Businessman reckons he gets a poor return for big rates bill

Car parking: Car parking is seriously inadequate and is throttling the town. Skipton is losing out to other towns and cities where car parking is better provided for, more organised and cheaper.

A simple survey would reveal who parks where, for what and for how long. Then use it to evaluate whether there could be a multi-storey behind the town hall, park and ride, out of town parking and to prevent parking by non-residents in certain streets.

Tourism: At the present time we have no Tourist Information Centre. This should be well supported by both the Town Council and Craven District Council but it is solely the Town Council which has supported it.

In most other towns this is run by the council, or substantially supported by them. Craven District's contribution is minuscule. We are the Gateway to the Dales!

Christmas Lights: This I know Craven District Council has never supported and over the years has been approached time and time again to no avail.

However, the town council has financially supported this over the years. At present there will not be any lights as the Chamber of Trade has voted after (I think) 15 years to not have the hard work, worry and serious financial problem it has created.

Well, like Bob Wright, I feel Skipton is not the town it could be and perhaps cheap clearance shops and charity shops is its future.

David Goldie,

High Street, Skipton.

A great place

SIR - With reference to the replies in the Craven Herald to my letter published on September 15.

I am sorry but I do not think I have missed the point about Skipton's retailing as highlighted by John Sheard's article about Mr Wright.

I pointed out that we do have good local shops but lack greengrocers and fishmongers. Stop decrying Skipton - it's a great place to live and shop. I know Kendal extremely well and besides the market, they do not have any good greengrocers as two closed last year. They have a reasonably good fishmongers but I suspect just as much of this fish is hauled from abroad as is the case at Morrison's. How much locally produced wine does Mr Wright sell?

As to charity shops, well Kendal has at least ten and I am sure you can buy broken biscuits in as many shops as in Skipton.

Mr Sheard's article this week is Peter Walbank, another retailer who went out of business, sold material buttons and, of course, knicker elastic, articles the Fent Shop in Skipton sell with great success, it's just changing times.

Shops would not go out of business if you used them or they sold articles currently needed.

Mr Walbank says in John Sheard's article that Skipton and Grassington have improved immeasurably in recent years and have become wonderful places to live. I would like to add "and wonderful places to shop".

Judith Harris,

Bright Street, Skipton.

Great little shops

SIR - An interesting debate is unfolding in your letters column about the quality of Skipton as a shopping centre.

It is a common prejudice that "things ain't what they used to be" and while that is certainly true, I do think Skiptonians can take an over-pessimistic view of the state of the town.

There are many good quality, nice looking shops, some of which I patronise and some of which I don't - not because they are not very good but because I don't require the materials they sell.

Thus, in no particular order, I can mention Walker's bakery, David Goldie, Pottery and Pine, Mellow Moments, C and H Brown shoe and leather goods, The Flower Shop on Otley Street, the joiner's shop on Newmarket Street. I've never been into Mo's Fashions (being a bloke!) but it looks splendid from outside, and so does the perfume shop JT Lloyds. Two new shops have opened in the Black Horse complex, the Body Shop and a lovely antique-type shop.

Yet I still hear of people traipsing miles out of town to save say £10 on white goods. They brag of getting it slightly cheaper, but forget to mention the petrol costs. And how much value do you put on your time?

I wonder how many of your letter writers decrying Skipton add to the problems by buying everything at the supermarkets?

The days of Skipton with a butcher, baker and candlestick maker on the High Street are long gone but open your eyes and you will see a good number of original, fascinating little shops trying to survive. Let's support them.

S Dobson,

Keighley Road, Skipton.

Badly needed resource

SIR - As one of the voluntary groups intending to rent space in the proposed Craven Voluntary Action resource centre in Bay Horse Yard, Skipton, we have been both shocked and surprised by the apparent lack of local support for the project.

We recognise that there are concerns about the building itself but the CVA has gone out of its way to consult and to address these concerns in order to bring the development within the scope of current national planning guidelines.

We, like many other voluntary groups in the area, are desperate to find suitable premises. Our volunteers are not asking for luxury but for functional, accessible, affordable office and meeting rooms. We have looked for six years in Skipton.

There is no viable alternative for us, our current accommodation is not "fit for purpose" and there is no other site available to CVA.

Many of the thousands of local people who will benefit from this centre will never ever visit it - volunteers often go to them or deliver services elsewhere but its wider impact on their real needs will be enormous.

It is they who want this building, not just our volunteers. In this public debate who is speaking up for these people - the vulnerable, the frail, the needy and the weak? Who protects their interests? Who is ensuring that they have a voice?

The progress of the project is now dependent on the political and planning process. Now, more than ever, we need wise, far-sighted politicians who will listen to the voices that need to be heard.

We urge them to give leadership and to support this project wholeheartedly.

Alan Caygill,

Chairman,

Cruse Bereavement Care,

Craven Branch.

Lack of vision

SIR - I was one of the "interested parties" who submitted proposals to Skipton Town Council for the future development and management of Skipton Tourist Information Centre.

From my background within Yorkshire Dales Tourism I have followed developments with perhaps more interest than most.

I submitted simple, sensible proposals to Skipton Town Council to establish an effective, affordable and sustainable information centre. I was disappointed to be told that my proposal had not been given serious consideration because the council had agreed to accept an alternative deal even though this was, in my view, potentially a much more expensive and uncertain proposition.

Surely the district auditor will be looking into the grant of £20,000 which Skipton Town Council gave to the centre. These places don't suddenly go bust and anyone who visited the centre within the last 12 months could have told you it was not making money.

The businesses of Skipton should realise that Skipton, like many market towns, grew, developed and became established on local trade.

Today the 'local' Skipton economy is worth more than £75 million per annum, vastly more than tourism can ever contribute. Ironically excessive tourism displaces local spend, leading to loss of businesses, services and jobs.

A walk down the High Street provides a graphic illustration of just what tourism, inertia and lack of vision has done for Skipton.

AJ Macaulay,

Sunnybank Cottage, Clapham.

Self help

SIR - In 1989 a joint project was started with Ings School and a group of residents to provide play equipment on Broughton Road Recreation Ground making us the first group to do this.

Skipton Town Council also contributed to this. The children involved in the project won an award.

In 1996 a group was formed to provide further equipment on the playground. The original equipment no longer met EEC Safety Regulations and it has had to be removed and the group has so far raised money to provide a see-saw with safety surfacing.

Skipton Town Council then agreed to put some equipment in to replace the tractor which the children had put on in 1989 and the group has now raised enough money to provide baby swings.

As you will see that no money has been spent on equipment between 1989 and 1998, this will be the second time the people of Broughton Road have raised money to provide play equipment.

I have lived in the Broughton Road area for 31 years and for the first time in all these years we have a playground we can be proud of due to the hard work of the Broughton Road committee.

Sue Carpenter,

Pendle Street, Skipton.

Playground spending

SIR - Having just returned from holiday I have spent the last day catching up on the editions of your newspaper that I have missed. I have noted with interest the close debate in your 'Letters' column in relation to Skipton's playgrounds.

I can only comment on issues that have happened in the past three years since I was elected. I am not prepared to take any blame for events before then and indeed one of the main reasons I put myself forward for office was to do something about the pathetic state of our recreation grounds due to years of underfunding.

In the three years since I was elected I have fought for and won in the region of £25,000 from the Council to spend on improvements for Broughton Road Recreation Ground.

I apologise to nobody and am indeed quite proud of this feat. Together with monies raised by Broughton Road Playground Association we now have a modern, safe and very well utilised playground. Credit should be given to all the girls for their hard work. My priorities are always my ward first, then Skipton in general, followed by Craven.

When I was first elected, Skipton Town Council precepted £20,000 for all 10 of its recreation grounds, £8,000 was spent on grass cutting alone. £12,000 between 10 parks did not go far. Have you any idea how much a swing costs?

This year at the council's budget meeting I argued that this amount should be increased to £50,000 per year. It went through and now finally we have a bit of money to play with. Unfortunately, years of underfunding will take years of work to rectify.

Broughton Recreation Ground is almost finished. The girls up at Regent's Challenge have also done sterling work and they now too have a playground to be proud of thanks to their hard work and some financial assistance from the council.

Hopefully, now the council can concentrate on another two parks next year. I ask you to be patient. Alternatively, the council could again raise its precept for the recreation grounds next year to say £100,000? But then that would mean a rise of council tax for every Skipton householder, an additional increase of around £4 per year.

I would be interested, through your newspaper, to see whether the people of Skipton would be prepared to pay this extra money if they knew where it was being spent. If it is a negative response then we must all be patient.

I would also like to clarify some statements that have appeared in your newspaper.

Firstly Mr Stanley Phillips stated that "moves were made to sell Bold Venture to property developers."

This was never the case. The town council sanctioned a surveyor to survey the condition of all its recreation grounds. It was the surveyor who recommended to the council to sell Bold Venture as it was under utilised. Before the Council even had a chance to debate the recommendation the report was leaked and all hell broke loose. When the matter eventually came to debate it was thrown out. However the council did take on board the surveyors' safety concerns and have tried to act upon them. Not perfect, but a start.

Mr Phillips also wondered "why, after the council had decided to spend £9,000 on Broughton Road playground, was a further £1,075 allocated?" £9,000 was allocated but the works only came to £7,925. The council then agreed to 'lend' the £1,075 underspend back to Broughton Road Playground Committee on the premise that they pay it back before the end of this financial year. The £1,075 is not extra money. It will go towards finally finishing off the park.

Mr Phillips asks for his local Councillors to resign. There is currently a vacancy on Skipton Town Council for a councillor representing Skipton South. This is your ward Mr. Phillips. You seem to have plenty of ideas. Plenty to say. Put yourself forward for co-option to this seat if you think you can do better!

In reply to letters of September 22: Nobody expects anybody to raise money for their playgrounds. It is the council's responsibility. We are doing what we can.

However by raising extra money your playground will be brought up to date a lot quicker. Also, by forming a Playground Association you will be able to apply for funding from other sources not open to Skipton Town Council.

I agree that we should all stop attacking each other. The children of Skipton deserve the best playgrounds in Yorkshire. Some of us are actively trying to achieve it.

On a final point, I note with humour the references of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Maybe I'm just getting paranoid. Too many meetings maybe?

Paul English,

Vice-chairman,

Safety & Amenities Committee.

Skipton Town Council.

Served my time

SIR - May I state that I served this town for over 30 years, most of the time as a responsible official in charge of the largest spending departments of the council so I do know where the money comes from and where it should be going.

I also ask this: How many Broughton Roaders at 77 years of age have they actively got engaged in their playground groups.

It is acknowledged fact that without my know how and drive our campaign would never have got off the ground and Bold Venture would now be a building site with the kids having nowhere to play.

S Phillips,

Keighley Road, Skipton.

Never satisfied

SIR - I refer to previous letters written by Carleton villagers regarding the "sadly defunct mill".

The mill, which has recently relocated, had been in full operation since 1861. It strikes me that those who bought homes near the mill since then did so in the full knowledge of its existence. Despite this, they take it upon themselves to complain about noise, vibrations and smells.

After spending thousands of pounds trying to appease these complaints, Gaskell Carpets found premises elsewhere.

One would think that this would have brought contentment to the local community (despite the 100 local job losses and the effect on local businesses trying to survive). But no!

They now complain that the area is to be redeveloped! What exactly did they expect would happen?

I truly believe that some people will never be satisfied without something to complain about.

JAS Taylor,

Carleton.

Closure is wrong

SIR - I am a parent of two children attending Rainhall Road Primary School, Barnoldswick, and I would just like to add strength to your article last week regarding the impending closure.

I attended the public meeting held at the school and also the first of the two council meetings at County Hall, Preston. (Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the second - perhaps a good job!)

At the public meeting regarding the school, all that appeared to be at issue was the financial implications relating to the school. Very little consideration was given to the education of the children concerned. Children only get one chance at education and this should be the main consideration.

The document produced at the meeting included within the first paragraph "the financial position at Rainhall Road School was giving cause for concern".

This, of course, has now been denied by various councillors, who are saying the reason for proposed closure is the quality of education. Presumably by quality of education they mean looking at a set of figures on a piece of paper in isolation without the background knowledge of what lies below them. I manipulate figures every day of my working life and am aware that they can be interpreted in many different ways.

The decision at the first meeting at Preston was delayed due to some information being presented at the last moment. This was provisional SATs results for summer 2000 which, on the face of it, did not look very good. However, the underlying background to these figures was not produced.

In relation to this there was the fact that two children had only recently joined the school before the tests were taken. Both these children were classed as special needs. Perhaps of more significance is that the school took on one child knowing that if the number of children remained at 10 or less then they would be below the number of qualifying children to be included in the national results. Rainhall Road had 11 and thus will be included within the national statistics.

The results are therefore being compared with schools with much larger numbers of people taking the tests and thus not on a like for like basis. (The bad results of one pupil in 11 has a greater effect on the numbers than one pupil in, say, 20. This strengthens my earlier point regarding figures on a piece of paper).

Consideration was also not given in the document shown to the committee in relation to the make up of the children at the school as regarding educational needs and cultural backgrounds. This was pointed out strongly at the meeting by Coun David Whipp who should be applauded for his efforts. However, it is not the same as being included in the document, especially as some of the committee were too busy talking amongst themselves to listen.

Education, of course, is not just what is achieved in the classroom. The school, despite its size, participates in all inter-school activities.

Taking two events that I attended as a parent, one being a swimming gala and the other a netball tournament. At both events larger schools than Rainhall Road had either pulled out or failed to field a full team, some of these schools being the suggested alternatives for the children. Rainhall Road always manages to enter a team and this shows the spirit and dedication of the staff, children and parents alike.

Moving on to the alternative schools suggested if closure does come about. The schools available are deemed to be in a two-mile radius of Barnoldswick. However, the committee did add a caveat that this was as the crow flies! But as one of the parents quite rightly pointed out at the public meeting, how many children have you seen fly!

I believed that Government policy was for smaller class sizes, not larger. Two of the schools on the list have too many children. Would it not be more sensible if anything was to change to move those to a school with vacant places. This would then help the financial status as the money follows the child but, of course, this is not one of the reasons for closure!

Let is now consider the performance of the education committee. Out of a total of 70, only four have attended the school. Putting this in percentage terms, where would this appear in the league table of results? Would this be a pass mark for SATS?

One councillor insinuated that the staff and governors were responsible for his deemed demise of the school. Should he not be looking at the performance of himself and the other councillors in this matter. Can you believe this, at the second meeting at Preston it was established that many of the committee did not even know where the school was. The lack of interest and concern had been earlier shown at the original public meeting when the chairman there continually got the name of the school incorrect.

In conclusion, if the school should close, which, of course, I believe that it should not, should it not be done immediately? If the council is convinced closure should take place because of educational and financial considerations, why wait?

They are therefore allowing another year of below par education, according to them, and thus not doing the children any favours and, of course, wasting taxpayers money by continuing to support a school putting strain on the public purse strings. It is time they got off the fence, forgot about their own political standing and listened to the people who put them where they are. I could go on, but I feel people will now have the general picture.

Anyone wishing to help save the school, please contact the school direct and I am sure that any help will be greatly appreciated.

Parent,

Rainhall Road School,

Barnoldswick.

Sleepless nights

SIR - Many of your readers will be saddened, as I am, that the Skipton Tourist Information Centre has been obliged to close. Maybe another will rise from the ashes.

Skipton Town Council and, more recently, the private company which ran it, should be given due credit for providing a service which, because it dispenses information for free, is invariably going to be run at a loss.

The majority of TICs throughout the country are run and funded by district or metropolitan councils. The cost is spread amongst all ratepayers in the district, supplemented by a share of the business rate (something never available to Skipton Town Council).

In Craven the district council has never put its money where its mouth is, so far as tourism is concerned.

For the past 15 years there has been plenty of talk and very little action, certainly so far as Skipton TIC is concerned.

All take and a minimal amount of give, and that applies to whichever group has been in control.

If anyone is having sleepless nights and a feeling of guilt over the demise of Skipton TIC, it should collectively be members of the district council. To compare them to ostriches would be unfair to the ostrich.

Finally, Settle TIC should be thanked for being prepared to deal with telephone enquiries from those requiring local information.

John Spencer,

Skipton Town Councillor,

Ermysted Street,

Skipton.

Fading memory

SIR - I think it is time that the Curmudgeon retired as it is obvious his memory is fading. When he talks about a comedy duo he forgot to mention the funniest act of all.

Teletubby Hague and his adversary Spanish Portillo, who both said at the start of the crisis that they would not or could not lower tax on fuel prices. One week later they both jump on the bandwagon and agree a three pence a litre cut.

Perhaps Labour could cut the tax on petrol and then act like the Tories did when they were defeated over high VAT charges on fuel, ie bring out a mini budget and put the lost tax on less important items such as children's clothes or food.

The Curmudgeon has been quick to forget that the Conservatives poured billions of pounds into the European exchange rate mechanism. The farmers have never recovered from the BSE crisis which the Tories hid from the public for 18 months and cost the country billions. They rounded off with some MPs taking cash for questions.

Some people who picketed our oil depots, even taking their children with them, or cheated at the petrol pumps and emptied our supermarket shelves should be ashamed of themselves. All this for a measly few pence of the price of petrol.

I still have faith that the electorate will not vote back the biggest comedians who spent 18 months destroying our country.

Brian Daggett,

Sharphaw Ave, Skipton.

A great place

SIR - Having read the photograph and report in the Craven Herald of September 15, I congratulate Lawrence Walton on teaching children cycling proficiency and how good to see a bell on one of the bikes.

In Gargrave there are many youngsters who rush about on bikes, up and down on shopping pavements, canal towpaths and byways with no concern for safety, either themselves or pedestrians.

It is a pity schools no longer do cycling proficiency tests, perhaps a reminder about safety on bikes would not go amiss. Please, if you've got a bike, get a bell.

Mrs R Johnson,

Riversway, Gargrave.

Stroke awareness

SIR - A stroke can touch anyone's life and as October 1-7 is Stroke Awareness Week it seems an appropriate time to realise that stroke is Britain's third biggest killer and the largest cause of disability.

At their triennial general meeting in June this year, the Women's Institute passed unanimously a resolution that "we urge Her Majesty's Government to greatly improve the treatment and therapies available to stroke sufferers to achieve a far higher national standard of care."

My husband had a serious stroke in 1985 and since then has been in a wheelchair, so recovery has been a constant struggle.

Research has shown that early and consistent therapy aids stroke recovery and this is where funding is needed. Extra funding would make a tremendous difference to the quality of life of stroke sufferers.

Win Graveson,

Cross Haw Lane,

Clapham.