Letter to the Editor

My wife discovered, after being stung, that we had a nest of wasps in the garden. I telephoned the council offices to seek assistance from the Environmental Health department. Yes, they would come and remove the nest but there would be a charge of £31 plus VAT. If I was receiving one of the benefits available, or if I received income support, then the charge would be waived.

I explained that I had made a similar request some years ago and as I was a retired person this was done without charge. This is not now the case.

I, like most other people, pay council tax amounting, in my case, to £84 a month for 10 months of the year. Amongst other things I presume this goes towards paying for services such as removing wasps nests. I am now, having paid my council tax, expected to pay an extra amount for the service.

I am pleased our councillors recognise that there are persons among us who do need assistance. I am pleased our councillors allow such persons to have services provided without extra cost. But do our councillors not realise that because one is fortunate to not be entitled to receive income support, it is still a relative hardship for a retired person on a virtually fixed income to find extra money to pay for a service for which they have already paid?

Like many 74-year-olds, I have paid my taxes, fought for my country, recognise the privilege I enjoy in living in the Dales and yet I am expected to pay twice to obtain a service which many would consider to be essential.

When are our councillors going to put their feet on the ground and recognise that additional charges, such as this, are bringing potential difficulty to persons whose interests they are supposed to protect.

To be stung by a wasp is bad enough. To be stung by the council really is going too far!

Allan Akers,

Piece Fields, Threshfield.

Branded a liar

SIR - On January 11 at approximately 10.30am my 16-year-old daughter and myself left our house in Coniston Cold to drive to Gargrave.

In the centre of Coniston Cold there is a "pedestrian refuge" and a double white line system. It was here that I was overtaken by two motorcyclists.

The motorcyclists overtook my vehicle over double white lines and on the wrong side of the pedestrian refuge, they were obviously speeding as I was driving at 40mph. I managed to take the registration of one of the motorcycles and my daughter wrote this down. On returning home I rang the police to report the incident and they came at a later date to take statements from myself and my daughter.

We received a date to appear at Skipton Magistrates Court as witnesses, my daughter arranged to have time off school and I had to arrange for a person to cover my absence at work.

We were due to appear in court at 2pm on May 8 and at 10am on that day I received a phone call to inform me that myself and my daughter were not required to appear at court. There was no explanation given. It was too late to cancel the person covering my position at work which incurred an unnecessary expense on Airedale Trust, who employ me. Myself and my daughter were left "in limbo" after worrying for days about our first ever court appearance.

Skipton Police could offer me no explanation other than the fact that the Crown Prosecution Service had withdrawn the case. I believed that I was acting in good faith as a law abiding citizen by reporting this rider, I had nothing to gain by my action. I have learnt since this incident that overtaking in this site is a regular occurance although I had never seen it myself. It is a very dangerous and irresponsible place to overtake and in a village which is so beset by accidents it is criminal.

As I felt I deserved an explanation for the withdrawal of the case, I wrote to David Curry MP who in turn contacted the Crown Prosecution Service for an explanation.

I have now received this "explanation" and am horrified.

This law-breaking dangerous driver did not deny being on the A65 on that Sunday morning but he obtained statements from three of his workmates/friends to say that he was in Bradford shortly after the time that I had seen him, so there was no way he could have been in Coniston Cold at the time I had stated I had seen him.

The Crown Prosecution Service obviously believed this biker and his friends over myself and my daughter although they do state, "There is no suggestion that Mrs Strange or her daughter were anything but truthful witnesses."

In my eyes, the CPS are calling myself and my daughter liars.

This motorcyclist will now be revelling in his victory, he will tell all his friends at Kirkby Lonsdale on a Sunday how easy it is to evade the law.

The A65 is notorious for motorbikes on a Sunday and this move by the CPS sends out all the wrong messages. It will encourage dangerous riding when the police and every other agency are actively engaged in trying to make the road safe and limit the deaths and injuries which occur on a regular basis. I, for one, will have serious doubts about reporting any misdemeanour again and risk being called a liar.

The whole incident has left me feeling very bitter, particularly when I personally work so hard with my parish council to promote road safety. As all the police's efforts are failing to put a stop to this activity and the CPS are unwilling to believe members of the public, one wonders where it will all end and how many more deaths will occur.

I can only hope that innocent villagers or motorists will not become victims of these "bikers" who flout the law and seem to be totally beyond control.

Mrs Anne Strange,

Coniston Cold.

Initiative

SIR - I write with reference to the 'Local Access Only' signs placed near Cononley, Carleton and Bradley. Just what legal effect do they have? In other words, do we commit an offence by ignoring them?

I would have thought that to avoid the bridge repairs at Bradley by using the surrounding minor roads showed a commendable initiative and a willingness to reduce congestion, not to say pollution.

In any case, a direct line from here to Skipton goes through Carleton.

Why should I suddenly not use these roads, just because there is a hold up on the main road?

Needless to say, the speed limit should be observed and if 30 mph is too fast, then get it reduced.

Geoffrey T Theasby,

Middleton, Cowling.

Photo appeal

SIR - The Wharfedale Family History Group will once again be holding a family history fair at Grassington, this year on Saturday August 1.

We would like to make a display of old local photographs, both of people, places and events.

I am sure many of your readers will have the type of pictures which will interest the hundreds of visitors who attend our fair and display each year.

If any of your readers can assist us could they please contact me on Grassington (01756) 752577.

Obviously the older the photograph the better but we would like a span of pictures from the last century to recent events.

If anyone is loathe to loan a copy of a treasured memory we could make a copy of the original. All photographs will be returned immediately after the fair.

Mrs Pat Shiel.

Aynham Close, Grassington.

Not wanted

SIR - As a lover of Skipton, I would like to comment on recent suggestions to build a new multi storey car park on Coach Street (Craven Herald June 12).

The existing car park is convenient, has recently been upgraded, is popular, low key and retains an important open aspect in an historic part of Skipton.

A new multi storey car monster would be an intrusive eyesore, swallow up open land and may become an expensive white elephant as both locals and tourists prefer to park at ground level at the lowest possible cost.

I suspect that a multi storey would actually increase on street parking and congestion in the area.

Skipton has the opportunity to learn from the mistakes other towns have made and perhaps Craven councillors should visit some of the multi storey disasters in Bradford, Leeds and Keighley.

Finally, I wonder if the Yorkshire Dales National Park authority would allow a multi storey car park in Grassington, just for a handful of silver? I suspect not. Remember, only fools rush in.

PS - Don't you agree that Skipton Town Hall is a classic building just crying out for hanging baskets, floral displays etc? May I respectfully suggest that the mayor gives Alan Titchmarsh a call!

A Gray,

Hill Top, Bradford.

Asbestos disposal

SIR - My council has recently had the problem of arranging for the disposal of asbestos material and we were concerned to find that, although neither North Yorkshire County Council nor Craven District Council were able to deal with it, they were equally unable to advise us on where it would be accepted.

Having found the nearest licensed tip we felt that it would be helpful to make the information known in order to assist anyone who is faced with the problem of disposing of asbestos and wonder if you would do this through the Craven Herald.

The nearest tip is Hollins Hey landfill site at Elland. There is no charge to any private individual who takes asbestos there for disposal but they should ring first to make arrangements. The contact number is 01422 372626.

Jean Jeffery,

Clerk to Skipton Town Council,

The Old Town Hall,

Sheep Street, Skipton.

Praise for musicians

SIR - In contrast to the many letters of complaint in your pages - often much needed - may I draw the attention of readers to a society of which Settle, and indeed the whole of Craven, may be justly proud.

I refer to Settle Orchestral Society. Their regular supporters will, I am sure, agree that they give the lie to the outdated fashion of labelling 'amateur' as synonymous with substandard.

I have more than once heard performances which were preferable to some by professional orchestras.

An encouraging feature of their membership is the number of young players. What a fine training ground under the baton of their conductor, Howard Rogerson. Some of them may well become the professionals of the future.

Together with them our appreciation and thanks to their sister organisation, the Langcliffe Singers, under Valerie Baulard, who, with the orchestra and a group from Blackburn gave such a stunning performance of the Verdi Requiem, where it was standing room only.

Look out for their next performance, you will not be disappointed!

Rev John Potter,

Bridge Cottage, Clapham.

Punch memories

SIR - In response to the article about Punch, the domino playing dog (Craven Herald June 19), in about 1944-45 my friend Derrick Lockwood stayed at the youth hostel and while waiting for our evening meal, Derrick told me the dog could play dominoes. I laughed at him.

Later on we had a party and Mr Gummerson called on me to play the dog. I lost.

Mr Gummerson obviously had to shuffle the doms and put them down. He did not touch or talk to Punch. The dog would bark what to play. For example, if there was a two and one he would bark once, pause, then bark twice.

Punch could also tell you any playing card that you picked out of a pack. Four boards were put on the floor with the suit painted on them. If the card was, say, the three of spades then Punch would put his paw on the board with spades and bark three times.

He used to call at the Red Lion pub in Skipton on Monday and anyone had the chance to play the dog for a pound to win or lose the money to charity.

When I saw the dog he was about 14 years old. Mr Gummerson had two black labradors and Judy could also play cards but was run over.

Mr Gummerson moved to another youth hostel and Punch went missing. Hundreds of youth hostelers searched the moors to look for him but I don't think he was ever found.

I was told they were on a radio programme but I don't know if they were on TV. Over the years I have told a lot of people about this dog and a haze of disbelief comes over their face. I had been going to write to the Craven Herald for years but it's the first time I've put pen to paper. Now I can tell them the story and prove it!

AC Russell,

Brougham Street, Skipton.

Remote government

SIR - Mr Simpson is quite right to point out the problems with the bus station (Craven Herald letters, June 19) and also the wider problems with the council, particularly at county level.

I have been corresponding with the 'Environmental Enhancement Service' of the county council at its Skipton office. To mere mortals like myself, this used to be the highways department. How much time and money has been spent on changing a deparmental name to something which blurs the meaning of a basic service area and why?

Part of the problem seems to me to be the remoteness of local government. As an administrative headquarters, Northallerton is a long way from us and North Yorkshire is a large, diverse area and yet we seem to get stuck with blanket policies which take little or no heed of local or regional differences.

If the national government is so keen to let Scotland and Wales exercise their cultures in local assemblies, then it's also time for devolution of local government to more manageable - and accountable - local units.

The old Skipton Urban District Council served local people better than a district council harnessed to an unwieldy county.

Secondly there appears to be a lack of councillors of Mr Simpson's calibre, who see problems and do something about them.

There are, of course, exceptions - Coun Heseltine showed recently what direct action could do - but they are in a minority. Both councillors and senior officers should have the approach of being public servants, although I suspect that in the halls of government that is not a politically correct term any more. The idea that people are performing a duty for the public good seems to be a thing of the past.

This makes for inertia, leading to situations such as the bus station problem. If this is then complicated by distance, a mass of bureaucracy and obfuscation, it increases the difficulty for local people to have ready access to the policies, politicians and administration which should give them a public service.

Mrs Jean Pollard,

West Road, Carleton.

Locals oppose plan

SIR - Julia Murfin's report on the planning inspector's endorsement of the Giggleswick School's scheme to sell some of Lord's Playing Field for housing in order to finance parts of its development plan is factually correct but does not do justice to the strength of local opposition to these problems.

In considering objections to building on Station Road and the use of Lord's playing fields for housing, the inspector has not been able to compare like with like. Where the Local Plan was concerned, there were substantial objections from residents to the Station Road scheme. This development had already been the subject of a planning application - hence notices had been posted and those affected had been well informed of what was being proposed.

This was not the case with the Lord's housing scheme, which surfaced only as an objection to the Local Plan. Scarcely any of the affected local residents, who would have objected vigorously to the school's proposals at the public inquiry, were aware of the objection and its purpose.

Most residents were first informed of the housing and all-weather pitch proposals by a report in the Craven Herald after the public inquiry had been completed. Doubtless, we should have kept ourselves better informed on planning matters rather than rely on those who have some responsibility for updating residents on issues which affect their area. Evidently Giggleswick School was under no obligation to let local residents know about its objections to the Local Plan.

It is to be hoped Craven District Council will keep to its original position concerning the unsuitability of Lord's playing field for housing and the desirability of using Castleberg Hospital. On safety grounds alone, the Lord's Bankwell site should not be considered for housing. Traffic generated by an extra 20 houses and the all-weather pitch would create increased hazards for all road users on what is a narrow road with single vehicle access at each end and no possibility of a continuous footway.

The planning inspector's report shows a wholly uncritical acceptance of Giggleswick School's viewpoint and proposals with no contrary opinions represented.

In deciding the most appropriate sites for housing in Giggleswick, Craven District Council must include consideration of the full consequenes for the local environment of the school's extensive development plans and should respond to the strong local opposition to those plans.

RM Davies,

Bankwell Close,

Giggleswick.

Poor coverage

SIR - Did this year's Skipton Gala procession really not merit more than half a sentence in last week's Craven Herald. Is a wet day such an unusual event in the Dales that it is necessary to refer to the mud or rain at least 19 times?

Contrary to your report that "the day proper was kicked off at 3pm" Skipton Gala's procession at 2pm has always been the focal point of the day. It is enjoyed by many who do not always go on to see the Aireville Park events.

A huge amount of effort is put into the preparation of the floats and the procession is very exciting and enjoyable for all the children taking part as well as for all those watching. How disappointing to have no description, no listing of prizewinners and so few photographs.

Such negative reporting will hardly encourage people to take part next year, or help make the centenary gala the best ever as Skipton Charities Gala Committee hopes.

CJ Wardle,

Beckside, Carleton.

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