Park must ‘up’ its game for the future

The report regarding the park’s survey of residents found that only a third felt the park “was in touch with and understood the needs of local people”.

This contrasts starkly with the 60th birthday celebrations and the quote from Arthur Raistrick offering “...all we want...” for the “walker”, “ naturalist”, “geologist” and “any right-minded person”.

I note no mention of John Dower, a founding father of the national parks, who said of national parks that “... the wellbeing of those who live and work within them must always be a first consideration”.

It is also interesting to see the usual repetition of the purposes of the park, but not it’s legal duty to “... seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the park”.

The accompanying photograph showed how local young people are volunteering within the park, many perhaps not yet aware that Mr Charlesworth is correct.

The park does need to up its “game”, and soon, or what future for those very same young people when they enter the adult world looking for local jobs and housing? Currently they find the jobs are low paid and offcumdens have bought all the houses for the weekends.

Anthony Bradley Mearbeck Long Preston Removing life quality Sir - The Craven District Council Local Plan consultation document shows only one greenfield site on Sutton Lane and a brownfield one in the village.

The parish council suggested several brown field ones but they are not shown in the document for consultation. If only one greenfield site is proposed in the plan then it is certain to be built on with the majority of Sutton’s housing quota for the next 15 years (75 units).

Land protected for a Glusburn bypass, whose protection has now been removed by both Craven and North Yorkshire Councils, makes this land a possible candidate for development in the consultation document for housing.

The now cleared Yeadon House site owned by Yorkshire Housing, and two fields behind it owned by another housing association, should have been included in the consultation document if the residents are to be able to make valued comments during the consultation.

These sites could provide most of Sutton’s quota for housing without having to use the greenfield site on Sutton Lane.

Are the council aware of these sites but have decided not to include them in the consultation document?

We are continually hearing of our inadequate sewage system serving South Craven, Silsden, Steeton and Eastburn, which is at maximum capacity and overflows when it rains heavily.

Surely somebody must have a legal responsibility to prevent the hundreds of proposed houses being built in the area which will further pollute farmland affected by the overflows and members of the public using public rights of way.

Our village roads are the same widths as they were when the horse and cart was the main mode of transport.

All the schools in the area are at or close to capacity with no room for expansion. Where are the hundreds of extra children going to be educated?

Why are our councils and service providers turning us into a third world country and removing our quality of life?

Roger Nicholson Park Drive Sutton-in-Craven Ward staff thanked Sir - I felt I wanted to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to the staff of wards 14 and 20 at Airedale Hospital.

The speed and efficiency with which they dealt with the problems my husband presented them with was second to none.

Being a survivor of prostate cancer, things have not been easy for him over the last eight years, but the level of care he received after an urgent visit to A & E three weeks ago has left him feeling that things are getting better.

I know there are monumental things happening in our world today that command so much of our attention, but this is just one very grateful person saying, thank you, to our wonderful nurses and doctors who work tirelessly here for us all.

You are much appreciated.

A Simpson Sunnybank Thorpe Accident helpers Sir - I would like to thank all the traffic police and emergency service personnel who attended the accident on the A59 just outside Skipton last Friday afternoon.

I would also like to thank the young nurse and the doctor who also stopped to see if they could offer any assistance. We were all grateful for their concern and help.

Jennie Burrows (Mrs) Port Hill Drive Shrewsbury Kindness to Cagney Sir - We would like to thank the lovely people of Skipton who stopped to help our darling cat, Cagney.

On Thursday at about 6pm, Cagney was hit by a car on Brougham Street near Ward Street. I did not see the accident myself, arriving home just moments afterwards.

A lady on Ward Street immediately alerted me to what had happened. The vehicle which had struck Cagney did not stop.

However, after rushing across the road, two other ladies and a gentleman had already helped Cagney into one of the lady’s cars, swaddling her in towels, and phoned Kingsway vets.

I jumped into the car and off we dashed, the lady kindly carrying Cagney into the vets and handing over to the surgeon.

At this she offered to stay, but I declined, we hugged and said our goodbyes.

In my grief and shock I have forgotten her name. Unfortunately, Cagney did not make it and we had to allow her to be put to sleep.

My husband and I would just like to say a huge thank you to the people who stopped and helped, and all the staff at Kingsway.

While the accident was too much for Cagney to survive, we really do appreciate that these anonymous people took the time to make her as comfortable as possible in an attempt to save her.

Vic, Carl and Lacey Whalley Ward Street Skipton Best wishes to Chris...

Sir - First, I like Robert Heseltine and respect how much he does for Skipton.

However, I thought his letter in the Craven Herald (October 16) about the retirement of Chris Knowles-Fitton as Craven Council leader was very disappointing.

In all my dealings with him as a town councillor and a fellow Conservative, Chris Knowles-Fitton has been charming and helpful.

He and his Conservative team at Craven deserve great credit for turning its finances round as well as they have. They inherited a financial mess left by the previous Independent/ LibDem administration. I wish him well in his retirement and hopefully his successor will continue the good work.

Town councillor John Dawson Gainsborough Court Skipton ...and call to quit seat Sir - The Conservative group’s insistence that their leader should stand down and in consequence his resignation as leader of Craven District Council is now documented history, courtesy of Cllr Robert Heseltine.

There remains, however, a residual, more important issue in his arrogant refusal to resign from Craven District Council until May of next year, although he now lives in Devon.

The disdain with which he seems prepared to treat the voters of Barden Fell ward beggars belief. His justification of his refusal to resign is to avoid the cost of a by-election.

However, his period of office does not expire until 2016, so there would have to be a by-election anyway. To hold it next May would only be marginally cheaper than holding it in December.

From his leader’s speech to council, it would seem that his main reason is his obsession to bring what used to be the RAC rally back to Yorkshire next spring.

Participating in this as a member of Craven District Council, he has already in public expressed a hope that Craven will contribute a sizeable sum to this questionable venture.

Even if the rally came to Yorkshire, I understand it would not come anywhere near Craven.

Cllr Knowles-Fitton now needs to do the honourable thing and resign forthwith. Next May, the Conservatives will be contesting five wards. If he is not a distant memory by then, our candidates may pay dearly at the ballot box.

Cllr Chris Harbron Skipton East Long Meadow Skipton A wonderful summer Sir - What a wonderful summer it has been in Settle.

The Flowerpot Festival brought smiles to the faces of our many visitors. The organisers, Vibrant Settle, thought it would be a bit of fun which would start small and attract interest over the years.

It was an immediate hit; flowerpot people appeared all over and it looks set to be an even bigger event in years to come.

The first Settle Folk Gathering in September was a huge success, building on the excellent First Sunday Folk concerts that run throughout the year at the Victoria Hall. With a family ceilidh, two brilliant concerts, a ukulele workshop, an open mic session, sing-arounds in the pubs and around the cafes, plus Morris dancers, it was a weekend to cherish.

Last week saw another Settle Storytelling Festival, and what a joy it was to walk around Settle and watch children handing over their magic beans in return for a story from the wandering story makers. The Quaker Meeting House, the library, the Victoria Hall and the pubs all hosted sessions and the whole event was quite magical.

The Victoria Hall will also be the venue next week for ‘Guys and Dolls’, presented by SAOS for its 135th birthday. The society has been delighted to welcome many new, young members, whose enthusiasm and talent has enhanced and energised the production, which promises to be a sparkling Settle success.

It has been a bumper year for visitors to our lovely area. Many have already booked themselves in for next year’s Folk Gathering and the First Sunday concerts attract visitors from as far afield as the Midlands, staying in our excellent local hostelries for the weekend.

So congratulations to all of those who have worked so hard to give Settle the reputation of being not just a pretty town in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, but somewhere vibrant and welcoming, with lots to see and enjoy.

Pat Harding Manor Farm Barn Langcliffe Settle Wrong stuff for space Sir - I watched a programme on TV the other night by Professor Brian Cox. He described bluntly what, in his opinion, was the condition of the astronauts after spending months in space without the benefits of gravity.

He said they looked “knackered”. I noticed that they had to be lifted out of the space capsule because their muscles were so weak.

Does this not tell me something?

Am I so blind that I cannot see the blatantly obvious?

When will man ever learn that the brain was designed for a place on this earth and not in outer space? His mind can wander in space, but his brain and muscles were designed for this planet.

Need I say more?

Jeff Bilbrough Hebden Hall Park Hebden Cycling on right lines Sir - How heartening to see in the current issue of the Craven Herald (October 16) that the campaign to reopen the Skipton to Colne railway line remains active.

The same page shows a young fellow training on his bike, being a member of the newly formed Skipton Youth Cycling Club.

How equally wonderful it would be if the potential cycling route that is offered by the existing rail track could, in the interim, be used as a cycling route between Skipton and Colne.

The advantages gained by putting and old rail line such as this to good use can be seen on the reclaimed railway starting at Caton, connecting with Lancaster, Hest Bank and Morecambe.

Many people ride and walk safely along this route, showing just how popular a route between Skipton and Colne would be.

It should not be an insurmountable task to reconstitute the railway as and when required.

There are huge benefits to be gained from reopening this way again as the safety aspects and the pleasure of travelling through such marvellous countryside cannot be underestimated.

Paul Slegg Lower Croft Street Settle Low income help Sir - An increase to the National Minimum Wage, which came in to effect this month, is certainly a welcome boost for low-income workers who are struggling to make ends meet.

With almost three-fifths of low-income working households telling us that their financial situation has worsened in the last year, and two in five reporting that their outgoings now outweigh their earnings, this above-inflation rise is a positive step towards easing the immense pressure on household budgets.

However, with over half of the 13 million people in poverty now living in a working household, it is clear that more needs to be done to tackle this issue. With difficult financial times ahead, we want to make sure that anyone struggling on a low income is aware of all the support available to them. Our free website – www.turn2us.org.uk can help people check their eligibility for welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help.

Our Benefits Calculator also includes a ‘better-off’ function to show users how a change in employment hours or wages, or unemployment could affect their benefits entitlements and overall household income.

With the real impact of wage increases and other economic improvements unlikely to be widely felt for some time, we hope more people in need can access financial support that could make all the difference today.

Alison Taylor Director of Turn2us London Public own the roads Sir - As we approach a General Election, it is worth recalling a promise made at the 2009 Conservative Party conference.

We were told that it was time to say ‘enough is enough’ on fixed speed cameras, as they were not the best way to make our roads safe, We were promised a switch to better alternatives.

Not only is that promise unfulfilled, but the government has kept the cameras going through revenue from lucrative speed awareness courses.

A recent opinion poll showed that two-thirds of drivers were unaware that they pay around £50 billion a year in taxes, but only about a fifth is spent back on roads.

Yet the government is looking to raise even more money out of drivers. It accepted a report that proposed hiving off England’s main highways to profiteers, bringing the threat of road pricing. The almost unknown Infrastructure Bill quietly paves the way for this.

Our roads have been paid for several times over and belong to the public.

They are not for sale or something that just falls short of that.

The last government backed down after 1.8 million people signed our petition against road pricing. I urge readers to ask their MP to oppose the Bill - enough is enough!

Brian Macdowall Campaign Director, Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) Manchester