Seeing all sides of Hawksworth Hall

However, your editorial does not reflect the factual recent history of the property and the suggestion that SCOPE would be prepared to see the hall flattened and replaced with 100 houses is fatuous in the light of its listed status, which you recognised within your editorial. Such a prospect would not be countenanced by anybody.

We invite you to reflect that the hall has been empty and for sale for more than two years. In October, 1999 the only acceptable offer that had been made resulted in the submission of plans to divide the hall itself into three dwellings and to replace the current adjacent modern buildings with five houses in sympathy with the hall. These plans were made available for the 70-odd households in Hawksworth village to inspect and were also available at Guiseley Library.

Many villagers took the trouble to study the plans and the only comments passed on to the Hawksworth Residents' Association Committee were favourable. Six months later, in April 2000, Mr Elias emerged as a potential buyer and after a further four months it is reported that he has made an offer to purchase. There is, therefore, a contrast between a sympathetic and professional development proposal, which is public and has secured the support of Leeds planning department, and a belated private offer by an individual.

Even so, we are not aware of anyone in the community of Hawksworth who will object if Mr Elias eventually restores the hall to a single private residence. However, we do know that there is considerable disquiet amongst those residents who have thought through the longer term issues of this matter into what possible use the small community of Hawksworth could make of the bequest of the hall when, or if, this actually happens.

Finally, you might further reflect on the outcome for SCOPE, the hall and the residents of Hawksworth if, as you counsel, the Secretary of state refuses the application but the single buyer you support fails to purchase the property after all?

M Booth

Chairman,

Hawksworth Residents'

Association Committee,

Vale Forge, Main Street,

Hawksworth.

Time to object

SIR, - I would like to draw readers' attention to the drawings attached to the planning application submitted by Persimmon Homes relating to the old Yorkshire Electricity Board's site on Back Lane, Guiseley.

It shows 117 dwellings on a 3.5 acre site, comprising mainly five-storey flats. In order that concerned residents may be aware of the precise nature of Persimmon Homes' proposals, Councillor John Procter is asking for the relevant drawings to be put on public view at Guiseley Library.

Environment Secretary John Prescott has recently sanctioned such multi-storey developments in the outer areas. If, like me, readers are appalled at this cramped multi-storey intrusive development on Back Lane, might I respectfully ask them to put their objections in writing to Leeds City Council's planning department.

Margaret C Atkinson

18 Transfield Avenue,

Guiseley.

Time for action

SIR, - The residents of Guiseley should sit up and take notice now before Leeds City Council approves the plans to build a five-storey tower block on Back Lane, Guiseley.

If we sit back and do nothing the plans will be passed and it will be too late to object to them. Now is the time to write and object, before Leeds City Council approves the plans, as it has already passed the plans for a 69-house development at the Silver Cross works at Back Lane.

Also plans by Greenwoods for 50 homes are currently being considered in the same area.

In this so called democratic state it appears the residents of Guiseley have no say on what can be done in their town. We are being forced to accept this large scale building development even though the majority of residents on Back Lane do not want it.

If we are honest the majority of residents in Guiseley do not want blocks of flats either. Increased traffic congestion on this quiet narrow backwater road would cause traffic gridlock and hazards in an area where it is already stretched to its limit.

No other access road can be built in this area and exit would have to be on Otley road or on Park Road, which are already very busy roads. What about the safety of our children going to school on Back Lane.

There are two schools already here - would readers feel happy with the increase in volume of traffic? Or do we wait until for a child to be killed?

The large scale development would put a great strain on local amenities such as doctors, bus services, local schools and shops.

The chopping down of existing healthy trees and the removal of privacy for local residents in order to build 112 flats, one block five-storeys high, is a complete desecration of our town.

Richard Smith, of Persimmon Homes, states traffic is an issue for most new developments, but that they feel Guiseley is an area where amenities are within walking distance. He says people can therefore, if they wish, do without a car.

Does he do without a car? Is it a case of 'do as I say, not as I do?" What about the residents of Back Lane who have lived there in peace and quiet for years and parked their cars outside their homes, as they have no garages.

When all these new houses and flats have been built, is he saying that none of these people will own a car? No, I do not think so and when this narrow backwater road gets busy with the extra volume of traffic, all Leeds City Council will do is send along a man from the highways department with a pot of yellow paint and paint yellow lines down each side of the road.

This will enable traffic to flow easier along Back Lane and the poor residents of Back Lane will have to sell their cars as they will have nowhere to park them.

It is time the residents of Guiseley stood up and told Leeds City Council we do not want this development. Councillor Graham Latty should also listen to his constituents in Guiseley instead of saying: "The most important thing is that people acknowledge that houses will be built there." #

He should be listening to local residents and trying to do his best for them, not his best for Persimmon Homes or for Leeds City Council. So come on you residents of Guiseley, it is time to say enough is enough.

Jenny Hartigan

5 Fieldhead Drive

Guiseley.

Please consult

SIR, - I was the third Otley and Wharfedale member at the Otley Community Involvement Team meeting on August 11 and I put forward positive proposals.

To compare Bramhope Parish Council to the most dangerous man on the planet is a typical piece of headline grabbing froth without any substance by the Conservative Party. Cheap insults like this are best ignored.

I have written to both the other ward members asking that the decision be reconsidered. I suggested that we involve the community by asking Bramhope Parish Council to present a case at the next CIT meeting and the residents to vote in a referendum (local) at an early date.

The decision taken, in fact, denies the community any involvement. I made that suggestion at the meeting but it was rejected. I believe that to be a fundamental error.

Community Involvement Teams could be a great start to the 21st Century but:

l Councillors must listen, not deliberately ignore democratic argument, as in this case.

l Everyone represented must have a voice; at present part of Yeadon and Rawdon do not.

l There must be adequate funding and control over what is spent in our locality and fair shares.

There are a lot of problems with CITs such as boundaries and administrative support, but they are an idea that can be adapted to give people a real say. To start off by deliberately ignoring the views of all but one of the members of a democratically elected local parish council is a bad sign.

I firmly believe in consultation, not confrontation and I hope that from now on the Community Involvement Team will actively seek to involve the community.

Coun Graham Kirkland

Deputy Leader, Lib Dem Group,

Westholme, Westgate,

Otley.

Sporting facts

SIR, - I read with interest your article and editorial on Prince Henry's Sports Centre and would like to cast a little light on what your readers may consider a very odd situation.The bid for lottery funding was, in my opinion, a first class bid put together by a very professional and well-regarded firm of consultants.

It would appear that when the bid was considered by Sport England it was evaluated against a different set of criteria than the criteria originally provided to Leeds City Council and the consultants.

This, as I understand it, is the main reason for an appeal having been lodged. Clearly it is unfair and absurd to evaluate the bid against different criteria than those stated in the bidding prospectus.

To use a sporting analogy this is a clear case of the goalposts having been moved!

In rejecting the bid Sport England did provide some explanation. Apparently one of the reasons given was an apparent lack of support for the Prince Henry's location from some influential members of the town.

These people (and they know who they are) have a great deal to answer for if their actions have been founded on narrowly party political motives. It was surely incumbent on everyone with the best interests of our community at heart to throw their weight fully behind the city

council's bid irrespective of political affiliations.

The school and its governing body have not accepted defeat on this issue. I do not know what the chances are of a successful appeal but if it fails we will continue to fight, along with anyone who cares to support us to ensure that the sports centre, which is a vital resource for the whole community, is returned at least to a decent and civilised state of repair.

In this we have the active support of our MP, Harold Best, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him publicly for his interest and enthusiasm. I hope that all other civic leaders will use their influence over the decision makers to bring about a successful outcome to this long and gruelling campaign.

Finally, I do like your suggestion of a Sports Fund. Even if the sums raised were relatively modest, it would demonstrate to the world at large that Otley is united in its determination to bring improved sporting facilities to the town.

Chris Speedy

Chairman of Governors,

4 Somerville Terrace,

Otley.