AT the Brightenber Hill wind turbines planning meeting on September 3, 2012, I expressed the view that recent flooding events in Craven resulting, among other things in the unprecedented cancellation of the Great Yorkshire Show, was due in part to the effects of climate change.
This view was loudly derided at the meeting by the so-called Friends of Craven Landscape (FoCL), and also by one of the councillors on the planning committee who, referring to me as “the Scottish gentleman”, condescendingly pointed out that I may not be aware that it rains in Yorkshire as well as in Scotland. My views were later also derided by Peter Rigby in your letters column as being “unsustainable green hogwash”.
I can’t help but wonder whether seeing large tracts of Craven’s landscape submerged under muddy sewage infested water in recent weeks has in any way awoken these parties to the harm being done to our environment by the burning of fossil fuels.
It would appear not if Julian Smith’s response to criticism of his support for fracking, reported in the article in last week’s Herald ‘Outrageous MP votes to frack’, is anything to go by. Mr Smith’s response that the focus is on lowering bills for consumers is counter to the argument that reducing energy usage should be at the forefront of cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
If the full costs of the consequences of the climate change we are seeing today were applied to energy prices from burning fossil fuels in ever-increasing quantities, including shale gas, there would be a marked increase in the uptake of measures to insulate homes and save electricity.
Instead government support of such measures has been withdrawn.
To quote David Cameron in his speech to delegates from 195 nations at the opening of the climate change summit meeting in Paris this month: “Instead of making excuses tomorrow to our children and grandchildren, we should be taking action against climate change today.”
Exactly what party line is it that Mr Smith is toe-ing?
SANDY TOD
Malham

BACK in the 1970s while a student at agricultural college, I wrote a thesis on upland drainage. How I eulogised about the benefits of draining the moors (moorland gripping), the upland pastures and the lowland water meadows. It would be great for agriculture, increasing yield per hectare and profit for the farmer.
What I didn’t see back then is that the moorland grips would become eroded into ditches which are now taking surface water straight down the valley into the streams and eventually into the rivers. The water meadows that used to hold water and release it gradually now spew the water straight down river into our towns and cities. This is clearly demonstrated each winter when the river levels quickly rise and fall back down just as fast.
Back in the days before upland drainage, the river levels remained high throughout the winter months as the water from the moors and water meadows was gradually released back into the river systems irrespective of rainfall.
A few years ago I listened to the then head of the Environment Agency stating: “It is my job to get the water off the land and into the sea as quickly as possible”. How shortsighted this has turned out to be. They have built bigger flood defences and dredged deeper channels but, faced with the inundations of the last couple of decades, it can never be enough. As for the misguided decisions to build on old flood plains – enough said.
It seems we are faced with ever increasing deluge but hopefully the new flood relief scheme Skipton is embarking on will save the town from flooding once completed. This is intended to work by holding back upland streams with the use of dams and then releasing the water slowly over a period of time – acting like the old undrained moors and water meadows!
NICK SANDS
Gargrave

ON behalf of Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, I’d like to thank the many individuals, businesses and partner organisations that provided expertise, enthusiasm and financial support to help make our work possible over the last 12 months.
The landscape, environment and communities of the Yorkshire Dales are at the heart of our work, and I am delighted to say that we’ll be launching a new community grant fund in 2016 to support local people, organisations and initiatives, as well as continuing our existing work.
2015 saw the tenth anniversary of our ‘People and the DALES’ project, which provides life-changing opportunities for disadvantaged community groups. Over the last decade we have brought more than 7,600 people to the Yorkshire Dales to experience the health and well-being benefits of spending time in the countryside, often for the first time.
More than 7,400 people took part in our annual Flowers of the Dales Festival, which this year brought together 100-plus events led by experts and enthusiasts across the region. More than 30,000 people have now taken part in fun and educational events inspired by nature and wildflowers since the first festival in 2009, and I’d like to say a big thank you to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for supporting this project, and many others.
Environmental conservation has been another key focus, and with support from landowners and partners including the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Forestry Commission and the Fuelcard Company, we have continued to restore native broadleaf woodlands across the region. More than 1.2 million new trees have been planted to date, and we are looking forward to supporting other like-minded landowners with grants for tree planting in the coming year.
And 2016 looks set to be another exciting year here at the trust, with the tenth anniversary of wildflower hay meadow restoration through the ‘Hay Time’ project on the horizon, and several ambitious new projects in the pipeline – we’ll look forward to sharing details in due course.
DAVID SHARROD
Director, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, Clapham

ARE local residents aware of what is about to happen under their very feet? Licences have now been issued by central government which will allow private companies to extract shale gas by means of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in areas of northern England. North Yorkshire contains a number of these proposed sites.
Fracking involves drilling vertically to reach the gas bearing strata and then the drill is turned laterally so that bores are sent out horizontally. High pressure liquid (predominately water and sand but also containing chemicals known to be toxic) is then pumped into these bores to crack open or ‘frack’ the rock and release the trapped gas.
In already fracked regions of the world such as Australia and the US there is now compelling evidence that this practice can lead to a number of environmental and social issues including contamination of the water table; noise pollution from pumping stations; air pollution from flaring; sickness clusters around fracking sites; significant increases in heavy vehicle traffic; and triggering of localised earthquakes.
Furthermore, as already evidenced in Lancashire, fracking or even the threat of fracking can seriously damage property values. The government clearly want to press ahead with fracking but seem to be leery of disturbing the Home Counties Tory heartland. So they appear to have taken the advice of Lord Howell (a former energy secretary and father-in-law to George Osborne) and are trying their luck in the ‘desolate north’.
Which raises the question of where do the loyalties of our local parliamentary representative rest? Will he do the bidding of Tory central office and risk defiling this area of outstanding beauty – or will he stand up for us?
MIKE KNOX
Water Street, Skipton

WHILE North Yorkshire County Council, like all other authorities, faces another difficult year financially, it remains determined to continue to provide the best possible service to our 700,000 residents.
Through its Stronger Communities programme, councillors and officers have worked hard to ensure that our older residents as well as those in the community of all ages who are vulnerable are well supported.
Our highways are, in the main, much improved after an additional multi-million pound investment and concerted efforts by the council and its contractors to repair the extensive damage caused by severe weather over recent winters.
By working with our population, the town and parish councils, North Yorkshire is in many fields proving to be an exemplar authority nationally, showing what can be achieved in the face of financial adversity. We have an education service of which we can be truly proud and our children and young people’s service and social work practice has been applauded by government.
The response from our residents who have volunteered to help the council deliver such services as libraries and youth clubs, and who give tremendous support to vulnerable neighbours, shows what a caring community we live in.
At the start of my term of office last May, I launched a new award scheme to celebrate the work, very often unrecognised, which goes on in our communities – people who give many hours of their time to run projects, voluntary organisations, and initiatives all aimed at improving the quality of life for our residents. Their dedication has in so many cases, matched that of the county council’s own staff who have been able to offer their skills and expertise to the volunteers.
The award scheme attracted nearly 120 applications and the judging teams spent many hours, initially to draw up short lists, and then to visit the finalists and decide the winners. It proved, if proof was needed, what a caring community we have. It was humbling to hear of the many activities which are carried out by people who are using a great wealth of skills and expertise to help the council ensure our residents are supported and cared for and can enjoy this wonderful county in which we are all privileged to live and work in.
One behalf of the county council, I sincerely thank all our staff and our many hundreds of volunteer helpers, for their wonderful work and wish everyone a happy, peaceful and healthy 2016.
CLLR DAVID JEFFELS
Chairman, North Yorkshire County Council
County Hall, Northallerton

I WOULD very much like to take the opportunity to thank the retailers and people of Skipton for their kind hospitality during the past few years.
I have regularly visited the town with my mother, usually on a Friday morning, and we have always felt so welcome.
My mother had a stroke a few years ago and is restricted in mobility. I am saddened to read in your paper – (Disabled parking rule-change row, December 10) – Craven District Council is going to charge blue badge holders for parking in the town car parks from the new year. Quite frankly, the excuse it has cited for making the change is disgraceful.
It would be impossible for my mother to access a car without using one of the widened disabled bays, so other bays are just not feasible.
It is always stressful finding a suitable parking space and transferring from car to wheelchair in all weathers and then ensuring the badge is properly displayed. The fact I don’t have to fumble about for change or leave my mother unattended while looking for a parking meter does help a little.
Skipton is a charming town with some lovely independent shops and cafes, as well as a great market, but it is not the easiest of towns to navigate with a wheelchair.
In this season of goodwill, I would hope Mr Ellis and his team might reconsider this proposed action.
As far as I am concerned, we will be making future trips to other towns where their councils are much more welcoming.
CLIVE SMITH
Park Avenue, Otley

I REFER to the item in the recent issue of your paper relating to local bus routes, particularly when this relates to here in Barnoldswick (Councillors want later evening bus service from Skipton, October 1).
Four months ago I gave up driving having held a licence for around 65 years. Initially I found this very difficult as, any driver will know, it is so easy to take out the car even for quite short distances.
However I have come to terms with this and now make good use of the town bus service where the driver will pick up or set down a passenger at any point on the route. Additionally around 90 per cent of those who use the service are, like myself, senior citizens and it is surprising how many more folks I am getting to know.
Often when the weather is good I will manage to walk into the town centre, but with heavy shopping invariably catch the return bus to the end of the avenue on which I live. Without this local bus service many of the elderly who probably live alone would perhaps rarely leave their home.
Then, looking further afield, we have a good bus service on the Burnley to Skipton route and another, although less frequent, between Skipton, Clitheroe and Preston.
I fully appreciate that at this present time local authorities are having to make substantial financial savings and I suspect that most elderly people will have a bus pass allowing free transport. All I can say here is that as such a person I would gladly pay a small sum towards my journey if that would help towards maintaining the town’s local bus service.
DENNIS CAIRNS
Pen-y-Ghent Way, Barnoldswick

WHAT has happened to the Craven Herald? I read with despair the negative slant that seems to be prevalent in recent issues, in particular the comments on the Tour de Yorkshire 2016 finishing in Settle (‘Deadly bridge is too dangerous for Tour cyclists’, Craven Herald, December 17).
Settle should be showcased. It is a great place to finish the race, both to celebrate the long history the area has with cycling and to introduce new people to the delights of the area. Yes it will need attention to detail and planning. That’s why it is being organised with a wealth of professional expertise, marketed by our regional tourism organisation and supported by our local councils, all of who have experience organising such events. Plus the fact that ASO, the company who run the race, are experienced world leaders in cycle racing.
This prestigious event is likely to give a real boost to local businesses through extensive media coverage. Settle and the route the race takes through Craven has spectacular scenery that provides a wonderful backdrop for this race, not to mention the ‘feel good factor’ as residents and visitors enjoy a fun family day.
Let us all get behind this event, get the bunting out, decorate our bikes, bake buns and make sure everyone knows what a fantastic, warm welcome the cyclists and spectators can expect from ‘a reet good day out in Settle’.
And hope it doesn’t rain!
JEANNE CARR
Castle Hill, Settle

RECENTLY the letter pages of the Craven Herald have clearly demonstrated the deep sense of injustice with regards to Craven Council’s policies towards parking facilities for our disabled and disadvantaged drivers.
A nation is judged by how it treats and responds to the needs of the disadvantaged and disabled – so must Craven District Council be judged. Both Parliament and councils are elected by the people and subject to the will of the people.
Within these principles bound by statute of law everyday decisions within our cherished democracy are taken by our local district council. It appears that Craven’s leadership and their officer policy advisers consider adhering to the government’s financial requests greater than the decent moral protection of those disadvantaged by this uncaring approach.
Principles of decency are above political party diktats. I shall continue to champion the cause of justice and challenge injustice where and when ever it arises.
The drivers with blue badges should be aware that a planning application has been lodged to replace the disabled parking bays on the High Street setts, outside the unused Town Hall Offices – to be used as a seating area for a further cafe/restaurant.
Of course this will be to the significant financial benefit of the owner of these setts, Craven District Council. Surely is it not time for theCraven District council to reconsider these issues?
COUNTY CLLR ROBERT G HESELTINE
Newmarket Street, Skipton

MANY people will be considering giving things up for the new year, like unhealthy food or alcohol. But you can change your life by choosing to give.
Giving blood is amazing – you can save or improve the lives of up to three people each time you donate.
We always need new donors to ensure we have the right mix of blood groups among our donors to meet patient needs in future and to replace those people who can no longer donate.
We need more than 6,000 people to donate blood every day to meet the needs of desperately ill hospital patients.
Blood and platelets are not just used after accidents. They are used for patients with cancer, anaemia, childbirth complications, and in a wide variety of life-saving procedures.
Less than three per cent of people aged 17-70 donated blood last year. Thank you to everybody who donated and helped save lives – we look forward to seeing you again in 2016.
If you’ve never given blood before, register to donate blood and book an appointment to donate at www.blood.co.uk. Donating only takes an hour of your time.
So please start this year by changing not just your life, but someone else’s life too, by giving blood.
JON LATHAM
Assistant Director, Marketing and Donor Contact Service, NHS Blood and Transplant