Council 'has vested interests'

Such policies I have found were always clouded in ambiguity, equivocation, obfuscation and in many cases, strewn with legalised impediments designed to frustrate sensible response.

Strategy, such as it, resulted in Bradford being the City that business and people flee from.

As a result of these policies many Keighley people realised that Bradford strategies and ideas emanated from the dark days of the 1940s.

It was locally realised that regeneration for Keighley could be achieved without the handicap of Bradford Council, its officers and party politicians.

As an unpaid Keighley Town Councillor I'm beginning to become conscious that, possibly, vested interest still appears determined to stamp out Keighley's new found democracy.

Insidiously it seems that certain forces within Bradford City hierarchy are deliberately sidelining Keighley Town Council by refusing to accept that the fledgling Town Council should be involved in all decisions and evaluations of events within this area. Keighley people have fought for the right to govern themselves.

I realise that Bradford Council is reluctant to enter the new millennium, but the reality is that unless commonsense prevails Bradford will sink into moral and financial bankruptcy.

Cllr David Samuels

Oakworth Ward

SIR - It has come to my notice that we have a leading citizen and his wife with no chain of office.

Where are these items of high office? What have City Hall, Bradford done with them? Are they lost or will they not give to Keighley that which is Keighley's?

Remembrance Sunday will soon be upon us, so will Bradford allow our Mayor to pay his respects wearing a plastic badge?

John Urwin

Clifton Street, Keighley

SIR - I would like to say how delighted I have been once again with the response from individuals in your area to the second stage of the Reading Families Millennium Award scheme.

Last year we gave away grants totalling £320,000 to individuals who impressed the judges with their imaginative community reading project ideas. We hope that many more of your readers will follow in their footsteps and contact us to apply for a Millennium Award of up to £3,000 in time for this year's closing date on September 2.

The Reading Families Award Scheme is funded by a Millennium Commission grant of £1 .2million.

Millennium Awards is a unique programme of small grants which enable individual people across the UK to put their ideas into action, fulfilling a personal goal and, in doing so, enriching their communities for the new millennium.

Winning projects funded so far have included: young offenders producing reading materials for their families; older people recording their life histories; Sudanese women producing a book of their own experiences and children writing a recipe book based on vegetables they have grown!

It is not too late for anyone still wishing to apply for a Millennium Award, just call Annabel Amoh at the Campaign for Learning on 020 7976 2011 for an application pack. Completed forms need to be in by September 2.

Susie Parsons

Chief Executive

Campaign for Learning

SIR - On the 17th of this month I had occasion to walk alone between Malsis Road and Kensington Street.

As I did, I encountered a clutch of five youths of Asian appearance, not in itself an unusual encounter but nonetheless it turned out to be a stimulating one.

On seeing me one of the youths hailed me thus, 'Vite bestod!'

While another two bestowed upon me a warm blessing containing a lot of Fs.

They waved at me vigorously and I waved back somewhat pleased with this show of inter communal friendship.

Now in my ignorance I admit that my knowledge of sub continental linguistics is, shall we say, poor.

No matter. I found it heart warming that these youths of Asian appearance have so obviously grasped the nettle of co-operation with rapidity.

Are we not truly blessed to be citizens of Keighley?

Frank Brammah

address supplied

Sir - I was very interested in the photo in the Keighley News of High Hall, Steeton.

My grandfather Mr John Angus was gardener for Alex Keighley from before the first World War for 25 years.

The far garden with large gates at the bottom of Elmsley Street was only a field when he first started. At the bottom he made a kitchen garden, there were large lawns and a stone summerhouse.

He also planted the long flower border along the long wall and made two topiary scent bottles and two peacocks, the latter being by some steps in the long border.

The goldfish in winter were kept in a large tank in the greenhouse, a very big one he called Goliath. I also remember a cucumber plant growing in part of the greenhouse.

The extensive lawns were mowed by a large petrol driven mower and took all day to do.

M Watson

Airedale Mews

Silsden

Sir - the report by David Knights about the youth study mentions that three of these studies have already been done.

Would it not be more feasible to use these in the way that they are recommended than to spend £25,000 on what is already known, or is this just another costly charity chasing scheme?

Jim Narey

Oakworth

Sir - I am trying to trace an old friend who lived in Dale View Road, Long Lee, Keighley, around thirteen years ago.

His name was Mark Headley and he was married to Stella. They had two children, Laura and Simon.

We both worked together at Bootham Engineers in York.

It would be great to be in touch again.

JONATHAN BURROWS

Oakland Avenue

Stockton Lane

Heworth, York

SIR - I have a plea for your readers. For more years than I care to remember I have had an abiding interest in events surrounding the building of Cartwright Memorial Hall and the wonderful industrial exhibition which was organised to commemorate the event back in 1904.

I am carrying out deep research into the subject with the intention of attempting a book to coincide with the centenary in 2004. I am also in the very early stages of assisting Cartwright Hall with plans to stage an exhibition.

Very recent research has revealed some interesting facts, which has resulted in me beginning a search for two historic items relating to the event.

I have discovered that when the millionth and two-millionth visitors attended the exhibition they were each presented with very important souvenirs, which I am eager to locate and perhaps try to have them on loan for the event in 2004.

The millionth visitor was a Mr. Arthur Fitch, a gentleman farmer from Threshfield. This proud man was presented with an enamelled silver badge at a special luncheon held in St George's Hall.

The event's two-millionth visitor was a Mr Thomas Lee, a pickle and sauce manufacturer of 234 Otley Road, Bradford. Nothing was done when Mr Lee passed through the turnstiles, but he was invited to attend a special presentation ceremony two days later in the concert hall building at the exhibition.

Here he was presented with a solid gold 18-carat keyless lever watch together with a solid gold curb Albert chain. The watch had been specially inscribed on the back, hence the two day delay.

The watch itself had been manufactured by Manoah Rhodes, the Bradford jewellers, then situated in Kirkgate where it had been on window display for some time prior to the event. How marvellous if these historic items could be located.

I feel sure someone in the Aire Valley will have information.

I can be contacted through the Bradford Industrial Museum, where I carry out voluntary work every Monday. Failing that I can be contacted through Mrs Christine Hopper at Cartwright Memorial Hall.

GRAHAM HALL

Bingley

SIR - We read with some concern in your paper last week of the introduction of a £25 charge to replace stolen wheelie bins.

When the idea of the imposition of the wheelie bins was first brought to our attention we raised several concerns, including our concern that the people of Keighley would be charged for replacement bins.

At a neighbourhood forum meeting, and at a subsequent meeting with our organisation, Mr Paul Ambler of the cleansing department gave us an assurance that no such charge would be levied.

Yet again it seems that promises from Bradford have been broken. Has there been any notification of this stealth tax to the people of Keighley, or are we just supposed to accept a surprise charge when our bins have been stolen?

What is to happen to those who haven't got a spare £25? How are they to get rid of their rubbish? Answers please Mr Ambler.

Alex Brown

Chair

Braithwaite Peoples

Association

Keith Thompson Centre

Coronation Mount

Braithwaite

SIR - Remarks attributed to Ann Cryer that Asians live in the ghettos and that Asian youths specialise in selling drugs are plain and simply not true.

No one can deny there is a drug problem in Keighley, but is there not a drug problem in every major town and city throughout the country?

Drug abuse is a common problem for everyone, so the solution must be a fair and just one.

Surely the solution should not be to just blame all the problems in Keighley on the Asian community.

Ann Cryer as the MP should raise issues of concern to her, and her constituents, regardless of race and religion. But I cannot recall her raising any issues of concern to the white community, eg drug abuse, deprivation in the so-called white ghettos of Braithwaite and Bracken Bank, the ever increasing crime rate, and other problems faced by people across the board.

However she continually attacks us, making the Asian community scapegoats. She is confusing arranged marriages with forced marriages. Then she has the nerve to imply all young Asians are drug peddlers and profit from the suffering and misery of others.

Most people in Keighley, whether white or Asian, are hardworking and dedicated to improving their town.

For these people every day is a struggle and they could do with the support of their elected member of parliament.

British society should throw off the shackles of racism and colonialism and produce something genuinely multi-cultural.

AKMAL QADEER

Chatsworth Street

Keighley

SIR - A new campaign which will benefit national charity the Retired Greyhound Trust and its West Yorkshire branch - Tia Greyhound Rescue - gained support from actor and former footballer Vinnie Jones.

The star is supporting the aims of Grace 2002, a campaign to promote the welfare of retired racing greyhounds.

The primary aim of Grace 2002 is to increase the number of former racing greyhounds being found homes as pets and take the number which the Trust has re-homed since its launch in 1975 to over 25,000.

Typically retiring from racing at around 3 or 4 years of age, greyhounds can live to be 13, providing a family pet for up to 10 years. For information call Tia Greyhound Rescue on 07974 960 684 or the Retired Greyhound Trust on 0870 444 0673.

DAISY LOYD