Action not words required on speed

Despite what can only be described as a horrendous road safety record for the volume of traffic on our roads, both our police and councillors have failed to take effective action to rectify the problem.

The time for "talks" and "speed checks" is over. Through your columns maybe the police and highways department could inform us all how many accidents and fatalities are required before they deem there to be a problem.

Research into traffic calming has produced innovative yet not prohibitively expensive solutions, which, when balanced against injury or death, have to affordable.

If any of your readers have similar concerns, maybe they should ask their councillors, when seeking re-election, what effective measures they have been instrumental in introducing, and no more "jam tomorrow" promises that are suddenly unfeasible once elections are over.

MR Littler

Earl Crag View, Cowling.

SIR - So the council wants to know what we feel about parking and solutions to it in Skipton.

Let's start at the top car park behind the Town Hall where motorists are charged 80p an hour - against 50p in Keighley and 30p (used to be 20p) in Brighouse. Even Ilkley charges far less than Skipton.

Not only does the poor motorist have to shell out 80p but he now has to laboriously type in his full car registration number (great fun when there are queues of impatient people behind him desperately repeating the numbers over and over in case they forget them).

Then there are the ones who are making their first visit and have no idea they need this information so they lose their places to go back and check up. As all this is to presumably make sure no sinner passes on any unused parking time to another parker, the question also arises of why it would be a sin to do so.

We often pay for two hours and use less than half of that time which has been paid for, so it gets wasted while someone else who could have used that hour has to pay again - it's extortion. So how about cheaper parking fees with sensible machines for a start?

If householders are to be allowed to park on their own streets they should not have to pay for the privilege and a park and ride system should be set up on the outskirts in place of the dubious multi-storey the council seems determined to foist upon us.

Patricia Mason,

Greatwood Avenue, Skipton.

SIR - I refer to the recent letter from Ian Fulton regarding Farnhill Parish Council. I also am a member of Farnhill Parish Council but have resisted lowering myself in responding to Mr Fulton's implied criticism of myself and other members, past and present.

It seems rather strange that the first time Farnhill Parish Council "saw the light" was when he joined. What had been done by present and past members? Nothing much I suppose other than discharging the normal duties of a parish council, as far as its legal remit permits. These include maintaining the street lighting, land owned by the parish council and the play area together with concerns raised by residents including planning, speeding in the village, noise from the A629, policing, dog fouling, refuse collection/recycling, etc, etc. Can I also categorically deny that the other members of the parish council thought an election would be a waste of money.

The reason I have decided to respond to Mr Fulton's letter was a recent meeting of the North Yorkshire County Council Craven area committee. An application for funding for vital roof repairs to the Kildwick and Farnhill Village Institute was submitted, when, as a member of the public, I was unable to respond to some unfounded allegations made by Mr Fulton.

County councillor Mark Wheeler spoke in support of the application and there were positive "vibes" from other members of the committee. Unfortunately, Mr Fulton, who represents the voluntary sector on the committee and does not have a vote on grant applications, then spoke.

Despite claiming to support the grant application, he made several allegations about the institute which were, at best, mischief making namely:

Only a minority of villagers make regular use of the Institute. This is unfortunately true of any village hall. However, Kildwick and Farnhill Institute houses the post office which is well used by elderly residents.

"The trustees are poor at marketing". At least five circulars have been delivered to virtually all residents of Kildwick and Farnhill, and adverts are placed in this newspaper, regarding functions at the Institute in the last 12 months. A well advertised annual meeting is held, which Mr Fulton has never attended.

"An unwillingness to include villagers in plans and consult with villagers". Surveys have been conducted by the Institute trustees regarding usage, etc, the most recent in 2002.

"The Institute does not have a Business Plan". Mr Fulton had to withdraw this remark when Coun Wheeler challenged it. Indeed Mr Fulton was handed a copy of the 2005-06 Business Plan at the November meeting of Farnhill Parish Council!

"This committee should not pay for the repairs, the precept from Farnhill Parish Council could be increased". Mr Fulton always queries the precept paid by the parish council for on-going refurbishment of the institute when it is raised at their meetings. At present, the precept equates to less than £2 per resident per year.

These unfounded allegations meant that several voting members of the committee were visibly swayed and a proposal to reduce the grant applied for was put forward. This was only defeated on the casting vote of the chairman and the full grant was awarded. On behalf of Kildwick and Farnhill Institute, I would like to thank the elected members, especially Mark Wheeler, for their support.

I was appalled at Mr Fulton's attitude regarding his alleged "support" of the village's only community building and query his commitment to the people of Farnhill

Richard Bramley.

The Arbour, Farnhill.

SIR - It seems that the Skipton development plans would result in a lot more people coming into the town centre, mostly by car, to work, shop, or live in the new buildings. That means more traffic and pedestrians on our already crammed narrow streets and pavements which would put off visitors from coming.

I suggest the drastic reduction of motor traffic and release of space for pedestrians in the town centre, by pedestrianising the main shopping streets and keeping most vehicles in park-and-ride car parks, say by the swimming pool in the north and the area east of the canal in the south.

Buses would use these car parks instead of the present bus station. Free shuttle buses would take people from the north park-and-ride area to the south area, calling at the shopping streets, castle, canal, supermarkets, rail station etc.

Delivery vehicles would have to operate outside shopping hours.

The High Street market would move to the Jerry Croft car park where it could be under cover and open every day.

My scheme would not depend on deals with developers and contractors. The plans for a new library, council offices etc could go ahead independently as funds allow. Much of the present car park areas would be freed for use as gardens, childrens playground, displays, festivals, open-air cafes etc.

These are not untried novelties. They are used in most towns here and abroad, providing space to shop, do business, stroll or sit and generally enjoy being in town without the noise, hassle and fumes.

Geoff Hoyle,

Burnside Crescent, Skipton.

SIR - The letter from Colin Jones (Craven Herald January 13) cannot be allowed to pass without comment.

Where he gets his rose tinted spectacles from I do not know but the view of other people on the car parking charge at the Cavendish Pavilion is that it is excessive.

In late 2000 my wife and I moved back to the area from the Midlands and on a number of occasions during the winters of 2000 and 2001 used the Cavendish Pavilion as a short drive for a cuppa and bun. At this time, in the winter months there was no charge for parking. In the summer it was £3 which, at the time, we paid but considered to be "pushing it".

The charge then went on all year round and we have stopped using the Cavendish Pavilion.

If the £5 is an admission charge to the woods etc as Mr Jones says, why is the charge not levied at all entrances, eg Barden Bridge? Why does the back road to Storiths have dirt lay-bys filled with cars most days of the week where people have parked and gone walking?

In the last year we have been into Bolton Abbey woods once. We parked at the side of the rood on the east side of Barden Bridge and did the loop to the Cavendish Pavilion on the East bank and came back on the West bank. The cost, the price of a pot of tea for two, nor did anyone ask us for an admission charge! Think again Mr Jones, it's a car parking charge!

JB Cuthbert,

Sharphaw Avenue. Skipton.

SIR - Once again the question of Skipton's High Street has risen from the 'setts.'

The road should be the prime street in our town. Instead it is something of a shambles.

Proposals, not new:

The market under one owner and management and with stalls erected by the council, to be of stylish and complimentary colours, and of different sizes to accommodate the different needs of the traders. This would have the benefit of limiting street congestion at the start and end of the market times.

Improvement of shop, bank and building society frontages. I understand grants are available to help small shop owners.

The setts and trees to be attended to.

Controversially, parking meters to be installed for use on non market days. The cash raised to help pay for the above.

Our splendid library, architecturally, with its excellent staff, should be extended across the frontage, currently occupied by Craven College. The College retaining a drop in centre within the library.

All of this to be accomplished after on the street discussion with residents, traders and visitors alike.

What we need is vision, and action. Less of expensive consultation fees that lead nowhere.

Brian Ormondroyd,

Brindley Court, Skipton.

SIR - I am responding to the Settle Town Council's defence of Settle's festive demonstrations following my letter in the Craven Herald.

I must apologise to Booth's, I did not realise that they gave the tree but I do know that they donate generously to organisations in Settle.

However, as the council received the tree (and chose it) gratis, they could have afforded to decorate it better and fill spaces.

As to the individual trees and stars, these are sold to the businesses by the council who make a profit.

I must state that my opinion was agreed with and endorsed by many people.

The district council has now asked for tenders for the so-called improvements to the town hall - £66,000. Whatever justifies that amount of money? Perhaps we will have stained glass windows where the shops used to trade - they were part of the character of our town.

For heaven's sake, let them mess about with the inside but please leave the exterior alone; it is part of our heritage of which we are justly proud.

No doubt that the money spent will reflect in our council tax and come from us.

Mrs Dorothy Jobling,

Crag Hill Road,

Horton in Ribblesdale.