I had the pleasure of appearing with and directing him in many productions. One of his talents was his ability to memorise lines quickly.

I once gave him a page of script and, after reading it once, he could repeat it almost word perfect - how we all envied him. When he and Betty left Keighley for Biggleswade it was a great loss to the Theatre Group. He was and still is greatly missed.

FREDRIC W PYE

Strawberry Fields, Keighley

SIR - As a resident of Keighley since 1983, I have never seen criminals on our streets with so much freedom.

The police presence on our streets after 7pm is absolutely zero. Victims of drug addiction can be seen walking around chosing targets to rob.

My opinion is if police want help from the communities in Keighley, they have to show the communities they are out doing their job of protection.

The police are a vital institution in our society, but if we do not feel their presence we can never see them as the law but simply a number to ring to report an incident.

Police patrol cars can be seen parked up at the police station but not patroling streets and catching and prosecuting scum who are terrorising our communities.

It is very important the police step up presence on the streets during the long hours of darkness in the season of winter, or I am afraid to say families are going to have no choice but to defend themselves and their possessions, simply because the police are not able to stop re-occuring crimes against the people of Keighley.

M SALEEM AZAM

Utley, Keighley

SIR - There are inevitably two sides to every story; clearly, this is why we have justice and injustice in our courts. So please, through your letters page, let me explain.

Last year in the Keighley News you published a front page story concerning psychiatrist Dr Darren Holdsworth, from Keighley, who had admitted to indecent assault, on a woman, at the High Court in Glasgow.

Although he is serving time, it is a well known fact that once inside the court building, the court itself effectively becomes a plea market. Any outcome is possible, I might add.

Your paper published one side of the story, which clearly wasn't his and certainly didn't do him justice, as didn't the courts.

But my point is not to argue the case because we don't have the time; it is simply this: to beseech those people that knew him for the likeable character he was, loyal, humorous, affectionate, affable, good natured and many more warming ones to boot. His tenderness for getting to know people, especially locals, was something he insisted on keeping alive. To me, and many, many others, he was a gem - a rarity!

Significantly, in two week's time his case is due for appeal. What he needs are character references from friends, aquaintances, neighbours, those who knew him. The way to do this is contact this number - 07903521595 - where applicable details will be given and discretion, of course, will be acknowledged.

Finally, people: if there ever was a miscarriage of justice then this, definitely, is it. Please help.

JASON B ROBINSON

Cross Lister Street, Keighley

SIR - Re the proposed details of the new road calming measures in Highfield Lane.

I write of my concern about what these road alterations will gain, against the greater problems they will create in other already busy traffic areas.

The majority of traffic using Highfield Lane is from Laycock, Braithwaite, Blackhill, Broadlands and Springfield Road. I feel most of these motorists will try to miss these planned humps and 20 mph zones.

The Laycock, Braithwaite traffic will use the West Lane route instead of Whin Knoll Avenue into Highfield Lane, as they do at the present. Highfield Road will come into more use from the other areas also making for West Lane for a quicker and calmer journey to town.

These ill conceived plans are transferring traffic movements from the Highfield district to Highfield Road, which is not included in the calming programme.

This road is at present already extensively used by heavy goods trainee drivers, school of motoring and private vehicles making to and from Our Lady of Victories School. I feel this road will become much busier if these plans go ahead. Other anticipated extra movements in West Lane will also put pressure on the very busy Devonshire Street West, especially at school times which already has a heavy traffic flow and pedestrian movement.

I feel Mr Editor new thoughts are needed and this £96000 put to better use for the Highfield residents' safety. Road narrowing suggested by Cllr John Philip (Braithwaite) is one way of tackling Highfield Lane if that is considered the priority. It should not be transferring these problems and putting other districts in more danger than they are now.

BRIAN A KENEALY

Highfield Road

SIR - Once again an application has gone in to the council for the provision of entertainment for the beleaguered masses of Keighley and, surprise, surprise, Councillor Mallinson is going to object.

This is, I believe, at least the third application in recent times for licensed premises that has been turned down.

Before it was that there are too many pubs in Keighley. Now it is because the council is "Trying to promote a busy and thriving town centre".

Well answer me this. How is the town going to become busy and thriving when everybody is actively encouraged to go to Bradford for their entertainment and any new employment development is also objected against, so if growth of employment is not to be allowed how are these people supposed to "walk to work?"

In Bradford, it appears that every building that becomes vacant, somebody is instructed to hang a sign saying "Leisure opportunities available", and indeed the council even plans to put public bars in City Hall.

Can we have one in Keighley Town Hall? Even in Bingley a new bar has opened recently in the old fire station, and the old library until not so long ago had three businesses in the one building that were licensed.

Objecting to each and every planning application in this way is no way to create a busy and thriving town centre. The only way to do that is to attract people to visit the town for pleasure and entertainment and to create wealth by providing employment.

At least Councillor Mallinson has finally admitted what every resident already knew, that the council's aim is to turn Keighley into a dormitory for Bradford

J Karkoszka

Wood Street,

Coldshaw, Haworth

SIR - I have watched with interest and total disbelief the debate about the planned Children's Home in Oakworth.

I have a friend who works in social work with children, in his experience of 10 years plus it is not the children who present the problems out of his caseload, none of the children have criminal records.

They were taken from parents because of the parents' deviant behaviour. They are victims themselves of inadequate or negligent parenting, as it would appear are many children.

Some of the protesters need to ask themselves if they know where their little darlings are between 6-10pm each night.

The children in the care of social services will be being listened to and supported by people who are trained and educated about childcare, more than can be said for some of the examples I see on Oakworth main street.

This is to say nothing of the disgusting mess and vandalism that occurs in and around the park.

People need to think about the needs of their own children before they condemn others who have been put in this position by so called responsible adults who either cannot parent or choose not to.

SYLVIE BAILEY

(Parent of a 12yr old

and 14 yr old)

SIR - Do you know someone who has had a stroke or cares for someone whose life has been turned upside down by the effects of a stroke?

Nominations are now being taken for The Stroke Association's annual Life After Stroke Awards. The awards are held each year and recognise the extraordinary courage that has been shown by people of all ages who have had a stroke, and also those who care for them.

Kirsty Shelton, age nine, won the Courage Award for the under 18s last year. Kirsty's Mum said, "I nominated my daughter after she suffered a stroke. She lost all her speech and the use of her right side. She has never complained and has pushed herself to recover."

There are seven categories: three for courage, one for art work, one for community work, one for carers and one for Stroke Association volunteers.

All those nominated receive a certificate of recognition, and the award winners will attend a ceremony luncheon, which is supported by a host of celebrities, in London on 16th July 2003.

If you would like to nominate someone, please apply for a 'Life After Stroke Awards' form from The Stroke Association, Northampton Resource Centre, 61-69 Derngate, Northampton NNI IHD or call 01604 623 919.

The closing date for nominations is Friday, March 21, 2003.

NICOLA RYAN

The Stroke Association