Letters to the editor

I have submitted previous letters on this same subject following Remembrance Sunday events, the Peace celebrations et al and it might have been deemed a doubtful compliment for bystanders to suggest that the loud hailer – albeit nearly 40 years old – which I used at the Skipton Gala procession was far more audible. The frustrating reality at this latest services parade was that the town hall contraption was an absolute embarrassment.

It does seem particularly ironic when I hark back to my childhood at a time when there were still gas lights in the town and a local coalman and milklady were still undertaking their rounds by horse and cart that “Owd” Clegg from Ilkley was spearheading Skipton Gala procession with his loudspeaker van and he could always be heard from one end of the High Street to the other.

Yet, well over 60 years later and all the subsequent advances in technology – and not forgetting an almighty rise in rates and council tax – it does seem particularly pathetic that the council, whether it be town or Craven, cannot come up with something better than their present spluttering contraption.

Roger Ingham, Aldersley Avenue, Skipton.

SIR - Over the last two years or so, I have watched as numerous motorists continually break the law in Cross Hills in up to three ways.

Firstly, the centre of the village is a 20mph limit between the police station down to near the Old White Bear pub. Despite clear signage and when the road is not rammed with traffic, most drivers tend to drive at speeds clearly exceeding the limit by some way.

We also have a pedestrian crossing close to the charity shop and I have witnessed many times when the traffic light turns red and a motorist jumps it, despite pedestrians being almost in the road.

Lastly, when will drivers realise that when they are talking on mobile phones, that they are not 100 per cent focused on driving and are also breaking the law.

All three issues can be easily addressed by better “policing”, but the police might argue that they are busy with “serious crime”.

One fatality caused by any of the above concerns would be one fatality too many, so I call upon the local councillors, local police or indeed any local authority to act upon these concerns. Am I the only resident who notices these issues – surely not?

The cost of CCTV installation and/or speed cameras plus much more visible police presence is minimal compared to the cost of just one life lost to motorists flaunting the law in these ways.

Or have we become a society used to this kind of neglect?

Steve Fowler, Cross Hills.

SIR - Verner Wheelock’s letter about the NHS makes some interesting points about how savings might be achieved in the service. But even if every one of the economy measures he outlines proves practical and saves as much as he hopes there is still a serious need for more money in the NHS.

There is no getting away from the fact that the average age of the population is increasing at the same time as technology is creating new ways of looking after us. Replacement knee operations are but one example of a whole series of new services and techniques which add to the costs whilst also adding to the benefits. Top down instructions to remove bureaucracy are not a very effective way to cover the cost.

So I am forced to confess that those of us who are campaigning for an increase in progressive taxation to pay for the necessary and desirable improvements do indeed have a sinister motive exactly as accused by Verner. The sinister motive is that we are getting older every day and would quite like the service to be properly equipped when we need it.

Andy Brown, Green Party,Main Street, Cononley.

SIR - Regarding the proposed closure of Skipton Police Station (which does not surprise me), why don’t they move to the greatly under-used courthouse and have everything under one roof.

Another option is to put a couple of portable cabins at the top corner of the main car park, then they keep an eye on the car parking machines seeing.

They could save even more money by getting the staff to work from home.

A Munnerley, Long Meadow, Skipton.

SIR - Bravo, Cllr Myers on your comments regarding the Craven District Council whingers.

I question the more experienced and mature councillors in the hope that responsibility is shown in meetings which, as you say, can be costly and useless.

Maybe politics and other group issues are taking a more important role than Skipton and the Dales.

I feel it would not be unreasonable for the public to be aware of the councillors in question. After all, we are the taxpayers who elect them into office.

The loss of three, in my opinion, first rate councillors was quite a blow, but we have to move on as does our town.

Hazel Bulcock, Devonshire Mews, Skipton.