Letters To The Editor

SIR, - Last week my wife and I had just commenced a camper van holiday near the Delamere Forest in Cheshire when I unfortunately suffered a slight stroke and on local medical advice made a prompt return home.

The following account of the sequel to that emphasises the importance of, and the benefit to be gained, by having comprehensive medical facilities available in Ilkley.

The Cheshire doctor immediately telephoned my Ilkley doctor and my daughter contacted the Ilkley health Centre in my behalf to make an appointment.

On the following day, between 9.15am and midday, I had been examined by my doctor, a blood sample taken, been ex-rayed, collected prescribed tablets from the chemist, made an early appointment for physiotherapy and been driven by my wife to the Otley hospital for ECG tracings. I doubt if a busy district general hospital would have improved on that for prompt service.

This raises the issue of public transport upon which I, as a non-driver, would have had to rely had my wife not been available.

On the basis of published timetables and fares, the journey to Otley bus station takes 24 minutes before either waiting for a hopper bus to the hospital or making a long walk uphill. If one misses the X84 or 784 by one minute, then add on 29 minutes of waiting.

A single peak time fare is £1.50 plus 60p for the hopper. Journeys to Airedale are comparable in all respects. If the Ilkley hospital services were withdrawn, then those without personal transport would have to set aside half a day for what they currently receive after little more than normal waiting time.

My 35-year career in hospital administration - my last post was that of administrator to Scalebor Park, Wharfedale Children's and Coronation Hospitals - causes me to be sceptical about the information available and the rationale involved.

As one who has used the local facilities for many years, I profoundly wish to see the present arrangements extended and perpetuated.

ROBERT LANTAFF

Skipton Road,

Ilkley.

Taking back

SIR, - I am very pleased to see your coverage of the threat of closure of OUR Coronation Hospital.

This hospital was raised by public donations by the people of this district, as was the convalescent hospital. Why oh why did we permit them to be absorbed into the NHS system without recompense?

Our local moor was donated by the local council and once again absorbed by another authority, Bradford Met. Surely, if the two hospitals are to be closed and, I assume, demolished, we the people of Ilkley, or the council, should receive adequate compensation.

Lastly, if the prolific letter writers to your columns want to fill in their time, why don't they press for a 'taking back' of Rombalds Moor? The original benefactor and his heirs must by turning in their graves at allowing Bradford Met to have control/ownership (?) of our free acres.

S A R

Ilkley.

Name and address supplied.

Precept objection

SIR, - I share with many, dismay at the allocation or should I say, awards of the moneys, stolen from us via Council Tax to fund the local Precept.

I have written to the Chairman of Ilkley Parish Council in detail expressing my anger. Why should I or anyone else not involved with that church subscribe to a new Church Hall for St. Margaret's Church, or for sheet music for a group of singers etc?

St Margarets had a perfectly good church hall in Regents Road which they allowed a youth group to vandalise almost to the point of unusability, and then sold it to developers.

In April this year I had a letter published in which I was critical of the precept but in which I said 'let's wait and see'. Well it has not taken long. In my view, our councillors are acting like those who award lottery money - only those who receive a grant are happy, some of us are dismayed, the majority are puzzled or indifferent.

I am seriousy thinking of applying for a grant to support my minority interest. I would like to have one of my shotguns fitted so that when I next shoot 'clays' in the Yorkshire v Lancashire competition, I will have a better chance of a high score.

To those who,do not like my drivel I would say, the editors of national and Sunday newspapers, locals and regionals, BBC 5pm and Radio Leeds have all found my drivel printable or reportable, since 1961, longer than some of their reporters and longer than some of my detractors may have lived.

Long live freedom of speech.

Victor M 'Windbag' Bean

Skipton Road,

Ilkley.

Increased taxes

SIR, - In the Gazette of July 4, further life was breathed into Councillor Greenwood's suggestion that Ilkley people ought to pay for the running of the parish council.

In other words, pay by precept - which for we who live in Ilkley, really means an increased Council Tax.

Evidently, part of the thinking of Coun Greenwood and New Labour friends is that you carve up the tax system so that people pay for what they want. Therefore, if Ilkley people want a parish council, then they must pay for it.

Taxation does not work that way because the corollary is that if you do not want something you do not pay for it. That is not the system. Council costs are indivisible; and that includes administration costs.

However, it should come as no surprise if the next New Labour council seeks to increase what we in Ilkley have to pay in tax by adopting Coun Greenwood's suggestion.

Coun Greenwood's and friends will have seen the thin end of the wedge appear. The wedge, of course, was handed to them by the parish council being persuaded to impose the precept. Might it be that the parish council could be persuaded to do even more; and all still without consulting us through the ballot box?

Edwin Schirn

18 Victoria Grove,

Ilkley.

Blood supplies

SIR, - David Abrutat was involved in a near fatal road accident in Lincolnshire in March 2000. During his critical time in intensive care he was dependent on a large amount of blood due to his internal injuries.

Nigel Rogoff was seriously injured as a result of a skydive that went badly wrong at the Aston Villa stadium in December 1998. His injuries were extensive and pelvic haemorrhaging meant he had only a 50-50 chance of surviving through the night.

During his time in intensive care he received 120 units of blood. Real stories like these highlight the important role of the National Blood Service (NBS) across the country.

Both men led very active lives in the RAF and now they are circumnavigating Great Britain by land and sea, in this Golden Jubilee year, to raise the profile of the NBS by recruiting 100,000 NEW blood donors this year.

They also hope to raise £100,000 for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. What makes this challenge so special is that they are both disabled. The project known as the Around Britain Challenge starts from the Tower of London on Friday, May 10.

On three different occasions I have been the recipient of blood and I myself wouldn't be around without it.

Giving blood really does save lives. I am delighted to support the NBS's new year-long campaign: 'It doesn't matter how you get there, please get there', to encourage people to get to the their nearest blood centre any way they can and give blood.

It is quick and painless. To help find your nearest blood donor centre call the National Blood Donor Helpline on 0845 711 711 or visit the web site on (www.blood.co.uk).

Tanni Grey-Thompson

GB Paralympian.