Bases argument does not stand up

If he thinks that an American establishment should only be based on American soil, then what about our British embassies throughout the world and British bases in such places as Cyprus, Malta, Belize etc.? Is he advocating that we withdraw our troops and civilians from these places if we are to apply this criteria to them?

With regard to US intelligence, how is it possible to legislate for the events that happened on September 11? No amount of surveillance could have stopped these people committing the acts that happened.

Only yesterday in the news we saw someone walk into a business in West Yorkshire with a petrol can and set the place alight, killing one person and injuring others. Does this mean that British intelligence has got it wrong as well?

Come off it, Mr Dunn, your arguments hold up as much here as they did in your letters during the summer slighting Mr and Mrs Soussan regarding the closure of All Saints School. You did not know the facts then about why some of their children had attended Farnley School but yet you were willing to admonish them in the press. Please get your facts right before putting pen to paper!

This letter again shows quite clearly that whilst Mr Dunn and other Labour councillors may stand at local elections under the Labour banner, they do not support their leaders at Westminster on this and many other issues.

Perhaps the local electorate should take note!

J D Burland

76 The Whartons,

Otley.

Non-Arriva

SIR, - Well, we are now into weekday two of the new Non-Arriva railway timetable covering Wharfedale, and so far the 17.16am train from Leeds to Ilkley has not been seen since September.

Considering the new timetable was intended to cancel five per cent of the trains and replace them with buses, can I assume that we are the unlucky ones who have neither a train nor a bus.

Or do I assume that the new timetable is only a reprint of the last with the period dates amended? Roll on Wednesday, what's the betting that the 17.16am runs but the 17.02 or/and the 17.32 is cancelled instead?.

Still there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon, but don't expect Arriva to take you there! Incidentally, my son was sent a £5 voucher after complaining about the service. Guess what. The staff at Menston station wouldn't accept it as part payment of his monthly ticket and was told it was for the main line only! Now there's a surprise.

Eric Ponton

53 Croft House Drive,

Otley.

No credit here

SIR, - I would like to respond to Councillor Graham Kirkland's letter in last week's Wharfedale Observer. Councillor Kirkland alleges that my earlier letters show just how low I will stoop to smear the Liberal Democrats.

My aim at all times is to tell the truth and, yes, to blame and share if this is justified. Years ago many Liberals, such as Hilda Morgan, were to be commended for their work for Otley. The same could be said for Mr Hindle and Mr Atkinson, never was my condemnation at these people.

The situation is that up to 1995 and then from 1999 until this year, Otley Town Council and the Civic Centre were under the control of Liberals/SDLP/Lib Dems. Back in the dark ages, Hilda Morgan and others helped to save the Civic Centre from closure. Since then, nothing or very little has been done.

With his RATS money (Ward Based Initiative Fund) - used by councillors to fund projects in their own wards - Councillor Kirkland has installed automatic doors for the front door and the ground floor corridor. Regrettably these are a real hazard to the disabled who are not able to move quickly. This particular 'improvement' was never given sufficient thought or consultation with Otley Disabled Action Group.

Let me confess, yes, his administration did replace the chair lift after it had been out of action for eleven months! My claim, according to Coun Kirkland, is that Liberals have done nothing. This can best be substantiated by the following:

Leaders will have read in last week's 'Wharfedale' that Otley Citizens Advice Bureau has received a cash boost and is now financially secure for the immediate future. Coun. Kirkland sent a press release to this paper claiming credit for this cash injection.

This paper and its editor acted wisely and did not publish his 'press release'. Coun Kirkland has absolutely nothing to do with Otley CAB. He just wanted to claim credit but as usual he had done nothing.

Yes my allegation is strong and vitriolic, but accurate.

Ray Dunn

42 St Davids Road,

Otley.

Jam tomorrow

SIR, - Councillor Kirkland has a very selective memory when it comes to Otley's Civic Centre (Wharfedale Observer letters, October 4).

In their usual way, the Lib Dems float a few 'airy fairy' views about building a new Civic Centre - something that would take several years to achieve, and goes no way towards answering the needs of current Civic Centre users.

All that he can offer, as usual, is the vague possibility of jam tomorrow. In the meantime, those of us who now have responsibility for the running of the building need to respond positively, particularly in the light of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), to ensure that the building does meet certain standards.

We could, of course have been further on with a process of improvements had the Lib Dems with their Tory partners not consistently voted down every single DDA proposal put forward by Labour Councillors between May 1999 and June 2001. I can give a categorical assurance to the residents of Otley, that under a Labour administration the Town Council will ensure that there are real, tangible, incremental improvements to the Civic Centre, year on year.

Unlike Cllr Kirkland we do not take the view that nothing can be done. The residents of Otley, and the many users of the Civic Centre deserve the best, and we intend to deliver. It will clearly take time, but watch this space.

John Eveleigh (Coun)

Leader, Otley Town Council,

95 West Busk Lane,

Otley.

Centre neglected

SIR, - Recently I attended a meeting in Leeds Town Hall in the Victoria Hall, where I was overwhelmed by the opulent splendour of its decorations. In contrast, I then attended an event in the crumbling Main Hall of Otley Civic Centre, where the internal plaster work and decorations are badly damaged because of the failure of Leeds City Council to maintain the roof and clean out the gutters.

The windows are sealed up because of the poor condition off the window frames and the outside balcony has had a warning notice on it for some time. I understand the outside woodwork of the Civic Centre has been painted only once in 20 years.

It would seem that Leeds City Council has failed to fulfil its obligations to the people of Otley.

However, the Civic Centre is in a central position and is the focal point for many societies and social events, attended not only by Otley residents, but also by people from the outlying districts. The Main Hall has staging and is spacious enough for many events, including productions by the Little Theatre.

It also possesses the best dance floor for miles around. Should not some priority be given to the refurbishment of the Main Hall? Our Civic Centre should be a matter of civic pride.

I realise that there are many financial demands to be considered by Otley Town Council, and that there have been several improvements to the Civic Centre in recent years, including disabled access to the Main Hall. Can these improvements now be taken a stage further.

B Watson

Burras Lane,

Otley.

Cost of war

SIR, - The war has begun. Prepare yourself for 'humanitarian action', 'collateral' damage which really means the deaths and displacement of thousands of innocent people. Prepare yourself for a loss of independent TV reporting and propaganda.

Napoleon Blair, master of mendacity, hypocrisy and spin gave his speech to conference full of emotive war propaganda prepared for an audience of bleating BSE (Blair Sycophantic Evangelists) infected sheep for slaughter. Chillingly, we should reflect that the main beneficiaries of September 11, are the two undemocratic leaders, Blair and Bush, whose powers have grown to war leaders. War is used as a substitute and excuse for justice against terrorism.

So, is this a war against terrorism or the enemies of America and western capitalism? In his speech, Blair used every propaganda and manipulation trick in the book.

In graphic detail he described the last moments of those on board the planes. He condemned the mistreatment of Afghanistan women, but hypocritically ignored Saudi Arabia, who have been behaving in exactly the same barbaric way, with our compliance, for centuries. But then, they have oil which is an exploitable commodity, whereas Afghanistan only has drugs.

Blair referred to his 'success' in Kosovo. Again he selectively omitted collateral damage and the support and arms we gave to the KLA, who are allies of the accused bin Laden.

Hypocritically, he criticised the funding of terrorism drugs, sold to buy arms, but not the western arms dealers, manufacturers and politicians who profit from these sales. America and Britain are the world's biggest exporters of military hardware!

Blair is avoiding quantifying the cost of this war, either in financial terms or human life. However Napoleon Blair did promise to lead us, bravely, into war, from his bunker under No 10.

Beware, Blair has failed at everything he has attempted so far, except to fool the British public and the Labour Party into making him their leader. He has opened a Pandora's box with a religious and racial hatred backlash which could ignite anywhere.

Remember people of Wharfedale, thanks to Menwith Hill, we are in the line of fire.

MALCOLM NAYLOR

21 Grange View,

Otley.