Passing the buck for road safety unacceptable

Your headline said eight lights were out. In fact, it is worse than that. It is 12.and they are still out this evening, Monday, October, 22, four weeks since the accident which damaged one lamp-post and supposedly disturbed the lights of the other eleven.

Passing the buck between themselves and their contractors makes the Highways Agency sound like Railtrack before the Hatfield accident.

This buck passing is unacceptable and must stop before there are further accidents. At a minimum there should be a temporary speed restriction during the hours of darkness. I suggest 30mph.

I now turn to Mr John Traynier's recent correspondence regarding a 'bypass ' for this stretch of road. In his first letter he came clean and admitted that in addition to making this road safer it would improve the amenity of his home by setting the A65 many yards away from his house.

The need for a safe road here is urgent and I believe this can be achieved in a quicker time frame then a Human Rights Act lawsuit with the Government if the following measures were undertaken:

1. Imposing a 30mph speed limit on the section from the west Burley bypass roundabout to 800 metres west of the Little Chef and then 40 mph from there to the Ilkley boundary at the Toll Bridge, Ben Rhydding.

2. Supporting the 3 mph speed limit with 'pinch points' which narrow the road at the beginning and end of the speed restrictions and so emphasise them and speed cameras.

3. Cutting down the hedges along this section of the road. This was done at the time of installing the road painting and strengthening of the river bank but despite my pointing out to the Highways Agency that this simple management exercise needs to be repeated regularly, they have allowed the hedges to grow back and reduce visibility along this difficult stretch of road.

For regular users of this road the Ilkley end alongside the sewerage works, farm and playing fields feels so much safer where maintained hedges improve visibility and sight lines.

4. Replacing damaged black and white roadside marker posts on the north side to the east of the Little Chef which have not been replaced when damaged.

5. Assisting residents of Ilkley Road, Manor Park, with financial grants to construct turning circles in their front gardens so they do not have to reverse on to the busy A65. Even with a 30 mph speed limit, reversing on to a main road is unsafe.

I am sure others could suggest further minor improvements, but the key thing is to reduce speed and reduce it now and ensure speed cameras enforce the reduced speed limits. I am confident all this can be achieved, together with the statutory notices, within six months rather than six years a Human Rights Act lawsuit is likely to take, fascinating that this would be.

BOB TILLEY

High Mead,

Ben Rhydding Drive,

Ilkley.

Travel public

SIR, - I was sorry to read about the traffic problems faced by Manor Park residents. Ann Cryer is right: a bypass would cause more problems than it would solve.

The solution lies in encouraging more people to use public transport and leave their cars at home. If trains because more frequent and reliable, more people would use them. Trains should be run by the Government and not by train operators like Arriva, which made £5.5 million in six months and delivered an awful service. Why should a company that fails to provide enough drivers and carriages make millions?

This money should be used to provide Ilkley residents with more trains. If more people used public transport, more money would be raised from the fares., which would mean there would be more money for investment, leading to better public transport and yet more people using it.

Despite the Arriva problems, public transport is normally cheaper, faster and safer than the car. Sadly, thousands of people die in car accidents every year, and car users waste hours stuck in traffic james, and face higher purchase payments, insurance bills, maintenance costs and road tax.

Public transport in West Yorkshire is very reasonable. Unnecessary car use causes respiratory illness, cancer and heart problems, acid rain, global warming, flooding, rising sea levels, and congestion and makes Manor Park residents' lives a misery.

Use public transport - it doesn't cost the earth.

MICK BEATY

7 Holt Farm Close,

Holt Farm,

Leeds.

A dubious war

SIR, - Christopher Leslie MP states that bombing raids, on one of the world's poorest countries, are necessary for the 'future security of the world' (Gazette, October 18).

His colleague, Clare Short, storms in with an even more bizarre statement. The Minister claims that opponents to the war are 'emotional'. In times of war it is common for leaders to adopt macho language. Words of war detract from the fact that there is no intellectual or moral argument for this conflict.

Its legality is also certainly dubious. The world is less secure as a result of military action. Far from being 'soft', opponents of the conflict are asking the hard questions.

We want the British and US Governments to tackle the causes of terrorism in a calm and measured way. This will be difficult, but far from impossible. The action required will be through peaceful and diplomatic means.

We need a battle of words and ideas. We can make a start - locally and internationally.

l We must have a new effort to end wars in Palestine, Kashmir and the north of Ireland. Terrorism thrives where democratic politics fails.

l Britain must adopt an ethical arms policy.

l We must tackle appalling levels of poverty in parts of the world and stop supporting economic policies that create greater divisions between rich and poor.

l Levels of international aid will have to be dramatically increased to match our status as one of the world's rich nations.

l We should increase our understanding of different faiths and encourage dialogue between religious groups - at home and abroad.

Christopher Leslie states that Bin Laden refuses to negotiate. President Bush also refuses to talk to the Taliban regime. At some point all sides will have to take the hard option and begin to talk.

Tony Parker

10 Booth Street,

Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Freedom erosion

SIR, - I regret that Christopher Watson (Letters) has angled his support of identity cards to an unfortunate attack on people who seek sanctuary on our shores from terror, oppression and hunger caused by repressive regimes.

What he should consider is that a thousand years ago, his Anglo-Saxon ancestors were illegal immigrants. Fortunately for him, the indigenous Ancient Britons hadn't thought to set up detention centres and ID cards to keep them out.

Why is America such a rich, powerful, go-ahead country. Because its population is a rich mix of people of all races who had the initiative and energy to better themselves and work hard to achieve a decent standard of life.

We are always hearing that we are in desperate need of more teachers, nurses, doctors, police, and we certainly need more plumbers, electricians, gardeners, handywomen, home carers etc. So instead of spending billions on ID cards, why not spend the money on training schemes and raising the status of women, on education and the teaching of English for the immigrant population in order that they can adequately fill these job vacancies.

With our 55 million population, think of the cost of an ID system which, putting it very low at £10 a card, is half a billion pounds for starters (and you can bet your life savings that it will be a lot more than that with insertion of complicated details and maintaining and updating it throughout the years) plus the cost of an army of civil servants in expensive offices.

Mr Watson says that no true citizen has anything to fear from ID cards. No, you and I haven't, Mr Watson , because we are not Asian, West Indian, African or Eastern European, so we are not likely to be picked on by the police or other authority demanding, at the drop of a hat, to see our ID cards.

AUDREY HARGREAVES

The Moat House,

6 North Street,

Addingham..

Patient's thanks

SIR, - I would be grateful if you would publish in the Gazette my thanks to all who were so kind to me over the last three weeks.

Firstly, the hairdressers where I fainted, the paramedics and, perhaps most of all, Airedale Hospital. One hears so much adverse criticism of the NHS, but Airedale Hospital scores ten out of ten in every aspect.

I have had to spend hours flat on my back and the kindness shown to me has been unbelievable. So to them and my many good friends in Ilkley, a big 'thank you'.

MARIE MURRAY

156 Skipton Road,

Ilkley.

Flood defences

SIR, - For the past 20 years up-river flood defences have forced more and more water down the ten rivers which flow into the Ouse - and there will be more, much more after flood defences are built in South and West Yorkshire and the Vale of York.

However, after just four years in existence, the Environment Agency has come up with the perfect cost-effective solution to protect thousands of people and buildings who live in an area awarded 'sacrificial lamb' status - a waterproof letter to push the water away (as long as it hasn't floated away before you need to refer to it).

It tells you to ring 'Floodline' to ask if a flood warning has been issued (being telepathic will save you a lot of calls). It tells you that if you become aware of polluted water and sewage approaching your premises you can pop out and buy sandbags if you don't want to spoil your pillowcases (true - read it yourself).

It tells you to take your will upstairs (which really inspires confidence regarding survival) together with your insurance documents (if you can afford the premium after the Environment Agency has classified you sacrificial lamb status) and photograph album (to remind you what your home used to look like). No advice for those who live in a bungalow.

No mention in the 'waterproof letter' of any help from the overstretched emergency services. No proposals to reinstate local emergency planning committees abolished by party politicians. No proposals to build flood defences in the 'waterproof letter' area.

Past and present local councillors; MPs and MEPs, are responsible for allowing this situation to develop.

No doubt global warming and alleged lack of money will be cited as the scapegoat. It is not too late to do something other than pin a waterproof letter on the wall.

Bob Lewis

9 Boothgate Close,

Howden,

East Yorkshire.