Readers' Letters

May I remind him that Haworth gets thousands of visitors from all over the world to see the place and soak up the atmosphere of where the Bront sisters got the inspiration for their novels.

A few years ago we visited Windsor. Hadn't time for the castle, so we went for the railway station that had been transformed, by the help of Madame Tussaud's, back to Victorian times. A delightful piece of history and our heritage.

Last year we visited Windsor again, hoping to renew our visit to the station. It had vanished into thin air! In its place, a shopping precinct, expensive shops, without customers.

If brought to function would the Haworth project then become yet another white elephant?

MRS R LAPWORTH,

Airedale View, Cross Hills.

SIR - It would appear the situation within the ranks of New Labour with Mr Mandelson and Mr Robinson (putting aside the sleaze of Robin Cook) has spread to the European Commission, where the sacking of the whole commission was in the balance.

If by any chance Britain should join the single currency, what guarantee have we of any fair and reasonable unification of tax, VAT or anything else.

The current exchange rate for the Euro is 70p. Pensioners will start to lose £20 per week.

There will be no Queen's head on the Euro notes and coins, just a map of Europe, a bridge and a European building or bank. A good incentive to vote no to the monetary union and no to losing our sovereignty?

DONALD ROBERTSHAW,

Oats Street, Keighley.

SIR - As we are now living in a multi-cultural society, I appreciate the need to integrate, but have recently become increasingly concerned about the Halal method of animal slaughter and the fact that English non-Muslims are being subjected, without choice, to food prepared in this manner.

I am not in any way wishing to criticise the Muslim culture, it has been part of their religion for hundreds of years and will continue to be so, but unfortunately the Halal method of slaughter would normally contravene British laws.

For anyone out there who does not understand the way in which Halal animals are slaughtered, I will explain.

Without the animal being pre-stunned, a sharp knife is used to sever the respiratory tract, oesophagus and jugular vein, and the animal is left to bleed to death.

I will never agree with this method, but have come to accept it, as long as it remains in Muslim society.

My concerns about such food reaching non-Muslims, have recently been highlighted by the fact that supermarkets are currently selling over the counter curry dishes, supplied by a local Bradford firm.

I am assured by the supermarket that the curries in question are not Halal but that some pre-packed curry dishes that they are also currently selling are. These curries are again produced by this company and bear an Islamic symbol to inform Muslims that the product is Halal. The problem is that nowhere on the packaging is the same information in English, and in view of the fact these meals are being sold from the same chiller cabinet as Indian snacks and other pre-packed meals, I feel that my freedom of choice is being seriously abused.

Perhaps many people who read this letter will not be too concerned about its content, but freedom of choice is all I am asking.

The same problem will probably apply to the many curry houses around the country, but at least where they are concerned I do have a choice as to whether or not I eat in them

EDWINA BLAND,

Scar Top Farm Cotts,

Oakworth.

SIR - My name is Richard Groves and I am seeking old army friends.

Is there anyone who served with 12/2 Bde REME workshops at Salonica in 1948 who may care to write to Richard (Lofty) Groves, 16 Stroudes Close, Worcester Park, Surrey KT4 7RB?

R GROVES,

Surrey.

SIR - Far be it for me to complain about the publication of the picture of myself, one of the better ones by Bob Smith of me, in the Keighley News 15.1.99.

However, being placed between two prominent political figures, and with an accusing heading, the article may have unintentionally postulated the impression that I, a non-political figure in the region, was part of the group who had indeed tried to hijack the good work done by HCRAG members in the formation and promoting of the Haworth Parish Council project.

It can be confirmed that it was the Keighley based Bradford Labour councillors who made such a blatant attempt at stealing the public limelight of HCRAG and not me!

I make no claim whatsoever to any of the good work achieved by HCRAG in the pursuance of local democracy, except that of offering words of moral support at those meetings that I was able to attend.

Over the period which I had frequented those meetings, only Cllr Hopkinson, in a non political role, bothered to offer any independent advice to this non political group.

No Keighley based Bradford Labour councillor was ever in attendance to give any comfort or help to HCRAG members.

It should also be noted that all the preliminary cost involved in printing and delivering leaflets fell onto the small dedicated band of local residents.

Finally may I say that the slight public display of malicious comment directed towards HCRAG members at the Haworth forum meeting I found utterly repugnant.

The person who made the denigrating noise should look at what they themselves did for local democracy before making such senseless criticism.

CLLR DAVID SAMUELS,

Oxenhope Parish Council.

SIR - I would like to pay tribute to the people of Haworth, Stanbury and Cross Roads who voted so decisively in favour of a parish council. A 45 per cent turnout and 93 per cent support are figures only Bradford council can dream about.

The reason for such a result, I believe, is two fold - the tremendous work undertaken by the members of the Haworth Residents Association to highlight the need for local people to address local needs, and the feeling of utter dismay at the actions of our Labour controlled council.

I have to point out that not once during the campaign did Labour's Cllr Cope or Cllr Young lift a finger to help the Association.

Both appearing for the first time at last week's Neighbourhood Forum to tell the locals how grateful they should be that Bradford council had let them vote, and of course offer a photo opportunity with Deputy Prime Minister Prescott.

I hope the people who worked so hard to bring some real democracy to Haworth, Stanbury and Cross Roads take up their free trip to London. They deserve it, but what's the betting a couple of two-faced political opportunists lay claim to their limelight?

CLLR KRIS HOPKINS,

Worth Valley - Conservative.

SIR - Re: article in KN 15.1.99 Taking our life in our hands.

Well, well! What is new that the Highways Agency spokesman says: "The study was carried out as a response to concerns raised by resident s." "We are looking into the problems," he says. Oh Hurrah, Hurrah! Now (a) how long will this take? (b) must we really live in such a barbaric time that a fatal accident must take place before the required department of the local council moves themselves swiftly to cut through the ever abundance of red tape?

What an idea that perhaps, just perhaps, we may have (a) an overhead walkway, exactly as that one at A650 at Nab Wood; (b) that it may, just may, be erected before the millennium. This type of road crossing could be erected, I am quite sure, before the start of the millennium.

MRS D J FODEN,

Gloucester Avenue, Silsden.

SIR - I read with interest your front page article on the dangers of crossing the A650 Aire Valley Trunk Road between Silsden and Steeton.

At the Public Inquiry held before the construction of this road, I proposed a scheme of underpasses at each of the three roundabouts to aid the safe passage of pedestrians and cyclists in what is a major route to the Dales for these vulnerable road users.

The cost then was about one per cent of the total budget which I believe was in the region of £10 million.

The cost to the taxpayer alone for one serious injury or death can easily exceed this figure; yet the scheme was rejected. The same attitude has prevailed at several other public inquiries I have attended.

There seems to be plenty of rhetoric and hot air about reducing the use of private transport and encouraging other modes of travel, but none of this is turned into real action. I suppose the real truth is that the talk costs nothing.

There is a proposal for an Aire Valley Cycle Route along the canal to Silsden that would then need to cross the A650 at this point.

I have proven that the time taken from a vehicle's appearance to it reaching the crossing points can be less than the time taken to cross the dual carriageway.

Only an underpass or bridge suitable for all users can be considered a safe option and should be automatically designed into any future improvements to the A650 Trunk Road such as the one proposed between Kildwick and Snaygill.

MR J REYNARD,

Ethel Street,

Beechcliffe, Keighley.

SIR - Re: Four tickets prize to attend The Dreaming Tree - HYT.

I wish to express my sincere thanks for the above mentioned tickets for The Dreaming Tree, last week, won in one of your Christmas time competitions.

As a senior citizen I have not won a prize in a competition since the very tender age of five years old - when I lived on the outskirts of Birmingham - for a painting competition.

I much enjoy reading your newspaper weekly.

MRS D J FODEN,

Gloucester Avenue, Silsden.

SIR - Cllr Cope's claims of environmental vandalism against a landowner cutting down his own trees on his own land are a bit rich, coming from the Labour chair of Keighley Town Planning committee - the very Labour councillor who has rubber stamped the destruction of 100s of acres of green field sites in and around Keighley, a Labour councillor presently hoodwinking the people of Keighley with the vacant land survey.

Perhaps before Cllr Cope climbs back on his righteous high horse he should spend a little time assessing his own actions.

RASJID SKINNER,

Station Road, Oakworth.

SIR - I was wondering if you could help me, my name is Karl and I am currently living in London.

I met a girl about a year ago now who is from Keighley, and I feel she deserves a mention in your paper.

About seven months ago I went through a really hard time, I had lots of problems with getting work and I had also been having trouble with my own family.

This left me feeling really depressed, after about two months of all this happening I took an overdose, which left me in hospital and feeling much worse than I had done before.

I then came home and was told that I had suffered a mild nervous breakdown at 19 years of age.

I then met this girl on the Internet and she was just great, she was there for me to talk to whenever I needed her, and she also really worried about me which a lot of people had not done in a long time. We finally met up and she brought me to Keighley and showed me around Yorkshire, which I later fell in love with.

All I want is for her to know how much she means to me and many others in her life. I would be so glad if you could put a little of this letter in your paper for me, so she can read how much I love her.

KARL,

London.

SIR - I am writing to encourage any of your readers who have a taste for adventure to sign up for the Inca Challenge - a remarkable journey through Peru to raise money for the NSPCC.

This unique fundraising holiday will take them through the remote Vilcanota Mountain range where they will visit spectacular Inca palaces and temples and experience the excitement of a typical Peruvian market, before taking the train journey of a lifetime into the Vilcanota gorge.

They will then visit the dramatic Inca sites of Winya Wayna and Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, before trekking beneath some of Peru's tallest mountains. Challengers will be accompanied by pack llamas and will share the trail with an abundance of local wildlife including herds of alpaca and rare vicunas.

We are looking for 60 fit adventurers to rise to this challenge and support the NSPCC's vital work with abuse and neglected children. The trip takes place from May 7-21, 1999. It costs £1,650 per person of which £250 is donated directly to the NSPCC. The cost includes expert guiding, first class support including llama herders, a comprehensive pre-departure kit, tourist class hotels and camping accommodation, international and domestic flights and all meals.

If you want to rise to the challenge, sign up now and help raise much needed funds. To book a place please contact Guerba Expeditions Ltd on 01373 826611.

MEGAN MUNSELL,

NSPCC National Fundraising Events.

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