School plans deserve approval

Having taught in Bradford for the last 30 years and lived in Craven since 1984, I really believed that I had seen just about anything and everything that could happen to an education system, but now I am not so sure.

I have followed the proposed re-development of St Stephen's Primary School with interest and find it hard to fathom out why such well thought out plans are continually rejected. The governors' original plans were rejected on three grounds and as far as I can see these have been addressed.

The first area of concern was the "protected open space" on the right hand side of the drive, above the present hall. From what I have seen the new plans have no buildings on this land and it remains a "protected open space" as it will become the new school's playground.

The second point at issue was the removal of the existing infant block on Gargrave Road.

The replacement building will be on the same site and clad with the materials from the demolished building. Where is the problem with this I wonder?

The third area of concern was the unneighbourly positioning of two-storey classrooms above the existing hall. The new plans have single-storey classrooms on the current car park. Why this should really be an issue is a little puzzling as St Stephen's Primary School was built long before the houses on St Stephen's Close.

Anybody buying a house there must have known the school was there and likely to be developed.

There may be other small points that require amending, but I feel that the school has addressed the major concerns that resulted in the initial refusal.

I wonder if the Girls' High School or Ermysted's had made the planning application whether it would have been rejected? My personal feeling is that it would have passed first time. These two schools seem to get preferential treatment. At the moment there is yet more building work going on at the Girls' High towards the boundary with Ash Grove, yet nobody seems to object to this development.

This apparent favouritism is discriminating against Skipton children. We all know how hard it is for Skipton children to get into either of the grammar schools.

Then there is the question of which type of school is more important? After 30 years teaching in primary, middle and secondary schools, I know that unless the foundations are there a child will not realise his or her true potential. What the primary school does is lay these foundations, the grammar schools merely have an add on capacity yet receive the kudos from public examinations.

If there is to be any favouring of schools in Skipton it should be the primary sector that benefits, not the selective grammar schools.

I would sincerely hope that the planning committee would reconsider St. Stephen's Primary School's planning application in a favourable light.

AR Wilson,

Skipton Road, Embsay.

A big expansion

SIR - I would like to correct an error in your article regarding 'Expanded Falconry Centre' in last Friday's Craven Herald.

Your report states: "Planning inspector Mike Croft will now decide whether the proposed 10,000 square feet retail area and caf can be built".

The 10,000 square feet you mention refers only to the caf. The proposed retail area is in fact an additional 13,500 sq. ft., making a combined total of 23,500 square feet for the retail/caf area.

To put this in perspective for your readers: the new Booths supermarket in Settle is approximately 17,500 square feet net sales area!

I would also like to point out that the comment attributed to Mrs O'Donnell stating that "my current proposal is simply a modestly different scheme (to one already approved), but of a very similar scale and nature" is simply not so.

The only proposal similar in scale and nature to the one proposed now has already been rejected by both Craven District Council planning committee and by a Government appointed Planning Inspector!

Yes, the centre already has, and has had for a considerable time, full planning permission for a greatly expanded facility, training centre/hotel accommodation, larger caf, exhibition area etc, but has chosen, as yet, not to implement such expansion. This begs the question - why not?

KG Meredith,

Manor Farm Barn, Langcliffe.

No planning

SIR - There is much unrest amongst the residents, business owners and shoppers of Cross Hills, as the Craven Herald will be no doubt be aware following its 'In Brief' statement sympathising with the motorist using Main Street.

It seems to us that not enough thought has gone into the planning of these roadworks as no provision has been made for the pedestrian wanting to get to any of the properties between the corner of Beech Street and the electrical shop.

Any person wishing to do so has to cross the busy main road, cross Ryeland Street and then again cross the main road in order to shop.

I know for a fact that businesses have suffered because of this as many people, particularly the elderly, find the prospect of all this road crossing very daunting.

This was the case from Tuesday of last week as there was provision of a roped of pathway on Monday, but this had been rendered unusable because of the fact one, or sometimes two, wagons were parked in the way.

No doubt when the works move across the road the same will happen to the businesses opposite.

Another point which needs to be made is the fact that motorists, frustrated by long delays, are using the private road which runs behind the buildings on Main Street as a rat run in order to avoid the lights.

As already stated, this is a private road and the residents are responsible for its repair. Why should we then feel inclined to pay for such repairs when it is non-residents who are using it more than us?

The road is beginning to fall apart, and it is the 'rat runners', rather than the residents, who drive along it at speed.

The residents value their car suspension and treat the road with respect, unlike people who rush along it eager to beat the lights.

We also suffer at night with thoughtless motorists who stop for the lights and leave their car stereos on at full blast, bombarding us with the 'bum, bum de bumbumbum' for minutes at a time.

I am a motorist and do not wish to sound as if I am blaming all for the thoughtless actions of a few, but the points I have made are very frustrating.

No doubt my views will be unpopular with some people, all I ask is for a little consideration from both the people who plan these roadworks and the people who are effected by them.

Elizabeth Besford

Main Street, Cross Hills.

Expensive zebra

SIR - How can a zebra crossing cost £24,000?

It's no wonder they are so difficult to obtain, even when roads are obviously very dangerous for pedestrians to cross as in Eastburn.

It would be interesting to see a complete itemised breakdown of this £24,000, so we could see what the money is spent on.

It's a strange world where one zebra crossing can cost three times some people's annual income.

G Evans,

Ramshaw Drive,

Skipton.

Repairs required

SIR - I would like to add to my comments, (Craven Herald Letters, December 21) about the poor state of the cat's eyes in and around the Threshfield area.

Station Road has 138 cat's eyes altogether. Going from Threshfield to Grassington, 123 have their reflectors missing with 105 missing coming back.

The white lines are in places are worn through, worst places being on corners where they are needed most, along with the cat's eyes.

The problem is that the rubber mountings are so worn by car tyres that the glass reflectors have fallen out and the white paint has worn away.

People living in Grassington are still talking about the advantages of the planned traffic claiming measures whilst a real problem exists on Station Road.

Who would be to blame if a driver failed to negotiate a corner in thick fog at night: the driver who couldn't see or the council that failed in its duty to maintain the cat's eyes and white lines that enable you to see better in poor conditions?

The fact that the white lines and cat's eyes have been put down must mean that there is a need for road safety on Station Road, so why not as part of the typical year end activity renew the white lines and cat's eyes before someone has an accident?

Print this letter and it will be a record of the problem - as with the zebra crossing.

Simon Abbey,

Piece Fields, Threshfield.

No to police bill

SIR - I have read with interest the debate regarding proposed increases in North Yorkshire County Council Tax bills including the Police Authority precept of over 35 per cent on a Band D property.

Those passing opinion in your articles are, without exception, councillors (either local or county) who are largely responsible for the over spending in the first place and who are awarded generous "allowances" for their efforts.

It should be remembered also that this is not a one-off, council tax has risen ahead of inflation for several years now and always we are given the same old excuses "In order to maintain services we need more money."

It is usually followed by a cut-back in services and increased inefficiency at Northallerton.

I am sure council employees at the lower end of the earnings scale would be more than happy with a 10 per cent increase in salary but are unlikely to be offered such an increase, like the majority of industry including journalists at the Herald.

No, in industry we are unable to levy our price increases, we have to become more efficient and work that bit harder for our living or pay ourselves less if we survive.

When we then look at what Jean Anderson proposes then we enter the realms of the absurd - a 35 per cent plus increase in tax for 14 extra officers across the whole of the Craven area, even if it did bring benefits, which in itself is very doubtful.

The truth is that we do not have the very good police force in North Yorkshire that she claims, but you would expect a Police Authority member to be somewhat biased in defending her own cause at all costs.

The Selby rail disaster has been partly blamed for the increase but we were told at a meeting of the authority that the bulk of those costs would be refunded by central Government.

I also ask when she sees an increased police presence on the streets of Skipton. Only very recently two youngsters were attacked in the town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon - not a police officer in sight but yes we do see them parked in laybys awaiting the unsuspecting motorist.

pension funding is also put forward as an "unavoidable cost" but one has to ask how much of this cost is due to early retirement for dubious reasons or settlements against the force over a number of years.

We now see pension providers removing many of the pension guarantees which have existed simply because they can no longer be afforded - perhaps it is time to extend this concept also to police officers.

It is time for the council to wake up to the real world when using the public's money.

What is required is real value for money - our money. Say 'no' to these massive increases and say it out loud to those councillors who advocate free spending of someone else's money.

T Hobson,

High Croft Way,

Farnhill.

No information

SIR - The appeals for Skipton's selective schools are now almost upon us.

I am very busy getting ready to prepare the case for my daughter.

I have closely studied the documents provided by the LEA to help with this process.

I have noticed the following which may be of interest to other readers who find themselves in the same situation.

o The LEA requires the clerk to give "at least two weeks notice (from the date of posting the letter) of the date on which your appeal will be heard( unless you have appealed late)". In my own case, the LEA has missed this deadline and I have received less than the required two weeks notice.

o The LEA states that "a week before the hearing (not less, unless you have appealed late and you have agreed to a shortened timetable), you will be sent a statement of the education authority's reasons why the authority considers your child has not shown him/herself to be suitable for a grammar school education".

In a separate document, the LEA states that "a report has been requested from the relevant primary school head teacher."

Whether or not the appeal panel use this report, parents have a right to have this report in order to assimilate its contents into their case for their child.

The report should be provided with the LEA's case, a week before the appeal. In my own case, I have not received this report about my daughter. Her appeal is less than a week away.

Both of these facts do form fair and rational justification for requesting adjournment of the appeal.

I am very concerned about both these facts in relation to my ability to prepare the case for my daughter.

Anyone who would like to find out more about my concerns can look up www.skiptonsecondaryschools.com or they can contact me by e-mail at info@skiptonsecondaryschools.com

Lorna Palmer

Sunny Royd,

Bradley.

Filling in the gaps

SIR - Regarding the photo of pupils at South Craven school taken in 1960 published last week in the Craven Herald. We can fill most of the gaps.

Back row: S Preston, D Busfield, A Bailey, M Weatherhead, T Stow, G Burfitt, J Lofthouse, J Curry.

Third row: I Orcheton, S Maude, R Hall, not known, D Overend, S Brown, M Cunliffe, R Gornall, D Reeves, D Gwynne, D Gott.

Second row: C Stott, L Davey, D Varley, B Hardie, C Barraclough, L Addy, J Dixon, J Bartlett, C Fletcher, C Boden.

Front row: J Bruce, M Whiteoak, E Bell, A Clough, Mr D Taylor, K Addy, A Addy, A Stead, C Hodgson.

Mrs A Barnes (nee Clough),

Mrs A Riley (nee Stead),

Glusburn.

Dance memories

SIR - I can tell you that the old photograph (Craven Herald, January 11) was taken on November 27 1952, I am the one in the front row in a black dress and it was my 18th birthday which coincided with the first birthday party of the Embsay Methodist Youth Club.

The dance and party was held in the village institute. I was the secretary of the club and Mrs Walker one of the leaders baked and iced the cake.

The youth queen did not go to our club but was youth queen of the circuit. Mrs Whitaker is quite right in saying it was a good club and we did enjoy many activities including attending the MAYC weekends held in London.

If any former members would care to write to me I would love to hear from them.

Sylvia Rogan (nee Chesser),

6 Sandringham Close,

Barrow-in-Furness.

Student's request

SIR - I am a student at Heriot Watt University in my honours year of BSc Computing for Industry.

For my dissertation I am trying to create software to help predict and diagnose autism and related disorders in children. To do this I need information from the families of sufferers from this condition.

I would be grateful if any one who has a child with this condition or any of the similar disorders (eg Asperger's, Tourettes etc) would go to my web site at http://sequinn.topcities.com and fill in the online questionnaire there, or download it and either e-mail it to me at nazreel@hotmail.com or by post to Susan Quinn, c/o Mrs Christine Taylor at the address below.

Heriot Watt University,

Scottish Borders Campus,

Netherdale, Galashiels.