Letters to the Editor

When I arrived at the starting point (the bowling alley car park) I was made welcome by John and other officials of the run, including the marshals.

So after a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich, a look round at the other bikes, new and classic, off we all set.

I volunteered to help do marshaling, with excellent advice from the police motor cycle squad.

At the end of the run there was pie and peas - what more can you say.

It was the first time I had been to such an event. I'll certainly be back the next time.

So well done to all the marshalls who helped out (a real professional lot they are) and a big thank you to the police bikes section.

A huge thank you to the officials and members of the White Rose Motor Cycle Club.

They should all have a picture of a lion on their foreheads - all good eggs.

RICHARD INGHAM

Moorside Place,

Dewsbury

Sir - Re the recent letter regarding the Benefit Agency advert.

The agency is quite correct in its attempt to reduce benefit fraud. It is likely that this problem is so diverse that the agency cannot root out all the fraudsters itself, and thus encourages the public to assist. Take one person falsely claiming several thousand pounds per year, then multiply that by fifty years and then multiply that by the population making false claims.

The burden on the taxpayer surely runs into billions of pounds. Do we not pay enough tax already, without having to finance overt fraud?

Adrian J Bottomley

Fell Lane Keighley.

SIR - May I use your letters page to thank the many people who helped to raise funds through Lent Lunches.

Lts. Ken and Alison Gardner of the Salvation Army who let us use the Citadel during each Friday of Lent. Teams of workers from; Trinity Church, St. Andrew's Shared Church, Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, The Airedale Church, St. Barnabas' and All Saints Anglican Churches, all very ably assisted by a total of 47 Year 10 students from The Holy Family Catholic School.

As a result of this hard work I have been able to send a cheque this week to Christian Aid for £425-00. This is the best ever result. Well done everybody.

DOROTHY DIXON,

Christian Aid Organiser.

SIR - I would like to respond to the Letter of the Week from Mr B Thompson.

I too am saddened and angry that, in order to achieve speedy results to problems, I had to resort to the KN. Suffice to say the hi-ab arrived at 7.40 on Thursday March 29 and removed the bulk of the offending vehicle.

But my point, Mr. Thompson, is that these civil "servants" - council employees and the police - were all very much aware of the abandoned car and as "servants" should have been duty bound to take action.

The council cleansing department, countryside warden service and gritters have all passed the site where the car was left. Perhaps more worrying is the fact that the police have also passed the site and done nothing.

There was a string of offences relating to the vehicle, not least that it was causing an obstruction, and having witnessed many - not just one or two - police vehicles passing and re-passing the scene I am amazed, frustrated and so terribly ashamed by the lack of care that nothing was done by that body.

I am also upset, though not surprised, that no response has come from the police over this incident.

A sign of the times. Suffice to say, I do not resort to the newspapers at every verse-end, nor do I cry "Wolf!" But I will continue to utilise the powers contained in the pages of my local paper as and when I see fit.

The paper, too, has an efficient vetting process for such letters and can always achieve a far speedier response than us mere citizens.

Obviously, Mr Thompson has not tried to report any such incident to the council or he would be only too aware of the limitations of the procedure.

Office hours are short; the line is either permanently engaged or just rings and rings, and if you are lucky enough to get through you might as well live on the Moon for all the understanding of the area over which the council presides. Certainly, each occasion I have contacted them, they never seem aware of where I am, and on one occasion I was told I should be talking to Ilkley!

HILARY SIMPSON

Bradup, Riddlesden

SIR - In this materialistic and supposed "charity fatigued" world in which we live there are still many people who surprise and astonish me, the cynical curmudgeonly old man that I have become.

The acts of kind-heartedness and generosity of many people lifts the depression that descends and thwarts the faith I have in my fellows.

A well known Keighley medical centre last week made available to this group a considerable amount of computer parts, printers, monitors and faxes etc. Most of this equipment has been distributed among Keighley voluntary groups who are always in need of such equipment as the need to expend the services to the public increases.

As a result of a recent concert at Oxenhope Community Centre the Oxnop Singers have donated the magnificent amount of £563.30p to this group.

Such unbridled consideration will enable us to step up our demand on Members of Parliament in this and the next government that minority groups in this country who suffer from illnesses should receive adequate medical attention before taxpayers funds are squandered on ill conceived overseas projects and aid.

DAVID SAMUELS

Multiple Sclerosis

Support Group

SIR - A baboon abattoir has opened up in Warmbaths, South Africa in recent months to slaughter the ape on a massive scale.

Wealthy locals already eat the expensive fresh meat but this is the first time the South Africans have decided to sell it abroad.

The meat will be canned and sold to countries in Asia and Eastern Europe. There are no plans to sell the meat in Britain. What next? Tiger burgers? Panda cutlets?

If you want to help stop this act of pure cruelty you can write to the South African embassy at South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London WC2.

TINA FOTHERGILL

Rivercrest, Riddlesden

SIR - Regarding the Memory Lane photograph of Keighley Girls Grammar School in last week's Keighley News.

I enjoyed seeing familiar faces as I was in form 5G at that time. But I think the teacher was a Miss Pickles. Perhaps other readers may contact you with confirmation.

JOAN SHEPHARD

(nee Wainwright)

Raines Meadows, Grassington

SIR - Yet again Haworth has to suffer because of the greed and mismanagement of Bradford Council.

First they insist on selling off rights for building to the highest bidder. Then of course, the increased population demands better public services. I refer to a proposed medical centre for Haworth.

Bradford Council seems hesitant as to what to do with the Haworth First School building.

A medical centre would be ideal in preserving the building for its historical value, would provide ample parking and would reduce the negative impact that another large new development would have on Haworth.

However, a highly unsuitable site has been put forward for the development of the said centre.

I can only think that Bradford Council wants to sell off the school site, with no regard for the preservation of Haworth.

The money from the sale will then be ploughed into Bradford.

In short, Bradford Council will not be satisfied until it has milked Haworth dry. Haworth people beware a MacDonald's may not be long in coming.

TERESA HALL

Ivy Bank Lane, Haworth.

SIR - Bob Swindells implicated in his letter, KN 6/4/2001, that snitching on benefit fraudsters was immoral.

A fraught issue definitely, although I argue each case be judged individually. However, this subject dovetails neatly with recent statements made by two Tory MPs.

They uttered the unutterable daring to suggest that foreigners were undermining our Anglo Saxon way of life. Naturally William Hague, leader of one of the Conservative parties distanced himself from them, and bully for him. Again, let each case be dealt with individually.

Consider this, I know of an extended foreign family. They don't work, they receive a weekly benefits cheque the size of Canada, and their council accommodation is quite simply breathtaking.

They cruise around in top of the range cars as if they own the place, and dare to look down their noses if we ask why they're here in the first place.

I tell you, their behaviour infuriates me beyond all, why should the rest of us tote that barge, lift that bale and pay taxes to support this shower of scroungers?

Furthermore, they set a bad example. Other would be settlers here look at their lifestyles and think; "I'll have a piece of that matey".

Days later they're strapped beneath the Eurostar hurtling towards Victoria station and benefits paradise. This family have a lot to answer for, they've even dropped their foreign names and have taken to calling themselves the Windsor's.

I'm sorry Mr Swindells, someone should shop them to the DSS, they're robbing us blind.

FRANK BRAMMAH

Crossroads

SIR - In his letter on April 6, Frank Brammah attempts to view the bright side of a British democracy that is treated as a joke throughout the world.

As Frank asks, what have the political parties done for us since the end of World War Two and the answer is nothing. They have done well for themselves but the strange part about it all, is the fact, we electorate have helped them by using our vote to inflict countless self-inflicted wounds.

Apart from being blinded by the thought to vote Labour, Conservative, or Liberal, how many know exactly what it is they are voting for and what the consequences will be. I doubt there will be many.

Theoretically we are not voting for a party. Parties do not appear on the statute book. We are voting for individuals to represent the interests of constituencies.

When they voted in Gary Waller for a second time, I could not believe it. It would have made just as much since had they cast their votes for a rubber duck.

Then there is the Liberals who live in no man's land. They have no policies and can't even tell a decent lie. They act as political gremlins who split the vote allowing the minority to take power. I have no doubt, they are all brain surgeons (that practice on one another).

Finally there is Labour who have contributed to so many hair brained schemes due to being controlled by so many stupid irresponsible people that foot and mouth disease is no surprise.

All you are left with is the quality of the candidates and in my view Ann Cryer has been the best in my lifetime. I like her, I trust her and she will get my vote.

FRED HIRLAM

Gloucester Ave, Silsden

SIR - I write to reply to F Watkinson in reference to the children of Long Lee Primary School only being offered a place at Greenhead High School.

F Watkinson must be very proud of his son's school achievement but unfortunately statistics such as this are in the minority. The standard average and Ofsted reports show us otherwise.

My daughter also made an educated decision and decided she would receive a better average level of education at Parkside School. My daughter is also disturbed at regularly hearing and reading stories, as in last week's KN, regarding threatening and violent behaviour of some students there.

My daughter deserved along with her peers to be educated in a safe and secure environment.

As for the matter of racial background of students at Greenhead, this has never been an issue whatsoever.

Unfortunately, the KN presented a statistical fact in their front page article of April 6 - this was and is not a racial point. Parents simply believe that they should have some level of choice in their child's level of education.

S EDMONDSON

Royd House Way

SIR - On Easter Monday my husband and I felt we would like to visit York for the day.

We decided to travel by train, and leave the car in the station car park. It was virtually empty when we arrived. However, we were appalled to see broken glass virtually everywhere on the tarmac surface, and were unhappy that we had to drive over the glass in order to park. It was a real eyesore, as well as being potentially dangerous.

The cobbled approach road along the side of the station also had a lot of glass over it. The booking hall floor, steps and covered walkways to the platforms were, as usual, extremely dirty.

We try to travel by train whenever possible, and would like to see the railways become successful once again after their recent problems. But if they are to attract more customers the station facilities will need to be kept reasonable clean, in addition to the trains being reliable, safe and efficient.

Keighley bus station is at present being upgraded - is the railway station going to rise to the challenge, at least as far as cleanliness is concerned?

Finally, it is a sad fact that it seems to have become accepted nowadays that people throw their rubbish down and expect others to clean it up.

Maybe we should all be more vigilant in challenging those we see polluting our town and ruining our quality of life.

D and M Anthony

Green Head Lane

Editor's note:- We received no response from the rail companies by our deadline.

SIR - As a long time Keighlian expat, now living in Sooke, on Vancouver Island, I enjoy reading news from my birth town.

It is good to be able to keep up with the local news and developments. Your web page is well constructed and full of interest for an old codger like me. My sister Lesley Conti still lives in Riddlesden and my now infrequent visits to her and my home town are always a pleasure.

Keep up the good work Keighley News.

Cheers and best wishes,

Mike Wood