Letters to the Editor

The Lady Mayoress and I have greatly enjoyed and appreciated the many invitations we have received and the visits we have been able to pay to individuals and organisations in the Keighley area. The kindness, friendliness and generosity we have encountered on all sides has left a mountain of marvellous memories which we shall treasure for years to come.

We shall never forget, for instance, bingo at Braithwaite, the welcoming warmth of the water at Silsden Pool, the glories and treasures of Cliffe Castle, the proud Indian Army veterans at the Sangat Centre, sunshine and showers at Haworth Gala, the bustle of Keighley Show, summer heat at Oldfield, cheerful schools everywhere, theatrical performances, meetings of town and parish councils, church and chapel services, the dedication of flood relief workers followed by Prince Charles' encouraging visits; parades of uniformed organisations, social functions at the college, solemnities in Town Hall Square, the splendid new development at Hillworth Lodge, a magnificent tea at Drop Farm, two first-class lunches at the White Lion, hospitality at Timothy Taylor's the delightful fundraising dinner at East Riddlesden Hall barn, happy contacts with the Keighley News and Keighley and District Travel, visits to the Town Hall and Library and a whole series of varied events which prove beyond doubt that Keighley is (to quote a Keighley gentleman) 'not a backwater of Bradford' but an equal partner in 'the Met' as well as a lively, forward-looking area with much to be proud of.

Charlotte, Emily and Ann (not to mention Bill o' th' Hoylus End!) would be amazed and delighted were they suddenly to be brought back to life.

One of the lasting fruits of the year will be the success of the Lord Mayor's Appeal for the Neurology Units at Airedale Hospital and St Luke's, Bradford, and I thank all the individuals and organisations who have contributed so generously. There is no shortage of Worth in Keighley.

With ever good wish for a bright future.

JOHN STANLEY KING,

Lord Mayor.

SIR - Just a quick letter to say what a great and informative read the recent Keighley Greats supplement was.

I'd like to add (to my knowledge this is true and correct), that Asa Briggs is one of the descendants of wealthy mill owners who had their own private family cemetery which is still situated at the bottom of North Dean Road, and close to the field which was left to the people of Keighley by the Briggs family which was featured in one of your recent articles.

Also residents of Braithwaite and Guardhouse might be interested to know that the Briggs family name 'lives' still today in the form of 'Brigg Gardens' on Broster Avenue, alongside Foster Gardens.

I await the next Keighley Greats edition eagerly.

Can I suggest a present day great maybe for future such supplements?

She was a legend to me as a child and still is to the children of this town today, Mrs Tony the Italian Ice Cream Lady! What a true local living star.

M P THOMPSON,

Braithwaite Avenue,

Keighley.

SIR - It is always a pleasure to read the sensible words of Fred Hirlam on this letter page.

Fred is right, any subject of public concern should be open to discussion at election time.

Any politicians from any political party, who have signed any documents from the CRE or any other organisation prohibiting discussion of any nature, are not worth the cost of shoe leather used to turn out to the polling station.

With today's politicians is it so surprising that Britain is in such turmoil?

R P BEALE,

Skipton Road, Cononley.

SIR - I read with utter disbelief your article in this week's Keighley News titled 'Police take to the road'.

As a father of an eight week old baby living near to Lund Park I am forced into a situation where I do not feel safe to take my child a few streets from our home.

With the alarming rise in violent crime towards children and adults alike by gangs of youths in this area, I am shocked and disgusted at the total lack of Police support to date.

Perhaps instead of taking part in a carnival in Ilkley complete with crime desk, they could stick to investigating crime in the town in which they are employed and stationed, and perhaps put in an occasional appearance in the no go areas that we are taxed for them to Police.

I appreciate that now that the Police force has become an extended branch of the Inland Revenue and spends 90 per cent of its time handing out motoring fines, and the other 10 per cent as stallholders at fun fairs, that tackling crime has to take a low priority.

However, unless there is a serious improvement in the attitude and response of Keighley Police every person in Keighley should apply for a reduction in council tax and write a letter of complaint to the Home Secretary.

Sir Robert Peel must be spinning in his grave.

DAVID SHUTTLEWORTH,

Keighley.

SIR - It is good to see the Keighley News acting as a positive catalyst in the district yet again.

Following your article about Haworth's chain reaction litter blitz two weeks ago, Keighley Market Pet Stores have kindly donated a lovely large bird table to the Haworth Primary School wildlife garden.

This will allow local resident Robin Shepherd's late mother Ann's bequest to go even further for environmental improvements around the village.

Hundreds of trees have been planted, fences repaired and the Ebor Nature Reserve is virtually litter free. Several new species of bird have been seen in the past two weeks.

This is a golden opportunity for like minded people to start tackling the problems of litter and vandalism in the area with a watchful eye here and some positive action there.

More tree planting with the Forest of Bradford team is scheduled for the autumn. If you are interested please contact me on 675179.

KEITH WILSON,

Dean Street, Haworth.

SIR - Since the police decided in their infinite wisdom to withdraw appropriate policing techniques within the Worth Valley I have developed a keen interest in the law enforcement within this area.

Now, having been asked by some Haworth residents to discuss the situation with them, I have come away feeling that the police authority have lost the plot.

The last weekend was likened by an old Haworth resident as similar to the Battle of the Somme.

Obviously the gentleman was by definition gilding the lily somewhat. However, the fact remains that a car was damaged, a phone box wrecked, human excrement was placed in gardens, youths were allowed to urinate on the public highways and parts of Haworth were placed out of bounds to tourists and local residents alike.

That the police refused to accept that the withdrawal of officers precipitated these events is either a scandal or a lack of basic intelligence.

Haworth Parish Councillors, Worth Valley Councillors, shopkeepers, residents, have all politely explained to the Keighley police, the police authority and virtually all the powers that be, what would happen because of the lack of permanent police presence.

Because of the fear now expressed in parts of Haworth, some residents refuse to identify themselves when damage is caused or threats made against them by the small hooligan elements. I understand that the forming of a vigilante group is being suggested by unknown individuals. A vigilante group can only cause anarchy within the district. The police will have to think again and quickly.

No gimmicks, no pops, no fancy names, no excuses, just three plain old fashioned 'bobbies' based in the Worth Valley, saving many thousands of pounds of damage and freeing up the fear now felt by many young and old in the region.

DAVID SAMUELS,

Station Road, Oxenhope.

SIR - I am yet another person who has been legally clamped by Ted Evans at Haworth's Rawdon Road car park.

On 6/5/01 I was charged £45 for illegal parking. I had foolishly thought that charges ended after 7pm. Not so.

What concerns me is that during my clamping experience a first time visitor to this tourist area had also been clamped for overstaying his welcome.

It seems that no plea is accepted by Ted Evans or his family over the fines he levies.

The bad worldwide publicity generated by these activities to the local economy is of course incalculable.

Even when Mr Evans' car parks are virtually empty good will seems not to be his concern.

Profit margins are the motivation.

I suggest that to curb such excessive charges a graduated level of fees for overstaying in private or council owned car parks could be implemented. This matter needs to be resolved by way of a Private Members Bill in Parliament. To this end I intend to discuss the issue with local parliamentary candidate Mrs Cryer.

ROSE GREENWELL,

Bogthorn, Oakworth.

SIR _ What a pleasure to see Oxenhope Millennium Green being used by children and people of all ages on this rare, sunny Bank Holiday.

How lovely to see children playing and how important it is that we do all in our power to protect them and give them every opportunity to grow up safely in this often heedless world.

I would again like to ask people to support the concept of a Commissioner for Children here in England. Both Scotland and Wales have already taken this issue on board.

We should be asking all prospective candidates in every election whether or not they support this, as proposed by the NSPCC and others.

The response to this relevant question should decide who gets the votes.

Ann Maguire

Lowertown, Oxenhope

SIR - The letter last week from the RSPCA's Regional Manager was extremely strange.

It listed what they had done to alleviate problems arising from the cull, without a word about the necessity for it.

The only reason for not vaccinating is that this would remove the UK's foot and mouth-free status in world trade and so prevent exports. These exports are of two kinds.

Firstly you have meat and dairy products trailed across the world in polluting machines which then bring back here identical foreign meat and dairy products.

Secondly you have the live export of farm animals, which the RSPCA completely opposes.

You might have thought this the ideal opportunity to mobilise the public against this trade and the cull, but not a word has been said.

Whose side is the RSPCA really on?

DAVID R PEDLEY,

Colne Road,

Oldfield.