Schools decision must be accepted

The editorial in The Wharfedale Observer (July 19) summed up the closure and consultation brilliantly. The consultation period has ended and both of these gentlemen and myself must accept whatever decision is reached. That decision should be final.

Our town, our country, is part of a changing western world. Like it or not, market forces viability and economy of scale do predominate.

Yes, All Saints Junior School could remain empty for years until some entrepreneur sees a profit from its purchase. He or she would obtain the site at the right price, renovate and seek to make a profit. This is called progress.

Our hope is that such progress would happen sooner rather than later.

Mr Soussan, however, lives opposite the school. For whatever reason some of his family did not attend that school, yet he seeks its retention as a school. Why?

Perhaps this is because he does not wish to see the value of his property fall by being sited opposite a probable derelict building. He could have helped retain this school by not exercising Tory parental choice and by letting his children attend the local school in the heart of the community.

Ray Dunn

42 St. David's Road,

Otley.

Traffic at Pool

SIR, - On reading the report in the Wharfedale Observer (July 26) regarding the volume of traffic using Old Pool Bank, I felt compelled to pass the following comments:

As a frequent user of Old Pool Bank (on foot), I have been campaigning for many years regarding the amount of traffic, some quite heavy, using this lane as a rat run to avoid the traffic lights in Pool New Bank, which was in fact built for their benefit.

I suggested making it 'access only' as the top half of the lane already is, and I also suggested road bumps. The response from the police was that the bumps would not be safe for a driver speeding down the lane. The response from Leeds City Council was to resurface the whole of the road, making an increase in traffic and faster speeding. Soon after this a large portion of the road collapsed.

I did point out that the traffic made it extremely dangerous for any pedestrian using the lane, causing them to leap into the grass verge to avoid serious consequences.

Sylvia C Long

18 Manor Crescent,

Pool-in-Wharfedale.

Bloom thanks

SIR, - Through you may I on behalf of Guiseley in Bloom thank everyone who helped make Guiseley look so spick and span on Tuesday, July 17, for the summer judging of Yorkshire in Bloom.

All the traders, business people, residents and Leeds City Council workforce pulled out all the stops to make Guiseley look its very best. Our thanks go to all our ward councillors for the help they gave and not forgetting the Parks Department which gave us massive support. We shall await the result of the judging, but whatever that may be, Guiseley people, thanks.

Shirley Hughes-Rowlands

101 Park Road,

Guiseley.

Donations needed

SIR, - On September 1, we (two vehicles, four people) will be setting off to drive to Drawsko Pomorskie. We intend to raise funds for the children's home.

Ideally we would like to take cash for them, as then they could spend the money on the things they really need, but we would also like donations such as clothing, toys and educational tools (bearing in mind that any books should be in Polish).

I am writing this in an attempt to get help from others. Our friends and family are donating unwanted items, but we do need more help.

The children's home is situated a short distance away from Zbrejewo. During previous trips to Belarus to deliver medical aid, we visited the home on our way through Poland and felt that we could also help these children.

There are both girls and boys in the home aged eight to 16, most of whom have no living parents. The state provides funds for the basic needs of the children, such as food and pay for the staff, but there is no money available for outings, holidays, sports equipment, or home comforts so there is much we could do for these children. They have no assistance with the repairs to the home and it is in need of repair and renovation.

We would also welcome other adventurers to join us on the trip, (loaded of course with goodies). We will be staying at the Polish Land Rover Club which offers camping, canoeing, horse riding, off-roading and various other outdoor activities in the beautiful Pomeranian countryside.

Rosie Makinson

69 Acres Hall Avenue,

Pudsey LS28 9EA..

Pub party

SIR, - I was very puzzled by your article headed 'Balloon race will take to the skies (Observer July 26) which stated that the White Hart, Pool-in-Wharfedale was celebrating its tenth birthday.

I was born in Pool more than 84 years ago and can not remember the time when there was not a White Hart at the junction of Arthington Lane and Pool Bank.

As I grew up I remember that the landlord, (was it Daniel Byford?) used to provide the refreshments at the tea interval on the old cricket field, now occupied by Millcroft Estate.

David H Whiteley

Hampden House,

120 Duchy Road,

Harrogate.

Footnote: The party is to mark the tenth anniversary of the pub's ownership by Vintage Inns.

War tribute

SIR, - In 1941,United States President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met in their respective warships near the coast of Newfoundland,Canada, and hammered out an eight- point document called the Atlantic Charter.

In 1976, Parks Canada declared the closest parcel of land to the anchorage site an historic site and erected a plaque and monument of Churchill and Roosevelt to commemorate this historic meeting.

We are a non-profit organisation working vigorously to set up a museum to give the Atlantic Charter the recognition it deserves.We are searching for artifacts, photos or written articles pertaining to this meeting.

If you would like to give a donation towards our proposed museum,you may contact me by phone or e-mail and I will make the necessary arrangements with our Government's tourism department.

Any donations in kind or money will be greatly appreciated.

Phonse Griffiths

Atlantic Charter Foundation,

Ship Harbour,

Newfoundland,

Canada

Tel;709-227-5236

e-mail;atlanticcharter_1999@yahoo.ca

Bypass no answer

SIR, - I was interested to read abut the Hawksworth School children's geography project and their concerns about the damage being done by heavy goods vehicles.

I do not believe a bypass is the solution to the problem, as road building inevitably generates more traffic. We need to protect the environment for our children and our children's children.

We are the custodians of the environment for future generations. We need the Government to pursue policies which encourage public transport use and lead to freight being moved by rail and not road.

Unnecessary car use has led to a plethora of problems. Do we want children to suffer from respiratory problems? Do we want children to suffer impaired development and kidney failure?

Do we want acid rain? Do we want global warming? Do we want rising sea levels

Ironically, global warming could lead to Britain becoming colder, due to changes in the Gulf stream. We have to alter the way we live and depend less on the car.

Mick Beaty

Leeds.

(Full address supplied)

Moors: No choice

SIR, - May I use your pages to inform the ramblers, traders' associated with walkers and residents that I derive no personal pleasure or satisfaction for the enforced closure of Ilkley Moor.

There has been no choice or decision taken on this on my part. The reality is that the closure and allocation of the Protection Zone around the Middleton outbreak is due to the actions of DEFRA or MAFF.

The moors in some parts come within the three-kilometre zone. The advice given by DEFRA is that footpaths and grazing land within a Protection Zone must be closed.

If any part of a larger area falls within the Protection Zone, then the whole of the area should be treated in the same way.

Counsel's advice was taken recently on various associated matters. It confirmed that the council's actions on Ilkley Moor were correct according to Ministry guidance.

The length of time of this closure, and the lack of action in the secondary disinfection of Hill Top Farm (which has not taken place as yet) can be blamed only on the Ministry.

The credibility, justification or sense of MAFF's actions during the past six months is for all to judge. For this reason we should all be calling for a public inquiry to be instigated.

Coun ANNE HAWKESWORTH

Environment Executive,

Bradford Council.

Farm payouts

SIR, - Your resident expert on foot and mouth, Mr Stanley Flesher, might like to tell us all what his views on the foot and mouth bills for compensation are?

I see that the average bills for clean-up are ten times that of those on the Continent, taking months to do the job that should take weeks and that half the people doing the job are the farmers.

Some of the money is reportedly being used to buy machinery and repair old buildings. Will we see right-wing editorials having a go at 'our poor farmers"? I think not.

Wilfred Pickles used to say "Give 'em the money Barney" - and how. A bottomless Exchequer pit.

F Dickinson

Larkfield Road,

Rawdon.