Letters to the Editor

SIR, - The firefighters are set to dominate the headlines again, with the Government using its pay claim to make more cuts in services and levels of safety under the title of modernisation.

Please don't let us forget what modernisation did to our police force, from those days when they had a station in every town and village, with policemen on the beat making it, amongst other things, safe to walk about.

If the same thing happens to the fire service then somebody, for sure, will find themselves without a fire engine when they need one.

Its funny how clear things are when it's somebody else's position you are looking at but would our MPs have been prepared to help find the money to pay for their 40 per cent rise by making savings, perhaps by cleaning their own offices or helping out with the washing up in the Commons restaurant? After natural wastage had seen off the staff, of course.

The Confederation of British Industries is against a wage increase above four per cent (except for themselves) unless it is linked to modernisation, but do their members cut back on things that affect them, like giving up having somebody bring their coffee or wash their cars?

Being a supporter since I heard Harold Wilson rallying the original Labour Party in St George's Hall in 1964, I was excited with the 'things can only get better' election and excused Tony Blair at first for doing little if anything for the not so well off because I was sure that he would do eventually.

But I've got it wrong and no matter how our Prime Minister with the help of all his doctors, spin it, our homeless are still without homes, our poor are still poor, as are our pensioners. Many of our disabled are seemingly worse off now than they were, our dedicated health service workers are still badly paid and there are still as many unemployed, but they don't count you if you can't claim benefit.

If trying to emulate the 'Iron Lady' Tony Blair might do well to reflect on how strong she who caused so much misery, found out she was, the day she had to leave Downing Street. and wonder just how strong he will be, when the real Labour Party and all those who voted for New Labour with so much hope, do something about him?

I am fortunate so far in having always been in work and, although amongst the lower paid, I certainly wouldn't begrudge the firemen their rise, because it looks like those that are in need of an improvement in their standard of living are not going to get one under Tony Blair unless they can do something about it themselves .

I don't know where this leaves the not so fortunate amongst us. At least before 1997 they could dream of a Labour Prime Minister marching into Number 10 to right all the wrongs of the Tory years but just now there isn't even that dream.

Could the country be ready for an Arthur Scargill clone? Maybe not just yet, but it might be the only way for some, that things can really get better.

Derek Allen

Netherfield Rise,

Guiseley.

Soft on burglary

SIR, - So that's it then for Neighbourhood Watch presumably? Local burglars have being given the green light to pick up their swag bag and break in to houses knowing full well they will at worst get a 'caring, sharing community penalty' with the compliments of Derry Irvine and the Monster Raving Loony Party now being led by the country's most senior and senile judges.

Issues like this might be an irrelevance and nothing more than nuisance value to those in the judiciary, but the fact is it means as much to ordinary local people as to where we'll be dropping bombs on next month.

Still, we can't build more prisons can we? No, there are too many criminals so the solution is to cut out the middleman and reclassify house breakers as 'Interior take-away operatives'.

Perhaps we could offer a subsidised bus service to make sure the poor little loves don't drop anything on the way home. Anyone who has ever come home to the sick feeling of being broken into will know that this is a crime that can cause lasting upset and unease. Indeed, some old age pensioners never get over it.

What has happened to the basic human right of victims to get justice at any level? I hope Otley's Neighbourhood Watch continues i's good work and we carry on the fight against this crime in the absence of anyone else giving a monkey's.

Just remember if you do see any suspicious characters, don't hit them over the head with a chocolate chip muffin or you'll end up helping PC Knacker with his inquiries.

DAN COONEY

Riverdale Court,

Otley.

Missing the point

SIR, - Councillor Ray Dunn's response to my letter on Labour policy of means testing once again misses the point, or perhaps more accurately, evades the truth. Not for the first time he attempts to personalise the issue by prying into my private affairs.

How the changes in benefits affect my situation is not the issue. The more general point of how Tory Labour has constantly attached the vulnerable since coming into power, is the one he should be addressing.

However this is clearly too embarrassing for him to face and it is easier to discredit the critic. Not only does Councillor Dunn evade issues, but he has a very short memory. I have repeatedly explained in my letters how, by stealth taxes, New Labour has reduced the disposable income of pensioners and the disabled.

He also forgets how Labour cut disabled benefits as its first priority when coming into power in 1997. He may forget, but those effected certainly won't.

Councillor Dunn also seems blinkered as to what the Leeds City Labour-controlled Council is doing at this very moment. i.e. introducing means tested charges for services to elderly and disabled people.

Councillor Dunn says it is not the intention of any known Labour Party member to make people in receipt of benefit worse off. If he wants examples of those who are suffering he does not have to look very far.

I suggest he talks to the elderly who attend the Day Centre at Otley Civic Centre. He should also talk to the Leader of the Labour Group, Brian Walker, and Councillor Sherry Bradley who are both conspiring to increase day centre and home care charges from next April.

Displaying such abysmal knowledge of what his party is actually doing exposes how unconnected Ray Dunn is with the real world, and it is time he retired gracefully instead of participating in deceitful political propaganda.

Malcolm Naylor

21 Grange View,

Otley.

Lights no answer

SIR, - Why all the fuss before Christmas about the work having not yet started on the traffic lights at Carlton Crossroads, I see it as a bonus.

Why? Because drivers will ignore traffic lights on that junction just like they have done for 30 years or so lower down the road at the Dyneley Arms Junction.

The only answer at the Carlton crossroads is a roundabout and 'new road layout/roundabout' signs on all the approach roads. With fields on all sides there is no shortage of space.

At the crossroads just beyond Beckwithshaw at the 'Travellers Rest' junction, on the A59, the new roundabout with black and white 'arrow' brickwork has vastly reduced the number of accidents and another of these type of roundabouts is presently under construction between the A59 and Beckwithshaw itself at the Pennypot Lane/Army Barracks crossroads.

Come on Bramhope councillors and the Highways Agency, go take a look at those new roundabouts and instead of wasting money and people's lives with a set of traffic lights drivers will ignore, provide the much safer option.

A roundabout slows drivers down and makes them stop if they have to, traffic lights don't. If the traffic lights go ahead I am sure all your readers will remember my letter everytime your paper reports 'Another accident at the Carlton traffic lights'.

Mr P Cater

164 Weston Drive,

Otley.

Rugby welcome

SIR, - I would first of all thank Peter Kelley for his letter in this column giving a positive view of Otley RUFC.

Peter is a very dedicated member of the club and has worked hard in the past three or so months producing a club calendar. I wish his enthusiasm extended throughout the full membership of the club, but like any other organisation of our type you have the 'doers' and the 'knockers'.

This brings me to Paul Hatfield's letter. You don't sell rugby union, you have either been involved and understand the ethos of the game or you are simply interested in the sport.

Otley RUFC give an outlet to a lot of the youth of Otley who in the majority of cases turn into good citizens of the town. I have been a member of the club for more than 20 years, have made very many good friends there and would invite Mr. Hatfield to come to the club any time, where he would be made very welcome and can put his objections to us face to face.

Keith Carroll

Chairman,

Otley RUFC

Supporters Association,

50 Church Street,

Yeadon.

Rules flouted

SIR, - A report on BBC Farming Today has said that laws introduced to contain the spread of foot and mouth disease are being flouted routinely. Trading standards officers found farmers and dealers were moving thousands of animals without keeping records.

Perhaps resident farmer Mr Flesher would comment - I suppose the Government is to blame - 'too much red tape'. Maybe 'red tape' and record keeping would have saved some lives when the farmers were using cheap feed to save money and helping the spread of BSE?

F Dickinson (Mr)

Larkfield Road

Rawdon.