Let's remember, it's only a bicycle race

Has passion, though, been overridden by paranoia by some authorities concerning the event in Craven?

Is it really necessary to to close any of our district’s schools, even for part of the time, on the day before the race, or is it just another feeble excuse to have a bit more time off?

I understand from older pals that Craven schools never shut, even when Hitler’s bombers were flying across our skies. So, before anyone in authority starts to fall clean off their two-wheeler, might I courteously remind them that it is a bicycle race and not World War Three which is coming to our locality.

Roger Ingham Aldersley Avenue Skipton Residents’ plight Sir - As a resident of Skipton, I have one complaint with regard to the Tour de France – car parking for residents.

Travelling up Otley Road recently, the council have now put up signs to let us all know that should you park your car on Otley Road, on July 5, it will be towed away. As a resident on Otley Road, with no drive, I park my car outside my house.

So would the council like to explain where I am supposed to park?

Oh sorry, they have; I have to pay to park my car for more than 24 hours in a car park somewhere in Skipton, if you are able to get a space. Based on the number of visitors to the lovely town that is going to be an impossibility.

Perhaps a bit more consultation with the residents on the route of the Tour de France would have been advisable.

I also feel that the council spending hundred of thousands of pounds or replacing grates and roundabouts for the Tour de France is a great waste of money.

The Tour de France is supposed to be a challenge for the cyclists involved, not a smooth ride.

I’m a bit upset as a resident of Skipton that nothing has been put in place for us.

Kath Metcalfe Otley Road Skipton Pity about police Sir - At long last I have heard about police and crime commissioner Mulligan proposing something, pity that it will result in less police presence on the streets of Craven rather than more.

So we will have a few extra officers in Craven, but every time they arrest somebody, be it a serial killer or a simple drunk and incapable who just needs to sleep it off , they will have to drive all the way to Harrogate instead of just to Skipton. A fair old trip, especially in inclement weather.

Most of the time this will entail two officers making the trip and doing the relevant paperwork, etc.

In this day and age, where so much has to be committed to paper, or computer, to cover everybody’s back I should imagine most of these officers will be gone for the best part of a shift if not longer.

If the time spent there runs into the next shift overtime will be incurred and, more importantly, a police vehicle will be sitting impotently in Harrogate while the crew on the next shift will be left twiddling their thumbs in Craven.

So to save £72,000 per year we are likely to see an increase in overtime costs, an increase in fuel spending for the extra mileage incurred and officers stuck over in Harrogate when they should be policing the streets and lanes of Craven.

I tend to suffer from an old-fashioned ailment called common sense.

That common sense says two things to me: 1) We need cells and a custody suite at Skipton to allow effective policing of the area. 2) We definitely do not need a police and crime commissioner for effective policing.

Paul Morley Ribblesdale Estate Long Preston Skipton Bring back buses Sir - I’d like to highlight a situation that happened this weekend that could so easily have had a different ending.

I set off driving from my home in Embsay and saw a small, elderly lady walking towards Skipton at the roadside. As soon as she heard my car she quickly turned and held her arm in the air to signal me to stop.

Naturally thinking there was a problem I pulled over and put the window down.

This lady immediately walked to the passenger door to open it, asking at the same time if she could have a lift into Skipton and was getting into the car without really waiting for my reply!

Somewhat bemused I said yes, and this stranger at my side began lamenting about the lost bus service and how she couldn’t get into town at the weekend to do her shopping, adding that she had to get out of the house now and again because she gets lonely.

I made polite conversation with her and duly deposited one grateful resident on the High Street to do her shopping.

This lady was old and vulnerable and unwittingly had put herself at risk by randomly flagging down a stranger driving in a car.

As I mentioned above, it could so easily have had a different ending.

Embsay needs its’ regular bus service back, before something serious happens...

Mrs Sue Storah Embsay Great gala effort Sir - As Mayor of Skipton, I had the pleasure of taking part in the Skipton Gala procession with my wife Caroline and, prior to that, of judging the various categories of float.

This showed me clearly how much our town owes to the gala committee and the volunteers who organise this big day.

They put so much time and effort in to ensure the success of the day and they deserve our congratulations for the enjoyment they provide as well as raising money for charities.

The floats also involve a lot of work from the teams that put them together and there were some excellent themes and decorations this year from schools and organisations and we had music and lovely Gala Queens too.

Gala Day is a great team effort from the many volunteers and those from the town council who marshal the event. It all shows just why Skipton is the best place to live.

Councillor John Dawson Town Mayor of Skipton Gainsborough Court Skipton A sad absence Sir - May I, on behalf of Custer’s Last Band, sincerely apologise to those people who were expecting to see Custer’s perform at Skipton Gala this year.

As you all know, our lead cocalist and ‘chum’ Steve Akrigg died on Christmas Day last year, and after the funeral it was, with great reluctance, decided that Custer’s should disband.

Along with Steve, I was a founder member of CLB, and it has been our pleasure since our formation to have played Skipton Gala and to the people of Skipton, who helped to make Custer’s the band that it became.

I myself have tried desperately to find other musicians to fill the gap for this year’s gala, but alas to no avail.

Once again, on behalf of Custer’s Last Band, I thank you for your support and maybe I will see you all again from the back of a 40ft trailer, if not round Skipton.

Martin Dawson Lead guitarist/vocalist Custer’s Last Band Laurel Croft Embsay Skipton Thanks to the trust Sir - For reasons of economy Skipton Town Council recently decided to remove two street lamp-posts from the Brookside area of Skipton.

Residents were expectedly dismayed at the prospect of walking home in dark and potentially dangerous conditions and vigorously protested the decision, but to no avail.

With surprising speed the Tarn Moor Trust stepped in and provided the necessary money to not only save but replace the lamp-posts with shining new ones.

The new ones are now in place and working and the comfort and safety of people using those streets is again provided for thanks to the decisive action of the trustees of Tarn Moor.

I would like to give a public accolade to those trustees who have made this possible and to say thank you on behalf of the local people.

John Kerwin-Davey Newmarket Street Skipton Thanks from the trust Sir - Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) is delighted to confirm that players of People’s Postcode Lottery have awarded an extra £2 million to long-term supported charities.

YDMT is one of 40 charities that will receive an extra £50,000 award from players of the charity lottery this year.

The support from players has made a huge difference to hundreds of communities with funding awarded to numerous grass-root groups and local projects, as well as national and international charities.

Here at YDMT we have received more that £400,000 from players of People’s Postcode Lottery over the last 6 years, helping to support all manner of projects that care for the environment, landscape and communities of the Yorkshire Dales.

This exciting news that we are due to receive another £50,000 from players will help fund vital projects such as the restoration of wildflower hay meadows.

Over the last 50 years we’ve lost 97 per cent of these precious meadows, making them one of the most scarce and threatened habitats in the UK.

With support like this we can continue our work to save the precious few meadows remaining and protect the hundreds of species of wildlife they support through restoration work.

Just last month it was announced that players have awarded over £40 million to charities and good causes and in January, People’s Postcode Lottery and their sister lotteries in the Netherlands and Sweden were collectively announced as the second largest charitable private donor in the world. In total over £4.9 billion has been awarded to good causes across the globe.

I’d like to say a huge thank you to all players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their fantastic ongoing support.

David Sharrod Director, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust Old Post Office Main Street Clapham Rugby club’s thanks Sir - Skipton Rugby Club has recently been featured in the Craven Herald, with the arrival of a new coach for the forthcoming season and the exciting developments to the clubhouse and grounds with grant aid from the Sports Lottery Fund and other funding sources.

It was remiss of me when speaking to your reporters not to mention the invaluable work that is ongoing down at the club on a weekly basis through Community Payback.

Phil and Tony, the Community Payback co-ordinators, and their helpers have made an invaluable contribution to maintenance work; painting, cleaning, mending, you name it!

All their work is to a high standard, carried out in a courteous manner and with a smile on their faces.

My thanks to all concerned. Your assistance is greatly appreciated by the club.

Mel Mason President SRFC Sign of strife?

Sir - With regard to the unnecessary* sign that has appeared in the flower bed at the bottom of The Square in Grassington, do you have any information as to how long we will be forced to view it in its current position? Is it there for the duration of Grassington Festival only, or is it a more permanent fixture?

Since its appearance I have heard only one positive comment, but even that was preceded by a collection of reasons for it not to be there. I include in this correspondence points raised by others as well as me.

My immediate concern is the effect this latest offering will have on the seating immediately behind it, with only a small capacity for numbers on the benches by the water fountain (T’Owd Pump), the seating around the tree is an alternative place for locals and tourists alike.

It is also the only area that is afforded any shade since the removal of the other tree – yet another sore point. My favourite view from this lower bench is looking down the street - a view that is now completely blocked by something that someone yesterday said “symbolises where the dignity of the village was buried”.

Aside from its resemblance to a headstone, other issues raised in conversations include: • reduction in visibility at the bottom of The Square (and goodness knows that some people already have enough trouble negotiating our roads without compounding the matter!) • an apparent lack of a public – and even, allegedly, a parish council – vote on this addition • flimsy appearance not befitting the local geology • tacky, hieroglyphic style of computer-carved symbols • pointless placement well within the town border* • when the replanting occurs, please can it be pampas grass?

*For those readers who have not seen the sign, it reads “Welcome to Grassington”… or at least it would were it not for the flowers that thankfully obstruct the lower part.

So those visitors who failed to notice the Grassington signs as they entered the town will still be none the wiser as to their location unless they are standing right next to this new sign. (Flowers, incidentally, still allow an unrestricted view down Main Street.) There has also been at least one conspiracy theory that the sign has been paid for in order that otherwise unacceptable planning permission can take place, although quite how that would work, I’m not sure; such is the nature of small town gossip.

With the word sledgehammer being bandied around on this topic, perhaps we can come to an agreement before the actual sledgehammers are wielded in protest.

An informal poll of a limited group of people suggested that the entrance to Grassington from Hebden Road would be a far more favourable place for this piece of stone following the conclusion of the festival.

Carolyn Dean Threshfield Appeal to runners Sir - On behalf of The Children’s Trust, I would like to make an urgent appeal to running enthusiasts, who would like to take part in the Great North Run 2014, on Sunday, September 7. The Children’s Trust has a few guaranteed places left to fill but the deadline for registration is July 7, so please visit our website as soon as possible to register and secure your place www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/greatnorthrun We would also be thrilled to hear from own place runners who would be interested in joining our team. For further details, please visit the website, or phone me 01737 364323.

The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury.

Michelle Oakley Events Co-ordinator The Children’s Trust www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk Anonymity concerns Sir - On Sunday I received a leaflet that had been “prepared by an interim steering committee of concerned locals”. I do not have confidence in those who remain anonymous while urging action upon others.

Rowena Magdan Northfield Crescent Settle Business challenge Sir - I am calling on any budding entrepreneurs, aged 16 to 25, who are studying (or indeed has studied) at any FE or sixth form college in your area.

Together with the Edge Foundation and the Gazelle Group of Colleges, we are supporting the Edge Challenge. This is the opportunity for a young person to win £3,000 towards starting up his/her own business, together with the help of a top mentor for six months. Also up for grabs are second and third prizes of £1,250 and £750, as well as a new Team Prize of £5,000 for a group of up to five people to get their business off the ground.

Closing date for entries is September 26, 2014, so plenty of time to get your plans in. Shortlisted entrants will be invited to come and pitch their idea to a panel in London and the final five (three individuals and two teams) will showcase their business model at the Skills Show. This is held at the NEC from 13-15 November, where the overall winners will be announced.

So, don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity and get those innovative business plans in ASAP. Applications forms can be found at www.edge.co.uk/edgechallenge Good luck!

Peter Jones CBE, Founder of the Peter Jones Foundation Revisiting Arnhem Sir - In September, three months after the 70 Anniversary of D-Day, it will be the 70th Anniversary of the battle of Arnhem.

On Tuesday, September 16, I will lead a coach party from the north of England to attend the special Arnhem ceremonies, including a parachute drop at Ginkel Heath.

We will also attend the ceremony at Uosterbeek Airborne Cemetery, where Dutch children lay flowers on the graves. King Willem of the Netherlands and Prince Charles will be in attendance.

We will have a full tour of the Arnhem battlefield area and follow the route of XXX Corps after the breakout from Normandy. We will visit the site of the Rhine crossings and the Reichswald Forest. We also visit the post-Great War home of the ex-Kaiser Wilhelm at Doorn.

We have a few places left and I will be happy to supply full details to your readers if they contact me at 2, Eden Gate, Warcop, Appleby-in-Westmorland. Cumbria CA16 6PL, telephone me on 017683 41060, or email me at jormdavidraw@gmail.com David Haw