IN response to comments made by Skipton Town Council chief officer Dave Parker to my letter in the Craven Herald on August 20 – Makeover market – I don’t think anything in my letter suggested that I was looking for faults in our beautiful town, only in those who purport to run it.

I have a few things I would like to ask and say, as you singularly failed to answer or address any of the issues.

Can you explain why progress is slow? The tedious tale of the market has run and run and run. It’s a shambles, both organisationally and literally. In fact, it just gets worse.

If I, as a business owner, had a shabby, confused and failing business with no clear strategy and I explained it away by saying that I was trying to improve my business but progress was slow, I would deserve to be ridiculed.

Yes, the market attracts thousands of visitors to Skipton, but how much do these market seekers actually contribute to the town? If you speak to most local retailers, other than charity shops and cheap cafes, I suggest not a great deal. Perhaps a really expensive marketing consultant could help to establish the truth.

Can you explain why it is necessary, or healthy, to have a market four days a week? Without any doubt, money from the environs of Skipton gets spent elsewhere because to try to get anything done, unimpeded, on market days, is unbearable, if not impossible.

Can you tell us your plans for outside Rackhams? It will be, I assume, the residents of Skipton who will be paying for it. Consultation perhaps?

I sincerely hope it won’t be something that competes directly with any of the static retailers and that it is something better – although I suspect that will be tough – than the wonderful plant and flower stall which was driven to the other side of the High Street.

I do believe that some towns have worked it out. Not necessarily the Holy Grail, but something better than we’re managing at the moment. Malton, for instance, offers two hours’ free parking but makes its fines policy clear if you choose to take advantage. Seems very fair. Ilkley has a plethora of good independent shops and the atmosphere and offer is vibrant and of high quality. Perhaps you should aspire to be that ‘someone’ you refer to, Mr Parker.

Please pop into the shop and introduce yourself, as I’ve never actually met the person who seems to carry so much influence in the town to which I endeavour to contribute, both socially and economically. I’d love you to have a look at my business model and explain to me how I might better cater ‘properly’ for the visitors to our town. I’d be very excited and delighted to have your views.

I’ve thought about your suggestions regarding the Chamber of Trade, but would prefer a more positive and proactive forum to discuss the needs of the town overall rather than hear the complaints of individuals. I would also like you to explain fully what the town partnership is? I have no idea what that actually means, or is it the money I give to The BID to pay for a Christmas market where you let stalls to out-of-town traders who directly compete with our year-round businesses? I’m still waiting to see if someone from the council offers me first opportunity to sell my wares.

Do I care about Skipton? Yes, passionately.

Come on. Stop making excuses, start thinking like a business and just get on with it.

AMANDA ACKROYD, Relish and The Magpie, Skipton.

A HUGE thank you from the Settle and Ribblesdale Fundraising Group to everyone who supported our Strictly Got to Dance Event, which was held at North Ribblesdale Rugby Club on August 21.

An entertaining evening was had by all, and Phil and the staff at North Ribblesdale were the most welcoming hosts.

We learnt to Zumba and to Jive and enjoyed watching the brave souls who took part in the Dad Dancing and Air Guitar competitions. A special thanks go to Geraldine, Barbara and Jean, who tried to teach us better moves, and to Home Barn Foods for feeding us so well when we needed to top up the energy levels. Denny provided the motivational DJ tunes and Erika had worked her magic to transform the clubroom into a space fit for any disco diva.

Ticket sales, the raffle, prizes donated by generous local businesses and private donations enabled us to raise more than £650 for Marie Curie nurses to provide care and support for terminally ill patients and their families.

Thank you everyone.

KATH METCALFE, Settle and Ribblesdale Marie Curie Fundraising Group chairman.

FURTHER to Philip Svejoha’s letter in the Craven Herald on August 27 – Catch the ‘nutters’ – I would like to add that drivers only behave in these criminal ways because they have been consistently allowed to.

The penalty for any kind of dangerous driving should be a rest-of-life driving ban and confiscation of the vehicle involved and any other owned by the criminal. Recklessness and intentional criminality should attract additional penalties to this.

When they are allowed to do 35mph in a 30mph zone, it soon becomes 40, then 45, then 50 and so on ad-fatalitum. Giving pointless sentences, like short bans that are reduced for any willy-nilly reason and small fines, only encourages the criminal to continue offending. Perhaps those doling out sentences are protecting their own kind? Anyone innocent who is involved in an accident has a rest-of-life effect from it. Bans could be issued for inconsiderate use of vehicles.

While I’m on the subject, why are vehicles capable of exceeding the legal maximum road speed allowed in the first place? No responsible person would ever break the laws of the roads so those so doing should immediately lose the right to use them. If lethal vehicles can be used by anyone then why not guns? Or dangerous chemicals? Or dangerous drugs?

S MOORE, Todmorden.

I WELCOME, with some reservations, the news that a more suitable place of safety has been found for Craven people in mental health crisis, who pose a threat to themselves and/or others – New place of safety will be refuge for mentally ill (Craven Herald, August 27).

Where are the people from Craven in the photo? What input was there from Craven other than from Julia Mulligan, who must only have a small amount of time for Craven with the rest of North Yorkshire to serve?

I wonder where the money for this is coming from? Is it to be paid for by Bradford and District Community Care Foundation Trust (BDCCFT), which at present provides mental health care for Craven people from the measly 3.5 per cent NHS budget for mental health the Government promises?

Which other service will get less for the far greater number of people who need help for their mental health care?

I worry that it seems to me that when it comes to dealing with ‘dangerous’ people, no expense or resource is spared to ‘protect’ society, and consideration for the one in four people with less severe mental health problems goes on the back boiler – until they become one of the ‘dangerous’ people. If there were sufficient resources for all Craven people who need it, then maybe there would be even fewer people reaching the crisis point where they need a service in far off Harrogate.

Craven is largely a rural area, where public transport to some relatively nearby places like Harrogate is virtually non-existent. No doubt the person in crisis will be taken to Harrogate by ambulance or police transport (sometimes handcuffed and thrown in the back of a van used for criminals – for whose safety?). The person’s friends and relations (in, say, Bentham) will find it difficult to visit and support their loved one, or offer background information about the person, if required.

When the person is deemed fit to be transferred to BDCCFT, how much time will be needed for handover, notes to read, medications to continue etc? It seems to me it will cost the NHS more for the services to be transferred with the patient – case meetings, ward rounds, protocols to write and so on. This does not even consider the effect on the person involved – new healthcare staff, consultants, nurses, and community staff.

I hope when the time comes, the people of Craven will realise what is happening and demand consideration and funds for their unique situation.

LORETTA GOOCH, Midland Terrace, Hellifield.

I FIND it ironic that having recently elected a government that is committed to the operation of free market forces, many of those who elected it are now complaining loudly when free market forces are operating against the dairy industry.

Maybe I am wrong but I don’t recall such loud complaints when free market forces operated a few years ago against the coal mining and steel industries.

As your editorial – Milk prices hit dairy farmers (Craven Herald, August 13) – pointed out, there is too much milk being produced, so farmers will have to accept that fact and produce less, just like the miners and the steel workers have had to produce less coal and steel.

What we need in rural areas is a new industry to replace livestock production. This could be the growing of biomass to produce biofuels, which will be necessary for transport use in the low-carbon future that lies ahead of us.

There would be two advantages in this. Firstly, it would displace meat and dairy production, which are major causes of climate change through the greenhouse gases they produce. Secondly, it would boost the solar energy industry. The problem with solar energy at the moment is that it produces the most electricity in summer when the demand is lowest. However, the maximum growth rate of biomass is in the summer, so solar electricity could be used for biofuel production, helping to level out electricity demand.

A new industry like this is not going to happen overnight, so it would need government encouragement and subsidy to get it off the ground. Unfortunately, we now have a government in power which has given up on climate change and, it seems to me, and, with recent attacks on onshore wind and solar energy, the above arguments are likely to fall on very deaf ears indeed.

KEITH BRADSHAW, Riversdale, Giggleswick.

CRAVEN District Council funding for Settle Area Swimming Pool is to end.

The pool serves all sections of the community (regardless of age, ability and fitness) in North Craven, it delivers a vital service for the health and wellbeing of the public – it merits continued support from CDC.

As a committee, we are doing everything possible to increase income. A business sponsorship scheme will shortly be introduced, admission prices have been raised and we benefit from generous donations from individuals and organisations in the area. CDC and North Yorkshire County Council offer guidance on potential savings and viability improvements, but we need revenue funding to guarantee a stable financial future.

The difficulties CDC faces from restricted central government funding are well known, nevertheless there are statutory obligations (school swimming and health and wellbeing strategy) that can only be delivered for the people of North Craven by the pool at Settle.

In addition, it would be impossible for many of our classes, including mother and babies, Age UK and physiotherapy to access the facilities at Craven Pool.

Mention of Craven Pool flags up benefits it has received in recent years. Apparently, at present, it operates at a surplus, but, of course, it has had major investment and only in March 2014 Cllr Knowles Fitton announced that it was no longer in need of a £300,000 subsidy.

Other Skipton spending leaves many in North Craven envious. The huge sums currently allocated to Skipton Town Hall being an example, plus £70,000 provided last year for cosmetic improvements for the Tour de France to flash past.

More recently, CDC has provided significant sums (more than £50,000) for the skatepark and pump bike track.

Clearly, money can be made available. So, whilst we understand that support for swimming is discretionary, there are mandatory requirements and it is difficult to envisage a more deserving cause than our pool.

TREVOR GRAVESON, Settle area swimming pool committee chairman.

I AM writing to thank you and your readers for supporting the British Heart Foundation Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on July 11.

With more than 500 hikers taking part, we yet again enjoyed a successful year, so thank you to everyone that signed up.

There’s just one more very important step we need all of those involved to take.

Whilst we are thrilled with the turnout again for this event, what allows us to come back year after year is the money the event raises; money that funds pioneering research in the fight against heart disease – a disease that claims more than 200 lives in Yorkshire every day.

Thank you to everyone who has already sent in their sponsorship money. So far we have raised more than £75,000. However, we know there are still donations to come. We are urging everyone that worked so hard to achieve their challenge on the day to make their achievements count. by helping to fight against the UK’s single biggest killer – coronary heart disease.

The best way to raise money is to set up an online fundraising page, or should you need any more sponsorship forms, please contact us on 0845 1308663 or e-mail events@bhf.org.uk.

We are excited to announce the date for next year’s event will be July 9, so why not sign up early to secure your place? Entry fees will be £35 and you can register by visiting bhf.org.uk/Y3P or calling the events team on 0845 1308663.

HELEN WRIGHT, BHF Event Organiser.

I REFER to Jill Wilson and John Lovell’s houses – Letters (Craven Herald, August 6).

Skipton and Embsay represent a tiny part of the fabric of complaints heard around our country. No matter where you go in Britain, the message sounds the same. Too many new house builds; too many motor vehicles – for one is a concomitant of the other.

As long as our government refuses to recognise the connection between population growth and the pressing need for new housing and its corollary, the motor vehicle, then we are in for a very bleak future indeed. In Germany in 2005, the population growth was 0 per cent. In 2014, the population growth was 0 per cent. Need I say more?

B CROWTHER, Pendle Court, Barnoldswick.

ON August 5, I decided to take my wife, Margaret, for an hour or so away from her Colne nursing home.

Skipton is only about half-an-hour away, and is ideal for there is lots going on at the canal basin, with disabled parking close by.

Now, Margaret lacks mobility due to her problem with type two diabetes, and had difficulty with the high step into the newly re-furbished loo.

Out of the blue came guardian angels. The gent, a retired postman, like me, offered instant help. He eased Margaret gently up the step whilst his wife gave her help inside the beautifully tiled, refurbished interior. It turned out they both worked in a care home in Wigan and, like us, were just in Skipton for the day.

In this mad, rushing about world we live in, its nice to know some people still care and will help others in distress. I don’t suppose they will read this, but if they do, we would like to say a great big thank you.

FRANCIS FORREST, Dale Street, Earby.

HOW fortunate to see that North Yorkshire County Council has funding available to provide grants for groups wishing to do feasibility studies on whether or not they are able to develop a community resource.

At the same time, Craven District Council has apparently made £300,000 available to improve the towpath along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to make it more inviting for pedestrians and cyclists – Council agrees £300,000 for towpath works (Craven Herald, August 6).

Whilst this desire to improve local amenities exists, might I suggest encouragement, financial or otherwise, be given to Sustrans, which, as I understand it, is trying to reopen the railway bed between Colne and Skipton for the use of cyclists and pedestrians.

No management consultancy costs required and positively the greatest improvement to the area that could be made whilst this opportunity exists.

If nudge tactics have any power, then my wish is ‘please make it so’.

PAUL SLEGG, Lower Croft Street, Settle.

I WAS surprised to receive a first class letter from North Yorkshire County Council last week, especially as it was in response to my contribution to the consultation about libraries, which I had submitted a few months ago.

When I read the letter, NYCC thanked me for my interest in volunteering. The problem was, I hadn’t.

I was confused because I thought the consultation was an opportunity to express my opinion about the proposed changes to our town’s library service.

But then I thought again, and realised it was NYCC who is confused because it thought my contribution was in fact an application form.

I was just left with the feeling that perhaps that was what it was about all along.

GINNY WILKINSON, Whinfield Court, Skipton.