Safe cycling practices are necessary

The cyclist, as a road user, has the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as other road users whether on bicycle, tractor, or car.

In law, might measured in horse power, is not a priority right on the Queen’s highway. Section 163 of the Highway Code states that “road users should give motor cyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car”.

No cyclist, as Mr Burgess states, “forces a motorist to swerve around them”.

It is the motorist’s decision to overtake, which sadly often lacks consideration for the cyclist’s safety and is often caused by impatience, aggression and sheer ignorance of the disproportionate vulnerability of cyclists vis a vis steel-cocooned motorists oblivious to anything other than their own progress.

Research shows that many motorists regard cyclists not as an equally entitled road user, but as an unwelcome impedance to be ignored as much as possible.

Thus motorists habitually overtake cyclists at speed, far too closely, and ignorant that they are creating dangerous wind turbulence to the cyclist.

They ignore the reality that cyclists are often obliged to cycle well out from the road edge to avoid drains, manholes, glass and other debris.

So too, cyclists riding well out from road edges, or riding two abreast, is often a necessary self defensive strategy in an attempt to oblige motorists to abide by the Highway Code of consideration to other road users, and show the same courtesy as to another similarly slower moving road user such as a JCB or tractor.

Cyclists riding close to a road edge not only necessitates weaving round debris obstacles, but encourages motorists to squeeze closely past cyclists and overtake dangerously.

These cyclist safety practices are endorsed by leading organisations such as the AA, and are well explained on websites such as AA Driver & Cyclists and Laura Laker’s blog Taking the Lane in the Guardian (Monday, August 1, 2011).

Unfortunately many motorists’ latent power complexes show up in aggressive behaviour, and such ill-informed expressions as “cyclists don't pay road tax”, with the implication cyclists have no rights.

No motorist pays road tax. It was abandoned in 1937.

Roads are funded by general and local taxation. Motorists pay vehicle excise duty which is not linked to road funding.

It’s worth saying that very many cyclists are motorists too.

Finally, and for motorists' consideration: The Times reports that in 2012, 122 cyclists were killed by motor vehicles, but that in none of these tragic accidents was the vehicle driver injured.

For the same year the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents website shows 118 cyclists killed; 3,222 seriously injured and 15,751 slightly injured. But these are only those actually reported to the police and the estimate for injuries is thought to be higher still. Food for thought?

Jim O'Rourke, Newcastle

Charity branch closes

Sir – We are writing on behalf of the Craven Branch of The Chernobyl Children’s Project.

The Chernobyl incident happened 27 years ago and this charity has since been assisting and helping the children affected by this disaster. This was originally by offering respite visits for children and more recently raising funds for projects in Belarus which have helped those who could not travel. The most recent project for the Craven group has been a Leaving Care Programme at Ulookavye Orphanage for children with mild to moderate learning difficulties. We have also run a project where children from orphanages have been able to return to their families or go in to foster care. This has been achieved by a small group of core members throughout the years.

However, the current group can not longer be sustained and therefore it is regrettable that the decision has been taken to wind up the Craven group as from the beginning of February.

We would therefore, like to take this opportunity of thanking all of those local businesses and organisations who have helped us over the years to make things possible.

We are especially grateful to all those individuals who have generously offered their homes as accommodation for the children, donated goods to sell, baked cakes and given their time to help us raise what have been fantastic amounts of money to help this cause. What the group has achieved would not have been possible with your generosity.

If anyone is interested in supporting this charity then they can be contacted at Kinder House, Fitzalan Street, Glossop SK13 7DL Telephone 01457 863534.

The website is www.chernobyl- children.org.uk.

Jean Holt and Suzzanne Smith, Craven Branch Chernobyl Children's Project

Town council tax

Sir – The Craven Herald reported (on February 20) the meeting of Skipton Town Council which agreed its budget and precept for the coming year.

However, certain important points were missed.

First, the proposal to increase the precept for Skipton residents by 4.76% was not in the papers for the meeting.

It was tabled halfway through the meeting by Cllr Robert Heseltine so there was no time for careful consideration.

Secondly, the five councillors who voted against and the one who abstained were all the Conservative councillors who were concerned at the size of this increase in local taxes as against the 2.04% which had been proposed.

Residents should note it was independent and Lib-Dem councillors who all supported the increase of 4.76% in their taxes this year.

Cllr David Walsh, Cllr Wendy Clark, Cllr John Dawson, Cllr Paul Whitaker, Cllr Pam Hesletine

Law abiding drivers need not fear wardens

Sir – I cannot understand what problem law abiding people could have with the more rigorous parking enforcement in Skipton.

Quite frankly we don’t have enough parking wardens.

Cars parked on pavements in the area where I live are a constant problem, so much so that the yorkstone flags on Albert Terrace are now severely damaged and pedestrians have to walk in the road.

I have also had occasion to chase away people who have attempted to park across the front of mine and my neighbour’s driveway.

There is no excuse for these Slack-Alices who believe that God has given them a right to park wherever they want.

Skipton is not an isolated town, unlike many neighbouring communities we enjoy regular bus and train services, so there is no need to drive into the town at all.

I have never owned a car all the time that I have lived in Skipton and do not find myself inconvenienced at all.

Richard Hardisty, Skipton

Give and take

Sir – Oh dear! People are parking their cars on vacant setts in Skipton on market days.

This has really got up the noses of North Yorkshire Council (Craven Herald, 20th February).

Perhaps if they were to take a trip to France they would see what a typical Parisian thinks about parking regulations.

As the attached photograph shows the driver has left his/her car across two pedestrian crossings at a busy road junction.

There is a second car left on the edge of a crossing. As far as I could see no official action was taken. I could have taken a similar photograph several times in the few days I was there – this was not an isolated example.

On another but related topic, I note that many drivers over there pay scant regard to the green lights which indicate that pedestrians have right of way at crossings.

While not suggesting that we should become “Parisian-like”, surely a bit of give and take wouldn’t go amiss?

Keith Wright, Skipton

Parking fine was harsh

Sir – Choosing the two wettest days of the year to move 200 miles to Yorkshire, we went into town on Wednesday to buy some food.

Parking in High Street car park, my husband displayed his blue disabled badge and parked in a disabled bay.

When we returned about 50 minutes later he had a ticket. I went and found the traffic warden and asked her why, she said it was because we had not set the clock.

I explained that we had only been in the county 48 hours and had never used the clock before. We duly sent the money to Harrogate plus a letter. One was returned stating fine accepted, matter closed!

Since then my husband must have told dozens of unsuspecting motorists about the clock having to be set, however, we are curious about some disabled badges that have no clock at all.

If the wardens are so desperate for work, could I suggest they instead fine local dog owners who allow their animals to foul all over the pavement? It’s a disgrace how much of it there is in Skipton.

Anabel Brandon, Carleton

Residents’ survey

Sir – I was pleased to read in my local paper that Silsden Town Council has responded in a positive way to the recently published report of the residents’ survey.

I was a member of the group of volunteers who undertook the survey on behalf of the town council, who wished to evaluate residents’ views, concerns and ideas for making the town a better place.

I would like to thank all the people of Silsden who took part in the survey and also Bradford Council for the expertise and funding which they made available to us.

The report can be read online, or paper copies can be collected from the Post Office or library.

I am now looking forward to a detailed response from the town council, in which they identify the action they intend to take in response to the issues raised.

Wendy Neville, Silsden

Barn conversion debate

Sir – As the pro and anti-Dales barn conversion arguments gather pace is there not scope for mutual benefit?

It seems to me that the Tory party, long the true guardians of rural England, have with their coalition partners rushed through a series of ill thought out planning policies in a misguided but apparently sincere effort to kick-start part of our economy.

This knee-jerk reaction must be re-addressed without delay.

Blanket acceptance of and approval for the complete demolition, rebuilding and urbanisation of our field barns is complete madness and must be rightly resisted by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Having said that our authority in its duty toward us, the park’s residents, as well as our world heritage landscape, has to move forward, grasp and deal with this issue and not consign the Yorkshire Dales to a future of museum culture. Negotiation not Nimbysm.

To all who love and travel the Yorkshire Dales it is sadly obvious many of our barns are in or nearing a ruinous state, a simple but common factor given their age are the small wooden pegs that hold slates of often considerable weight to their laths. The peg gives, slates slide, water penetrates, roof gone, game over. Time is running out, money and use has run out in most cases.

I have long been a keen advocate of the positive restoration and reuse of these fine and individual structures. Indeed in partnership with The Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement I developed and opened one of Britain’s very first bunk barns at Barden in 1981. Happily it is still a thriving business today, however there is a limit to the number and sustainability of units needed for this purpose!

The challenge is to encourage new usage and development within but not at the expense of our precious landscape. This must mean a presumption in favour of development in some cases at the expense of refusal for other more sensitive locations. Imagine the river valley barns at Gunnerside linked by roadways, a plethora of brightly coloured vehicles, and washing dancing in the breeze!

Richmondshire Council has tackled this issue in the Middleham/Leyburn area with some considerable success. They have overseen a sensitive series of conversions to dwellings. Careful study shows an actual benefit to both community and landscape value, providing as they have a kick-start to local and hopefully young owner-occupiers. Our planners are able to control the spread of “Dream Homes” by a 106 agreement restricting occupancy to local people.

Clearly serious thought has to be given to this heritage resource. May I suggest the YDNPA seeks finance through the Heritage Lottery, Millennium Trust or like-minded organisation (difficult as it may well be), offer a couple of bursaries to young and newly qualified architectural students to undertake a Dales Barn Doomsday Survey. With detailed information to hand, the authority can then begin the arduous task of assessing what building is and what is not fit for purpose.

If a presumption in favour of conversion to local low cost housing is eventually granted this could be on the basis of a one-off but significant planning fee to be used solely for the restoration of endangered barns outside the planning remit. Sadly had this approach been adopted (with the sale price returned to a new housing pot) when the original sale of our stock of council houses was offered to their tenants we may well not have experienced the severe shortage of local low cost housing we now face.

D Mark Thompson, Askrigg

Where’s the councillor?

Sir – A dozen or so Cowling residents attending the Parish Council meeting held on Monday, February 3, raised a number of issues which were of concern to them and looking for answers.

Virtually all the issues raised were outside the control of the parish council and required comment from either district or county council representatives.

The county council was represented by Coun Patrick Mulligan, who it appears attends virtually every month.

The district unfortunately was not represented. The councillor for the ward, Coun Ady Green, it was pointed out rarely if ever attends and it would seem possibly only once in the last 12 months.

It became increasingly obvious that there is some discord between the parish and the district councillor to the point where it seemed to a bystander there was little constructive communication, if at all any.

The level of confidence in the district councillor was non- existent. This clearly appeared to be borne out by (if I understood it correctly) a number of issues passed to him remaining outstanding or not addressed.

This non-working relationship between the parish council and the district councillor surely cannot be in the best interests of Cowling residents for which both represent.

The district councillor has informed the parish council that he will not attend the monthly meeting unless a request is made to him in writing (see January Cowling newsletter). Residents are expected to contact the parish council if they have a concern, and then the parish council is to inform the district councillor in writing asking for his attendance. Surely this is somewhat of a bureaucratic procedure and not in the best interests of residents.

Is it just too much to ask the district councillor to attend on a regular monthly basis? To spend just two hours a month – 24 hours a year – listening to what the parish council or residents might have to say or even relating back issues from the CDC meetings?

The county council (as stated earlier) is represented each month, so why not the Craven District Council?

Perhaps the head of the CDC coun Chris Knowles-Fitton can influence the situation.

Looking at this from a political party context it would be in the best interest of a party to demonstrate to the constituents represented that it was active and performing in their best interest.

Just what the issues are between the parish council and Coun Green and/or even if they extend to the CDC is unclear.

Whether it be, personal, political or just bloody mindedness it needs to be sorted.

Why? Because there is one thing for certain the people of Cowling are very likely to be losing out. The very group they are all serving.

If members of the various councils are genuinely concerned in providing the best service for Cowling, then is it unreasonable to expect some sensible dialogue between them?

There will always be differences of opinion based on what can and cannot be achieved subject to the resources available, but this should not be a reason to not seek an acceptable compromise in the best interests of the people they both represent.

The district councillor surely accepts that he has a responsibility to be seen and heard at these meetings, and together with the parish council sit down and discuss whatever the differences are in a sensible and rational manner with a view to reaching a working relationship. It’s not rocket science, it’s just plain common sense, and no more than the people they represent deserve.

M Topham, Cowling

Bloom criticises church

Sir – I wish I could prevail upon church leaders to spend their time and energy leading a crusade to protect Christians and indeed other persecuted minorities in various parts of the world and keep their noses out of the politics of welfare.

If they are really so worried let them use the enormous wealth of their respective churches to alleviate it.

Godfrey Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire