How do we achieve beneficial growth?

Sir - I calculate that, in Skipton, approximately 870 housing units are either under construction, have planning approvals, or are at consultation/design/discussion stage. (See list below.) If there will be, say, an average of three persons per new dwelling, then this represents an increase in Skipton’s population of 2,600 people over the next few years - ie 18 per cent on the current population of 14,300 (Craven District Council official figure).

Of these new residents, it is probable that about 30 per cent will be school-age children - so close to 800 new school places will be needed; the largest primary school in Skipton can currently cater for 220 children - so this is equivalent to over 3 new primary schools. (Skipton Academy has 490 students approximately - so 1.5 times the capacity of their current provision).

There are likely to be 1.5 vehicles - cars and work vehicles - per household, so there will be an extra 1,300 vehicles in the town. Vehicle movements at peak hours from these new dwellings (applying the ratios used in recent transport planning assessments) are likely to mean an extra 570 journeys on the streets each morning and evening at peak hours.

This growth will have an enormous impact on the town and its amenity.

I personally support growth - we need more housing, and I like dynamism and change. Skipton has become the vibrant town it now is by phases of growth in the past.

If you look around town, you can see the spurts of development in the 1880s-1890s, in the 1920s-30s, in the 1960s and the 1980s. These historic spurts came, however, with a balance of social planning - with provision for healthcare, education, care for the elderly; with leisure facilities, roads, public transport and car parking, and planned green space.

For me, it’s not a question of whether we grow or not, but how we achieve that growth, and the quality of the new suburbs that we put in place. Where are the social, health and education provisions being made for the prospective 870-plus dwellings, and 2,600-plus new residents?

I see no space allocation, nor proper financial requirements from developers, to make sure the town develops in a balanced and agreeable way. And of course, no Local Development Plan in sight.

We are building tiny boxes on crowded developments on the periphery of town, in a world dominated by the car, with no coherent planning for the communal and social wellbeing of future generations.

Developments Housing units Granville Street 57 North Parade 114 Horse Close 300 Elsey Croft 103 White Hills 45 Wyvern Park 250 Total 869 Jane Houlton Granville Street Skipton No need for hunts Sir - I am writing in response to the History Pages in the February 19 edition of the Herald. Indeed, a timely article, given that we recently celebrated ten years of the ban on hunting with dogs.

At the time, this article angered me somewhat, as there is an undeniable bias towards and romanticising of hunting, which remains the same when I look at it through today’s eyes.

With eight weeks to go until the general election, there is no doubt that this is a politically divisive issue. The Conservatives in their manifesto pledge to repeal the ban, but many do not realise that there is a strong contingent of Tories who are against a repeal (Conservatives against Foxhunting). Given that this has already taken up so much Parliamentary time, should we not be asking “who will actually benefit from this issue being dragged up again” (pardon the pun!).

The general tone of the article is that hunting with dogs is necessary to the survival and wellbeing of hunters. Historically, several other cruel and unnecessary ‘past times’ have been outlawed (bear baiting, cock fighting, dog fighting), but people simply get over it, they move on!

Let us not forget, as Alun Micheal, police and crime commissioner for South Wales, who helped to see through the legislation points out, “the ban does not prevent the activity, but only cruelty to wild animals”. In your article a Mr Pighills is quoted as saying that drag hunting (hunting but without the killing of a fox) is like ‘kissing your sister’ and does not have the same ‘bite’ as traditional hunting.

We can only presume that Mr Pighills is talking about the act of killing here and we can only imagine what it is that makes him and others feel the need to kill and see bloodshed in this way.

If it is absolutely necessary to kill an animal, it is only right that it is done so in the most humane way possible, and a small minority of British citizens who feel they are entitled to chase an exhausted creature across the countryside is most certainly not the most humane method, and indeed we would be taking several steps back in terms of compassionate change if this legislation were repealed.

Foxes are still killed by hunts out drag hunting, claiming that the fox “happened to cross their paths”, but the fact that the law averages a prosecution every week and has a 65 per cent conversion rate from prosecution to conviction is a clear indicator of its success.

Looking at this from a rational point of view, those who support hunting are always going to claim the ban as political, but there is no denying that there is cruelty to animals involved. My mother unfortunately bore witness to when a hunt drove a fox into a primary school playground where she was on duty and the hounds tore it apart in front of her eyes. There is nothing necessary about this kind of cruelty.

Katie Chabriere Settle Praised for service Sir - It’s not unusual these days to read criticisms and complaints about the service industries, with water companies often having to carry the burden of customer discontent. However, can I briefly post a note of high praise for the way in which Yorkshire Water responded to a problem we had with our drains?

Without going into the unpleasant details, suffice to say that the two-man team of Matt and Chris turned up towards the end of Friday afternoon and began work. They struggled on until late at night but hadn’t managed to clear the problem. Just as they promised, they returned early on Saturday morning and worked hard and efficiently until they traced the cause of the blockage. They were cheerful, friendly and extremely helpful. They kept us informed at every stage of their investigation until - joy of joys - the drain was cleared. They then took great care to clean up after themselves.

Thanks a-plenty then to Matt, Chris and Yorkshire Water. You all did yourselves proud and in the process did us a great service.

Alan Sturgess Eshton Road Gargrave Listen to the music Sir - Many thanks for the article about the Skipton Music Festival in last week’s edition. As readers will have noted, we are in four venues this year, because the town hall is out of use.

Please can I encourage folk to come and listen to the classes during the week? The cost is £2.50 a day or a bargain £6 for the week. There is a wealth of talent among our young people in and around Skipton and the standard of musicianship is very high.

Our gala concert is at 7pm on Saturday, March 21, at Skipton Girls’ High School, when we shall present a selection of what we’ve heard during the week.

Do please come and support us during this week – the performers deserve it and will value it.

Many thanks in advance Jill Wright, hon secretary Glusburn A senseless crime?

Sir - I read with dismay your front page news about thefts from the Skipton Town Hall car park ticket machines (February 26).

Perhaps Craven District Council can enlighten its council taxpayers by providing the following details: l The amount of money stolen l The estimated loss of revenue for the period following the theft l The cost of repair for the machines, whether that cost is covered by insurance and if so the amount of cover 1 Why machines are not emptied daily and marked accordingly. It cannot take much time for two council staff to empty all Skipton’s parking machines at the end of each day. Is this not just common sense? Would this not be cheaper than now employing security patrols? Do Skipton’s retailers leave their tills stuffed with cash overnight?

l How have they allowed this to happen twice?

l How much did the previous ticket machines, which required a registration number and which are now long abandoned, cost?

Are we not entitled to a better service than this? How much of my £2,200-plus council tax bill goes to people who possess no common sense?

Yours in despair.

Christopher Varley Skipton Road Gargrave Partial road solution Sir - I was disappointed at two contributions in the Craven Herald (March 5) about Jerry Croft. First there was a report of findings by a consultant which told us little we do not already know and seemed to think factors such as planters on the High Street were in some way relevant to Jerry Croft.

The second was the letter from James Paton who seems to relish the use of personal attacks, as do so many on the Left.

He criticised me as a late-comer to this issue. In fact, as the local town councillor, I first took up the issue of Jerry Croft with North Yorkshire County Council when it was closed for some weeks late last year, causing traffic chaos across the town.

I also commented at that time to the Craven Herald, which was then reported on February 12 when the Craven Council study was announced. I did include in that a partial solution by suggesting use by pedestrians of and signposting for the path behind the Town Hall leading to the High Street next to Pizza Express.

I think that Mr Paton and I actually agree that Jerry Croft needs to be kept open as there is no better alternative. This is important for businesses such as his and also for the town.

Town Cllr John Dawson, Skipton North Gainsborough Court Skipton A wonderful show Sir - I am writing to inform you of a wonderful pantomime at the community centre in Ingleton, produced by Carl Lis and directed by Liz Cartmell.

What a wonderful show, we enjoyed every minute it which included everything for all ages. It was funny. colourful, dance and excellent round entertainment. The director,and producer, and the rest of the cast should be proud of themselves.

Congratulations those who work behind the scenes, all a good team.

Lesley Howarth Ingleton Fracking ‘broad view’ Sir - Mr Scott’s reference to “the longstanding right of homeowners” (letters, February 19) is exaggerated, even wrong: concerning the extraction of petroleum or minerals, the law has provided for a balancing of homeowners’ rights with the national interest for over 90 years – there is no freeholder’s veto.

While Mr Scott and other correspondents busy themselves about our local backyard, the government (and our MP), quite rightly, have to keep the broader national interest in mind. At a time of such serious geopolitical instability, we (along with our European allies) must aim to decrease our dependence on hydrocarbon imports, especially from Russia and the Middle East, as a matter of urgency.

This, coupled with the government’s safeguards and the experience gained from fracking in America, lead me to conclude that Julian Smith MP was right to vote against the proposed fracking moratorium.

As for polls, were the question to put fracking squarely in the context of vital national interest, I suspect the public would be more supportive particularly when, as Mr Scott acknowledges, there is protection for AONBs and national parks and no threat to the outstanding beauty of our area.

Paul Irven Newmarket Street Skipton NHS day of action Sir - A week last Saturday (February 28) 38 Degrees held a day of action where, throughout the country, they collected over 300,000 signatures for a petition speaking to the saving of our NHS. This extraordinary result was aided by members of the 38 Degrees Skipton, group who - in just three hours - got over 800 people in the town centre and elsewhere in Craven to put their names to the petition.

What is even more extraordinary is that, despite being informed of the event beforehand and being told of the fantastic results of the petition, the Craven Herald made no mention of it in last weeks edition. Why? This was a monumental national result about an issue which much of the country finds concerning, which was aided by a goodly number of Craven residents and yet you decided not to cover the story. A decision I find incredibly disappointing.

Stephen Walpole Clifford Court Skipton l Editor’s note: A report on the day of action is on Page 19 of today’s Craven Herald Care concerns Sir - I have been sorry to read on your pages that Royd Hill Care Home at Sutton in Craven has closed and that all residents have been moved to alternative placements. I understand that Care Commission registration was cancelled due to concerns about standards at the home.

As a social worker in a hospital for older people I am involved on a daily basis with the placement of patients in care homes. In the past I have also been involved in moving all residents from a closing care home to alternative accommodation.

I have had direct involvement in the creation of Lib Dem policies on hospital nutrition , care quality and abuse of older people which link closely to care home standards.

When placing a family member in a care home it is always hoped that the home will achieve high standards. My mother is a nursing home resident and this was my expectation when placing her. The Care Commission is the regulatory body in England.

A couple of weeks ago I visited two homes in Skipton along with Lord William Wallace of Saltaire and Edward Walker, chair of Skipton and Ripon Liberal Democrats. Residents at the homes were very happy with the care they received.

Should a care home fall below standards it is expected that its managers will aim to improve the care given otherwise measures will be taken to close the home. Sadly in the case of Royce Hill a decision was made to close the resource.

Moving residents from care homes is a risky business. There is evidence that moving people to another placement can be detrimental to their ongoing health and well being.

I hope all will be well for those that moved from Royce Hill to other resources.

I can assure residents that as MP for Skipton and Ripon I would be seeking to ensure quality care for local residents whether it be care at home or in care homes. I would not accept for constituents anything less than what I have expected for my own mother as a care recipient or what I have sought over the years as a social worker for my clients.

Jacquie Bell PPC Skipton and Ripon Liberal Democrats High Street Belhaven Dunbar Got the right man?

Sir - Julian Smith MP has attended 86 per cent of votes in this Parliament, 74 per cent of those since January 1 this year. He has spoken in 60 debates in the past 12 months. Both figures are “well above average”.

Inter alia he has voted for fewer MPs in the House of Commons; for equal gay rights; for smoking bans; for laws to promote equality and human rights.

Although he let the county down over his failure to vote in the standardisation of bicycle pedal tread depths across S Leicester and the Wrekin, I must ask if Mr Holland (Letters, March 5) is sure he’s got the right Mr Smith?

Allan Friswell Keighley Road Cowling Honesty in politics Sir - I thought there was an interesting contrast in last week’s letters between the letter from Andy Brown, the Green party’s candidate, calling for honesty in politics, and then the less than accurate reflection on Julian Smith’s voting record from Bob Holland in the letter following Andy Brown’s.

Mr Holland fails to mention, in what seems to be becoming the almost weekly Labour Party slot in the letters page, that he is one of those who run the Skipton and Ripon Labour Party. It is rather misleading not to point this out.

On the issues he raises, it’s also unfair on Julian Smith, whose voting record is one of the best of any MP. A quick check on theyworkforyou.com shows he attended 86 per cent of votes, well above the average, including on the issues that Mr Holland mentions.

By contrast, Ed Miliband, the man who Bob Holland presumably wants to be our next Prime Minister (though most in the Labour Party would rather have someone else I’m sure) attended 37 per cent of votes.

People are obviously entitled to express their opinions in their letters, but they should not try to mislead the readers.

Richard Colley Park Avenue Skipton Debate ‘empty chair’ Sir - David Cameron’s blatant attempts to avoid taking part in the TV debates are pretty pathetic to behold.

Having previously argued strongly for the TV debates, he now refuses to stand up during the campaign and defend his government’s record on the most public of platforms.

The TV debates at the last election were hugely beneficial in engaging people in the issues at stake and the public expects them to take place again this time around. An empty chair would be a fitting symbol of David Cameron’s lack of character and leadership.

John Pope Skipton