Letters to the Editor

While I agree so far with all the latest innovations that are going on in the town centre, I believe the ancient stones had a place in ancient history.

It would be very interesting if the council would let people know where these are.

And another point I wish to raise with the local authority is this, at the tarn there is a really nice clean notice saying keep the place tidy, take your rubbish home with you.

Do you wonder why bottles are thrown in the tarn and people throw their crisps packets all over the parking area -- there are no rubbish bins.

I really feel if the place is to be kept clean we should have rubbish bins and they should be emptied regularly.

May I also say thanks to the gardening section of our community, the areas approaching Keighley are beautiful and clean with flowers, it's a joy to see them.

BILL SANDERSON,

Spring Gardens,

Keighley.

SIR - I wish to make the following comments regarding the site at Birch Tree Gardens, Long Lee.

In spite of many meetings, writing of letters, monitoring and issuing of enforcement/stop orders, the developers are still causing problems for the Planning Panel by carrying out unauthorised work.

There does not seem to be any penalty imposed to prevent the start of such work.

The wet conditions may, of course cause problems, but only seems to prevent authorised work being done - the unauthorised construction of houses prior to the installation of the correct drainage has gone ahead rapidly!

The situation relating to the site is still little better than when the concerns of residents were first expressed over two years ago.

Furthermore, assurances on the long-term stability of the site have still not been given.

The enforcement notice is the ususal cosmetic exercise by the Keighley planners mainly due to the ombudsman making complaint on the residents behalf.

As far as Cllrs Greaves and others giving assurances of stringent conditions, none of these have been undertaken.

It was you Cllr Greaves who passed these plans despite warnings from residents around the site and your boasted professionalism as intimated by you a letter to the Keighley News last August was sadly lacking, and to blame the builder for the council's planning officers ineptitude leaves more than a lot to be desired.

JACK KITSON,

Cherry Tree Rise, Long Lee.

SIR - It would seem that at long last the end is in sight for the disruption on Bradford Road, Riddlesden caused by the Swine Lane development and Yorkshire Water.

The surface water discharge from this site is one that has been highly publicised and strongly objected to by those residents whose gardens it would have affected and environmentalists.

What a cheek then for Cllr Slater to send out letters to surrounding residents claiming that 'they' had listened to his argument to have the hole in the road filled in.

It is unclear as to who 'they' are.

A strange term for the council, Yorkshire Water or MP Ann Cryer who had also had a timely intervention without a convincing result.

The real people behind this victory are those who stood to loose the most, who stood by their principals and fought against those giants, YW.

It has cost Mr and Mrs Mozejko a great deal of money and time to halt what was going to be a huge scar across their garden. To leave them with an outfall pipe projecting into the river for them to look at for the rest of their lives was unthinkable.

Only a legal battle has put a halt to this work and it is the Mazejko's who should be congratulated for highlighting this mess on Bradford Road and whose persistence has brought dividends.

Please Cllr Slater give credit where credit is due.

CLLR ANDREW

MALLINSON,

Aireburn Avenue, Steeton.

SIR - In the Keighley News, April 27, Opinion you mentioned Hami Patel in glowing terms. May I also add a personal note to the comments?

Having met Hami Patel privately I know that he would be embarrassed by your generous headlines.

He is one of the true 'gentlemen' now sadly a rarity in this world. His sense of humour I believe was handed down to him from his father, another 'gentleman', who merits praise as a kindly man.

Hami, his father and his family will never recognise what direction and motivation I personally gain just by the pleasure I had in knowing them. What a wonderful gesture it would be if other successful businessmen within the area could now take up the financial mantle that Hami held so valiantly for the Keighley Cougars.

Finally, Bradford City Council financial support for the Bradford Bulls and the many other sporting activities is welcomed.

The miserly £20,000 donated to the Keighley Cougars however by Bradford Council is seen as only a crumb compared to the donations Bradford Bulls receives from Bradford City Hall.

As a member of the public I really would like to take a peek at what Bradford City donates to the Bulls and to the Cougars, but like everything else in Bradford Council ' Open Government' is closed by confidentiality clauses.

DAVID SAMUELS,

Station Road, Oxenhope.

SIR - I was pleased to see that common sense prevailed over near taxi strike as reported in last week's.

As a now permanent wheelchair user I felt obliged to write and inform not only you but also your readers of other facilities available to 'we wheelchair bound citizens'.

There is the admirable 'Dial-a-ride' service where both wheelchair, wheelchair user and 'minder' can be accommodated in two of their vehicles. The staff and drivers work very hard to fit one into tight schedules!

Recently, I have come across the Bradford Metro Co's 'White Taxis'.

There are six such taxis in Bradford area and two running in Keighley area. Information, available, in Town Hall.

I believe, also, there is a community bus service which can accommodate a wheelchair with passengers seated.

I feel we should all be fully informed about the facilities available to all the disabled; life can be made so much easier through 'knowledge' and 'general information' which is available but not always known about.

DERRICK H GREEN,

Upper School Street,

Steeton.

SIR - Oakworth is a geographically distinct and self-contained village, whose Village Society has, over the years, done sterling work in acting as a focal point for social events and for the discussion of issues which its inhabitants have in common.

But it is increasingly a suburban, commuting society with an exploding population, which needs the protection which a statutory body, in the form of a parish council, can give, including the legal right to consider planning applications and related matters which need the local input of an elected body representing the people.

But to include Oakworth within a Keighley Town Council would not fulfil this purpose.

Such a council should have at its core the common interest of living together in the same environment and to bracket Oakworth with Riddlesden, Utley, Guard House and Long Lee (to name but a few) would be absurd and would simply add a tier to administration without achieving the essential aims of local influence on decision-making.

It cannot be seriously suggested these days that a parish, or town council should run such services as libraries or be responsible for street lighting, but it is important for a locally elected body to influence their operation.

The local forums do perform an important and increasingly effective role, but those of us who attend them regularly represent no one but ourselves.

I hope that Oakworth will soon follow the example of Haworth and Oxenhope and have a body to which any inhabitant can turn when things go wrong - or to whom we can express our appreciation when things go right and that the members of the Village Society who have done sterling work will feel able to present themselves for election when the time comes.

FRANK PEDLEY,

Lyndsey Court, Low Bank

Lane, Oakworth.

SIR - If race is not important enough to be mentioned in the next general and local elections then I am a Dutchman, and at present I wish I was.

After the racial incidents mentioned in the Keighley News I think the views of the people should be heard and not discounted by any of the parties.

BRIAN MADDOCKS,

Grafton Road, Keighley.

SIR - After reading the Keighley News, April 27, it was an all too familiar headline, a case of de-ja-vu. Another attack in Lund Park and the surrounding area.

Now I think you have to be very naive or out of touch with what's going on in Keighley to think that the problem of racism isn't raising it's ugly head, but an all too familiar pattern seems to be arising.

That is that the vast majority of attacks are usually carried out by large groups of Asians.

Now it seems very strange to understand that when people associate racist attacks they automatically think white people attacking and provoking Asians or other foreign nationalities, but the problem occurring in the Keighley area is the complete opposite, yet the police and the other relative parties seem to think that these attacks are not all related and are not racially motivated.

The time has come now for all parties involved to address this problem before it's all to late and stamp out no go areas.

J SMITH,

Address withheld

SIR - I am searching for a Keighley family whose son was friendly with the singer Doreen Batty, professionally known as 'The Angel'.

This lady sang with 'The Saints Jazz Band' in the 1950s and appeared at a Keighley venue on several occasions. She would probably be in her sixties now and I am trying to trace her whereabouts.

If anyone has information they can contact me at 82, Heights Lane, Heaton, Bradford BD9 6HZ and I would be most grateful.

MRS F SMITH,

Heights Lane, Heaton.

SIR - Mr Meacher should join the real world instead of talking rubbish about underground car parks on the moors.

The Council cannot even provide public toilets for locals and visitors alike in a tourist area such as Haworth.

First of all the toilets down by the railway station were closed and more recently the ones in the park.

This only leaves the ones up at West Lane which is a long way for the thousands of people that use the park and for anyone finding themselves needing the toilet while at the bottom of the village.

I know of two incidents where children from visiting school trips have messed themselves because of the toilets in the park being closed down. Not a very good advert for Haworth to be promoted by. But it is just another example of the lack of money being spent on outer Bradford compared to the inner city.

Mrs H LONG,

Haworth.

SIR - I was amazed to read your headline on page two of last week's paper.

Perhaps sixty people did sign the petition against the ASDA/Peter Black development. However, what your article failed to say was that well over a hundred people did not or even refused to sign.

Many people who are aged or disabled are looking forward to the new supermarket round the corner.

It will save the long walk to town missing the 'accident waiting to happen' at the junction of Bradford Street/Lawkholme Lane. After shopping it will only be a short walk home.

This will cut out waiting for taxis as well as the extra expenses, or to walk half way home to get to the new bus stop.

Anybody who has studied the plans and projected traffic flows etc will have seen that parking and road safety can only improve.

MR M DEMPSTER,

Emily Street, Keighley.

SIR - On behalf of everyone at The Stroke Association, I would like to thank all the readers who nominated people for our 'Life After Stroke Awards'.

Nominations for the awards, sponsored by Solvay Healthcare, have now closed and this year, like last year, the charity received a wonderful response.

Judging is taking place at the moment and the winners will be presented with their awards - a bronze sculpted butterfly - at the ceremony on July 17 in London.

The star-studded ceremony will be competed by Dickie Davies and celebrities included Fiona Phillips, Ronnie Corbett, Nick Owen and Handy Andy (Andy Kane) are all due to attend the ceremony.

Thank you once again for helping us to honour the courage and strength of those people affected by stroke.

NICOLA RYAN,

The Stroke Association,

London.