BAD news travels fast. And newspaper people down the years have always maintained that bad news sells papers.

However, we don't necessarily subscribe to that view. People who are regularly fed a reading diet of depressing news will soon themselves feel depressed.

Some good news - like a shaft of sunlight - brightens the day, makes us feel better and puts a little spring in our step.

That is why we are pleased to report this week that two Wharfedale women have put their best foot forward and conquered goals of a very different kind.

Bramhope explorer Zoe Hudson has travelled boldly where no woman has travelled before - becoming part of the first all-woman team to walk to both the North and the South Poles - while Guiseley business woman Linda Conway has made her mark on the competitive world of cosmetics sale with Richard Branson's latest commercial venture.

In addition we feature artist Ralph Green, who is also flying the flag for determination by carrying on his unique painting project at the age of 85.

All have displayed positive attitudes and have overcome challenges along the way. It gladdens the heart.

There must be plenty of other good news about, but in Britain people tend to be shy about trumpeting their achievements. Don't be - let us know the good things that are happening in our district.

POLICE are finally taking action to stop parents from giving their children lifts to school - and not before time. Their new initiative, which will include signs warning against parking outside most Wharfedale schools, could well save children's lives.

But whether parents listen is another thing. Our society today is so dependent on cars that it is almost impossible to wean us off them. Granted, it is easier to jump in the car and be at school in five minutes - but we are too reliant on convenience.

Not only are parents robbing children of the chance to socialise and interact with their peers, they are robbing them of vital childhood experience, depriving them of road safety experience and of important physical exercise. It is unfair to wrap them up in cotton wool.

Parents need to listen - or possibly pay the consequences in tragic fashion.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.