Letters to the Editor

There was nothing he could do. I thanked the person and was pleased that the good Samaritan was alive and well in Keighley.

Whilst I don't condone acts of terror, our young ignorant sections of the white and black community in our midst must realise that they are part of the next generation of UK residents.

Some of our forefathers gave their lives so we could have freedom. The tolerance and sense of fair play with which we are famous for is being eroded.

In 100 years the UK will be truly a different colour. It is up to all of us now, not just Ann Cryer, to put our heads over the parapet and state that we have a sensible nation.

However, those people, both black and white, who go about trying to impose their opinions and ill thought out arguments, often borne of ignorance, should be sent to places of deprivation. Perhaps then they would realise how great Britain still is.

Why is it that people from all over the world are desperate to come to this so called 'dump'? Yes, we have heard all about the soft touch etc and we are told the politicians are doing something about it.

They come because we are a democracy. The fact remains Britain gave up some of its finest in sacrifice so that we could be free. Would young people of all creeds and colours do the same today?

If we don't live in harmony totally with each other a Northern Ireland situation will ignite across certain areas of the North of England. Violence will replace law and order as the norm. We must take action now by using what we know - brotherly love.

J F ACKROYD

(address supplied)

Sir - How dare Inspector Cawthorne tell us we have "sporadic ongoing problems to do with bad lighting." (See page 11).

The last three reported incidents have taken place in broad daylight, a visit from the Crime Prevention Officer who, unlike Insp Cawthorne, actually visited the premises, suggested that there wasn't a problem with the lighting.

In the past we have been advised to remove one light so that these thugs can't see what they are doing.

How dare he tell us that "it is not an ideal area for this kind of organisation."

Unfortunately we cannot all have nice big offices with plenty of car parking surrounded by CCTV, all funded from the public purse.

Will he tell the residents of Victoria Road and Nashville Road, who complained on Sunday night about the youths throwing fireworks, that they are not living in an ideal area?

Will he tell Ann Cryer that her office is not in an ideal area? Will he tell the businesses in Dalton Lane that they are not in an ideal area? And what will he tell the bowling team in Lund Park, Kiddicare, Branshaw and Holycroft Schools?

There shouldn't be any homes or businesses in Keighley that are not in an ideal area. We do all that we can to protect our property and ourselves.

When we have done all that we can, we have the right to expect the police to take over and do something, not to answer the phone and tell us they are too busy, or get more lights, or move.

STEPHEN SHORTEN

Transport Organiser

Keighley Community

Transport

Sir - I must take serious issue with David Knight's presentation of Laycock Primary School's request for the re-timing of a Keighley & District Travel bus as a "row" and "a seven-month wrangle".

I think that head teacher Mrs Hazel Ferguson will agree that this is not a fair representation of our communications.

The mid-afternoon bus has departed Laycock Institute at 3.08 pm since September 2000, and the first letter which K&D received indicating a problem was from Mrs Ferguson in March 2001.

The company replied that a timetable change was not possible "at the present time".

It is most unfortunate that the matter was not followed up during the summer, for which K&D accepts its share of responsibility, and so the departure remained at 3.08 pm.

Ann Cryer's letter of October 15 is only the second communication sent to K&D on the matter, and within 48 hrs of its receipt, an official of the company had visited Mrs Ferguson at the school and discussed, in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, possible ways forward.

K&D asks readers to appreciate that 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm is an hour of maximum output, the busiest of our working day, when every available bus and driver is in use, either on normal service or on school contract, precisely because every head teacher in the district requires buses at approx. the same time.

The 3.08 pm service 710 from Laycock becomes the 3.25 pm service 720 from Keighley to Leeming, picking up at Oakbank School at 3.33 pm.

Finding a "spare bus" for Laycock at 3.20 pm is proving extremely difficult, but Mrs Ferguson understands that K&D is actively seeking a solution to a difficulty which has never been either a "row" or a "seven-month wrangle".

Graham Mitchell

Group Communications

Manager

Blazefield Holdings Ltd

Sir - In response to your article in last week's Keighley News regarding "dog dirt at Keighley tarn" you do not need to be a brain surgeon to work out that if no litter bins/dog bins are provided then the odds of litter and dog mess increase.

Of course you will always get people who will not pick up after themselves, no matter what is provided.

That's just the way it is, but it's just common sense at such a popular amenity to have plenty of litter bins, and just as importantly they are regularly emptied and maintained.

J Hutchinson

Shann Park

Sir - With the generous support of the public and the ongoing support of many ex-Service men and women, St Dunstan's has offered the best possible services, for over 85 years, to those who have lost their sight in the service of their country.

Now, at the start of the 21st Century, we aim to offer support to even more people through our residential, rehabilitation and mobility services. Ex-service men and women have devoted years of their lives to defending us from the threats of violence and terror and, if they lose their sight at any point in their lives, we want to be there to help them. It's the least we can do.

Over the next few weeks we will be writing to around 5 million people across the UK to ask for help so that we, too, can be there when we are needed.

St Dunstan's receives no Government funding and we rely on donations to cover the costs of all we do.

If you would like to help us, or just find out more, please write to Nick Ward at St Dunstan's, 12-14 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HD or call Freephone 0800 7979.

NICK WARD

Director of Fundraising

St Dunstan's

SIR - I am a mature student at Keighley College.

I am appealing for help with my research project about Low Mill at Keighley.

Can anyone out there remember when it ceased to operate as a working mill? Or any other information would be gratefully received.

I know it was the first cotton mill in Yorkshire and that it was opened by Walshman & Clayton of Lancashire in about 1780.

I also know it was then owned by the Cravens of Laycock. I would love to know what happened after this period, until it stopped trading. Anyone with any information can contact me at 3 Redcliffe Grove, Keighley, BD21 2RQ.

Michelle Johnson

Redcliffe Grove

Sir - Oxfam's Yorkshire & North East Campaigns Office has been inundated with calls from local people wanting to know how they can help the people of Afghanistan.

Right now 2.5 million people face a desperate lack of food, and as winter approaches the situation can only get worse.

The crisis in Afghanistan is becoming one of the greatest humanitarian challenges the international community has ever faced.

Oxfam has been working in Afghanistan for over 12 years, where families have already endured three years of severe drought and 20 years of war. Oxfam is now working in extremely difficult conditions to deliver food supplies in Afghanistan to those who need it most - before the onset of winter in mid November.

But if more life-saving aid does not arrive before the snow, many more people face starvation.

Please write to Tony Blair today. Ask him to take a lead and urge the international community to allow food into Afghanistan before the snows arrive and overland routes become impassable. The impact of individual campaigning can't be over estimated. You really can make a difference.

Money is urgently needed to fund the emergency aid effort. Oxfam's appeal has already raised £150,000.

Just £25 will feed two people for the whole winter. If you would like to donate to Oxfam's Afghanistan appeal please call 0845 300 7070 or donate via your local Oxfam shop or online at www.oxfam.org.uk/afghanist

REBECCA PALMER

Campaigns Officer

Oxfam Afghanistan

Crisia Appeal.

Sir - I am writing to express my dismay at the removal of the small pond from above Sladen water treatment works.

I assume that it was done for 'health and safety' reasons. As a shareholder and local resident I would like to know what these were.

Despite the expensive work, hazards are still present in the form of rock surfaces more accessible than previously and a quagmire of mud worsening with each autumn rainfall.

Also many of the trees planted a few years ago are under high voltage wires and will need to be coppiced to avoid risk.

Ironically, I learned about the pond's removal at the launch of the South Pennine Heritage Strategy. I hope sincerely that Yorkshire Water will act in future to conserve and enhance the area's environmental heritage, not destroy it.

KC WILSON

Dean Street,

Haworth

Sir - I feel that once again I must write to your publication to put the record straight regarding last week's (alleged) war on Keighley & District Travel.

I have never once stated that I am at war with the aforementioned company. I also feel that this article in your publication may have put a serious dent in any progress we have made with our campaign to reinstate the West Lane bus service.

As a private individual I have raised the subject of the parking problems in the area at the top of Cavendish Street, but as the Chair of Braithwaite People's Association the town centre does not come into question.

Once again I would like the Keighley News to report the facts and not the fiction regarding my (alleged) war.

M WESTERMAN

West Lane, Keighley

Sir - I find Mr Westerman's arrogance in judging Keighley & District Travel drivers (as reported in Keighley News last week) absolutely breathtaking, especially as he appears not to be a bus user.

He has no concept whatsoever of the difficulties faced by professional bus drivers on every trip on every day under current traffic conditions in Keighley. Mr Westerman claims that K&D staff "are supposed to drive like other drivers". I disagree.

I expect K&D staff to perform a great deal better than other drivers, and they do.

Ninety-three per cent of the company's road staff have qualified as Advanced Motorists, a figure which gives K&D one of the higher percentages of Advanced Drivers in the bus industry.

I am therefore not surprised to find that Keighley Police have no record whatsoever of any formal complaint made by Mr Westerman against the company or its staff.

Stuart D. Wilde

Managing Director

Keighley & District Travel

Sir - I would just like to say how pleased I am that Keighley and District Travel is one of the five finalists in the National Bus Industry Awards.

Before I retired I used this company's buses to travel to work every day.

They were very reliable, clean and very comfortable. There was excellent driving and a good attitude from the drivers. They were early converts to the "low floor easy access" concept which is extremely helpful for the disabled, elderly and people with pushchairs.

I continue to use these excellent buses regularly for leisure purposes and shopping. Keighley has a bus company to be really proud of, and it is a worthy contender for being the outright winner.

Ray Wilkes

Tower Road,

Shipley