Sale of historic church hall is 'essential'

The sale is an essential pre-requisite to the redevelopment of the adjoining church as an all purpose building for worship, Sunday School and other church and community uses. The Church Hall and Sunday School was originally built as the Wesleyan Church in 1816 and enlarged in 1832.

Since the present Methodist Church was built in 1867 the old building has not only served as Church Hall and Sunday School but has been used for a period as a day school and a multiplicity of other uses by church and community groups.

On October 27 an exhibition will be held to commemorate the part the old building has played in the community over the years. At the same time a gift day will be held in aid of the redevelopment scheme for the existing church building.

There must be many people who have spent happy hours in the old building and who might like to make a donation to the redevelopment scheme as an appreciation of what the building meant to them. Donations can be sent to the Rev Philip Macdonald, 53 Prospect Road, Burley- in-Wharfedale. LS29 7PN

Mr D Bolton

Church Council Secretary,

Burley-in-Wharfedale

Methodist Church.

Ignorant of facts

SIR, - Mr. Malcolm Naylor writes from a position of total ignorance of the facts. Women in Saudi Arabia are not treated in a similar way to those in the thrall of the Taliban.

They could be allowed more freedom than they are at present. I spent seven years in Saudi Arabia, living amongst the Arabs and not in a special Western Compound. I was virtually adopted by an Arabic

family.

Women are allowed to see doctors. The wearing of the veil is not compulsory. Women are educated in the many girls' schools. Women attend university. There are women's welfare organisations. I do not know from where he finds his ideas.

Most of the trouble in the Arab World stems from Margaret Thatcher's failure to act when requested to do so by Prince Saud Al Faisal and King Hussein of Jordan. There was more political mileage in pretending that she was a strong influence during the Reagan-Gorbachev period.

Mad Margaret should have sent Lord Carrington to the Middle East. He was much respected by both Arab and Jewish interests.

As for Menwith Hill, it is possible to knock out the place with something little larger than a shotgun. An electronic pulse gun would melt down all of the electronics in the place. A nuclear bomb would be far more costly and not as effective

Gordon Bradley

15, Kineholme Drive,

Otley.

Respect, please

SIR, - Having just read another of Mr Naylor's lengthy letters (The Cost of War), his statement that Mr Blair and Mr Bush are the two main beneficiaries of the events of September 11, beggars belief and needs treating with the contempt it deserves.

He later states Afghanistan only has drugs! Is he not aware of the devastating effect of drugs throughout the world and the illegal distribution of drugs is probably worse than the legal manufacture of arms.

He, Mr Naylor, later states Mr Blair fooled the British public and the Labour Party into making him their leader. Please Mr Naylor treat the British public with more respect. I know you are fond of saying that the total vote for Mr Blair was only 26 per cent I believe, but this also means that 74 per cent could have voted against.

Please don't let's bring the events of September 11, into a political failing - even the new Conservative leader is backing Mr Blair on this one.

Yes Mr Naylor we do know the meaning of mendacity. I think you should use the phrase 'master of mendacity' very carefully even though we are a democratic country. To conclude, Mr Naylor, we are not all out of step but Mr Naylor.

Mr C Teale

Rufford Crescent,

Yeadon.

Liberal record

SIR, - Ray Dunn has got it wrong again (Wharfedale Observer letters, October 11) He claims this newspaper did not publish a press release as if he has some secret editorial oversight of what comes into the paper.

Neither this newspaper nor any other ever discloses its sources of information. Journalists have risked going to prison to protect their sources, so they are not very likely to share their secrets with Ray Dunn.

He can be absolutely certain that without the founding friends of Otley CAB, of which I was one, Otley CAB would never have existed. Every year we have had to fight for funding, this year's crisis is only the latest in a saga going back 20 years.

In exactly the same way, exactly 20 years ago this month, Leeds decided to close Otley Civic Centre. One prominent Leeds Labour councillor even threatened to have it boarded up. Without very hard work by the Liberal Democrats there would not be a Civic Centre for Ray Dunn to argue about.

However to get back to constructive suggestions. Thank you for the constructive points I have received. There is not a clear cut answer. Each option needs to be thought out and costed. It is no use saying there is a problem and spend, spend, spend to sort it out.

That is how the town council under Labour overspent and why the Liberal Democrats had to spend time bringing he books back into balance. Keep the constructive ideas flowing please.

Coun Graham Kirkland

Lib Dem,

Otley and Wharfedale,

Westholme ,

Westgate,

Otley.

Bloom support

SIR, - I write on behalf of the Otley in Bloom 2001 group, firstly to thank everyone for their help and support.

So many people have commented on how attractive the town looked this year. Businesses, residents, schools, churches and various local groups have all played their part in assisting Otley begin to improve its ratings in the regional Britain in Bloom competition.

Valuable volunteer effort and a lot of goodwill from so many different people combined with the talents and efforts of our local parks gardeners has made a real difference.

Don't forget the spring and summer Otley in Bloom brochures are available for you to look at in the reference section at Otley Library. They are certainly worth browsing through to appreciate the various town displays and will surely cheer up a gloomy winter day.

Planning for our entry for next year is well under way. The second purpose of this letter is to let your readers know what has been agreed so far.

To continue to assist Otley's entry in the spring judging, the Otley in Bloom team has agreed to fund more spring planting. If any of your readers wish to suggest areas for planting spring bulbs and/or wish to help in the planting of these bulbs then I would ask them to contact either Les Cross at The Civic Centre on (01943) 466335 or myself on (01943) 850879, preferably before the end of October.

Sylvia Reid

Otley in Bloom Representative,

Otley and District Chamber of

Trade,

Manor Books and Music,

23 Manor Square,

Otley.

Same wavelength

SIR, - Please permit me to respond to Mr J D Burland's letter of October 11. From your letters page last week Mr Burland will perceive that as far as Menwith Hill is concerned Mr Malcolm Naylor seems to be on the same wavelength as me.

Mr Burland will readily agree that Mr Naylor is not a member of the Labour Party nor would it appear is he a Labour voter. Mr Burland however does presume that in order to be a Labour Party member one has to be in complete unison with the leadership.

Labour is a democratic party and as such there is a broad spread of opinions and ideas over many issues. These in turn lead to good principles and lengthy debate.

At one time, when he was a councillor, Mr Burland was the town council representative for the Menwith Hill Forum. Readers will not be surprised to read that he failed to attend a single meeting.

He further lambasts me over an earlier letter of mine on school closure. Mrs Sousson did phone me and she spoke with me at length. Answers could be given to Mr Burland but it would be discourteous, at this stage, to bring this family into further anxiety and debate.

Your letters page also printed a letter from B Watson who complains, quite rightly, about the Main Hall in the Civic Centre. Why has so little been done over the years? There is of course a landlord/tenant agreement but the simple fact is that this town was subjected to a maladministration of Liberals.

All improvements since 1995 were under a Labour administration. Between 1999 and 2001 the town reverted to a Liberal/Tory alliance where nothing happened. Nor would it have done if they had remained in charge.

Readers, please do not take my word, they might instead ask the reporters of this paper if the Liberal ward councillor was present at the public meeting concerning the newly planned pavilion on Meagill Rise. Believe me Liberals are not to be seen in Otley.

Readers, see, inquire and evaluate for yourselves.

Ray Dunn

42 St David's Road,

Otley.

Show thanks

SIR, - Re Menston Show, September 1, you did give us an exciting back page display on September 6, following our Show which was greatly appreciated.

We would like you to thank particularly all those tradesmen in and around the village who donated cash and gifts to make it such a successful show. This year we have been able to send a cheque for £700 to our charity, The Yorkshire Air Ambulance, a most deserving service.

Denis R Stenning

Chairman,

Show Committee,

8 Hawksworth Drive,

Menston.

Ilkley.