Letters To The Editor

SIR, - I am not sure if your correspondent ('Why not ban anglers from the Tarn?' in the issue of August 15 is the same person who made similarly wild allegations in another weekly local paper.

If the author/ess would like to identify to the committee of Aireborough and District Angling Association the culprits claimed to have hurled abuse at other Tarn users, we can investigate the matter further. The letter is the first I have heard of the abuse being racist or directed at handicapped youngsters and I can assure him/her that the association will not tolerate abuse in any form.

Now we come to the inaccuracies in your correspondent's letter. There is no 'wholesale maiming and slaughter' of wildfowl. One duck has recently paraded her third brood of recent hatchings. The two previous broods have been observed and have grown intact.

No reports of swans 'tangled in discarded fishing lines and badly injured, having swallowed hooks' have been received by the association or the RSPCA. Equally no 'ducks similarly snared, dead or dying sometimes with tiny ducklings beside them' have been reported.

The association's bailiff fishes the tarn almost every day and visits it to sell tickets even on the days he is not actually fishing.

I have recently seen one dead duck in the water which was half grown. It had been so badly mauled (by either other wildlife or dogs) it was impossible to form a view as to the cause of its death. No doubt your correspondent is well aware that Mother Nature has its own way of dealing with the weak and sickly in a not so compassionate way.

I would love to see the size of a catapult capable of launching 'rocks' at swans. Weight training for many months would be needed to be able to draw back the elastic!

Swans (and ducks and the Canadian geese) are quick learners. I have seen how quickly they realise that people with bags walking round the tarn mean an easy meal and actually swim alongside those walking round the path in eager anticipation.

However, one or two people take great delight in throwing bread for the birds at the side of the anglers lines just to annoy the angler. They are, in fact, enticing birds to do what your correspondent seeks to avoid - become entangled in the line. This has happened when there have been only one or two anglers at the tarn when hundreds of yards of open bankside are there for all to see.

Anglers do not leave expensive rods and boxes on the path. The cyclists racing round the path have a nasty habit of smashing them to bits. Tents and giant umbrellas cannot be pitched/placed on the path because the tent spikes or umbrella poles will not penetrate the tarmac and concrete surfaces of the path!

The banks are not being broken and worked away by 'rod rest, stools and enormous boxes of equipment'. Erosion of the banks has been a problem for many years and is caused by wave action of the water itself.

Leeds City Council is responsible for maintaining the banks. Seven years ago the association asked the council to reposition the boulders (which formed the original bankside and which were then underwater). That work is still awaited and the boulders are even more further underwater.

The litter problem is not new. Frequent clean-ups take place. That collected is not restricted to angling litter alone but it is demoralising to see litter which has been collected, strewn about the day after, due to yobs or magpies and crows.

The association has publicly reminded all anglers of their responsibilities when using the tarn and continues to do so. Those responsibilities are clearly printed on all-day tickets and membership books.

I do not know how many is the 'many' the author/ess of the letter claims to speak for but at last Sunday's fishing match at the tarn, more than 20 non-anglers stopped to watch and chat to anglers. Many expressed the view they did not realise just how good the fishing was at the tarn.

They certainly got additional enjoyment they didn't bargain for when they started their visit. That has also happened on numerous evenings during the recent Monday evening series of matches.

P R Darfield

Press Officer,

Aireborough and District

Angling Association.

Stop pensions

SIR, - One thing I would do about pensions would be to stop all state pensions being paid to those earning over £25,000 a year. Most of these people have two pensions so they need not have a state pension, this way it will enable ordinary pensioners to have a decent amount.

Also, why can't we have more events in the park. We could have lots of events for children like a magic show or a Punch and Judy show and also an arts weekend with a festival of worship at the end.

Mr A Renwick

5c Weston Drive,

Otley.

Actress's plea

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 television 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 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) 6197298.

Caroline Quentin

Scope,

6 Market Road,

London N7 9PW.

Chapel's future

SIR, - In response to your invited comments on the High Royds issue, I suppose the lovely chapel will be to pulled down since it was for use by staff and patients primarily. It will be a pity.

What will there be to regulate the size of the new developments, eg. height of the units which should be in the footprints of demolished buildings? What will happen to the stone - will it be re-used or sold off?

Brian Jones

E-mail address supplied.

Farm inflation

SIR, - Farmers to protest - and why not? Any chance they might give a thought to the inflated compensation claims on foot and mouth? And the taxpayers?

One stag, £50,000; one ram, £50,000, for starters. Also the recent report on pollution - water, soil and air, which has increased the risk of flooding, spreading disease, and killing river fish stocks.

The chance of any farmer being prosecuted is less than one per cent. The National Farmers Union's Ben Gill says figures are too vague - translated that means 'you've got away with it again, lads!'

F Dickinson (Mr)

Larkfield Road,

Rawdon.

Maypole poem

SIR, - The new maypole will be set in greatness,

This lovely story to unfold.

When dwindling coffers overflow in memory,

To emerge as garnered gold.

The Farnley tree in sculptured carving

With gardens beauty ours to view.

Beneath the contours of the Chevin

This is the honour we will pursue

Yorkshire stone shall add its grandeur;

A heritage to our market town,

With strivings to achieve a conquest

Adding glory to our crown

Lila Mitchell

Hamilton Terrace,

Otley.

Digital query

SIR, - I am a pensioner interested in receiving digital TV without any rental costs or ugly aerials.

The new set top boxes costing £80 seem ideal but I am told Otley cannot receive the signal and that the only thing known is that the Government hopes for national coverage by 2006.

There must be others who are interested in the latest position and I thought you may consider investigating the matter. Can anyone in this area receive the signal or some of the channels?

J Higman

27 Whiteley Croft Road,

Otley.

Workshop praise

SIR, - My six year-old son Nicholas, with no previous experience, attended the Northern Academy of Performing Arts summer workshop in Otley.

I and all his family would like to say a big thankyou to all the team at the Academy.

Nicholas thoroughly enjoyed the week at the summer workshop and we were amazed at how well all the children performed in the show after only one week. All the family enjoyed the show very much.

Mrs M Bellwood

23 Football,

Yeadon.