Pupils shocked by speeding cars

During the last few years, there have been some very bad accidents, in particular at the junction off this road to Carr Head Lane which goes to Lothersdale.

There is a 30mph limit through the end of Cross Hills, ending over the bridge just before the Dog and Gun pub. Cars tend to accelerate out of this 30mph limit and pay no heed to the fact that: a) there is a school on the right hand side, and b) there is a junction about 150 yards further up the road.

The three pupils, who asked to conduct the traffic survey, were concerned, in particular, with the dangerous exit off the main road on to Carr Head Lane and the very dangerous exit on to the main road.

Three pupils recorded speeds between 8.30am and 10.30am, between 12 noon and 1pm, between 2.15pm and 3.15pm and between 5pm and 6.15pm. They were not able to record the speed of every car, but during each day, recorded the speeds of between 270 and 300 cars.

Some of the results found were very worrying indeed and in some cases verged on the criminal act. 263 cars were recorded driving at over 70mph and some at well over 80mph, only 100 yards further up the road from the pub and only 150 yards out of the 30mph speed limit.

Most of the accidents which occur coming out of Carr Head Lane are when cars turn left onto the main road and fail to see the accelerating car overtaking past the Dog and Gun pub.

Only 30 cars, which is less than two per cent, were travelling under 30mph; 33 per cent of all cars were travelling between 30 and 50mph, the majority of these travelling between 40 and 50mph; 50 per cent of all cars were travelling between 50 and 70mph and 65 per cent of all traffic recorded was travelling between 50 and 90mph.

It seems incredible to us here at the school that the speed limit immediately after the end of the 30mph zone, right next to a popular pub, opposite the entrance and exit areas of a boarding and day prep school and also just prior to a very dangerous right hand junction, should be 60mph.

Accidents will continue to happen; our wall, which has been knocked down on several occasions will continue to be knocked down; people will be killed through what is ultimately total neglect on the part of the authorities.

Coming back into Cross Hills from Cowling, the sign which tells you that there is a junction on the left, is completely covered in trees and there is no signage whatsoever coming into Cross Hills indicating that there is a school on your left.

The pupils are very happy to put together a package showing all this data, but more importantly they have done it hoping beyond all hope that somebody does something about this very dangerous part of the roadway and surely it can only be a very simple manoeuvre to extend the 30mph limit. We shall continue to monitor the speeds outside the school and pass on our results to the appropriate agencies.

John Elder,

Headmaster,

Malsis School, Glusburn

SIR - Referring to the letter 'Scruffy Town Hall' (June 21) from Francis Johnson. I entirely agree.

The Yorkshire Artists exhibition, this year held in our most glorious of 'listed buildings' i.e. Skipton Town Hall, was a brilliant success.This was due entirely to the artists, the arts development staff and the museum staff and all three groups should be congratulated.

It had nothing whatsoever to do with the gloriously, scruffy venue or the lack of advertising. The success unfortunately, would only have been appreciated by the lucky few who knew that an art exhibition was being held there!

For years, (and I mean years and years and years), I have written to this paper begging Craven Council to re-think their policy regarding advertising this show and allow the original smart eight feet banner to be hung once more. This banner was and is still a much needed and wonderful advertisement.

It simply said "Art Exhibition" in large letters and was placed at the front entrance over the balcony. The frontage of the Town Hall was kept free of the scruffy, cheap, nasty and tasteless "littering" of so called advertisements and posters which now lie propped up in every bit of space available every week. Can this committee not see how much of an insult it is to artists who spend hours creating work, who have to pay "up front" for materials such as canvases, paper, paints, brushes, frames and of course, don't forget their "hanging fees".

Artists need the general public, tourists and, like Mr. Johnson said, art experts and dealers to know that they are there. Doesn't this Committee realise that artists on the whole, exhibit with the hope that they may sell their work - they also have to earn a living!

The arrogance of this council appalls me. Having said that, I am confused as to which council is responsible for this matter, Craven, or the Town.

Earlier this year, and well in time for councillors to discuss this matter before the exhibition at their meeting of March 20, I both e-mailed and posted a letter to each and every single member of the planning sub-committee and the regeneration and development committee asking them to discuss this matter at this meeting and asking for their support in allowing a banner to be hung once more to see if it would (1) attract more visitors to come into the show, and (2) get rid of the current mess outside this listed building.

I received no reply from the committee clerk, or members and I understand that this matter was never discussed by them.

I did, however, have a response from Coun English, who suggested that I should contact the chairman, Coun Marcia Turner by telephone. She was unavailable, and I spoke instead to Coun Whittaker who made it clear that banning of the banner rule would not be lifted. He said that the rule had been made and they would not discuss it further. A fine example of stifling bureaucracy.

If artists are to be ignored in this way, and the council continues to show such a low regard, arrogance and indifference to the arts, then perhaps it is time for the Yorkshire Artists Exhibition to look for another venue where their efforts will be appreciated and leave these 'philistines" to their own jaundiced devices.

In September 1997 you published four letters expressing "dismay" at this council's attitude concerning the arts. They were accused then of "having no imagination, initiative, enthusiasm, or, even more, verve" and - "we have learned not to rely on Craven councillors for any help".

Again, in August 1999, we answered a letter written by Roger Bell when we stated: " by the way, we wrote in similar vein a few years ago about the sad state of the hall, which could show twice the amount of paintings than it does, the poor treatment of artists who give their time to this annual show, the lack of publicity by CDC - i.e. no banner/posters etc. the 'let's get it over with' attitude".

Needless to say our letter elicited no response whatsoever from this council.

Will our letter make any difference this time? I doubt it - they never did make any difference!

For goodness sake Craven councillors and the Town Council, if The Yorkshire Artists are to remain with this venue for future shows, please, please, once and for all, get your heads out of the sand, get into the 21st century and learn to liaise intelligently with the people who know and who are interested in the arts and ask their advice. Be guided by them, and don't forget, you have been elected by us to look after our interests.

Sheila Turner

Squirrel Cottage,

Ickornshaw, Cowling

SIR - I was delighted to win tickets for the Great Yorkshire Show in your recent competition.

The show was superb, the weather marvellous and we had a wonderful day.

June Rennison,

Conistone with Kilnsey.

SIR - Tiddlywinks, the Toddler Group, has been running successfully since its launch on April 15 and would like to thank all those who have given their support.

Parents and toddlers have been meeting on Mondays (1-3.15pm) at Busy Bears on Broughton Road, Skipton, and have enjoyed many activiites thanks to those who have given them donations and advice.

The playgroup will close for the summer holidays but we hope to open in September with a big fun day to encourage new members.

The group would like to say a special thank you to: The Lions of Skipton; Johnson and Johnson; the Asian community; Skipton Building Society and Margaret Billing at Craven College.

Through their financial support we have been able to pay the rent, buy setting up equipment, easels and art materials, books a first aid box, dressing up clothes and toys.

Also thanks to those who made the project happen:

Margaret Brice of North Yorkshire County Council's Early Years Partnership; Denise Burton of the Youth and Community Service; Janet Clarke, Craven Pre-Learning Alliance; the health visiting teams; Phillip Scott and Gail Swindells at Busy Bears; Monica Conlon, Helen Sturgess and all at Ings School.

Nasreen Sarfraz,

Chairman,

Tiddlywinks Playgroup Committee.

Dr diatribe

SIR - Much as I enjoy my Friday morning session with the Craven Herald, I spend a disproportionately long time trying to get to grips with Dr James Fleming.

Might I respectfully suggest that: a his column inches be cut by half; b he confines himself to discussing purely medical matters; c he avoids diatribes against patients and nurses; d he uses his innate "ability to study and learn things" to further his mastery of the English language and tighten up his logic.

My teenage sons are convinced the column is written in jest by someone masquerading as a doctor. The Curmudgeon perhaps?

Pauline Eyre,

Raikes Road, Skipton.

Editor's note: Yes, he's a real doctor.

SIR - In response to Mrs Price's letter in 12th July issue of Craven Herald, and on behalf of Settle High School and Community College PTA, we were somewhat surprised by her comments.

We were invited to use the Social Club's facilities and were pleased to accept because the Social Club Committee has been very supportive of us in the past. We were pleased that the football club's day was successful and hope there is room in Settle for all organisations to have their day.

We are all, presumably working for the good of the diverse community in the Settle district.

In response to the suggestion we should use the school playing field; that is a sports facility, maintained at considerable cost and not appropriate to use as a fairground. There is no electricity, no toilets or running water. Broken glass and debris could have presented a risk to the young people who use the field every day.

Governors of Settle High and Settle Middle Schools have a clear agreement restricting use of the fields to sporting activities only for precisely this reason.

Perhaps Mrs Price could have come across to see what we were doing and enjoyed the diverse and talented performances. We had a dancing group ranging from toddlers to teenagers, a very talented young singer and guitarist, a wonderful Robbie Williams impersonator and many more, to all of whom we are indebted.

We hope those who were there enjoyed the afternoon, especially as so much hard work had gone into the organisation.

Mrs Diane Procter,

Chairman,

Settle High School PTA.

SIR - A cutting from your newspaper of my letter which related to the Summer Spectacular organised by Settle Community School PTA was stuffed through the letterbox of my shop.

Written over it were the words: "You stupid old cow. Who do you think you are. Get a life woman." It is unsigned. I think I hit the spot.

I would respond to the person who wrote to me by saying: Yes, at 60 I am "old". "Cow"? That is for others to judge. "Stupid" - No. One can't run a business, compile one's accounts and express oneself in good and elegant English if one is stupid.

I don't think who I am. I know who I am. I pay two lots of rates in this town. I don't stop other people enjoying their lives by encroaching upon them in their homes.

I have got a life - not one like yours. I like more intellectual pursuits, this doesn't make me any better than you, it makes me different.

The tone and wording of your message is of the level or response I had expected. Not an apology for the disturbance but an attack on my person.

Several people have spoken to me over the last few days to express their agreement. One woman said "perhaps I should have written, but I'm not brave enough".

My final point is that I was willing to sign what I write - unlike you who hide behind the anonymity of a shabby note.

Sandra M Price

Station Road, Settle.

Editor's note: A basic facet of any democracy is the right to express one's opinions.

SIR - I find it churlish of someone who professes to have the interest of Settle at heart to criticise people who feel the same.

The PTA worked hard to raise much-needed money to enable Settle High School to make a bid for technology status. £50,000 is needed.

Rural schools have to play on the same playing fields as larger city schools, which have the benefit of contributions from industry and large businesses.

I believe the reasons for holding the event in town was to keep it central and I'm sure people who came also spent money in local shops and saw what Settle has to offer. Surely 7pm was not an unreasonable time to finish.

J Bradley,

Mearbeck, Long Preston.

SIR - I would like the opportunity to reply to the letter from Mr Dalton in the Craven Herald (July 12) about the union flag which was flown above my branch.

After Mr Dalton pointed out the problem to us we contacted the Chamber of Trade, which was responsible for putting the flag up and asked for it to be changed.

Unfortunately it seems they were unable to do so in time for the Jubilee celebrations.

I am certainly pleased to see such patriotism and would like to assure Mr Dalton and all our customers, that far from being in a state of distress, Skipton Building Society is flourishing.

Sally Morgan,

Skipton branch,

Skipton Building Society.

SIR - The picture of the Skyliners last week brought back happy memories of school pals. They played in Ingleton Square on VE Day. Also in the band was Billy Disley, who later became well known as 'Diz' Disley.

I spoke to him about three years ago when he was on at the Gresson and he mentioned the VE Day.

His relation, Miss Disley, taught science at Ingleton School.

Ray Stephenson.

Coniston Rd,

Newton, Lancaster.