SIR, - It's time Ilkley folk realised that two people paying a sizeable rent to live at White Wells are often blamed for adjacent blocked toilets by visitors.

Conditions at White Wells and the nearby Charity Baths are the worst I have seen since Eric Busby's refurbishment.

They are falling apart at the seams. Fallen slates, rotten window frames, peeling paint and whitewash, blocked drains behind the living quarters - all reported and nought done.

A former councillor informed residents that we should be 'guardians of the Moor'. If so, how come listed buildings are allowed to decay before our eyes?

These past five years I have telephoned, written, and threatened to sit outside a department's head office to bring these toilets up to standard.

In my last conversation with the cleansing manager, he informed me that plans were in hand to close one cubicle on each side, resite the gents' urinal along the back wall and reroute the water pipes. This was without need to damage trees.

When Bradford damp-proofed White Wells, I asked a well respected surveyor and a builder for advice. I suggested that a 'friend' was putting a damp course in a cottage with outbuildings, around 300 years old, on a hillside and without any modern foundations.

They answered: "Drilling into walls of that age and design, and with ancient or no foundations, would literally shake them apart. Whoever it is must be mad." I omitted to tell them it was White Wells.

Are councillors aware of the building's significance? Were it not for White Wells, Ben Rhydding would still be Wheatley. Ilkley would be 'a mucky little hole with a beck running down the middle'. Ilkley College would not have been built.

Nor would there have been Victorian villas, large hotels or hydros etc. The chance is that there would not have been a Saltaire. As for Darwin coming to this country's first cold water spa - forget it.

It is strange that those complaining about a few carved logs failed to note that White Wells' disgraceful condition. Ilkley and Bradford councillors should be downright ashamed, sitting in their panelled chambers while the 'foundation' of our town rots.

If Bradford can find money for its cherished City of Culture, it can find the same for White Wells. Because, without brass, Ilkley's jewel will be worthless paste.

FRAZER IRWIN

Deaconness Court,

Queen's Road,

Ilkley.

Precept blame

SIR, - I could not believe what I was reading in last week's Ilkley Gazette leading story, 'Blunder by city council costs Ilkley precept cash'.

Once again the parish council was blaming everyone for its own fiasco. Precepts are based not on population, but on who is on the electoral roll and the answer was with them all the time - or should have been with the clerk, Miggy bailey. The chairman, Councillor Mike Gibbons, should always make sure the council has an up-to-date electoral roll. Failing that they could have walked down to the library, which has one.

According to the Reoganisation of Local Government Act, parish and town councils can raise precepts for special projects, which must be costed, and the money raised can only be spent on that project.

Ilkley parish Council doesn't seem to have any project, yet wishes to raise a precept. What for, may I ask?

No, the blame is not with the electoral office, as the Ilkley Gazette seems to think, the fault is with a council that has no idea of its responsibilities or efficiency.

The blunder that Bradford's Conservative-controlled council made was in granting it. But then again, the parish council is also Conservative-controlled.

Finally, where did the £3.50 come from? Is this the figure that was proposed by Andrew Dundas some time last year? Like Mr V M Bean, we should all ask for our £3.50 back?

Regarding the Gazette's comment, 'Why precept decision is the right one', I am very surprised at its complete U-turn on the parish council setting a precept. It was against precepting in the past, and £3.50 is not just a few coppers. Precepting does not make Ilkley Parish Council any less of a talking shop; it is and shall always be one.

It should be disbanded and a delegated authority put in its place.

PETER CHENEY

10 Crossbeck Road,

Ilkley.

No understanding

SIR, - Victor Bean's comments in the Ilkley Gazette of April 11 concerning Ilkley Parish Council's decision to raise a precept, illustrate a complete lack of understanding of the many statements made by the council over the past 18 months regarding the raising of a parish precept.

I would like to refer Mr Bean to the statement made on behalf of the parish council in the Ilkley Gazette of March 14, 2002, explaining fully the council's decision to raise a precept and how monies raised would be spent.

With regard to the rate for general expenditure, it was made quite clear in our statement that one of the major criteria for funding will be that the effects of the work of bodies and projects in the parish, shall be entirely for the benefit of residents of the parish or visitors to it. It was never the intention of councillors to identify particular bodies or projects in need of funding, as they believed the money could be spent more effectively if groups across the parish that needed financial help made applications for it.

I find it perplexing that Mr Bean criticises the parish council for asking organisations and projects to apply to the council for grants, while in his letter to the Gazette of March 14 he accuses parish councillors of raising a precept 'to give themselves a bit of brass to spend on their pet schemes'.

Mr Bean also shows considerable confusion about the parish council's intention to enhance services, conflicting with comments in his letter of March 14, where he quotes numerous local problems which, of course, are largely the responsibility of the district authority.

Mr Bean openly admits his cynicism and prejudices, and clearly enjoys criticism, but of course is entitled to his opinion. However the Parish Council must start somewhere and in this first year of precepting, will seek to enhance services and continue to work to improve the lot of all its residents.

Coun Heathcliffe Bowen

Vice-Chairman,

Ilkley Parish Council..

Lobby Chancellor

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.

Bloom praise

SIR, - Spring judging for the Yorkshire in Bloom competition went very well on Tuesday, April 9. The weather was kind and the town looked spick and span throughout.

Many bags of litter have been collected over the last two weeks by the Ilkley in Bloom team and our growing band of volunteers.

I should like to pay tribute to the hard work of my committee and our volunteers, without whose dedication our town would not look as delightful as it does.

I should also like to pay tribute to our hard working council gardeners and cleansing staff who have to do the job every day. My thanks also to those who have made special efforts with their own gardens, quietly picked litter or just helped by keeping their own areas tidy.

The flower beds in town look a picture despite the best efforts of a tiny, mindless minority, and the fragrance from the hyacinths is an absolute delight. Finally, my thanks to the Ilkley Gazette for their unstinting support of our efforts to keep Ilkley looking good all the year round.

Results of spring judging will be known towards the end of May and will be communicated as soon as they are available.

Tony GilroY

Chairman,

Ilkley in Bloom.

Father's thanks

SIR, - In the early hours of Monday, April 1, my family's lives were dramatically changed when my 21-year-old son was killed in a mindless act of violence. He and his friends were just about to go home after am Easter Sunday night out when this occurred and one moment later he was dead.

Since that day, culminating to date in his funeral on Friday, April 12, at St Peter's Church, Addingham, the love, support and care that we have received from everybody in the local community has kept us all going. This letter is a simple, heartfelt 'thank you' to everybody from us.

Tragedies such as this should not happen to anybody, and especially in a community such as ours, but unfortunately this proves that they do.

Our lives will never be the same, but at least we can all carry on in the knowledge that most people are good and caring and that there are not many evil people. Thanking everyone, once again.

TIM WEBSTER

Father of Mark Webster,

Woodview,

41 Gill Bank Road,

Ilkley.