Letters to the Editor

Only four per cent of accidents are caused by "excessive speed".

And just how is that defined, please? Is excessive speed that which exceeds the speed limits? Is it possible, then, that the speed limits are too high?

It seems to me that the general public, and accident victims in particular, are rightly more concerned with the outcome of accidents than with their cause.

An accident where speeds are so low that no damage is done is not an accident. An accident where speeds are low enough to avoid impact is also not an accident.

Has Mr Gregory got some statistics on the percentage of deaths which could have been avoided had speeds been lower? I'll bet RoSPA have.

The assertion that our safest roads are our motorways can only be described as disingenuous. Clearly motorways are so dangerous that pedestrians are not allowed on them at all.

This one sided view could only have come from a member of a "Drivers' Association". Do the Ramblers' Association agree with this? Some of them are pedestrians all of the time. Are they prepared to shoulder the blame for "84 per cent" of accidents?

What dreadful misjudgments have these pedestrians - 84 per cent of them - made to be mown down in this way? Could not the drivers stop in time to avoid them? Or were they going to quickly?

George Speller

Delph Barn,

Hill Top Road, Keighley

SIR - The letter you published from Brian Gregory of the Association of British Drivers is a good example of how to juggle with statistics.

You take an authoritative looking source ('the Government's own Transport Research Laboratory'), loosely define your subject matter ('almost 2800 road accidents'), and with a vague description ('excessive speed') of the factor you want to massage you quantify its contribution with an impressive figure ('only four per cent').

Then you can flog your pet hobbyhorse unmercifully ('the main responsibility for pedestrian casualties lies with the pedestrian').

For a final flourish, add a fancy set of initials ('M.A.(Oxon.), M.Sc.') after your name!

There are two obvious ways in which vehicle speed affects road safety.

Firstly: an increase in speed decreases the time available to avoid accidents; and secondly it increases the severity of collisions when they do occur. (A pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling at 20mph has a 95 per cent chance of surviving; at 30mph the probability is 50/50; while at 40mph the pedestrian's chance of survival is rated at only 15 per cent).

Hence it would not be surprising if a small decrease in speeds produced a larger decrease in injuries.

Two research projects in this area have been completed recently for the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions. Project S211Q concluded (in 1997) that a one mph average speed reduction equalled a five per cent reduction in casualties.

Project S204F found (in 1996) that accidents involving children were reduced by 67 per cent by the introduction of 20mph limits, and that each one mph reduction in speed produced a 6.2 per cent reduction in accidents.

Although these studies were completed several years ago, and their results are unequivocal, their implications have yet to be translated into appropriate actions by our elected policy makers.

Their delay in doing so is in effect condemning children to death and injury unnecessarily.

DR NA ANDREWS

Douglas Street

Cross Roads

Sir - On your Opinion page, 7/1/00, the words cynicism, suspicions, democracy and freedom of information stood out.

These are the same words this group has used in past years when seeking to expose the chicanery that some party politicians have used when deliberately trying to hide information from the public.

However, it is a fact that the public has elected these party politicians, and as Joseph de Maistre said on 15/8/1811, 'Every country has the Government it deserves.' Therefore one must ask the question, is it the public who is at fault? It is not the party politicians who, each year, re-elect themselves, it is the public who votes these people into places of power.

This group encouraged unfurling the banners of democracy when we realised that freedom of speech was being extinguished in the corridors of Bradford City Hall. With limited resources we continue to campaign for a totally independent region, namely the Aire-Worth Authority.

The brutal truth of the matter is that Bradford sucks the financial, educational, entrepreneurial and spiritual vitality from this area. Giving chrome bells and tinsel in the shape of a Keighley mayor, or other such triviality, will not alter the facts that democracy and an independent party-political-free Councillor-based system, with free access to all information and council decisions, is the way forward.

However, this will not happen unless the public start taking control of their own lives. The mediocrity of party politicians is the fault of the public and therefore the public should not expect the performance of an independent spirit.

BRIAN HUDSON

Chairman Aire-Worth

Reform Association

SIR - Twice in three weeks your correspondent Mrs Blackman has used your "Letters" column to make the airy assertion that 10,000 houses could be built close to Bradford city centre (one mile radius of City Hall, KN 24 Dec).

If Mrs Blackman can identify the hundreds of acres required for such a project I'm sure all groups with an interest in housing would be most grateful!

She should bear in mind that all sites that are apparently vacant cannot automatically be used for housing, they may be designated for industry or commerce or may just have owners who won't sell.

Once again, reality is a bit more complicated than an easy generalisation.

Having urged people in my last letter to get as much changed about the UDP as they can during the current review, Mrs Blackman just blithely states that I "demonstrably support" it, in its current form. Not true.

Nor do I "imply" that I am the "people's champion"; that accolade (in the past tense!) was given me by my old acquaintance, Ron Beale (letters Dec 30).

All I would say in my own defence is that I have lived and worked in the Keighley area all my adult life and am committed to the town.

M LEATHLEY

Deputy Chairman

Keighley Area

Planning Panel

SIR - Forty six years ago, in January 1954, the 76th Entry of Aircraft Apprentices began their careers at Royal Air Force Halton, near Aylesbury, Bucks.

265 young men were brought together at the RAF's School of Technical Training for three years of study, before dispersing to units all over the UK and overseas.

In 1994 the 76th Entry Association was formed, and to date three Reunions have taken place. The fourth Reunion is scheduled to take place at Harrogate in October 2000.

Over one hundred of the original members are still to be located.

If any of them, on reading this, would like to re-establish contact with the 76th, would they please contact either Roger Harvey, 7 Lee's Heights, Charlbury, Oxon, OX7 3EZ, tel: 01608 810889, or Barrie Randle, 1 Rivock Ave, Utley, Keighley, BD20 6HE, tel: 01535 605621.

MR B RANDLE

SIR - May I through the pages of your publication, bring to your reader's attention the existence of an Association for past and present members of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service?

The RAF Mountain Rescue Service has existed since 6th July 1943. From those early days to the present, thousands have qualified and earned the right to wear the Mountain Rescue Badge.

The RAF Mountain Rescue Association, formed in 1993, was established to maintain and foster an interest in the RAF Mountain Rescue Service, its history and achievements. The Association currently boasts a membership of approximately 300.

One of the Association's objectives is to compile a register of those known to have been members of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service.

May I appeal to your readership, that if they ever belonged to a RAF Mountain Rescue Team and wish to join the Association, to contact our Membership Secretary at the following:

A. Brown

RAF MRA Membership

Secretary

27 Woodhall Road

PENCAITLAND

East Lothian

EH32 0DR

Tel: 01875 340632

Sir - Could I please bring to the attention of all dog owners who exercise their dogs on Bronte sports fields that on Sundays at 10am a dog dirt clearing up operation has been put into practice.

Could we please ask all those dog owners who allow their dogs to continue this disgusting habit to please feel free to join us.

Last Sunday before our under 7s and 8s (yes 7 & 8) could kick off, 16 piles of filth had to be removed from the pitch.

Please introduce yourselves to the cleaning party, who will be glad to meet you and will gladly supply you with a shovel.

Of course we know no one will show up, because when you confront one of these dog owners you always get the same standard reply "it is not my dog." Well it is someone's damn dog (excuse my French).

I suppose as long as it is not left in your own garden then what does it matter? Well it matters to us, and the health and safety of our young players.

Oakworth JUNIOR

FOOTBALL CLUB

Sir - I find it terribly sad that in his letter to you of 7/1/00 Keighley Labour's planning boss, Cllr Cope, made great play about raised standards in local government.

He then gratuitously, in my eyes, kicked two persons who have fallen from national grace because of stupidity or greed, a commodity that I, and most of us mere mortals, have in plenty.

Both the people Cllr Cope mentioned were Conservatives of course.

The suggestion may have been that these people were not of the same moral fibre as presumably his own New Labour colleagues.

May I suggest that his memory seems to have mislaid such luminaries as Peter Mandelson, Geoffrey Robinson, Ron Davis and many other sad people caught up by what some would say were their own inadequacies.

I am not aware if Cllr Cope has any religious beliefs, but surely he should remember that the Christian approach to all who stumble is forgiveness. Let he who is beyond all reproach in Bradford City Hall, or elsewhere for that matter, cast the first stone and pray that they will never need the services of the Bishop of Bradford.

DAVID SAMUELS

Station Road

Oakworth

Dear Sirs,

SIR - What a pleasure it was to be able to read the Christmas Edition of the Keighley News in comfort.

The pleasure was not derived from my being anywhere different, just simply that it was in tabloid format, all in one section and I could read it without any discomfort.

I am sure I speak for the many who suffer with disabilities which make manipulating the large format difficult, if not impossible. May I ask why this wonderful Christmas gift cannot be continued all year round?

A while ago now the KN carried out a survey and the format was one of the survey items. I do not ever recall seeing the results of this survey published.

Is there any possibility of this being published?

Name and

address supplied

Editor's note: The results of the survey were published and a team was set up to look at this issue and produce dummy editions in tabloid format. It is still under consideration.

SIR - Thanks Ed. I've just had an e-mail from one of my old class mates, Malcolm Blakey, now in Skipton.

Now we can start plans for a reunion in 2002, hopefully .

Anyway, thanks again. Ooroo for now

Doug Storton

greystud@camtech.net.au

SIR - Coronation Street actors Sally Whittaker, David Neilson and Julie Hasmondhalgh - who play Sally, Roy and Haley - are appealing for volunteers to sign up for a charity trek in Peru in September 2000.

The 100km trek along the famous Inca Trail, to the lost city of Machu Picchu, will raise money for Scope, formerly The Spastics Society.

Julie is delighted with the venture and believes the trip will be an experience of a lifetime. All flights, food, accommodation and experienced mountain guides are provided. In return all you need to do is raise a minimum sponsorship of £2,500 for Scope and their work with people who have cerebral palsy.

For a copy of the entry pack call 0500 575 222.

VICTORIA WALKER

SIR - We are appealing for funds to open a Pet Behaviour Centre where we will be able to get one-to-one help with more difficult cases. A purpose built centre where pets can get the full-time therapy that they need for their behaviour problems, and where owners can develop better relationships with their pets by learning non-violent, humane training methods.

ANDREW CONSTANT

Animals in Mind

Magdelen Way, Worle

Somerset.

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