Letters to the Editor

Now they aim to go one better and beat Bradford League first division side Baildon in the re-arranged game at Liversedge.

Captain Richard Robinson, who was playing with Baildon last year, could be the one to upset his former team mates. To add to the atmosphere former Keighley player Paul Spragg will be in the Baildon line-up.

"We are expecting a lot of support at the match. There are still a few places on the bus we are running to the game, and I know many more people will be travelling by car," said club secretary Michael Parker.

Lee Gordon (right) was due to miss the game when it was first planned, but he has returned from the Keighley Rugby Union Colts team's tour of South Africa and will take his place in the team. Second team captain Jamie Robinson, who was due to take his place, is a replacement.

Mark Beckett, who is on the ground staff at Lord's, is on duty when Yorkshire take on Somerset in the final of the C&G Trophy tomorrow. But he is planning to race straight back to Keighley after that game to be ready to take his place in Sunday's cup line-up.

"After the rain took its toll on the original date for the final everything went a bit flat, but the players were down at the ground onSIR - It is clear from my mail-bag that many people in Keighley - particularly among the Christian and Muslim communities - share my concerns regarding any proposed military intervention in Iraq.

The recent comments of Vice President Cheney demonstrate the necessity and importance of public opinion in expressing opposition to any such action.

I am convinced that if President Bush was to spend as much time in addressing the Palestinian problem as he is in sabre rattling against Iraq, the question of peace in the Middle East might finally prove possible.

However, the continued threat of military action serves no other purpose than to destabilise an already precarious region.

The US Administration - on turning its back on Kyoto, Ottawa, Johannesburg etc - has proven its determination to allow its Foreign Policy to be determined by its own interests and, therefore, I do not believe that the British Government should simply follow the lead of President Bush.

Prior to the commencement of military action in Afghanistan (action which I supported), both the US and British Governments went to great lengths to demonstrate the extent of the atrocities (and potential future threat) of the Al-Qaida network. Indeed, it was clear to see to the international community that it was the duty of any civilised nation to seek to destroy the Al-Qaida network and the Taliban.

This is not the case for Iraq. While it is alleged that Iraq is attempting to manufacture, purchase and store weapons of mass destruction, no concrete evidence has been produced.

Any military action, especially without the support, involvement and legitimacy of the United Nations, would make a volatile area of the world yet more unstable. The priority must be the settlement of the Palestinian problem.

I have expressed my views to the Prime Minister.

ANN CRYER

MP for Keighley

SIR - The old questions re-emerge. Is capital punishment a deterrent to crime? Is it justice, or is it revenge?

Is it fair retribution or is it cruel and unusual punishment? Is it society's only defence against violent crime, or does it implicate society itself in that violence?

One takes the view that the law does not give equal protection to the victims of these killers.

When a person wilfully and ruthlessly takes the life of a small child, or an 87-year-old lady bludgeoned and murdered in her flat, and the only punishment we will inflict is life imprisonment, are we saying that the murderer's life is worth more than the victim's?

The person who is more aggressive, who take the initiative in depriving other people of their lives, is given the advantage of knowing the state will not take his life in return.

Life is lived once, and it is real, it is not a game where people can be given a second, third, and fourth chance to become useful citizens while climbing over other people's bodies.

The death penalty is our way of reminding ourselves of that.

E REDMAN

Keighley

SIR - At a meeting of Keighley Town Council we were promised that the diversion route around Oakworth Road, would be patrolled by the police. Unfortunately this does not seem to be having any effect on the traffic.

I personally have seen officers driving and walking past vehicles parked on double yellow lines on both Malsis Road and at the junction of Victoria Road and Oakworth Road. This makes it very difficult for Public Transport Buses to turn the corner either way.

If it is not a Road Traffic Offence why go to all the trouble of painting the yellow lines in the first place, or are Keighley Police not bothered about Road Traffic Offences?

Furthermore, traffic is ignoring the buses and access only on Goulbourne Street and is even turning right at the junction of South Street.

At the junction of South Street and Queens Road vehicles are still travelling down South Street and turning left on to Queens Road, even though it is well signposted no left turn.

It is now near the end of August and Holycroft School will be re-opening shortly. Do we have to wait for a child to be involved in an accident before police officers start to do the job that they are employed and paid to do?

GERALD M NEWTON

Keighley Town Councillor

Valley View Close, Bogthorn

SIR - I would like to take this opportunity of extending an invitation to your readers to support the work of Sustrans in your area.

Sustrans - the sustainable transport charity - is responsible for co-ordinating the building of the National Cycle Network (NCN), currently covering 6,500 miles of the UK, with 10,000 miles planned for 2005.

Sustrans is also supporting hundreds of Safe Routes to Schools initiatives, as well as a host of new projects aimed at easing transport congestion, making our streets safer and more pleasant while protecting our environment.

Sustrans offers bold, innovative, practical projects that make a real difference to our health and general quality of life. We need new supporters in your area in order to help us continue our work.

Supporters provide us with the essential core funding that enables us to release money from government and non-government sources.

Every £1 we receive from supporters helps us to release up to £26 that goes straight into a new stretch of NCN, supporting a Safe Route to School, etc.

Everyone who becomes a regular Sustrans supporter will receive details of our initiatives, a free map of the NCN in your locality, and updates on practical ways to actually get involved with our many activities.

There are often opportunities to help develop new routes and schemes in your area to help your local community.

You can join now by calling 1007 929 0888, email info@sustans.org.uk, or visit our website www.sustrans.org.uk, and we will send a free information pack to get you started.

KEVIN SAUNDERS

Sustrans, the sustainable

transport charity

SIR - Once more, one or more of our fellow citizens vandalises another Community Transport bus.

The people involved seem to have developed a great delight in burning and destroying anything that helps and improves the quality of life of other people.

These supposedly human beings, and their acts of destruction, demonstrate that they care not for the lives and well being of others.

Such actions make one think that it's time to give in and close down such projects as the Community Transport and let the evil individuals win.

The bus these people deliberately destroyed was destined to work for the whole of the community in the coming weeks and months.

Now, thanks to them, children, old people, the blind, and the less disadvantaged wheelchair users will not be going anywhere for a long time.

From past experience I know that the police, magistrates, parents will not even bother to tick off the perpetrators of such wilful acts of antisocial behaviour.

It indicates to me that once again the thugs and vandals have got away with causing damage and mayhem while good honest citizens in our local society who are fighting to take back this town are denied a helping hand from an authority that talks big and does nothing.

Seemingly the wringing of hands and sanctimonious claptrap is the only thing available to counter the criminal chaos we, the general public, endure.

BRIAN HUDSON

Chair of Keighley

Community Transport

Holycroft Street, Keighley

Sir - Re last week's front page story headlined 'No case to answer'.

I am just writing to thank you for taking the time to investigate this matter, and would also like to thank you for your opinions published in the Keighley News.

Please also pass my thanks on to David Knights for the report.

I just hope that this will go some way to possibly making the CPS think harder in future about dropping such cases like this

My family and I thank you.

NAME and ADDRESS

SUPPLIED

SIR - I have never been the quiet type! As an actor, I love being able to share my ideas, opinions and emotions.

So when Scope asked if I would support their appeal to give children and adults with limited or no speech the chance to speak out I leapt at the chance.

Scope, the national disability charity, launches its new TV advertising appeal this week. It focuses on a young boy who has cerebral palsy.

He is unable to speak and can't tell anyone how he feels. He can't even tell his mother that he loves her. But with a communication aid he could.

Unfortunately, many children and adults are being denied the opportunity to speak out simply because they do not have the right equipment or support.

For 50 years, Scope has been helping to ensure people like this do not go unheard, providing them with access to the support and services they need to help them to communicate.

Scope's work is essential, but it is also expensive. So, I hope your readers will join me and help to provide disabled people with the means to be heard.

Simply call 0207 619 7298 today and give what you can.

CAROLINE QUENTIN

Scope

SIR - Your correspondent G Dyson and I can agree on several points:

Fewer right hand turns into and out of Cavendish Street (currently at least ten are possible between Keighley College and the Victoria Hotel) would assist traffic flow through the Town Centre.

And yes, I also take my car to a supermarket for "weekly shopping" but, and here's the crux of my argument, I take the car into central Keighley as little as possible during daytime on the other six days! Our bus network is good and it's there to be used.

I do not believe, nor can I find anyone who honestly believes, that we can go on pouring more and more vehicles into Keighley Town Centre without severely restricting our local economy.

I ask G Dyson to meet me, walk around the Town Centre, debate the possibilities for traffic improvement and I promise to introduce his or her ideas into the Traffic, Transport & Environment Committee of Keighley Town Council.

Cllr Graham Mitchell

Oakworth Ward

SIR - Have you got one of Britain's Best Homes? If so, Channel 4 wants to hear from you.

We are on a nationwide hunt to find the most desirable homes in Britain.

But you don't have to have a palace to take part - whether you live in a castle or a council house, a flat or a farm, we are looking for the best of every type of home.

What matters is what you've done with your property. Whether it's modern or mediaeval, trendy or traditional, we want to hear from you.

If you think your home has got what it takes to feature in a major new TV property programme, contact us on 02380 712396 or send an email to best.homes@topical.co.uk

Russell Brown

Producer,

Britain's Best

Homes Tuesday night and they are really fired up for thematch.

"The midweek weather forecast was quite good and everyone is looking forward to the game, Mr Parker said.

n The Keighley Cup final between Silsden and Cullingworth is due to bring the curtain down on the season. It will now be played at the Keighley CC ground on September 15, starting at noon.