Boaters battle with bridge from hell

It becomes more difficult to open and close, and this year was no exception.

As with other boaters we complain about the condition of the bridge to British Waterways, who delight in telling us they are not responsible for the upkeep of the bridge, this was down to the local council.

During the winter months we heard that the council would be undertaking work to modernise the bridge.

However, when we visited the area over the Easter holiday, we found that not only was this work not done but the bridge is in even worse condition. Assistance to close the bridge is often given by motorists waiting to cross.

It is not just the boaters who risk serious injury by trying to open and close this bridge but drivers of vehicles approaching a partly opened bridge.

Also, what would happen if emergency services were delayed due to someone not being able to close the bridge? Who would be held responsible?

I therefore appeal to local councillors, and county councillors to ensure that the bridge is brought to a more user friendly condition, for the sake of motorists and boaters alike and that the "bridge from hell" will be no more.

Alan Holden,

Marlborough Road, Accrington.

Fair compensation

SIR - As a solicitor with over 20 years' experience in personal injury litigation on behalf of injured claimants I feel slightly better qualified than Dr James Fleming to comment upon the compensation system in this country.

The Medical Diary article appearing in your newspaper (March 29) displays a staggering level of ignorance on the part of the author.

I do not know whether Dr James Fleming is responsible for the article or whether merely his name is associated with it but the author has no knowledge of the compensation system in this country and might I suggest that an article appearing under the heading "Medical Diary" would do better to concentrate on the many interesting medical issues which affect people's everyday lives.

On the question of the compensation system in this country it is fair to say that there are a number of dishonest claimants, but this applies to many aspects of life. The vast majority of people who seek compensation for personal injury do so from genuine motivation are honest and do not attempt to exaggerate their symptoms.

Every civilised jurisdiction recognises that an injured person is entitled to compensation where it can be shown that those injuries were caused by the fault of another. We have very well established procedures for resolving these claims usually without the need for Court action but it is open to any insurer faced with a claim to dispute that claim on its merit.

The examining doctor is generally instructed jointly by the claimant's solicitor and the wrongdoer's insurer. It is the duty of the examining doctor to report any facts which are material to the case and if in his opinion the claimant is exaggerating or acting dishonestly he must say so in his report.

The Government is very happy with the compensation system for personal injury claims in this country because firstly it has, in recent years, withdrawn all public funding support for such claims, legal aid having been abolished in effect in April 2000 and on the other side of the calculation, the system recovers for the Government billions of pounds in Social Security Benefits and now National Health Service costs through the process.

The various examples which the doctor quotes in the article are meaningless. There are individual cases where claimants have sustained very long term problems from whiplash injuries or from back injuries, the level of compensation recovered in each case will vary from one individual to another, dependent upon their age and financial circumstances.

The doctor seems unaware that children are unable to sue in their own right, they have to rely upon a parent or other responsible adult to bring their claim and any compensation awarded to the child is paid to the parent until the child is 18, it is effectively held in trust until that date.

The doctor talks about whiplash injuries which are caused generally speaking by careless driving in motor vehicles and then quotes two examples of accidents of a quite different nature including a fall from a ladder and a trip over a pavement. In each of the latter cases he quotes depression as the basis for the awards. In my experience severe pain can cause a depressive illness, recovery from which again varies from one individual to another .

I am sure that if the doctor's career was severally interrupted by injury caused by the negligence of another he would expect, as would any right thinking person, that we would have a system in this country which would deliver fair compensation for the injury, loss and inconvenience caused to him.

Andrew Amrstrong,

Partner, Armstrongs Solicitors,

Otley Street, Skipton.

Keep off the pitch

SIR - We write on behalf of Pennine Police and Burnley Football Club together with the sports ground safety inspection team with reference to the Burnley v Coventry football match on Sunday.

As a group we are all keen to ensure that fans do not risk their safety and the safety of others by running onto the pitch at the end of this match, the final league fixture of the season.

Although going on to the pitch has become something of a tradition over recent years, we would like to remind fans that this is an offence for which action can be taken, including arrest. It was also apparent at last year's final fixture that this encroachment is disapproved of by the majority of Burnley supporters who wanted to see their team re-emerge.

We would also like to inform fans that if the pitch is invaded, it has been agreed that none of the players will re-emerge onto the pitch or do a lap of honour around the ground. The police, the club, safety inspection team and especially the players, will be doing their best to make sure it is a safe, enjoyable and memorable match. All we ask is that the fans play their part too, by remaining in the stands, the safest place to be.

If you have a younger member of your family who will be attending this fixture then please bring this notice to their attention and let's get behind the team in support on the day.

Pennine Police,

Burnley Football Club.

Hands off cafe

SIR - I am writing concerning your article last week, about our local cafe facing closure because of complaints made by trades people, and Sutton Parish Council, that the premises are now being used for take-away food.

The previous owner nearly had a mental breakdown because of this trading, gang warfare, to stop an honest business from trading.

This appalling prejudicial behaviour, I might add, is not common to the majority of people in Sutton and Cross Hills.

I have written to the planning department, Sutton Parish Council and County and District Councillor Phillip Barrett, because being disabled this is literally the only place I can drive into on my mobility scooter for a meal, a warm drink, and to socialise with friends and relatives. I have never had to try to stand up because the staff come outside to serve me.

I was unable to stand long enough to prepare myself a meal one day last week. So I hobbled on to my scooter and went to the cafe, which prepared a meal for me to eat on my scooter up to a table outside.

Believe me, this is better than ringing Social Services for help! It also cost the taxpayers nothing. I was able to retain my dignity, self-respect and independence. That is called service.

I think the pathetic reason of preventing the sale of food outside is ridiculous beyond belief. The pizza parlour in Cross Hills sells take aways! Local shops are selling sandwiches to take away! And the fish shop next door to the cafe is a take away! What are the councillors doing, representing and serving the people who enjoy the services offered by the cafe, or supporting the traders who are concerned about their own profits?

I am totally alienated towards those who attempt to drive honest traders into nervous breakdowns, resulting in selling up. Are we to see this happen yet again? Councillors are there to represent the majority not a prejudicial, minority! I hate pizza but does this give me the right to stop them from being sold to those who do like them?

I would like to remind all concerned that their power of office is for the benefit of people. When people are being hurt that is called abuse of power.

Mrs A Duggan,

Holmroyd Avenue, Cross Hills.

Up in lights

SIR - Through your columns I wish to summarise last year's activities for the Skipton Christmas Tree Lights give thanks to helpers and support, and try to show the way forward.

Skipton Christmas Lights are financed as follows. The lights in the lime trees in the High Street are paid for by the Town Council. The trees and the decorations on the shop fronts are paid for by individual businesses with the majority of the trees organised by Skipton Chamber of Trade.

The rest of the town including the lamp posts and street overheads are organised and paid for by Skipton Christmas Lights committee with the exception of Victoria Square and Craven Court, who put up their own decorations. Craven District Council does not contribute and in fact Skipton Christmas Lights last year put up and paid for the decorations on the Town Hall, and a tree opposite the Tourist Information Centre.

In February 2001 the Skipton Christmas Lights committee was formed. It was made up of business people, local residents and four town councillors. The first task was to find suitable storage for the decorations as in the previous store some had been damaged. The committee was very grateful to Charles Morris and Ron Nicholson at the Plaza Cinema for providing storage.

We had had great difficultly in finding a suitable area, even Craven District had nowhere available.

Fund raising was our next priority as we estimated we needed at least £10,000 in order to improve on the previous year. There was £1,925 carried forward from the Fresh AM Appeal of 2000, and the town council contributed £3,000. Here I wish to express my thanks to Pat Daley, the deputy clerk to the town council who has been very helpful with various issues throughout the year.

The committee prepared and decorated the garlands and trees over four Sundays starting in October. For this we were kindly given the use by Roger Baxter and Jim Fox of Car Radio's workshop.

We decided to have Newmarket Street, Coach Street, Otley Street and Sheep Street rewired with new waterproof connectors at a cost of £3,000. We needed insurance cover costing £185 to cover the fund raising events and any accidents. We ordered 60 collecting tins and the labels of these were kindly printed free of charge by John Mason's Printers. Stephen Dawson of Skipton Office Supplies generously donated free stationery for the year.

Our main fund raiser was the Family Fun Night and Barbecue at Skipton Rugby Club and we thank Mel Mason and the club for all their assistance prior to the event. The committee worked extremely hard and was grateful for donations of loan equipment from Skipton Hire Centre and ATC.

However, we did not raise as much as we hoped, only £805. By then we had sent out three letters appealing for support, this was coming in slowly. We ran stalls selling bric a brac on five occasions and raised nearly £2,000 in total. Unfortunately our next fund raiser A Cracking Night Out at the Black Horse had to be cancelled due to lack of support.

Clare Goldie raised £300 running The Great North Run. The last fund raiser was the Fresh AM on air auction and £2,541 was raised.

The donations amounted to £6,465, plus £3,000 from the Town Council and our thanks go out to all those who donated amounts from £20 to £500. The year ended after very frugal costs achieving our target and carrying forward.

The Switch On was orchestrated by Mark Reason's Fresh AM Road Show, sponsored by Pottery and Pine. David Stanfortb kindly lent his dalek.

The lights were up and working in good time for the switch on, which was largely due to R & B Electrical who had to overcome many problems.

Last year's committee were a tremendous group, comprising of Jane and Martin Timmins (Skipton residents), Mark Tennant (The Art Shop), Peta Jennings (Flowers by Design), Louise Cairns (Skipton resident), Jean Ritson (Bizzie Lizzies), Jane Delmege (Alexander King Associates), Pam Heseltine (Skipton Town Council) and Mark Reason (Fresh AM). Even though very busy in their personal or business life they gave a great deal of time and effort without which the lights would not have happened.

This year's team has been formed, but it needs some new blood as well. So if you want to see your town looking really special for Christmas please come along to the launch night for the 2002-3 display where Peter Ritson will be showing the proposed new decorations for this year with plans to extend into other areas of the town and a new look for the High Street. Come and give us your ideas. It is the Town's Lights.

David Goldie,

Skipton Christmas Lights Committee.

An apt description

SIR - "In Skipton, traditionally the bastion of Craven apathy..."

This is the best description of Skipton I've ever heard. Well said editor!

Howard Barker,

27W108 Cooley Ave

Winfield, Illinois,USA.