Letters to the Editor

SIR, - Depending on one's point of view at the time, the motor car can either be a very useful item or something which is very unpopular. If we are being honest, most of us will have had strong feelings on both counts, and everything in between.

However, it is an inescapable fact that motoristed transport is here to stay, and the predictions are that volumes will increase over the coming decades.

Another fact which some people do not seem to want to face is that the number of parking spaces in Ilkley will not increase unless a serious attempt is made to colve the problem once and for all.

Most of the parking problem seems to be caused by people who bring their cars from the outskirts of town and leave them all day whilst they either commute to Leeds or Bradford, or conduct their business in Ilkley.

It would seem to me that the planned move by Spooner's is an ideal opportunity for our town planners to grasp the nettle and solve our frustrations once and for all. Rather than designate the vacant site as residential building land, I would suggest that the council encourages Tesco supermarket to relocate to Railway Road.

The old Tesco site could then be developed into a two (not multi) storey car park, with the upper storey being level with Springs Lane.

The lower level could then be designated as a contract/season parking ticket parking area for commuters/local business employees at concessionary rates, leaving the top deck for out of town shoppers who wish to visit for longer than an hour.

The centre of Ilkley should then be made into a short stay zone, giving a quick turnaround of cars, and also giving residents a much better chance to park for that 'nip into town'.

A spin-off from this would probably be better trade for our local independent traders, something the Gazette is campaigning for anyway.

If screened properly, it is likely that a car park on Springs Lane would be less intrusive to the local residents than the present supermarket, as the bulk of traffic movement would be during the day, and there would be no crashing trolleys.

These solutions would free up all the now dangerously congested residential roads around town and allow a proper 'residents only' scheme to be implemented.

Ilkley is almost at bursting point already, with water, sewerage, school places and other services struggling to keep pace with all the the residential developments in the last few years and I would question whether we really need 150 more houses.

Huge opportunities have been missed in the past to improve traffic flow around Ilkley (dare I mention 'bypass'?) and we don't want to miss any more.

Come on, councillors - be brave. For once, don't think of council tax; think of the good of Ilkley and the residents you represent.

JOHN BRAY

1 Ashburn Place,

Ilkley.

Mast view

SIR, - I have today received through the post a letter addressing me as 'Dear Neighbour' and signed off as 'Concerned Resident' on the subject of mobile phone masts.

Having in the past been the recipient of a number of abusive anonymous letters on various subjects, I do not take kindly to such missives.

I have read the letter and cannot agree with much that it contains. I cannot see the offending masts from my home, and if I could, I would still not complain in the circumstances.

I am more concerned with the lack of law enforcement in the town on matters of dog fouling, cycling by adults on footpaths, the abuse by fit persons of disabled parking spaces, the constant disregard of speed limits and of the law on the use whilst driving, of mobile phones.

I own a mobile phone which is kept purely for emergencies when out and about, as my wife and I are both registered disabled. I have attempted to use it once in about four years. On that occasion it was no good because my supplier did not have a mast in the area in which we broke down. Significantly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, not very far away from Ilkley.

I am not likely to object to a mobile phone mast anywhere that could improve our chances of obtaining help in an emergency. I do not like mobile phones in general, but they are here to stay, just like the motorcar, they have their uses.

It is a pity that some people abuse their use, as some abuse the postal system.

Victor M Bean

Flat 1,

114 , Skipton Road.

Ilkley.

Trust answers

SIR, - On behalf of the Bradford Building Preservation Trust, may I respond to certain matters raised in recent letters to the Gazette by Mr Edwin Schirn.

The trust was established in 1995 at the instigation of Bradford Council to rstore and find a use for redundant listed buildings which had fallen into decline and were no longer required for their original purposes.

The trust is a voluntary organisation with charitable status set up by people with an interest in preserving the architecture and history of the area. The trust does have access to grant assistance but this is not always available.

The trust is called a 'Revolving Trust' and its aim is to renovate and find a suitable use for buildings at risk and to reinvest any receipts into further projects.

In the case of the cemetery chapels, tghe trust was able to reinvest the proceeds received from the sale of Cliffe Castle Lodge in Keighley, which has been restored after so many years of dereliction, and is now used as an architects' office.

To date, the trust has spent more than £40,000 in restoring these chapels. A grant of £5,000 from Ilkely Parish Council was applied to the replacement of the timber floor in the North Chapel, which had been affected by wet rot.

A considerable proportion of this expenditure was incurred because of vandalism to the windows and doors. The amount of £1,000 referred to by Mr Schirn related only to recent vandalism in replacing doors and not to the total cost.

As trustees we have been careful to ensure that all restoration work has been carried out to the highest standards under architects' supervision.

The approved use as professional offices will deter vandalism and prevent further deterioration of these buildings and also provide security to the cemetery as a whole.

The work has also provided for the protection of the bat colony in the North Chapel.

I trust that this information will ve sifficient to allay any concerns and to assure residents that the parish council grant has been properly applied.

W J HORSLEY

Trustee,

Bradford Building Preservation

Trust,

Yan Tan,

Panorama Drive,

Ilkley.

Recycling issue

SIR, - The decision by Leeds City Council to restrict recycling to residents only and discussed in last week's edition is potentially damaging to the environment, expensive to police and typically small-minded.

It very effectively reminds us that we now live in what is, thanks to council planning decisions, an increasingly urbanised region and that the Metropolitan District Councils are now themselves an irrelevance and need to be recycled back as soon as possible into a resurrected West Riding County Council.

This would have the enormous advantage of at least providing the opportunity for the much needed regional planning, that the present administrations on their own admission, are incapable of providing.

An additional benefit is that the cost of restructuring is likely to be more than paid for by savings resulting from the elimination of the very expensive Metropolitan District Councils.

Alec Denton

Oxford Avenue,

Guiseley.

Praise for lights

SIR, - Thanks to Tom Sumner, his helpers, and the village of Burley-in-Wharfedale, the Christmas lights in the village this year were quite superb, and even better than ever before.

The mixtures of colours were most attractive and they outshone many a display, both local and further afield. Indeed, many people from outside the village came to admire the display.

Congratulations to all concerned and may they continue next year to maintain such a high standard for the enjoyment of all.

AN 'OLD' VILLAGER

Burley-in-Wharfedale.

(Name and address supplied)

Chapel thanks

SIR, - I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all the people who supported me by signing thje petitions sent to the Bishop of Bradford and to Bradford Council opposing the planning applications for the change of use of the chapels in Ilkley Cemetery to a mini-business park including car parking.

Reading Edwin Schirn's letter about a ban on car parking connected with the lease of the chapels, I wondered about the roadway between the burial grounds beyond the chapels towards the river.

Are the 30 or more employees of the two firms going to be allowed to park there? Why hasn't Bradford Council banned the parking of vehicles connectd with the lease from parking anywhere in the cenetery?

The cemetery is a cemetery - not a business car park.

HEATHER M CORNISH

33 Grange Estate,

Ilkley.