Letters to the Editor

It proceeded to clean out the only grate that was free and, despite being asked nicely, refused to move 15 yards to one that was blocked solid, the first time it had been so in the 34 years we have lived here.

A month later it appeared again, reversed past the blocked one, cleaning out another unblocked one. The driver, who again was asked politely if they would clean the drain out, shook his head and took off again.

Oct 5, the cleaner appeared 100 yards away, "Hurrah" here they come, I blinked, it was gone. Must have been a mirage. Oct 6 it appeared at the front of the house, it cleaned out the only free one up the road and when asked again to back up 10 yard they told my wife it was down for the following Monday, Oct 8.

No sign of the team Monday, my wife rang Bradford Met, a nice gentleman would have a word with the crew. Lo and behold, Tuesday Oct 9, 8am they appeared again and blitzed every grate, including some they had already done!

Why on earth cannot they clean all the grates in one area at one go?

I carried out a survey of all the grates in the area, 39 were clean, 36 were full of silt. Is there any wonder the centre of Silsden flooded earlier this year.?

All the housing developments are running tap water straight off to lower levels and Bradford are proposing 1,500 plus new houses for Silsden. Sewers in the Aire Valley are overloaded, drains and dykes blocked, verges uncut, roads not maintained properly. What on earth do we pay our rates for? They just disappear down a big black hole in Bradford

P CHADWICK

Dale View, Silsden

Sir - Upon reading that the Bradford Libraries had only achieved four out of 15 new national standards set by the government, Bradford Council should be hanging their heads in shame.

Your article did not tell Keighley people anything that they do not know already.

When Keighley Central Library was handed over to Bradford Metropolitan Council in the 70s it was a prestigious council service and one that the Keighley people could be justly proud of.

It was on August 20, 1904 that the Duke of Devonshire opened the Central Library. Mr Andrew Carnegie, the great pioneer of libraries, offered £10,000 to his friend Sir Swire Smith towards a library in the town.

When opened in 1904 this was the first Carnegie library in England, and much progress was made throughout the years, culminating in the opening of the extension to the central library on March 25, 1961.

This included a separate children's library. Everything was carefully planned to make a pleasant, homely atmosphere for children with a fireplace centrepiece and tropical fish aquarium.

The book stock was selected with great care and all involved felt they had achieved something. The children no longer had to share a corner in the main library.

Who would imagine that 20 years later this library would be taken over as a schools resource centre (and latterly as the Citizens Advice Bureau) and that the children would once again be sharing the main library building? Is this progress?

I was very happy to be a member of the library staff in the period when service to the public counted.

There was a tremendous team spirit and we were helpful and courteous to the public at all times. Talking and chatting to colleagues whilst on duty was not tolerated and as for reading the newspaper at the counter - this was unheard of.

The remarks made about staff being unhelpful and hostile are entirely true, the standard of service is appalling and professionalism is non existent.

I was proud to be a member of the Keighley Public Library staff for nine years in the 60s and would welcome a return to the old standards.

E MARSHALL

(address supplied)

SIR - In October 1995 the Keighley News gave generous coverage to a Church commissioned report, 'Powerful Whispers'.

That report stated Keighley lacked 'a single unifying voice'.

Our Lady of Victories Church in Guardhouse took up the baton, organising a public meeting to discuss the issue. The Aire-Worth Reform Association was born out of the issue.

In 1997 a Local Government Act enabled larger towns to create local councils, so it all came together last year when during an exchange of letters in the Keighley News the Keighley Voice group was formed with the intention of securing a local council for Keighley.

Support from the Keighley News, political parties and backing from the local community resulted in ballots at Keighley requesting a Town Council, as Keighley is the focal point of the area community and a town council is a unifying voice.

Over the last six years, people, too numerous to mention, contributed to get Keighley where it is today. However, after delays caused by foot and mouth and the general election, it is important no further time or momentum is lost in establishing a Keighley Town Council.

It should be in place next year. Before this can happen, however, there is still a lot of work to do in putting the nuts and bolts in place for our future council.

All groups, local associations, ethnic groups, civic societies, individuals in the local community should come together to thrash out details. Bradford council will have the final say before it goes to government, so it is important we get it right at this stage.

It will be difficult to alter things once Keighley Town Council is up and running.

Keighley Voice continues to hold meetings where these matters are to be discussed. Anyone who is interested in further details, telephone Keighley 604378/643393/653993

Brian Hudson

Bronte Drive, Oakworth

Sir - I have lodged a formal complaint against Airedale NHS Trust concerning its decision to levy increased car parking charges at Airedale Hospital.

I have been in contact with the Community Health Council, which has raised the matter with the trust on my behalf.

I have been provided with a copy of the trust's response, which I consider to be unsatisfactory.

I am currently attending Airedale for regular treatment. My course of treatment consists of 36 visits over a six-month period at three-weekly intervals. Each visit usually takes less than one hour.

Up to the beginning of September, I had to pay 50p to obtain a parking ticket for two hours. From September, this cost doubled to £1 for two hours.

The basis of my complaint is as follows: - There is no justification for the 100 per cent increase in parking fee. A Trust spokesman has said that the money raised is to improve security. There is little evidence to support this claim; indeed, members of staff that I have spoken to suggest that the situation with regard to patient and staff security continues to be very poor.

Charging £1 for even the shortest visit to the hospital is exploiting patients, their companions and visitors. The result is that either people are honest and consequently overcharged on a frequent basis, or that they seek to avoid payment.

Many people remain with their cars in the car park for extended periods without tickets, and clearly without challenge from those responsible for policing the scheme.

There is clear inequity in the concessions currently allowed. My fellow patients and I have to attend frequently and at regular intervals. For many of us, travel by car is the only practical option.

Many of the patients are elderly and of limited means. It would be simple to put in place a concessionary scheme, yet the Trust has failed to do so.

I am fortunate to be in the position where I can afford to pay these charges. Even so, it is sobering to realise that I pay £4 every week of treatment for little more than three hours of parking. I challenge the Trust to find another car park in the Bradford district which has higher charges than this.

John Fryett

Haworth

Sir - With reference to the pleas from the Dales Recovery Fund Committee for people suffering from the effects of the foot and mouth crisis to come forward for financial help - I write as one who has gladly given to this Fund and also promoted a collection for it within my own social sphere.

The request speculated as to whether the reason for reticence might be that folk are too proud to accept help. I do hope this does not prove to be the case.

Many Yorkshire men, women and children (and others from further afield) have readily given donations - thus expressing the concern and empathy we have for all the Dales communities who are experiencing such a hard time just now. We care about your difficult situations and we want to help to make things a bit easier.

I, personally, am especially concerned for farmers who have had to continue feeding their animals - being unable to move them as normal - and who are finding it a huge struggle to meet bills for feed.

This will presumably cause further massive problems over the coming winter months. Don't struggle alone - this is why we have given!

And we shall all reap the benefits when we are able, once again, to freely travel about our lovely Dales and fully enjoy the stunning countryside, its animals and all the facilities there that we value so much.

Don't let our gifts be passed over, we want them to make a difference. Please accept them in the spirit in which they are given and allow us to work in partnership with you towards a better future for our countryside and all its inhabitants.

SYLVIA WALKER

Styveton Way, Steeton