Letters to the Editor

This has been well received by the community around us and to our delight the last three years have seen other families doing the same and a grand job they have done too.

This year's all round display had the promise of being the best yet, as like ourselves the other families seemed to have spent quite a lot of money to upgrade their displays, all adding to the festive spirit.

Unfortunately, this year has shown an element never seen before in all the years we have been doing this.

Vandalism. There is a minority group in the area that seem to get a kick out of wrecking all the effort that goes into putting on these displays, lights pulled off the wires, bulbs broken etc. Apparently it's happened to others as well.

It costs money to repair the damage. It is very disheartening and extremely annoying to feel the effect of these petty yobs, who obviously have no regard for the efforts of people who are only trying to add to the festive season.

I'm fairly sure of the age group involved with the damage; the local children have been quite effusive in 'spilling', so to speak.

All that can be said to them is to 'grow up and get a life'. It's a shame they have nothing else better to do.

As things stand at the moment it's very doubtful as to whether the lights will go up again next year.

That's a pity, because all these vandals have done is deprive the rest of the community of a more colourful and bright holiday feel next year.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

SIR - Tom Smith thinks 'we're no longer quids in'. Fortunately we are!

The euro is one of the world's weakest currencies. It is only worth 0.90 US cents and 'weighs' in against the Indian Rupee at 50 per cent less than the pound. Do we really want to vote for a pay cut?

Euroland is now inherently economically unstable, as it possesses a huge floating currency which does not even accurately reflect German needs, let alone Ireland's. We are not so unlucky.

Politically, the euro area may best be described as an odd mixture of Feudalism and Technocracy.

This has more in common with the Middle Ages than the 21st Century. So much for Mr Blair and his modernism. Meaningful Democracy is no longer real in euroland.

There are lots of detailed publications about the consequences of UK euro membership, so there is no excuse for Mr Smith's ignorance.

If we join the euro, leaving is impossible. Come hell or high water we would have to stay. I do not want to imagine the reality of living in a 'country' where one has to tolerate a legally binding, institutionally backed monetary straightjacket.

Argentina has this and look what is now happening.

If there is a Referendum, one should think. If one votes yes, it is not possible to vote yes or no ever again. If you vote no, one can vote yes or no in the future. Who wants to fight with one arm tied behind their back?

Yours, still able to afford a holiday outside Europe.

NEIL A RAMSDEN

Cavendish Street, Keighley.

SIR - During this year the number of police in North Yorkshire has hit its highest ever level. By March 31, there will be over 1,420, 100 more than January in 2001.

At the same time, however, the pensions bill for retired officers is soaring. This is no fault of the officers themselves, who deserve a good pension after a lifetime's service to our communities and who contribute 11 per cent of their earnings towards it.

Next year's Government grant will not bridge all the gap.

The North Yorkshire Police Authority is reviewing all areas of expenditure for savings. But despite its best endeavours, there will be a shortfall.

A key question is how this will be filled.

The main options will be to reduce the number of officers or increase the police tax (Council Tax precept) - currently £62.59 a year for the average household.

This level is well below the national average for Police Authorities.

We would be interested to hear reader reactions to levels of policing and raising enough money locally to pay for them.

The Police Authority is consulting the public on this issue, and is holding an open meeting at Cononley Village Hall on Thursday, January 10, 2002 at 7pm, when the Authority's financial position will be explained.

Cty CLLR M DOYLE,

and J ANDERSON

North Yorkshire Police

Authority.

SIR - Having read your Cowling village news regarding 2,000 apathetic villagers, I would like to add my humble opinion on the village hall.

First, for what it is worth, at one time I had a large stake in Cowling. I thought it was the centre of the universe. Many astute people live there.

From reading your paper I note that certain businesses are no more. Is this partly a sign of the economic times? Do the supermarket and modern communications reign supreme?

The village hall should have closed 20 years ago, been pulled down and the site redeveloped. Money raised could have been used for a trust fund.

No doubt the altruistic efforts of the new village hall exponents have a vision which I lack.

The Wesleys had vision but they lived in different times. The next generation of Cowling people won't want white elephants in their midst and will have no compunction but to act, ie. a new bank book mentality will operate.

So my advice, for what it's worth, is don't give anyone a stick to beat you with. This applies to the Methodists and the new village hall committee.

J F ACKROYD

Address supplied.

SIR - I read with interest your article on the school transport issues for parents of children attending Skipton schools.

My son attends a Skipton school and the first we knew about the changes were in a letter handed out to the children by the bus driver.

This letter stated that the services 444 and 446 would be amalgamated and fares for children using the service would now be charged at the full price.

My son has for the last two and a half years used the school bus service to get to school each day. We have always purchased from Keighley and District a pass, which is not usable outside of school days, for him to use.

This has cost us £120 since September 2001. The new pass proposed by Keighley and District will cost £130, the next school term is 49 days long so this works out to £2.65 per day. Paying half fare (only now available on regular services) will cost £1.50 per day or £73.50 for the term. I do not think that this is acceptable.

Keighley and District have decided to amalgamate two services, the 444 and 446, with as far as I can see, the plan to phase them out of service altogether.

These services are well used each day and serve Aireville, Skipton Girl's High and Ermysted's. Due to the number of pupils making the journey, not only will adult passengers on the regular service have to endure the high spirits and noise of large numbers of young passengers, but more importantly, some children will be left standing at the bus stops as the full buses go past. Arriving late is not the best start of the day for any child.

Once in Skipton these children are then going to have to cross busy roads and make their own way through Skipton to school.

The same will happen in the evening, and children will be standing around Skipton bus station waiting to get home. Even I can see inherent problems with this. Some of these children will be no more than 11 years old. As a parent I find this an unacceptable situation.

I and several other parents have voiced our concerns to Keighley & District, who do not seem to realise (a) the cost implications for parents and (b) the safety issues for our children. My son and others already walk half a mile to and from the bus stop with all their bags and equipment every school day. To then be left standing as buses go past would not encourage them to get to school. We have had little response apart from the brushing off of our concerns.

The changes proposed by Keighley and District Transport Ltd make a mockery of everything the government is telling us about not using our cars but public transport instead.

This is not just an issue for children but also for the adults, as no doubt Keighley & District Transport is planning to raise the fares quite substantially for them as well on its services to Skipton.

KATHRYN J DIXON

Styveton Way, Steeton.

SIR - I am writing to you, as it is possible that the item I seek only had circulation in Keighley, so I hope that your readers can assist.

The recent television programme about the early life of Adolf Hitler reminded me that in my childhood in Keighley - it would be the late 40s, early 50s - my parents had a spoof copy of Hitler's will.

The only bequest I can remember was that he left his moustache to Charlie Chaplin.

It was a printed document, not duplicated or a carbon copy, and I did not find it when I cleared out the effects after mother's death, so it was obviously lost or destroyed during the intervening period.

Are any of your readers able to assist, please?

Regarding Mrs Walker's query in the Keighley News for January 4, the Keighley Methodist Circuit used to hold a similar Eisteddfod. I cannot remember very much about it but think that the exhibition and concert was held at Temple Street.

My sister and I won prizes once, and I am sure our names appeared in the Keighley News. This again would be the late 40s, early 50s.

R W PLACE

Cornfield Avenue,

Huddersfield.

SIR - Rainbows and Angels. What a pleasure to read the common sense letter from a Muslim brother. The rainbow analogy was excellent.

When he looks at the lovely scenery around Keighley may he see trees full of Angels.

Trish, a Catholic.

Patricia Blackledge

Bar House Lane, Utley.

SIR - Oakbank is not 'a big cash hoarder'.

We are currently operating on a reserve of about one per cent of our income (half the Audit Commision's recommended guideline for reserves).

The NAS/UWT survey uses a 'carry forward' figure (from financial year 1999-2000 - the year leading up to the change to an 11-18 school) which was based on a single day snapshot of balances at the end of a financial year. This is not the same as a reserve or unallocated expenditure.

Approximately 64 per cent of the carry forward figure was committed to decisions already made about expenditure (eg roof repairs, fire precautions, new minibus, synthetic sports pitch).

The remaining 36 per cent was committed to departmental carry forwards to fund the costs of re-organisation (resources for the new year groups) or for expenditure that falls within the academic year pattern (eg exams - which currently cost £99,000 per annum).

I am sure the NAS/UWT (who produced the survey) understand the difference between a snapshot balance and unallocated reserves. To present their findings in the way they have is deliberately misleading.

Bradford's secondary schools are still underfunded compared with secondary schools nationally - which maybe explains why 11 Bradford second schools have each tabled over £100,000 in debt balances (according to the same figures the NAS/UWT looked at). Thankfully the council is at last doing something about this.

JOHN ROBERTS

Headteacher,

Oakbank School.

SIR - Through your newspaper may I take this opportunity to thank the local shops and businesses for the kind donations towards the Christmas fundraising on behalf of the Senior Citizens on the Braithwaite estate.

The Braithwaite Peoples Association is run by volunteers and receives no payment, but what we do receive is a lot of encouragement from local companies, and long may this last.

M WESTERMAN

Chairman, B P A

SIR - Calling people in Keighley! Oxfam is running its first ever online raffle.

All you need to do is to log on to www.oxfam.org.uk/raffle and then click on the amount of 'chances' you wish to buy for £1.

Tony Robinson