Why choose another hospital site?

Most Otley folk thought in the first place that closing the present hospital and building another in some other place was wrong. And if they had been asked their opinions openly, by having meetings at Otley instead of Leeds, they would have said so.

Quoting Councillor Phil Coyne, who says he is shocked to think this is something about money, I would add to that and suggest that it is, and was, from the very start. And again, another quote from Coun Kirkland, "this saga has been going on for 31 years". It has, and talk of Otley hospital closure along with Middleton Hospital came then almost unpublished in little more than a whisper.

Very slowly our hospital began to have things taken away from it. The most important was the maternity ward. Now there is another threat. The NHS is in discussion for another site in Otley. But won't they ever learn that a wrong is not made right by doing another wrong.

That hospital site in Otley was selected when there were no houses around. It would have been chosen because it was sheltered from the mists that come sweeping down from the north. Also it was just above the mists that linger in the river valley.

So, why is the trust going to such lengths to find another site?

Alf Forder

Lindley Bridge Cottage,

Lindley,

Otley

Menston best

SIR, - The site of the new hospital is not solely Otley's problem, as there are 100,000 people (23,000 in Otley) in the catchment area.

When High Royds, Menston, was named as a possible site it seemed right. Public transport from all parts of the area pass the site and the land 'belongs' to the National Health Service.

Then, in what many consider a flawed process, Garnett's Mill site was chosen. I have spoken to lots of people on this subject and virtually all consider High Royds Hospital the best choice for the new hospital, but, there is a growing feeling that there is no intention of building one.

Can we believe the health authorities? They said that High Royds was the next choice if the Garnett's site fell through.

We now have to go through another appraisal, wasting more time and money. The health authority should now keep their word and take the safe route and go for High Royds as the site for our new hospital. Then we can all focus on getting the best hospital facilities for our area.

Ron Lowe

Honorary Treasurer,

Guiseley and Menston Green,

Belt Action Group (GAMGBAG),

48 West Park,

Guiseley.

FOOTNOTE: High Royds was the second best option - the health trust never said it would plump for it if Garnett's failed- Editor).

Criticism danger

SIR, - I read your frequent correspondent, Malcolm Naylor's letters with interest. Obviously, he is not favourably inclined to a Tory Government, praise be.

But if he continues to criticise the present Government and does not recognise what positive things it has done, he is in danger of persuading some of our less discerning citizens that a Tory Government would be better, whereas the Tories appear to be trying to persuade us that they can cut taxes and improve services at the same time, which, of course, is ridiculous and an insult to the intelligence.

Please Malcolm, think what the alternative to this Government would be and pray that the Tories are soundly defeated again.

Edward P Brears

108 St David's Road

Otley.

Project's big day

SIR, - We are very grateful to the Wharfedale Observer for the publicity it has given to us regarding the new war memorial in Bramhope. The project is nearly complete and we expect more than 200 people at the dedication service.

While researching the names of the Bramhope war memorial it was discovered that five names had been omitted from the plaque. The branch, along with the parish council, decided to erect a new memorial and to renovate the garden of remembrance as the village millennium project.

Many generous donations were received from local people. The new memorial is now in place and the garden has been given a facelift. A dedication service, which will be led by the village clergy, has been arranged for Sunday, October 15, at 2.30pm.

The parade will leave the Robert Craven Memorial Hall at 2.15pm for the service at the cenotaph. Leeds City Pipe Band will lead and standards from other British Legion branches will join with the Bramhope branch.

Following the dedication of the new memorial there will be a short service in the Methodist church. After this, light refreshments will be served in the Robert Craven Memorial Hall.

David Marshall

Secretary,

Bramhope branch, RBL,

Brewery Farm,

Occupation Lane,

Bramhope.

Oscar for Blair

SIR, - The range of characters and policies portrayed by Blair in his conference speech shows political schizophrenia, lack of grip on reality and an outstanding acting ability.

We had the 'ever so humble' Uriah Blair, followed by the megalomaniac 'zero tolerance' Ghengis Blair in a seamless performance worthy of an Oscar.

But pensioners' hopes of restoring the link of pensions with earnings were flattened. Yes, there will be an increase in pensions, only after the election - but watch out, there will be strings attached. Remember Blair's words 'there are hard choices to be taken'.

More means testing (now called targeting in New Labour newspeak) and an increase in retirement age to pay for it. We had competition, competition, competition, followed by co-operation, co-operation, co-operation.

Never before has there been a leader who simultaneously talks like a capitalist and a socialist. There were promises of more privatisation and tax cuts for business. He actually praised 'good' conservatives and made not a mention of progressive Income Tax as a means of redistributing wealth.

Nor were the six million carers in a society who subsidise tax cuts for his rich friends to the tune of £34 billion per year or the 100,000 pensioners thrown into poverty since he came into power, acknowledged. This is indeed a man of the privileged people.

If New Labour believes rhetoric alone will win them elections they have a poor opinion of the commonsense of the people. It is the action we want, not words.

As a corollary, may I give my thanks to the unions in general and Rodney Bickerstaff in particular for having the courage to defeat the party leadership on its opposition to earnings linked pensions. We will now see if Blair listens and, more importantly, acts democratically on the wishes of the people.

Malcolm Naylor

21 Grange View

Otley.

Marsden history

SIR, - I was interested to read the comments of Richard Hughes-Rowlands, of Project Guiseley, in the Observer regarding Marsden Terrace, and its connection with Samuel Marsden. In fact, the terrace was named after Mary Marsden, cousin of Samuel, and mother of Hugh Claughton.

Hugh, who was my great-great-great grandfather, built a boot factory in the late 19th century on the site now occupied by Silver Cross, together with Marsden Terrace to house some of his family and workers. At its height the factory employed four hundred workers.

As Mr Hughes-Rowlands suggests, it would indeed be a fitting tribute to preserve the Marsden and, maybe, the Claughton names when Bryant Homes decides on street names for its imminent development.

Maybe some of Hugh Claughton's children's and grandchildren's names could be used, such as Elizabeth, Lily, Mary, Nathaniel, Daisy, Alice, or Florence.

Of greater concern is the long-term fate of the remaining Claughton's Boot Factory buildings. The recent takeover of Silver Cross by a company with no local ties leads one to suspect that the pram factory will move to much smaller premises elsewhere. The plot of land would then be sold to developers in order to build yet more houses.

The factory buildings would disappear, along with an important example of Guiseley's Victorian heritage.

If any of your readers would like to correspond with me on the subjects contained in this letter, then they are welcome to contact me at the addresses below.

Andrew Claughton

14 Wynford Terrace,

Leeds LS16 6HY.

email:

andrew.claughton@unilever.com

Little sympathy

SIR, - Your fictitious character (Curmudgeon) in a mythical village is concerned for farmers.

Farmers would enjoy more sympathy from urban folks if they abstained from using tractors with almost tax-free Diesel on city streets in demonstrations. Their Diesel should be used only for agriculture.

A farmers' leader in the South West of England speaking on television in September defended crop spraying as treating diseases 'like medicines are used to treat people'.

We eat fruit and vegetables and small residues from crop sprays have been found in food on supermarket shelves. We do not eat each other. Medicines used to help people do not pass into the food chain.

C Hardwick

15 Hawthorn Drive,

Yeadon.

Fuel thoughts

SIR, - Two thoughts for fuel protestors and their supporters.

1. Details from John Major's red book states that if the Tories had won the last election the fuel escalator would have remained in place until 2001 at least.

2. A Shadow Minister's wife has told her local newspaper that they were given prior notice of the 'spontaneous' blockades and protests.

Fit for Government? Not even fit for Opposition. And of course, one may ask 'prior notice' by whom?

F Dickinson

Larkfield Road

Rawdon.