Letters to the Editor

I wonder if we were the only people to receive the leaflet explaining that if we could see any problems with the new bins to ring a helpline number. We could also visit officers 'on site' in our area on a given day and time to discuss any issues with them. Have we been selected as Guinea Pigs ?

We are confirmed 're-cyclers' and take our papers, cardboard, cans, glass and plastic containers to the re-cycling centre. Not only does this require us to put the bin out approx once per month but it's surprising who you meet there.

On a more serious note the folk at Hebden Road and Rodney Tickner (letters page Sept 8th) highlight that the refuse collection vehicle can't get to their properties for parked cars.

As the bin wagon is about the same size as a fire engine, God forbid, but what happens in the case of a serious fire? What price " on street" parking ?

B Thompson,

Dale View Grove, Long Lee.

SIR - As a caring and responsible dog owner, I was pleased when the 'clean it up' campaign began. However it seems that all the money has apparently been spent on signs telling you to clean 'it' up but not on bins to put 'it' in.

I have visited many places on my travels, including Ilkley, the East Coast and Cornwall and these places all have dog waste bins and I wonder why Keighley has not seen fit to provide them.

Perhaps Brad Met could have re-commissioned all the old dustbins when they introduced wheelie bins!

W E HALLOWAY,

Colenso Grove, Stockbridge.

SIR - In response to letter from Anne Flannagan. Keighley retailers and members of the public are under no misapprehension or confusion whatsoever about the planned move of project 6 to Cavendish Street.

Anne Flannagan states that equipment ie needles/syringes etc are given to abusers who return the used ones for safe disposal! Therefore all the discarded needles found in the Keighley area are figments of the imagination?

With regards to abusers behaviour being orderly when attending help session, not many people would be abusive or irrational when often it is the courts who have ordered them to attend a substance misuse programme as an alternative to a custodial sentence.

This good behaviour is often not carried on when away from these sessions.

Unfortunately shoplifting and general abuse are part of the drug culture - or is this a figment of imagination also? I don't think so!

A CONCERNED

LOCAL BUSINESSMAN.

SIR - How interesting to see Anne Flanagan of Project 6 resorting to that hoary old PR trick of blaming "public confusion" for antipathy to her needle exchange.

If only she had got her message across properly in the first place we'd all be happy, wouldn't we?

Wouldn't we?

Can we be quite blunt here, Ms Flanagan? Your clients are criminals. They procure banned drugs from other criminals. Many of them steal to finance their habit. You facilitate their activities by supplying them with the equipment they need. Doesn't this amount to tacit approval?

You say that Project 6 is not a "drugs clinic". You applied for planning permission for a clinic. It will be used by drug addicts. So what is a drugs clinic?

You say that needle exchanges are only made if the clients "will" return used equipment. That's not an exchange. That's a promise. Do they keep their promises, Ms Flanagan? Not so, if the number of used needles already lying around at the back of Cavendish Street is anything to judge by.

You say that your clients do not behave in a violent or rowdy fashion. They wish to come and go discreetly. So do burglars, but that does not make them acceptable.

There is no public confusion over this matter - except that which you are creating.

George Speller

Delph Barn

Hainworth

Keighley

SIR - I have just read your 'Situations Vacant' page and I am totally shocked. An advert for a 'Litter Clearer' £5.40 per hour, to keep the grounds of a school tidy! I thought I was seeing things.

Whatever happened to "If you drop it, pick it up"? That we were brought up with, or don't drop it in the first place.

I thought we had litter laws in this country. I cannot believe a school is allowing children to mess up the place and some semi-retired person will be paid to put it right.

What's wrong with 'litter duty' in the playground, or are our youngsters, now, too sophisticated to do such menial tasks? No wonder our streets are in such a mess if this is the mentality that is being encouraged in our school children, what hope have we when they are our adults?

MARY CRYER,

Grafton Road, Keighley.

SIR - I have never written a letter to a newspaper but I was incensed to read in last week's Keighley News in the situation vacant, an advert for a litter collector at Greenhead High School.

Are children these days not capable of picking up their own litter? Surely they should know that not dropping litter is part of taking care of our environment.

If litter was not dropped on the ground there would be no need to employ someone to pick it up. The streets and public places of Keighley are strewn with litter - so come on everyone, take your litter home or put it in a litter bin. Have pride in your town.

V REDMAN,

Address supplied.

SIR - Following our successful meeting on Thursday concerning school uniform, I would like to express a large thank you to parents who have supported us on this issue, to all concerned parties who signed our petition, councillors for their efforts, the headmaster, deputy head and chair of governors who have endeavoured to compromise and resolve our differences, let us move forward, having struck a better relationship between parents and school.

A special thank you to Kathy Booth and the Keighley News.

MR & MRS J HAWLEY,

Exley Road, Keighley.

SIR - Regarding Tom Smith's article (KN 8/9/00). In summary, my anonymity? (Letter KN 1.9.00). Only because I have children to protect and the deadly nature of organised child molesters do I reluctantly retain it.

Secondly, he intentionally distorted my comments on the police, the courts, the DSS, politicians and the clergy. Thirdly, I didn't suggest no one should fear a mob. In point of fact I wrote: "I fear no man or no mob."

Tom Smith initially courted controversy, later to back peddle dealing a tougher card. Somewhat paradoxically he's never mentioned the victims, only the predators who covet them. I stand by my letter, and yes I understand Lynch law.

Tom follows a noble credo, there is another! Assist the weak, be equal to the strong, and ruthlessly crush the wicked. Perhaps then parents and children wouldn't have to endure the nightmares he portrays.

At present all we have is an ineffectual system to turn to. As for the sentences perverts get, Tom might ask the Police if they think they're adequate, or the public, or more to the point, the victims. He writes: "Even mass murderers get a fair trial". And receive what? In Britain there's a whole heap of law, and very little justice.

Last week a spokesman for 'Outrage' publicly advocated lowering the age of consent for sodomy to fourteen. Reasoning it would avoid youngsters getting criminal records for warped sex acts. Insidious isn't it? Consider the bi-wigged counsel for the defence summing up "Your honour, my client thought he looked fourteen - honest!"

To reiterate, much of the national agenda is run by degenerates, and the variance between 'acceptable' and 'normal' is now blurred. The proposal to instruct school kids on homosexuality is proof enough, personally I dread a report sheet that says "Your children are doing well at writing, and sums, but are confused by saphism and pederasty."

Still, we haven't a prayer when the man who would be King, Charles Windsor, says he wants to be a tampon.

Tom warns us against mob rule and knee-jerk response, and now writes manly of firm action. If I saw my children propositioned by one of these inverts, I wouldn't sit around in a group session twittering about firm action, sipping Perrier, and picking at the canapes, I'd reach for the nearest rope. And if that makes me an extremist - so be it!

NAME AND ADDRESS

SUPPLIED.

Editor's note:- This reply ends this exchange of views on this subject.

SIR - This country is on the eve of another general election. It is the time when national politicians make promises to electors.

Solemn pledges will be constructed by candidates on issues affecting local and national concerns. Electors will have assurances that taxes will be cut, the quality of education will rise, criminality will be approached with determination and force.

All pensioners will at long last be treated with financial dignity and respect. The sick will have medication and hospital beds whenever needed.

A freedom of information act will include the public's automatic right to local and national government data and figures. Urban renewal will take place while the countryside is destined to remain the green and pleasant land as sung and portrayed in the stirring song 'Jerusalem'.

What will happen after the next election to these pledges? Nothing! Except that hospital beds will be cut further, medicines and services will continue to be rationed, so as to fund overseas aid, and the poor will become poorer.

Demonstrably the public's power is perceived as ineffectual by those at the Palace of Westminster. Reality suggest our politicians will continue with lies, equivocation and prevarication without public comment from a dying, once, Great Britain.

DAVID SAMUELS,

Station Road, Oxenhope.

Sir - Many people have been asking about the petition for a Keighley Council and is anything happening?

The Keighley Voice steering group have spent the last months checking procedures, legalities and the viability of the area to be covered by the council.

We are now pleased to announce that petition forms have been printed and are being distributed to volunteers who will soon be seeking signatures.

If anyone would like to help with petitions (20 sign/sheet) or in any way please contact 01535 665615(evening).

During the autumn round of Neighbourhood Forums we hope to send representatives to each one to bring people up to date and answer any questions. If any other group would like us to attend a meeting please use the above contact number.

We would also like to thank the paper for it's support of the campaign and giving the people of Keighley the chance to have a Voice.

Joyce Newton

Keighley Voice

21 Valley View Close

Keighley

SIR - Last Thursday I had a nasty fall in Alice Street and two kind gentlemen came to my aid - one even taking me in his car to the doctors' surgery. I did thank them but I would like to express my gratitude through the letters column if you would please print this letter.

Truly an example of the Good Samaritan.

MRS M ROBERTS,

Bromley Grove,

Exley Head.