11:10am Saturday 5th December 2009
Having now approached the revised roundabout at the main junction of the A65, A629 and A59, near the Little Chef and the new council offices outside Skipton, I am forced to conclude that the new road markings are not only wrong, but that they are inherently dangerous.
The lanes have been drawn and “arrowed” in such a way that it is frighteningly easy to find yourself in the wrong lane or to find that someone else has been misdirected and thus ends up cutting in from the left or right as you try to exit.
Unlike the markings for the roundabout at the end of the Keighley bypass, where the A629, A6088 and B6172 converge, exit destinations are not shown on the road surface and lane divisions or changeovers are often both unclear and poorly “arrowed”.
For instance, when attempting to exit the roundabout and head towards Gargrave, it is far too easy to find yourself in what seems to be the correct lane with a “right” arrow as you go round the roundabout, only to suddenly see a poorly positioned “straight ahead” arrow on your left.
I cannot help but wonder if whoever designed the road markings for this revised layout has actually tried driving around it or could this be an instance of something looking good on a computer screen, with the designer feeling no need to actually test out the design behind the wheel?
Alan Sturgess, Eshton Road, Gargrave
Sir - I write in response to the review (Herald, November 19). While Chris Tate’s waxing lyrical about Slack Alice conveys an obvious adoration of this group, his comments regarding Ermysted’s Big Band did not do justice to this fantastic ensemble.
As the support band it was perfectly acceptable for them to leave at the end of their allotted time, especially when one considers the busy lives these pupils lead.
Those in the sixth form have demands placed upon them from several quarters, not only relating to their membership of the band, but also to maintain excellent academic standards while enjoying various other leisure activities and, in many cases, working part-time.
The use of the word “proficient” to describe such a group of young people, with an average age of 16, all of whom are practising and playing music at such a high standard is both unfair and unkind.
Furthermore, while staying on may have provided some entertainment, to suggest that these outstanding musicians would have learned anything, is remarkable. Is Chris Tate suggesting that by leaving the venue these band members are in some way arrogant enough to think they have nothing to learn from older, more experienced musicians? This is entirely wrong. In recent years many members of Ermysted’s Big Band have spent a good deal of time with Snake Davis and his band at a number of his workshops and gigs. They all acknowledge how beneficial this has been.
If, however, what is being alluded to is more subtle, namely the lifelong love of music and the boundless rewards of live performance, I am sure Mr Tate would agree that all members of both bands have already got that message.
Perhaps the only lesson to be learned here is that taste is personal and an inclination towards one particular style should not stand in the way of acknowledging genuine talent.
Karen Witek, Skipton Road, Gargrave.
* Editor’s note: Unfortunately, the review had to be cut and some positive comments about the school band were deleted.
Sir - I would like to say 1,200 “thank-yous” to the kind people of Craven, Earby and Barnoldswick for helping us send shoeboxes bursting with joy to poor children in need, as part of the Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child.
Marie Chapman, co-ordinator of Operation Christmas Child, Poppyfields Florists, High Street, Gargrave
Sir - Through your pages, could I please send my thanks to the kind man who helped my daughter out.
She had been driving through a flood between Hellifield and Coniston Cold on Wednesday morning, November 18, when a wagon came the other way covering her car with water and causing it to cut out in the middle of the flood.
The man came to her aid and pushed her car out of the flood.
I do not know who he is, but would just like to say, “Thank you very much.”
A Venn, Stainforth Road, Langcliffe
Sir – I really enjoyed your little “tongue in the cheek” piece of humour entitled “Businesses get help to grow” (Herald, November 19).
The sheer audacious invention of its author in pretending that Craven District Council would dare to mount an event advising others on how to conduct Business and manage money made me fall off my chair with laughter; the touch about setting it an hour’s drive away from Craven was a master strike. It would have been even more effective if it had been written for April Fools Day.
I do suppose that the real point of the article was to reinforce yet again the message that Craven District Council is not fit for purpose.
Thank you for a good laugh.
John Kerwin-Davey, Newmarket Street, Skipton
Sir – How good to see Craven District Council’s policy committee having time to discuss those matters of real importance to the council.
Many taxpayers are seeing their livelihoods reduced and their jobs in peril and CDC itself is having to group with such remote areas as Selby in order to try to keep its increasingly waterlogged books from sinking.
That’s if Selby, a council rated as ‘Excellent’ by the Audit Commission as opposed to Craven’s 1 out of 4 for its financial standing, will accept.
Nonetheless, much time was given to discussing the important matter of councillors’ allowances, with the recommendations of the remuneration panel proposed and accepted by the committee.
Indeed the council leader, Coun Chris Knowles-Fitton, himself enthusiastically voted in favour of the scheme, a package which would see his leader’s allowance increased by 25 per cent from April next year.
I think the phrase is: “Congratulations, and trebles all round!”
Alan Perrow, chairman, Craven Ratepayers’ Action Group, Bannister Walk, Cowling
Sir - We would like to express the voice of many local people who are hugely dismayed at the changing face of our Craven Herald newspaper.
We are a small, independent business in Skipton High Street which relies heavily on local advertising in connection with your paper to promote our business.
We are seriously disappointed that our once much-talked-about “unique Craven Herald” has joined the realms of the tabloid press.
A local paper, meant for local people, in support of local businesses?
Somehow we think not!
Doug Hatfield, Brody’s Pizzeria, Sheep Street, Skipton
* Editor’s note: We are receiving both positive and negative reactions to the new format, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating and we are pleased to say the sales of the first issues were much-improved compared to those of the previous few months. This is good news for our advertisers, as well as for us.
Sir - I would like to congratulate you on the new format of the Craven Herald.
At least now I get half the settee back when my husband is reading the paper. Before, I had the sports pages thrust in my face as he attempted to read the paper. Hooray, keep up the good work!
Brenda Wood, Pant Lane, Austwick
Sir - I am writing to say I like the size of the new-style Craven Herald, but please put the births, deaths and marriages back on the second page of the paper.
A lot of friends have also said to me they would like to see the “hatch, match and dispatch” back in its old place.
B Simmons, Brook Street, Skipton
Sir - With regards to Skipton Mayor Chris Harbron’s fact-finding expedition on wheelchair access (Herald, November 26), I live on Overdale Park, Skipton, I am disabled and find getting into town is almost impossible.
I can get as far as the castle, but it is then too dangerous to cross the road. If you could, there is no chance on the pavement as it is too narrow. There are also no dropped kerbs at the junction of Embsay Road when you want to cross at this junction.
I am willing to let a councillor ride my scooter and let him or her try to cross the road at the junction of Embsay Road and also to cross at the castle.
Jean Ellis, The Green, Overdale Park, Skipton
Sir - As the Christmas season approaches, reindeer are being transported up and down the country to be used as entertainment in parades, ‘Santa’s grottos’ and other festive events.
Uprooting reindeer from their natural habitat and keeping them in captivity in this way causes significant health and welfare problems. According to research at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, this is thought to be linked to an increase in deaths in young reindeer, including seven that died from liver and gut flukes in Shropshire and another from a lung disease on a farm near Winchester. Quite simply, reindeer are not suited to living in the UK.
Animal Aid urges people to be compassionate this Christmas and choose cruelty-free entertainment. For a free guide to having a Compassionate Christmas, please contact Animal Aid on 01732 364546 or info@animalaid.org.uk Ashley Owen, Animal Aid, The Old Chapel, Bradford Street, Tonbridge, Kent
Sir - Like most Craven householders I am happy with the present scheme of having my wheelie bin emptied every week and my blue bin every month.
I don’t have any objection to having to wash tins, bottles and plastic to go in the blue bin in the new year, but I think replacing the blue bin with plastic bags for paper and cardboard is a step backwards.
The blue bin is outside and I easily fill it every month, so it just gets wheeled into place every collection day. Now I shall have to find somewhere to keep the bag inside the house and will have to heave it outside when it’s due to be collected.
No matter how careful you are putting the papers in, it eventually falls over and spills the contents – I know, I’ve had them before and if it happens to be raining on collection day the papers soon turn into a soggy mess.
I wonder if our council has considered what to do with mountains of soggy newspapers with the winter upon us and rain nearly every day.
Oh well, the oracle has spoken and once again the wishes of the people, which should be of paramount importance, have been ignored.
Patricia Mason, Sackville Street, Skipton
Sir – Grateful thanks are extended to all supporters of our open day in aid of the Royal British Legion. We should like them to know £1,106 was raised.
This included a generous donation from the organisers of the monthly charity dance held in Settle.
The Royal British Legion was represented by Mr and Mrs Alex Bentley of the Skipton branch and Edwina Woodhead of the London HQ.
Bill and Margaret Graham, Bankwell, Giggleswick
Sir - Re the sale of garages off Whinny Gill Road. I see 28 garages, 23 of which are currently tenanted by residents, will be sold to allow three detached houses to be built on the site. Just who is the Tory-led district council looking after?
Lynne Primmer, Grassington Road, Skipton
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