Letters to the Editor

We were sat in the stand watching a rugby match, it was a beautiful sunny evening and the players were just going to scrum down on the far side near the score board.

Down they went, then up again and all stood looking, as we thought, at the cricket pavilion.

Someone said "there must be a fire" but no-one moved, then slowly it came into sight. It looked so long, slowly it turned to the town centre to drop the crucifix.

I have one just like it which my father found in a church in Ypres and put in his breast pocket in the First World War.

I had some idea what the airship was like inside as I had been round the R100 when it was being built at Howden. I remember everything, doors etc, were made of Balsa wood, the toilets were like tin tubes with a wooden lid on (like mushrooms).

Thank you for the memory.

MRS A BIRD (89 yrs)

Hall Drive

Sutton in Craven

Sir - With reference to your letter Flooding Action can I correct the impression given that no funding had been allocated to flooding issues in the Keighley area.

Following the incidents of flooding in the summer of 2003 due to severe local storms, the council's drainage officers were asked to look into ways of developing strategies to deal with urban flooding in Keighley, which could be adapted to form the basis for dealing with future climate change scenarios.

In Feb 2004 an application was made to the EU in conjunction with other partners in Europe for funding to enable research into new sustainable methods to be developed.

An initial sum of £230,000 was allocated, this has recently been increased by £116,000 plus further council funding of £712,000, making a grand total of £1.058m.

This money has been allocated at a time when the Government is taking away grant monies for flooding from councils to give to the Environment Agency.

Cllr Anne

Hawkesworth

Executive Board Member

for the Environment

SIR - With Christmas now seemingly a distant memory, and a rising anticipation of another English summer on the horizon, I read last week's KN and had to check that I'd not picked up a copy from a previous year.

It is now possible to mark your calendar with the official start of the run-up to the annual Keighley Charity Gala as the organisers are publicising that this may (once again) be the last one to take place.

Again the lack of support by some local organisations and the reduction in public lining the route is described as part of the reason.

Don't get me wrong, I have fond childhood memories of the event, and I fully understand the pressure that the small number of dedicated committee members are under to produce the event.

I hold my hand up that I haven't watched the event for a couple of years after standing on North Street to witness a parade consisting of mainly trade cars covered in balloons and exhausted teenage majorettes passing by.

Let's hope that this year is not the final time that the event happens, but please can we look to dropping the "end of an era" storyline as it doesn't really give me an incentive to attend when the organisers are saying that the parade is getting smaller.

Mark Pullen

Thorn Street

Haworth

SIR - Now that Bradford planners have given consent to build a monster shed in Steeton, I wonder if they would be so kind as to monitor the noise levels from the contractors.

Or, as a neighbourly gesture, would the management at Damart request a later start to the work? Daylight would be good.

Chris Bryant

Parkway, Steeton

Sir - George Speller is right to be puzzled. I confirm that "J Joy" of the BNP is not a member of the Labour Party.

As ever, the "BNP, Party Chairman" is like his party, and does not understand the implications of his rhetoric.

Joy wrote (whilst criticising Trevor Lindley) that "As a key figure within the Labour Party I find ...". What I imagine Joy really meant was "I find it quite astonishing that you state ...". Which would have helped us understand that he's not a member of the Labour Party.

R P Beale also complained at length about Trevor's brief letter. He fumed against the agreement of Europe's rich countries to help the much poorer countries that were under Russia's iron control.

It's much like the generosity the USA provided for the then poor countries -- including ourselves -- of Western Europe when we were devastated from fighting the Nazis. It was in the interests of the USA to help redevelop our country. Now it's our turn. Which we're sharing equally with France for the first time.

The sentiment of the rich helping poorer areas is greatly in the interests of Keighley. Our town's difficulties are nowadays well understood in Westminster. Extra development and other funding is diverted from rich taxpayers all over the UK to help us. We should avoid pouring scorn on that sort of policy, because we gain from it here too!

Andrew Dundas

Chair, Keighley Labour

Party

SIR - Parents and young people thinking about education choices post-16 should reflect that the League Tables, published this week, seriously underestimate many local colleges' performance.

The tables only give points for A-levels and some key skills, so the equally challenging vocational qualifications which students may be studying get no points at all. This automatically seriously depresses the points score of the many colleges offering a wide range of vocational qualifications. Nor do the tables yet reflect the progress which individual students have made. These 'value-added' scores -- for schools and colleges -- will not now be published until January 2007.

The Association of Colleges believes these problems mislead parents and young people about the best choices to make post-16. The fact is that your local college -- even if it has done very well this year -- is likely to be even better than the tables show. Rather than make a judgement based on faulty information, the best course of action is to see for yourself what your local college has to offer.

Dr John Brennan

Chief Executive

Association of Colleges

SIR - Before Mr Gary Swallow of Haworth leads his Residents' Protest to the next meeting of the Bront Country Partnership (BCP), may I state quite clearly that a Business Improvement District would levy a charge only on organisations which already pay a business rate, not on Council Tax payers!

The suggestion, and it is only a suggestion, has arisen because BCP, alone amongst the agencies involved in, and affected by, Haworth's Tourism Economy, has struggled to obtain Government funding to employ a consultant to recommend solutions to the pressure of tourism on Haworth's residents.

Richard Armitage asked for the opinions of residents and Parish Councillors on October 17, at a joint Parish Council and Neighbourhood Forum (when only seven residents turned up) and will again be on the streets of Haworth on February 2, seeking further input.

If Mr Swallow will contact me on 01535 645454, I will be delighted to book him a personal interview with Consultant Richard Armitage, who, whilst he may not have the perfect answer, is trying hard to find ways to help and support you, Mr Swallow, not to charge you.

Graham Mitchell

Honorary Treasurer

Bront Country Partnership

SIR - As Patron of Help the Aged Living Legends awards ceremony, I urge readers from the North East to put forward nominations to name their very own 'Living Legend'.

Help the Aged Living Legends, in association with BT, is an annual event which celebrates ordinary people who have done extraordinary things to become legends in everyday life.

The awards recognise and honour the outstanding achievements of older individuals as well as acknowledging the contributions made by other generations, groups and organisations in making a real difference to the lives of older people throughout the UK.

Help the Aged is now looking for this year's Living Legends, so nominate them now and show your appreciation for someone special Visit www.helptheaged.org.uk/legends .

Alternatively call the awards hotline 0207 239 1922 to obtain a form. The nomination deadline is Tuesday, February 28 2006.

Cherie Booth QC

Patron