Not all weeds look out of place

There is a very small triangle of earth at the back of the Albion, which a few years ago was planted with some ornamental shrubs by some unknown person. This has recently been sprayed with weedkiller, thus destroying some harmless plants.

There were pretty plants such as feverfew, ivy-leaved toadflax and pink garden valerian growing in crevices at the base of the wall between the Bowling Green and the RopeWalk.

These too have been destroyed, as have plants at the edges of the Town Hall and Coach Street car parks.

The reasoning behind this destruction seems to be that "weeds" are a nuisance and must be prevented from seeding and spreading further.

But to my mind the thinking has not gone far enough, for the sight of poisoned, yellowing, withered or dead plants is far more unattractive than living green plants, even if some of them are weeds.

It strikes me that Skipton could do with an official whose paid job would be to walk the town and notice such things, and hopefully to have the authority to put them right, or to draw them to the attention to those with the power to do so.

As well as weed duty, the person could perhaps see that ugly official notices were removed when the need for them is finished (eg the notice at the end of Court Lane forbidding parking on June 10, due to road surfacing - still there on July 7).

I read recently that a politician (Michael Meacher?) was encouraging town councils to employ litter wardens, who would have the power to levy on-the-spot fines for litter droppers.

I can't quite see that this would be feasible, given the temper of litter droppers when approached, but it would be great if some brave person could be found to take on this job, perhaps in combination with the other things mentioned.

Sheila Coe,

The Box of Delights,

Otley Street, Skipton.

SIR - While LASRUG's ambitions for faster and more frequent trains between Skipton and Lancaster are certainly to be applauded, it must be doubted whether they will ever be achieved so long as our local services are provided by Arriva Trains Northern.

When ATN took over the franchise in February 1999, they were short of rolling stock, and in the three and a half years since then they have not yet ordered a single new train.

Even the simple expedient of hiring in trains, something which other companies do regularly, has proved to be too much for them.

Given the inordinate length of time it takes for new trains to be delivered and get into service once they have been ordered, it will be many years before the frequency of the service can be increased.

With regard to faster trains, the situation here on the Skipton to Carlisle line suggests there is not much hope for that either.

In both 1999 and again in 2000, the line was closed for a month and some £50 million was spent on renewing or repairing the track, such that most of it is now in virtually "as new" condition.

However, the speed limit on the line remains at 60mph even though it could easily be raised to 90mph and the service overall is now actually slower than it was before the work was done.

Arriva Trains has failed miserably to meet its commitments to provide local train services throughout the northeast.

Their attitude to us, the passengers and taxpayers from whom they get all their money, can be judged from two simple facts.

First, they have never issued anything which could even remotely be construed as an apology for the mess they have made of things.

Second, their profits have increased every year, leading to increased dividends for the shareholders and a substantial bonus for the chief executive because of the company's "success".

Rod Smith,

Station Road,

Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

SIR - I was very pleased, as were many others I have spoken to, to see our local town so well decorated with bunting and Union flags for the celebration of the Queen's jubilee.

However, I did find it disturbing that a principal employer in the town, Skipton Building Society, chose to fly their Union flag upside down on their flagship premises in the High Street.

As any ex-serviceman will tell you, to do this indicates a state of distress, and that the site must be approached with great caution!

Is the Skipton Building Society trying to tell we locals something, or is it that they are just incompetent, having been told at least twice, by myself, of the mistake?

DH Dalton,

Hall Gardens, Kildwick.

SIR - I refer to a letter from Mrs Margaret Pye (Craven Herald, June 28).

Saying the only help given to the elderly, frail residents of Croft Hill, Sutton-in-Craven, during the floods was provided by Craven District Council employees is not true.

My husband, Bob, worked hard to re-divert the water flow, along with other family members of the residents.

My retired father, Sidney Harrison, of Cross Hills, who had other arrangements that Friday afternoon, cancelled them willingly in order to help along with myself.

From 6.30pm until 11pm that night, we removed buckets of water from the Croft Hill home of Mrs Annie Young.

My 18-year-old son, David, after working a shift at the Co-op until 8pm, came straight from work to the aid of Mrs Young, removing the water and drying out her home as best we could, and making it possible for her to stay in her own home.

I would also like to point out that Annette, the warden, and Paul, her partner, worked equally as hard helping the other residents who were flooded, as did the other resident families.

I would also like to raise the question: where was Mrs Margaret Pye on the said evening?

Christine Young,

Hazel Grove Road, Sutton.

SIR - I would like to place on record my feelings with regard to the "Summer Spectacular" which took place on the car park of Settle Social Club on Sunday.

It was spectacular in one particular and that was the level of noise.

I live within 20 yards of this venue and I was unable to hear my radio or television and speaking on the telephone was impossible. It was misery. The noise could be heard at Bridge End.

This event was organised by Settle High School and Community College PTA. Why wasn't it held on the school playing fields?

It began at 2pm and ended at 7pm. If a crowd of football supporters had made this noise they would have been moved on very quickly.

I don't object to events, but is everyone stone deaf? Am I the only person who can hear? It isn't much fun when it's forced upon you in your own home.

The experience resembled being incarcerated inside a very large speaker on full volume for five hours.

This was Sunday - it was not a funday! It destroyed the peace of a very rare sunny day. Pity it didn't pour with rain. The 'Football Funday', which took place on Sunday a couple of weeks ago, was wonderful and did not require a public address system, which shook the ground. I am not a killjoy but I have to say my joy was killed on July 7.

I tried telephoning to find out what time the noise would stop but the telephone seemed to be diverted to a fax machine.

If you're going to do this again, would you let me know please - I'll go away for the weekend.

Sandra Price,

Station Road, Settle.

SIR - I am writing to express my disappointment about not being able to see the baton for the Commonwealth Games.

Everyone in the school was very disappointed that we couldn't see the baton. We did not get enough information to go and see it.

I think also that it had bad publicity.

If the baton had gone up Gargrave Road, then five schools would have seen it pass. As it was a Golden Jubilee baton, it is the children's future. It would have been a once in a lifetime chance. We are all very sad.

Toby Coughlin,

St Stephen's RC Primary School,

Gargrave Road, Skipton.

Editor's note: Thanks also to Teresa Gribbin, Sean O'Dowd, Rebecca Greenwood, Angela Zavettieri, Anna O'Rourke, Georgia Bradford, Emma Irven, Chloe Abell, Jenny Conroy, Erin Jones, Tom Stead from St Stephen's who sent us letters with similar sentiments.

SIR - The Craven Herald did right in printing Geoff Theasby's letter last week, because it both misses the point and shows how appallingly ignorant modern generations are.

It is the quantity of vehicles that causes pollution along a road distance, as well as the noise. Engine exhaust is pollution heavier than air and stays in valleys and street, noise pollution increases with vehicle speed.

If Bingley bypass gets built, as is frantically happening, the mass of London to Scotland travel at present congesting the M6 and M1 motorways either side would try and squash onto the bypass to get through Bradford more quickly and cheaply as a short cut.

This was planned in the 1950s/60s when all towns and villages between junction 38 of the M1 to the M6 near Kendal would get bypasses and then motorways would replace them, making the whole of the Aire Valley into Death Valley. In Bingley, the bypass is known as the "relief road".

To the credit of Yorkshire people this was stopped as perhaps the start of the revolution against road transport.

Five motorways were intended to cross the Yorkshire Dales, one being the intended extension of the M56 through Mr Theasby's Cowling to a Spaghetti Junction at Kildwick/Cross Hills over the extended M1.

The problem is not the solutions, which have been there for decades, but how to break through the superb lack or void of intelligence in the modern dumbed down generation. It's not their fault, they simply can't be told and don't even want to know about alternative transport technology.

RD Leakey,

Sutcliffe House, Settle.

SIR - The editorial in last week's Craven Herald (July 5) states that the Craven District Council has an endless procession of scrutinising panels, best value review and committee structure discussions.

All this, and a lot more, is correct.

But, we, as councillors are instructed to do this by the Government and what a fandangle it all is, with little or nothing at the end of it. The work costs a fortune in members' and officers' time, and leaves little space for anything else to be done.

We got a grant to do up the towpath of the canal, new gardens, lighting and seats.

Look at it now - it's a disgrace! Surely we, the council, can look after it, even if some of it isn't our responsibility.

For years we have received complaints about Skipton Town Hall, which urgently needs attention. The council does not own it and no outside grants are available.

No definite steps have been taken to sort this one out, even though I (and others) have suggested that the hall be handed as a charity to local organisations. If this took place funding would be possible.

Our job as councillors is to look after our people and property, and not gassing about unimportant papers from Westminster.

I do wonder if the present Government wants district councils and are hell bent on a massive regional government, possibly controlled from Sheffield or some such place.

If this happens say goodbye to local democracy.

Coun Peter Walbank,

Nevermind Cottage,

Grassington.

SIR - It is good to read in your columns that Skipton Town Council has given its support to the chamber's application to close the High Street for the Medieval Festival. The application will shortly go to Craven District Council for consideration and hopefully approval.

Last year we stipulated that all market traders who wished to trade on the days were dressed in medieval costume, and we were very pleased to see that nearly all complied. I can assure the Council that the Market Traders will again do their bit to add to the atmosphere of the day. This year we really need more shops, cafes and pubs to enter into the spirit of an event that has become a major attraction to our town, and gives many their best trading days of the year.

With the ever-increasing line-up of entertainment that we plan, The Medieval Sundays are indeed much more than just another market, and to reflect this we are now calling the event "Skipton's Medieval Festival"

Robert Hadaway,

Medieval Festival Co-ordinator,

Chapel Hill, Skipton.

SIR - To all who have supported Craven Voluntary Action in the development of the Community Resource Centre.

As you are aware the appeal to the Planning Inspectorate regarding the building of a community resource centre at the Bay Horse Yard, Skipton was unsuccessful.

Although we are all very disappointed with the result of the appeal, Craven Voluntary Action intends to continue to work towards the development of a community resource centre for Craven in the future.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the community for all the support and help we have received.

Maureen Moody,

Chairman,

Craven Voluntary Action,

Coach Street, Skipton.

SIR - I am concerned that Mrs Smith's letter (Craven Herald July 5) will cause a number of people to write regarding the Craven Voluntary Action planning decision. Obviously, I am not against people writing in with their opinions as this is exactly what I am now doing.

However, Mrs Smith's letter doesn't mention the fact that this matter has already gone to appeal and the inspector's decision is final, unless the applicant considers her ruling to be negligent.

Therefore, there is really no point in people writing to her at this stage as the appeal has been heard and refused.

Stuart Procter,

Bay Horse Yard, Skipton.

SIR - Mr Simpson is applying to build more shops in Skipton. Yet, when I walked through the town last Saturday, I saw six or seven shops empty.

Some in the shopping centre, the one where the tourist information centre used to be has been empty for ages, two in Middle Row, and one which was a photography shop is now empty.

Why do we want more shops when there are empty ones?

Sybil Pye,

Burnside Crescent,

Skipton.

SIR - Re: Skipton Band concert, Christ Church, June 22.

Will you please express the pleasure and appreciation of we the members of the audience for this event. Once again Skipton's Band members combined in a programme with Simon Gregory at the wonderful organ.

It was an excellent event, as usual not really well attended, but the quality and accomplishment of the programme and players gave memorable delight.

We are glad we have the band and hope it will not be long before support and players help them to go on to present lots more concerts of their own, and combine with Simon Gregory and other accredited musicians in the future.

Heather Ward,

Overdale Court, Skipton.

SIR - With reference to the article 'Rangers swap cars for horse' (Craven Herald, July 5) I am writing on behalf of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to thank the Yorkshire Dales Trekking Centre at Malham which provided the horses and expert tutelage for the session.

The afternoon proved to be of great interest to the members of the National Park Authority Ranger team who experienced first-hand the current issues facing equestrian users of the National Park.

The rangers will now take forward their experiences from the session and incorporate them into their work maintaining the bridleway network in the National Park.

Alan Hulme,

Regional Manager (South)

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.