Letters to the Editor

Fear no more, the saga has ended!

You may recall that I have been attempting for over twenty years to get this unadopted street made up.

Although unadopted and therefore not the responsibility of Bradford Met, they have used this short street, off the High Street, to allow their lorries, vans and high-sided vehicles to drive down to the old Primary School.

More recently I have lost both my legs due to diabetes and am now permanently in an electric wheelchair.

Because of the bad road surface, which is all broken and pitted, I am unable to venture forth, only to the Dial a Ride vehicle with the help of the driver, and I therefore became virtually "a prisoner on my own garden path!"

This plea must have reached the normally stoney hearts of Bradford Met's road department and I had a letter from their Chief Engineer which said that before the end of March they hoped to lay a quadrant of tarmacadam between my garden gate and a white post opposite.

Thus I'd be able to cross over the High Street in comfort and "be free!"

As good as their word, a large yellow Metropolitan vehicle turned up at 9.00am on Thursday, March 28, 2002, with two yellow coated road menders.

They dug, brushed, scraped and lay tarmacadam in a quadrant shape.

At 9.28am I sallied forth in my wheelchair to ask if it would be finished by 9.45am as a taxi was coming for my wife.

One man was leaping up and down on a compressor, whereas the other was throwing cold water down causing the black tarmacadam to sizzle!

They both said, "We're done!" At 9.35am they were gone. I could hardly believe my eyes.

DERRICK H GREEN

Upper School Street

Steeton

l Picture shows the finished strip

SIR - I was very interested in last week's picture of Caledonia Road, as in 1928 my parents bought the first of the two houses that were built on to the end of the existing row.

I knew all the children in the photo, although I was younger.

As there was no electricity so far down the road at the time, my mother was told if she could get ten other people to have it, they would lay cables to the bottom of the road, which they did.

She lived there for the rest of her life and died in 1975.

R LAPWORTH

Airedale View

Cross Hills

SIR - It was with much sadness, when the death of David Webb was announced at a recent HYT meeting - and as reported in the KN (12.4.02).

David was a very good friend and supporter of the Youth Theatre, having in fact appeared in our very first production of 'Stan' back in 1976.

He was invited back on numerous occasions over the years where the role of a parent of a mature actor was called for.

He was always a joy to watch and work with, bringing with him the professionalism and yet also the humorous side of amateur dramatics.

In one particular HYT show - 'Girlscool' - I was privileged to have a few scenes with him - he as a school photographer and myself as a school crossing officer - and it is one video I prize very highly in my collection.

The Keighley and District Amateur Dramatic Circuit is now very much the poorer since his untimely passing. My family and I were lucky to have seen his last few pantomimes - portraying immaculately, as you correctly stated 'the outrageous dame.' We shall miss him.

HYT sends its sincere condolences to David's surviving family.

D ARNOLD

Secretary - HYT

SIR - Readers may have seen the recent NSPCC FULL STOP public education campaign asking people to take more action to help the hidden victims of child cruelty.

A new TV ad shows a cartoon child 'bouncing back' from abuse until he turns into a real child lying motionless on the floor.

The ad asks people to do something if they think a child is being abused, and urges them to call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 if unsure what to do.

The NSPCC is hoping to put up posters based on the ad in every corner shop in the country - taking the campaign right into the heart of local communities.

Posters will also go up in cinemas, community centres and doctors' surgeries. As a local resident I would like to ask people to support this important campaign by getting hold of some posters and putting them up where other local people will see them.

They are available from the NSPCC posterline on 0800 068 8844. Together, step by step, we can end cruelty to children. FULL STOP.

Judith Sargent

North St

Haworth

SIR - According to DEFRA Minister Alun Michael 'Hunting is far from being the important issue for rural people.'

If that is the case (and wouldn't we all be pleased if it were) then why has the Government just announced a further six month consultation period to be followed by a Bill?

Not a single UK land use organisation supports yet another time consuming battle on this issue.

What we have consistently called for is help following Foot and Mouth and positive initiatives from Government on a range of problem areas.

The motives behind this latest move seems to have nothing to do with improving life in the country, but a lot to do with appeasing restive backbenchers.

The Government and Mr Michael cannot have it both ways.

Lindsay Hill

PR Officer UCSW

The Kennels

Bishop's Castle

Shropshire

Sir - I was rather disgusted to notice that the Keighley Shared Church did not fly a flag at half-mast following the death of our dear Queen Mother. The church of all things should have had a flag flying.

E CHAPMAN

20 Bradford Road

Keighley

l The Rev Peter Mott, priest-in-charge at Keighley Shared Church, said: "I regret we were unable to fly the flag, but we lost the lanyards during the gales before Easter. It is a major job to dismantle the flag pole and rethread them."

SIR - A couple of years ago, in readiness for the millennium, 1,000 children from primary schools in Northumberland planted over 3,200 yew trees to create Great Britain's largest permanent yew maze at our home at Doxford Hall, Northumberland.

In the year 2000, over 100 British ex Prisoners of War both German and Japanese officially opened the maze.

On Friday June 21, 2002 (the longest day) we have decided to organise a National 'thank you' party to honour all the British ex Prisoners of War as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The party will be free of charge and will be held in the ten acres of garden of our home at Doxford Hall.

The arrangements for the party are as follows. Guests plus carers will arrive at approximately 12 noon, tea and coffee will be served together with freshly made cream scones etc from 'Trotters' in Seahouses.

The marquees and stage will be in the walled garden and the entertainment will include an over 100-strong childrens' choir from the local village schools, together with The Morpeth Pipe Band.

In addition artists from throughout the region will provide a huge show on stage by The Tyne Tees Regimental Band and singing group Spectrum with soloist Elaine Black.

The RAF will be demonstrating their air sea rescue skills, plus we understand one or two nice surprises for our guests.

The village of Seahouses on the Northumberland coast has a wonderful harbour and is therefore famous for its real fish and chips. There is no guessing on Friday, what is for lunch wrapped in paper!

After having tea, the party is planned to close approximately 6.30pm. To date some twenty to thirty families in the Alnwick area have already kindly offered accommodation to those who have travelled a long distance, which indicates the truly warm reception all our guests will receive.

If you would like to attend please write or telephone (0191) 261 5135 between 8am to 6pm - it will be truly a memorable day!

BRIAN AND SHIRLEY

BURNIE

Doxford Hall, Chathill,

Alnwick.

SIR - May I take this opportunity through your letters page to thank the many people who helped with this year's fund raising during Lent.

The Salvation Army, who once again made their High Street Hall available, the teams of volunteers from member churches of Churches

Together, the Year 10 students from the Holy Family Catholic School who came each week to help in many different ways, their governors and staff who gave their practical and moral support, and of course the loyal customers who came to enjoy our offerings and were so very generous with their donations.

Following on from this hard work I have been able to pass on to Christian Aid a cheque for £550.

This represents an impressive increase of 25 per cent on last year. This money is badly needed just now with all the problems that exist in the Third World. Thanks again to all concerned.

DOROTHY DIXON

Christian Aid

Organiser for Keighley

SIR - Naturally we are all pleased to see that Skipton Properties has been brought to heel in the matter of unauthorised building work at Long Lee.

Sadly a further glance through the news reveals a different story in the Bingley area.

There, we read, an application by Amec road contractors to store soil has been approved simply on the grounds that Amec had already started to do it. Shipley Area Planning Panel bleat "The council had its hands tied as the contractor had already begun to store soil on the site. We had no choice but to approve the applications."

Is this how it's been then? You could get planning permission by doing whatever you want and expecting the authorities to wring their hands and turn belly up?

Easy as that? No wonder Skipton Properties have been doing so well.

We should be grateful that Keighley Planning Panel are at last showing the way by respecting, trusting and applying the law.

George Speller

Delph Barn

Hill Top Road

Hainworth

SIR - Britain's railways are in a mess.

Years of chronic under-funding and a chaotically privatised rail system have left passengers fuming at the delays, cancellations and over-crowding that make so many train journeys a misery.

Rail should be a cheap, efficient, safe and pleasant way to travel. In the rest of Europe it usually is. In Britain it frequently isn't.

Friends of the Earth thinks it's time that the voice of the passenger was heard at the heart of Government. And we've found a way to make that happen.

We want you to text a message to Chancellor Gordon Brown telling him that the only way to sort out our railways is through increased public funding and urgent action to sort out the management mess on our railways.

So if you are fed up with fare increases and service cuts, text your anger to Gordon Brown on 07764 125 125 now.

And if you don't have a mobile, you can still take action online at www.stoptrainrobbery.com

We think it's about time the Government stopped taking the railways for a ride.

Charles Secrett

Executive Director

Friends of the Earth