Letters to the Editor

To anyone not familiar with this part of town it is a depressing sight. Broken glass litters the paths, whilst litter is discarded throughout the park. It is an eyesore and a hazard to everyone using the park.

Yet little seems to be done to keep the park looking attractive. As a consequence it is being left as a dumping ground by the mindless minority who cannot keep their litter to themselves.

To all taxpayers the failure to monitor litter in Victoria Park is an outrage which undermines civic pride in Keighley.

MALCOLM

RAMSDEN- FRANKLAND,

Belgrave Road,

Keighley.

SIR - In the Opinion column of 11 August you state that a reader and possibly others objected to the fact that on occasions Letters to the Editor contained too many letters from charities.

Over the years I have been involved in many local charity projects that could not possibly have seen the light of day without the good offices of the Keighley News.

In fact only weeks ago I talked about this subject with members of your staff, having reached the conclusion that the publicity the Keighley News gives to local charities each year is vital.

The list of charities in this region could fill an entire edition of this newspaper.

I am one of hundreds of people in this area who are involved in helping to find financial help and public awareness for causes that are in desperate need.

From animal welfare to people suffering from life threatening illnesses, from Girl Guides to the Salvation Army, all would have suffered without the breath of publicity generously given by this newspaper.

It could be that the 'fed up' reader is not charitable, or is unaware how indispensable publicity is necessary to the many local, and for that matter, national causes needing support.

I would be prepared, for a sum of £100 donated to any local charity, to spend a day showing the 'fed up' reader the results that emanate from this newspaper's magnanimous participation of assisting and promoting goodwill to others.

DAVID SAMUELS,

Station Road,

Oxenhope.

SIR - Once again I wish to say 'thank you' David Knights and Bob Smith for your co-operation in aiding my return to Haworth.

But my visit is once again for Trachoma, which seemed to have been missed out. All my shows are for charity. Thank you.

May I, at the same time, say a big 'thank you' to Mr Hutchinson - driver of the 697 from Bradford to Keighley, Keighley & District Bus - I accidentally left my big black purse on the seat and did not notice until about half an hour later.

I had to ask a driver of a 664 bus on its way to Keighley to let me have a free ride because I had no money.

He said yes to help me out. At the same time a kind lady gave me a pound coin in case my purse had not been found. But it was, and every penny was returned.

Three kind people within half an hour. In particular, Mr Hutchinson, 697 bus, 3pm on August 8, 2000.

SYLVIA WHARTON,

Coventry based

Bront Theatre.

SIR - Re: Oakbank Uniform Concerns. As one who is very disturbed by the decisions made by Oakbank governors, I was appalled but not surprised by Mr Curtis' angry comments against the Keighley News.

The Keighley News has always supported Oakbank's achievements, as it does with all our local schools. The paper's coverage of the meeting in question was very accurate and well balanced.

It is a credit to our local paper that our community feel they can turn to it for support. Mr Curtis needs to realise that the Keighley News and the concerned parents, far from damaging the school, are trying to prevent damage caused by flawed policy decisions.

ELIZABETH MITCHELL,

Malvern Crescent,

Riddlesden.

SIR -The Aire Valley Rail Users Group is very pleased that two local bus companies, First Bradford and Keighley & District, have invested heavily in new easy access buses.

In the past, buses were not as comfortable as trains and are unfortunately still perceived as a second-class form of travel by many planners and rail users. However, this is emphatically not the case any more.

For local journeys, the newest buses provide a comparable level of comfort to new trains and also provide disabled access.

The main purpose of our group is to promote railways in the Aire Valley. However, buses reach parts of the community that railways don't, and buses can provide a convenient link to the station without creating additional parking problems.

The user group would like to see bus information displayed at the station platform, with route maps and bus timetables.

Many people who arrive by car have difficulty parking, but are not aware of the possibility of using the bus.

We believe that Metro could improve the publicity for the existing links and we will be pressing them to properly publicise what is available.

Bingley, Crossflatts and Keighley stations are served by the frequent Airedale Shuttle service. Bingley station also has improved bus links to Eldwick, Harden, Wilsden and Cullingworth. Shipley has an extensive bus network and Cottingley buses come quite close to Saltaire station.

Ray Wilkes

Tower Road,

Shipley

SIR-Regarding Silsden Parish Council considering a further tax burden on the residents in the form of a precept to fund the swimming pool at Hothfield Street School.

As a Silsden resident I say no to any precept being set, and would ask that Bradford Council dip into the many thousands of pounds given to them in rates each year from Silsden to fund this pool as they should.

NAME and ADDRESS

SUPPLIED

SIR - The government has been very quiet over the forthcoming UN Summit between September 6-8.

It has practically been concealed from the public that national governments are being asked to sign up for over 500 Treaties that will concentrate sweeping powers into unelected hands.

Billed as the 'modernisation' of the United Nations, this programme is intended to end our powers of veto in the UN Security Council, and thus our ability to stop conflict reaching global proportions.

If the flood of court cases that will result from us signing up to the 'European Convention on Human Rights' isn't bad enough, international courts will be created which will drag disputes onto a global scale.

As they will be run by representatives of countries like China that the UN welcomes as members in spite of the appalling treatment of their own people, I cannot imagine that they will do much good for anyone but the fat cat administrators and lawyers.

We also face a flood of costly rules and regulations in the name of the environment, even though earlier UN theories on global warming have been discredited and we now seem set for global cooling.

The Foreign Office has already indicated that the government will support the UN Secretary General's proposals. Voters should demand straight answers - and not spin or pious jargon - on exactly what powers the government intends to give away, what costs we can become liable for, and what stealth taxes we can expect if the UN is to be given its own resources.

For more information on developments, please contact me (enclosing an SAE) at: PO Box 13199, London SW6 6ZU or email newalliance@excite.com.

MRS ANGELA STEPHENS,

Campaign Manager,

New Alliance.

SIR - I just wanted to let you know that Mencap - the largest organisation in the UK for people with a learning disability - is organising a breathtaking 12 day trek across Patagonia, Chile, in March 2001.

This will be an experience that you will never forget. Imagine the spectacular mountain scenery, towering granite peaks and glacial lakes - and you will be raising vital funds for people with learning disabilities, their families and their carers.

Mencap is seeking trekkers and non-trekkers to take up the challenge! It's a chance to get fit and make new friends - and Mencap will help you every step of the way as you prepare for this journey of a lifetime. Please have a go! Once you pay a £200 registration fee and raise a minimum sponsorship requirement, flights, food and accommodation are all FREE.

Please call 0845 9777 779 Today to receive your FREE Trek Patagonia pack or write to Trek Patagonia, Mencap FREEPOST, London EC1B 1AA or email events@mencap.org.uk

JO BRAND,

Mencap, London.

SIR - Yorkshire Television is making a new programme which fights for consumer rights, covering everything from car trouble to poor service at banks, the safety of kids' toys or even the high cost of going to the dentist.

Have you been ripped off by a builder? Overcharged by a plumber? Sold a computer that doesn't work? If you have we want to know about it. Give us a call on 0113 2228650.

JESSICA FOWLE,

Producer, Yorkshire

Television.

SIR - I totally agree with last week's reader letter re EMA - Education Maintenance Allowance - being unfair.

I have a daughter who intends to carry on at school into the 6th form to hopefully pass A levels to improve her chances of getting a 'better' job or even go on to university.

Because my husband's and my joint incomes exceed the £25,000 limit our daughter does not qualify for the EMA. That means she does not get the £50 a term for attendance or the £50 a term for achievement which other students will receive. So how will she feel?

Her fellow students will have a head start financially for university.

This is not an allowance for parents to help keep a child in education, but is paid directly into the student's bank account, so why should some students be penalised because of their parents' income?

NAME AND ADDRESS

SUPPLIED.

SIR - Leeds Leisure Services is on the look out for more qualified football referees from across Leeds for its increasingly popular outdoor, winter 5-a-side leagues.

Six FA qualified referees are being sought by the Department's Sports Division to take charge of league fixtures between October and June at South Leeds Stadium. Initially referees will be needed for up to three hours on Fridays and Sundays from 5.30pm onwards but this may be extended to mid-week fixtures later on .

Protective clothing will be supplied and the pay rate for referees has recently been increased to £9 per hour.

There is an urgent need for referees to cover this league, which becomes more and more popular every season.

Any qualified referees who want to get involved in the winter league at the South Leeds Stadium should contact Paul Heppell at the Stadium on 0113 276 2824.

Arif Shaikh,

LeedsLeisure Services

(0113) 247 4639