SIR - It was with interest that I read of the plight of the ice bound elderly tenants in Green Head Road in your January 4 edition of Keighley News.

In reply to Bradford City Council's lamentable excuse for not giving attention to the ice bound steps and footpaths, I would like to inform the Keighley ratepayers that the experience of formerly living in Bradford and being an active member of the Bradford Council's Tenant's Federation I can confirm that Bradford City Council cater very well for the elderly tenants over there.

So why not the same treatment for Keighley?

It seems quite obvious to me that the Keighley ratepayers are subsidising Bradford Council's funding for the benefit of the immediate Bradfordians.

In the light of this, it is time that we citizens of Keighley, sought ways and means of parting company with Bradford City Council and formed our own elected, fully powered Keighley Council.

HUGH K MATHER

Green Head Road,

Utley.

SIR - A new wind is in the air for Keighley's council tenants. We have been promised many things in the past and our council is as good as its word.

I am reassured that our rents will not increase by the 30 per cent I had feared.

And am confident in the knowledge that we will not be on short term contract as in the private sector. I will enjoy my new kitchen but wonder how it will be paid for. In this bright new venture I, like everyone else, will be putting myself in the hands of God.

MR S PEARSON

Otley Street, Keighley.

SIR - The Disability Rights Commission would like to speak with people who have opinions about access to businesses and services for disabled people in the local area.

Your feedback may help improve access for people who use wheelchairs, have difficulty walking, or have other disabilities such as sight or hearing impairments.

If you - or any of your friends or relatives - are disabled, and have good or bad experiences of getting around local shops or services that you would be prepared to share, please contact Jon Cope on 0207407 3313.

JON COPE

Disability Rights

Commission.

Sir - I have just read the article on my grandfather Len Orchard that you kindly wrote.

I would like to thank you for this article as it is something for his great-grandchildren to remember him by.

We had a great turnout on the day of the funeral and would like to thank all those who attended.

Once again thank you for your nice words

Paul Atkinson

(grandson)

SIR - The eloquence of the Keighley News article (1/1/02) which recorded the demise of Howard Midgley brought back many memories that I had of the man, his son and his family.

The death of Darren, his son, those many years ago naturally cast a cloud over the family, and even though I had known and employed Darren prior to his tragedy, sadly I could never talk to Howard and Norma about those days. Howard was, in my view, a no nonsense man, who didn't suffer fools gladly.

As Motorsport correspondent Barry Robinson pointed out in the article, Howard was a proud and true Yorkshireman, a down to earth character.

His conversation on local issues were blunt and to the point.

The man will be sorely missed, not only by his family, but by me and all those who knew him.

To Norma and to all his family, my memories of both Darren and Howard I can carry with me, remembering the tears and laughter of happier days.

DAVID SAMUELS

Station Road, Oxenhope.

SIR - Keighley Single Fathers would like to thank all those who helped with and donated goods to the KSF Christmas party.

A special thanks to the Keighley Lions for Santa and his presents which was once again the highlight of the day.

The drop-in centre will be closed indefinitely, although we can still be contacted through the Healthy Living Network.

Thanks also to the Healthy Living Network for their support and generous use of premises.

KEIGHLEY SINGLE

FATHERS GROUP.

SIR - A number of inaccurate points are repeated time and time again by the euro sceptics in their letter-writing campaign that has featured in your columns.

First, they repeatedly allege that joining the euro would "hand over the levers of economic power to Brussels". Not so.

The main instruments of economic policy, such as what to tax, the level of different taxes, what we want public expenditure to be targeted at, what social security system we want, and so on, remain matters subject to national decision taking. Only monetary policy, where the scope for separate national action is anyway highly restricted by world markets, would be exercised jointly with our EU partners.

Second, they claim that we would lose the Queen's head on our currency. In fact, one side of every euro coin has national symbols (just as our pound coins currently have a common side and a Welsh/Scottish/English side).

Third, they allege that we would lose our national identity. How? Holland, Ireland, France, Germany, etc do not appear to have lost their identity, nor do they wish to do so. Is our identity so weak that sharing notes and coins with our neighbours would threaten it? It didn't in the past when we shared our currency with Ireland.

Fourth, they raise a red herring about the EU being run by unelected bureaucrats.

In fact, policy decisions are taken by the elected national governments meeting in the EU Council, double-checked by the elected European Parliament.

The European Commission (which anyway has fewer employees than Bradford City Council) can only make proposals and implement what has been agreed - not dictate to the Member States.

Fifth, they sometimes claim that it would damage us economically.

The opposite is more likely. With over three million jobs dependent on our exports to the rest of the EU, it is folly to handicap our exporters with the twin burdens of exchange costs and hedging costs when their main competitors within the European market will no longer face such handicaps.

RICHARD CORBETT MEP

Yorkshire and the Humber.

SIR - I am attempting to research my family tree and am hoping someone may be able to help as I had, or maybe still have, relatives in the Keighley area.

An uncle of mine, William Davies, who I believe originated from Wellington, Shropshire, was one of six children (I think) of Thomas William Davies 1871-1941 and Sarah Jane Davies (nee Jones).

He, I believe, was a bricklayer or connected with the building trade in some way.

He moved to Keighley and married a local girl, my auntie Maria. They lived at 38 Drewry Road, Keighley, in the 1950s and possibly 1960s.

I believe they had two sons, Geoff who worked on the railway and moved to Stirling many years ago. His wife is Barbara. The other son was Stan, who has sadly passed away. He married Marian, had children and moved to a dairy farm at Llanginin, near St Clears, Carmarthan in West Wales.

Any details would be appreciated. I can be contacted at 3 Weston Drive, Wellington, Telford TF1 3HQ or by phone on 01952 405577 or 07929 834205.

A JONES

Telford.