What we're "landed with" is democracy

I do take issue with his remarks about “Independents we usually get landed with”. We are not “landed” with them, Cllr Knowles-Fitton, they are elected by the public.

Last time I looked, this is called democracy, and to state otherwise is an insult to voters. No wonder turnouts are so low.

I could take issue with the fact that we are “landed” with the administration on Craven Council that you lead Cllr Knowles Fitton, who seem happy to increase charges, remove services, ignore public opinion and by the looks of it will be spending more of our money paying off officers who have left the council too. But then again, I suppose that is democracy too.

Brian Fawcett Crosshills Road Cononley Festival wake-up call Sir - Wtih reference to Pat Smith in last week’s letters regarding the noise from Beacons Festival in Carleton. Lighten up!

The event happens once a year and wakes up what is a usually sleepy village, bringing in lots of trade to local businesses through sales of produce and hotel rooms.

“Night after night” is almost correct - it ran for three nights. How about next year some of the £800 you seem to have been given for no reason is spent on tickets for residents to attend - you might actually enjoy yourself.

Adam Pickles Hall Drive Sutton-in-Craven No stopping them Sir - One of the main reasons for the lack of cases at Skipton Magistrates’ Court must be down to the lack of police officers being out on the street to see the many things that are going on under their noses, such as people not using the roundabout approximately 100 metres from the police station correctly.

Also, according to the law, everyone is supposed to wear a seatbelt, but not in North Yorkshire. When you look around there is a large number of people that don’t bother, such as roofers, builders, electricians, stallholders, etc. But the chances of being seen and stopped are about the same as winning the jackpot on the National Lottery.

Readers might have seen in the national papers that the police are having to take fitness tests, but there seems to be a percentage failing. Guess where the most failures are (North Yorkshire). Why does this not surprise me?

A Munnerley Long Meadow Skipton Allotment sadness Sir - I recently visited Langcliffe Show, held in the institute and the church. There were classes for culinary, handicrafts and horticulture. In the horticulture classes were vegetables and fruit grown on the local allotments. How sad, then, to find that the landlord wants the allotment holders to vacate by the end of the year.

I lived in Langcliffe during my childhood and knew the kindness and responsibility shown to the village by his grandmother.

I’m sure she would have said: “With rights and privileges go responsibilities.”

Jean Bradley Mearbeck Long Preston l See Page 15 Annoying overtaking Sir - I would like to know when drivers are going to realise that overtaking on the near side is illegal and annoying to those who are being overtaken. This happened to me in Keighley and when I pointed it out to the driver she was very annoyed.

RM Dobson (Mr) Ash Street Cross Hills Changing research Sir - I do agree with the letter from Helen Rose in last week’s Craven Herald, regarding the use made of animals for medical research, although I appreciate that those who have been helped by such research may feel differently.

I feel strongly, however, that much research can, and should be, carried out without using animals, and hope that in future years this may come about.

Therefore, any support for those charities promoting the development of procedures to replace the use of animals, would bring that situation closer.

One of these working hard to make progress in this field is the Dr Hadwen Trust, Suite 8. Portmill House, Portmill Lane, Hitchen, Herts SG5 1DJ. Registered Charity Number 114698.

Christine Baldwin High Street Gargrave ‘No chance’ in court Sir - Having read the piece in the Craven Herald about the latest on the Brightenber Hill wind farm, it would seem that this German energy company is being badly advised by their lawyers.

There is not the slightest chance of getting the planning inspector’s decision overturned in the High Court, as I suspect their lawyers well know.

The Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, has quite rightly pulled the plug on any more of these onshore wind farms for the simple reason that the United Kingdom already has enough planning consents to fulfil its renewable energy targets.

Peter Rigby Chairman (retired), Parishioners Against Chelker Turbines Beamsley Skipton