SIR, - May I bring to your attention the interesting situation that has arisen since work was commenced on a traffic calming scheme near the rail station in Station Road, Burley.

Three weeks ago, to the surprise of local residents, who had not been consulted, workmen moved on to site and started digging up the road and pavement. The work involves constructing two refuge islands and an addition to the footpath on the east side of Station Road. Temporary traffic lights were installed to control traffic.

Having completed one refuge and constructed dropped areas on the footways, work stopped for four days. It appears that the drawings were incorrect and all the work has to be undone and moved several feet northward!

The contractors are not at fault and it would appear that the taxpayers are paying for the error.

Another interesting spin-off has been that a street lamp has been damaged twice in a few days by passing high sided traffic being diverted through the narrowed highway, at further public expense.

Whoever dreamed up this wonderful scheme has used the proverbial sledgehammer to crack the nut. Residents along the affected length of road will lose the facility of parking any vehicle for whatever purpose, including collection and deliveries, outside their properties.

The noise and fumes from vehicles stopping and starting while giving way to oncoming traffic is adding to the disruption.

We have parish councillors, Bradford councillors and community councillors, yet no contact or consultation has been offered by any of them. No wonder the electorate is so apathetic at election time!

Kenneth G Johnson

100 Station Road,

Burley in Wharfedale.

Slow writers

SIR, - I refer to your report with the headline 'GP's too slow to write' which appeared in the Gazette on Thursday, June 21.

You imply by starting that 'Bosses at the health trust for Ilkley say some patients are waiting for more than two weeks because letters of referral do not arrive within the allocated 24 hours' that it is Ilkley GPs at fault.

I should like to point out the problem was one within the Airedale area, not specific to Ilkley, and indeed may not apply to Ilkley patients at all. Certainly at the Ilkley Moor Medical Practice we have checked with Airedale Trust and can confirm that all our referrals concerning possible breast cancer cases have been referred without delay. I hope you will consider issuing an apology for the misleading information in the article.

DR MARK FRENCH

(on behalf of Ilkley Moor

Medical Practice)

Springs Medical Centre,

Spring Lane,

Ilkley.

FOOTNOTE: We are sorry if Dr French feels misled. It is made clear in the report that it applies to only a handful of cases across the Airedale Health Authority's area. The report of the remarks made by the health chiefs was entirely accurate.

Wrong choice

SIR, - With regard to the eager anticipation of the building of the new Wharfedale Hospital in Otley:

It is indeed a great thing that this excellent hospital is to be redeveloped as part of the National Health Service's future.

It should be remembered, however, that Otley is already a traffic-soaked town and that there have recently been strong complaints in the Wharfedale Observer about lorry traffic in Newall Carr Road. What will traffic be like over the next two or three years of construction, or what when the 'new' hospital is fully operational?

In this connection, it must be pointed out, again, that the present proposed site of the hospital is at the extreme north-west edge of the Leeds Teaching Hospital's catchment area.

The hospital is intended not only to serve Otley town, but also some 11,000 households in Aireborough (Guiseley and Yeadon).

This means more than 20,000 people, many of whom will continue to travel, with public service difficulty, four to six miles (seven from Rawdon surgery) through those lousy lights at the bottom of Otley Kirkgate, round a couple of bends and over the narrow river bridge.

Continuing to site a local hospital at the far end of Otley is of no advantage to us. Too late now, but it has been quite illogical - as our two local Labour MPs will have well understood - to reject the concept of redeveloping the High Royds alternative in terms of the long term greater good for the greatest number.

One can only assume that this latter site has been earmarked by Leeds Labour Health Authority for profitable private development, in itself likely to generate even more Otley traffic.

G W M Britton (Mr)

21 St John's Way,

Yeadon

Hospital disgust

SIR, - It would appear from reports in your newspaper that the Wharfedale Hospital is to be rebuilt on its present location.

On behalf of myself and I am sure, many others, I am truly disgusted at what appears to be a final decision.

Do we realise that for the next 100 to 150 years, the 200,000 residents of Wharfedale will have to travel through the narrow twisting streets of the market town of Otley, to the very edge of the large catchment area of Wharfedale.

I do consider this decision, if it still goes ahead, as an insult to the members of HM armed forces, the Merchant Navy, and civilians who suffered and died making terrible sacrifices in the last war to ensure that Great Britain remained a true democratic country and that those elected to positions in government and authority would ensure that commonsense and honesty would prevail and be upheld for the welfare of the population.

We have gone through certain facts, ie, costs of rebuilding, the most sensible place to rebuild, etc. I have written to the Minister of Health, Mr Milburn. I sent a full report, also a plan of the whole Wharfedale area in April and asked for a public inquiry. I received a reply in June from Mr Mike Ramsden, chief executive, on behalf of Mr Milburn.

He states the need to get the new hospital in place as soon as possible. "This rebuilding, etc, has been going on now for some 30 years" and that planning approval could be achieved quickly. (Why not the same for building at High Royds, Menston?)

Regarding High Royds, he states that 'building space is limited and that planning approval would be complex with a risk of delay; also that the Department of the Environment could be involved and cause a further delay of 18 to 24 months.

He states that for High Royds similar planning constraints would apply for a new building (build the same plan hospital as is to be built at Otley).

He also states that private sector partner, when chosen, could identify alternative sites. The trust is required to consider any alternative sites.

Also that the health authority (Is this the Labour Government?) has need to be assured that the scheme will proceed to a timescale and within the cost identified.

He states that the present Government supports the trust's outline but still recognising that consideration should be given to any other site. They hope to complete building by early 2004. Many questions remained unanswered.

Norman Copsey

29 Whackhouse Lane,

Yeadon.

Radio thanks

SIR, - On behalf of everyone at Guiseley FM Radio can we thank Vanessa Gibson and Ilkley Players for allowing us to record some of their rehearsals recently.

The material we recorded was used successfully during our month on air as part of the drama serial The Grimshaws. The soap opera featured a rehearsal of the play Oh What a Lovely War as part of Guiseley Festival.

The very professional performance from our friends in Ilkley gave the serial a welcome boost. Not wishing to provoke any theatrical gremlins and superstitions we will resist the temptation to bestow any good luck on the Player' trip to Cornwall.

However we do hope the people of the South-West and any holidaymakers near the Minack Theatre will enjoy the outdoor performance when Oh What a Lovely War when it goes on tour this month

Graham Hoult

Annabel Verity

Co writers of The Grimshaws,

Guiseley FM Radio.

Sanctuary plea

SIR, - New-born kitten Wilma was dumped and left to die on a busy city road, narrowly escaping death under the wheels of a bus. Just how she got on to the road will remain a mystery, as she could barely crawl and still had her cord attached.

Fortunately for the grey and white kitten, she was quickly spotted and taken to Willows Animal Sanctuary, a refuge for homeless and abandoned animals.

Now aged seven weeks old, this energetic bundle of fluff loves to play and explore her home, unaware that she has lost one of her nine lives.

Willows Animal Sanctuary cares for around 400 abandoned and traumatised animals and birds at their tranquil seaside sanctuary. However, caring for these needy animals costs around £20,000 a year, and we are desperate for funds to help pay our massive food and vet bills, enabling us to help more animals in need, just like Wilma.

If you are able to make a donation of any amount, please make cheques or postal orders payable to 'Willows Animal Sanctuary' and send to the sanctuary at the address below.

For further information about our work, or to sponsor a rescued animal, please contact me on (01261) 851701 or visit our web site at (www.softopt.demon.co.uk). On behalf of Wilma and the other animals in our care, thank you.

Kate Robinson

Trustee,

Willows Animal Sanctuary,

Findon Farm,

Gardenstown, Banf,

Aberdeenshire, AB45 3ET.

Gates rusted

SIR, - Do members of the library ever stop to look at the closed security gates on a Sunday or Wednesday? Anyone doing so would get a shock to see such neglected, badly-rusted unpainted property in the centre of a vary beautiful town like Ilkley.

How many years has it taken to get metal into such a dilapidated condition? And when may we expect these gates to be de-rusted and repainted?

Margaret Lee

Leconfield House,

Ilkley.