Council picks on vulnerable residents

Firstly a petition has been circulated about potential increases in car parking charges for disable people. The Conservative council, taking its lead from the Conservative Government is picking on the most vulnerable again. Shame on it.

Let’s be clear about parking charges. They are not a traffic management system by local councils, they are in effect another local tax and income generator of the council. Why would charges vary so dramatically across local authorities? Ilkley’s charges, for example, under Bradford Council, are much less than Skipton’s, under Craven Council.

Parking should be free for residents and disabled people for a one hour period, particularly given they already pay the Council Tax here. Visiting coaches also should at least be free too, given the amount of money spent by visitors to the local economy.

Related to this is the recent decision to farm out traffic warden patrols via Harrogate Council, Craven Council being unwilling to take the rap for their already huge unpopularity.

Before any councillors retort with “we have democratic mandate” they would do well to remember that none of them have been elected with even close to a minimum of 50 per cent of their wards electorates, some with only 15 per cent of their ward vote. (A rotten voting system perpetuated by Conservatives and Lib Dems.) Another petition is circulating and, as a local business, I have been asked to support the ridiculous Save Skipton, Stop Sainsbury's coming here.

Compared to Tesco, Sainsbury’s has a much more ethical approach to local communities, products and consumers unlike.

The very tight fisted Tesco come with nothing and export their profit from the community to institutional shareholders in the city of London. Tesco is not cheap either and with Morrisons do not offer the same quality of products as Sainbury’s.

If this campaign believes that local businesses are trying to compete, or are in competition with local supermarkets, they are clearly in the wrong business or deluded.

Small businesses survive on niche, high quality products and exceptional customer service, if they can.

If local business is dependent on local trade solely, as opposed to the visitor economy, or a mix of the two, where were the campaigns to prevent Tesco, Morrisons and or Aldi. If local people choose to spend their hard-earned money at Tesco and Morrisons and undermine the local economy, that is their choice, unless the local small business community can get its act together, stop complaining and do something worthwhile and positive.

Lastly, the recent ballot in relation to the Skipton BID was a complete joke as the business community was presented with a complete fait accompli in terms of its intentions and spend, by those clearly deluded by Welcome to Yorkshire an already publicly funded body, who have been disproportionately funded by local BID monies for such things as the useless I Love Skipton campaign – how original! Didn’t know we were competing against New York for vistors?

What are the relationships between the “frontmen” for this campaign against Sainsbury’s and the people who are already running Tesco and Morrisons and pretend to care about this community?

James J Paton, Skipton

No time to react

Sir - I write regarding the story Cononley Lane Ends story (Craven Herald, January 30).

The North Yorkshire County Council comment that all recent accidents at this blackspot arise from driver error may well be true, but then 99.9 per cent of all incidents are.

However, there is a limit to the standard of expectation from an average motorist which is applicable to this situation.

We live near this junction and have to use it most days and are well aware of the primary danger, namely from vehicles approaching from the Keighley direction.

From the centre of the junction to the bend where a vehicle can first be seen, is some 97 yards (291 feet).

To cross onto the main road you have to ensure this stretch is clear and nothing is approaching from the left but if, during this manoeuvre a vehicle approaches at the legal limit of 60 mph, or some 30 yards a second, you get three seconds to react and take action.

Even at a modest four mph, you only have about 4.5 seconds.

Pause or miss a gear and you are in serious trouble as, according to the Highway Code, the stopping distance at 60 mph is 80 yards and that assumes prompt action from the other driver.

This all assumes a nice bright clear day and not a dark, wet, misty evening.

The situation for pedestrians is no better and not everyone coming off the Skipton bus can cross with any degree of safety at all.

There can be no dispute that this is an extremely dangerous junction and the standard of care required from a motorist is not at a reasonable level.

Even the best drivers could find themselves in an accident through no fault of their own. The county council must be made to see this and some action should be taken before the really serious accident occurs.

John Lewis, Cononley

Register an objection before it is too late

Sir - I was party to the scrum at the Craven Heifer last Wednesday (proposed housing development on land between A65, Raikes Road and White Hills Lane).

How this activity was classified as a consultation evades me – it was a presentation of intended development.

The decision to grant an option to purchase was taken at a meeting of Skipton Town Council at which I, and many others, who were concerned residents, was present. Note, not the Trustees.

A previous application, by Woolers, to develop this land in 1995 was, rightly, refused. That application was for 35 houses, which was nearer the density of houses in this area of town. The current application is for 45 and thus approximately 1:5 the density existing. The land is outside the town boundary.

Current guidance is that such development should not take place unless land within the boundary has become no longer available. To develop this land would be in contradiction of Craven District Development Plan. It is my understanding that more than 100 letters of objection were sent to Craven District Council. How many such letters are required by the planners to achieve rejection of this planned development?

We know not how much this land is priced at, or what offers have been made. The 1.38 acres of White Hills Croft is an estate of five houses and was sold, at auction, for £293,000. The land in question is 6.15 acres and this is almost five times the aforementioned plot and would be valued in the order of £1.4 million at 1995 prices. I will let others guess what it is now worth and how the Trustees of the Tarn Moor Estate will apply the funds for the benefit of the owners – the people of Skipton. We hear that the Tarn proposal is no longer being considered.

Dear Reader, if you, like me, object to this proposal and you have not yet registered your objection, please do so before it is too late.

Roy Wilcock, Skipton

Logical conclusion

Sir - With reference to my previous letter (January 23) I note that I am not alone in my fears about the proposed Sainsbury’s superstore at Wyvern Park, Skipton.

Last week, we saw Craven District Council’s own retail consultant, Martin Tonks, confirm that the developer’s figures significantly underestimate the impact the store would have on our High Street.

Mr Tonks rightly points out that it’s not our existing supermarkets that will suffer, but more importantly, the other shops and businesses in the town.

He even suggests that some High Street shops and businesses are likely to close, and concludes: “The proposal should not therefore be supported by the council.”

Craven Council are to be congratulated for commissioning this vital review; I just hope they now follow through the logical conclusion and throw out the Sainsbury’s scheme once and for all.

In the meantime, I again urge local businesses and residents to object and make their voices heard by e-mailing the council.

Brian Verity, Skipton Properties, Riparian Way, Cross Hills

In agreement

Sir - Brian Verity, MD of Skipton Properties objecting to a planning application. I don't believe it! Having given him some stick in the past I must confess that I agree with him on this occasion.

Ian Kenworthy, Farnhill

Healthy competition

Sir - How interesting to read the comments by Brian Verity relating to the proposed development of Wyvern Park (Craven Herald, January 23).

Does he not believe in healthy competition or perhaps he would rather have the land re-designated and build some more of his ugly houses on the site for his own profit?

I for one would be glad to see a new Sainsbury's store on the site if it had a petrol station. This would probably end the cartel of Morrisons and Tesco, whose fuel prices are constantly 5p to 7p per litre dearer than Sainsbury's Keighley and Colne stores.

Duncan Turner, Silsden

Magnificent spectacle

Sir - I was amazed to read John Stolarczyk’s letter (Herald, January 30) concerning Skipton Sheep Day and the Tour de France. At first I found his comments derisory, but eventually concluded that his letter was probably no more than a serious case of “tongue in cheek”.

As a certain former Wimbledon tennis champion might have commented, “you cannot be serious!” Nevertheless, on the basis that he really mean it, I have responded as factually as I can to put him right!

Whilst I agree with his comment that it should not have been beyond the wit of man simply to move Sheep Day to another date – it certainly would not have been remotely possible to do the same with the Tour – I do take exception to his statements regarding the Tour.

It is not, as he suggests, just “some foreign bike race”; indeed, it is the foremost cycle race in the world, and arguably one of the world’s biggest single sporting events, watched by millions, exceeding in its sheer scale any other sporting event seen previously in the Craven area.

It is a Grade 1 cycle race, one of only three so called Grand Tours, attracting most of the world’s major professional trade cycle teams and riders, and as such, though Mr Stolarczyk appears to have his doubts about this, brings enormous prestige and material benefits to those area through which it passes.

To quote a few facts on this last aspect of the event; a well-regarded Cumbrian newspaper, commenting on the impact of the second stage of last year’s Tour of Britain (a Grade 3 event attracting fewer of the very top professional teams and riders) which began in Carlisle and passed through West Cumberland and the Lakes to finish in Kendal, reported that an estimated 70,000 spectators ventured out (on the very worst day weather-wise of the whole week-long race) to watch the stage, helping to bring a reported economic boost of over £4 million to the county.

Cumbrian businesses including hotels, retailers and transport operators all enjoyed the benefits of this, the first ever stage to be held entirely within the county. The chief executive of the Lake District National Park is reported as saying that it had provided an amazing opportunity to showcase the district’s world-renowned landscape to a global audience.

Indeed, it was estimated that the Lakes area received some £1.7 million worth of publicity alone after 11 international broadcasters aired the race to 166 countries around the world! Those benefits accrued from one day of racing in Cumbria – a Monday. The Tour de France is to pass through Craven on two successive days over a weekend.

As an inveterate watcher of the Tour every year for many years now – sadly only through the medium of TV – I would urge Craven residents, especially those not familiar with the sheer magnitude of the event, and whether cyclists or not, to get out and watch what will be a magnificent spectacle, the likes of which they may never again be able to see on our local roads. I and my wife will certainly be out! The Sheep Day will be there next year; the Tour most certainly will not!

Ken Coote, South Parade, Settle

Adding value

Sir - I read with interest the article on Skipton Girls’ and Ermysted’s Schools gaining “top spots” in the school league tables.

I completely agree that their achievements should be applauded as they are both excellent schools.

Year on year I feel I need to “defend” the issue of student progress rather than attainment, and have written to you previously to highlight this fact.

The school league tables are much more than a 5A*-C and points score calculation. There are also comparisons within them about value added (i.e. the progress made by students during their time at secondary schools).

Using this measure, all the schools in the Craven area were in the top 20 in the county (including Aireville), with Upper Wharfedale being top, and within the top two per cent nationally.

Mrs Renou is right, we should not simply talk about statistics and comparisons. It is most important to help the students to make this progress, and to prepare them for the next stage of their journey.

Andrew Taylor, Headteacher, Upper Wharfedale School

Great news

Sir - What great news for Skipton that another five-year term for BID has been voted for.

It should be noted that it is down to the drive and considerable commitment of Dave Wathen as chairman and Roz Wathen as secretary who jointly have in the last six months worked to ensure that local organisations, groups and individuals were aware of what BID had achieved and how if not successful in being voted for another term, would noticeably affect funding for many local events.

David Goldie, Draughton

Good discipline

Sir - I have just seen in The Craven Herald (January 30) the photograph of pupils at St Stephen’s RC School in the 1950s. The teacher, Miss Collins, taught me in 1926/27.

It made me start to wonder how many of that class are still around. We are all in our 90s now. I am proud of St Stephen’s and its teachers of those years: Infant School – which I went to at three years old – Mother Margaret Mary and Mrs Boyle; and, Juniors and Senior School; Miss Collins, Miss Manton, Mr Winkley, and Mr Gough, headmaster.

During World War Two, I know two of the boys in my class were killed – Wallace Bruce and Bernard McGowan and I understand two were taken Prisoner of War. I myself was called up to join the ATS (army) in which I served five years and was promoted to the dizzy heights of Staff Sergeant. I think the grounding and discipline I got at St Stephen’s RC School stood me in good stead.

Alice Robinson (nee O’Brien), Rotherham

Pulling power

I am event organiser for a group of nine people who, myself included, in May 2014, will pull a barge the length of the Leeds Liverpool canal – 127 miles in total!

We have permission from the Canal and River Trust and the full support of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

We aim to raise £20,000 for this charity, as a few of the team have been touched by this through family and friends.

The team has been in training for this for the past two years and we are now very strong! £20,000 would pay for 1,071 hours of research or 500 nurses to be trained in palliative lung cancer care.

The barge has been loaned to us by JAMES, a charity situated in Shipley.

The reason why we are doing this is in memory of our friend’s sister who, aged 43 was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

She had never smoked a cigarette in her life. She was given six weeks to live but she battled on for 18 months.

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation received only six per cent of total funds for cancer research, yet is the UK's biggest cancer killer.

Additionally, this has never been done before, for charity, and so we will set a World Records, through Record Holders Republic.

We also have a few corporate sponsors and entertainment planned along the way.

In Liverpool, at the launch party, we have arranged local media, sports personalities and Brazilian dancers and drums. At this end, I have conversed with Keighley Cougars rugby league and they will pull the barge from Skipton to Keighley. Bradford Bulls, Leeds Rhinos, Wigan RL and St Helens are also keen to be involved.

We will navigate the length starting on Monday, May 5, and finishing in Leeds on the Friday. As, when it gets tough, we will need to draw upon all the help and donations that we have received. Anyone wishing to support us can check out our Facebook page Barge Pull Charity Event or go to http://bit.ly/1ikOs2Z

Emma Fisher, Thackley