10:10am Saturday 26th December 2009
Sir - The litter on all the roads in Craven is now building up again. The council does not have the manpower.
We have a choice – live in constant growing grot or do something about it.
Every village must have a few people who care and are prepared to give two hours out of their lives, once a month, to take a bold step and, actually physically, go and litter pick.
The Grassington group would like to suggest that the last Sunday of January, February and March from 2pm to 4pm would be the delegated times for mass litter picking. Please write on your calendar.
The perfect answer in a perfect world would be to bring back the lengthmen. The idea is that every village has one person who, every Monday morning, leaves their village and walks half-way to the next village.
On this walk, they pick up litter and, almost more importantly, check all the drains to avoid flooding.
The lengthmen would have to be paid by the village councils so, immediately, there is the problem. I have been asking the national parks to do this for years, but without any success.
We are a major tourist area and some villages are entering Britain in Bloom. It is so revolting to see the roads in such a state when so little effort is required to improve the situation.
Would anyone who is willing to raise their heads above the parapet get out there with a friend or alone and do something about it now. “Mass picks” will take place on the last Sundays of the next three months. Thank you.
Bunty Leder, Lythe Cottage, Grassington
Sir - I am very disappointed that only negative outcomes of councillors’ allowances were reported by two councillors from the late administration and two letters of disapproval of the council’s actions.
This independent review of members’ allowances follows last year’s rejection of any increase when the Conservatives took control and discovered the appalling financial situation of Craven District Council.
But to go back to the council meeting’s acceptance of the Independent Committee recommendations after a six-year period.
Firstly, it was agreed that all councillors (30) should receive £4,200 not £4,400. Secondly, there should be four and not six lead members with Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA).
Thirdly, only one responsibility fee should be accepted. This is important to remember.
The leader of the council – yes – will have an increase but, to counteract this, will not claim for being leader of the party or a SRA for leader of a more cost-effective and efficient council.
Similarly, the deputy leader will not claim for a SRA for developing and strengthening Craven’s economy (including housing).
All in all, when calculating the total allowances paid to all, they show a saving not an increase, which points to the fact that we are very conscious and sensitive to our financial situation despite our increasing work loads.
As far as the audit is concerned – yes – it does not read well, but we have to remember that in 2008-9, we discovered the true state of our finances and had to produce two sets of accounts for 2007-8 and 2008-9.
Despite the desperate situation, in the auditor’s report they did remark the latter part of the year 2009 showed good progress but, of course, they had to take the whole of the year for audit, hence the low scores.
However, I can assure readers we are pulling together with the help of auditors, officers and members to put us back on track to improve the health of the council for the benefit of all.
May I wish us all a happy and, if possible, prosperous new year.
Councillor Marcia Turner CDC, Grassington Road, Skipton
Sir - Reading the Craven Herald (December 17), I could not help but be impressed with the dignity of Mr Wade concerning the tragic death of his daughter at Niffany Corner, Skipton.
This contrasts with the disgraceful behaviour of councillors in awarding themselves huge rises in expenses following a “damning report on council spending”.
Would it be too much to hope that, especially at this time of year, they would donate these increases towards stronger barriers at the site of the accident?
Joe Byrne, Gill Lane, Cowling
Sir - Ninety-three per cent of Craven councillors have computers (A Craven Diary, December 3). So seven per cent – presumably two councillors – do not have a computer and presumably are completely computer-illiterate. How can you function properly as a Craven councillor without the ability to communicate via a personal computer when the whole of the council services would appear to be computerised?
Keith Waddington, Park Crescent, Embsay
Sir - My wife and I were returning home to Settle through dismal heavy rain. We had travelled back from South Yorkshire with little to cheer us.
Our mood began to lighten when we got to Gargrave, lifted again coming through Hellifield and then reached its zenith in Long Preston. The reason for the change? The displays of Christmas lights that cheer the traveller on the A65. The Long Preston lights are especially charming, the “Maypole” lights hinting at the coming pleasure of the next year.
We would just like to say “thank you” to all those who have given their time and energy to give pleasure to others.
Graham Jarvis, Low Fold, Langcliffe
Sir - Selling Skipton and/or Settle Town Hall is not an option.
They are a valuable part of our community and part of the history of Craven. For years Craven district has suffered from mismanagement at all levels. Note the changes in top-level administration in recent years.
There is a lack of passion and commitment from many of our councillors. How often are they seen on our streets or providing regular surgeries for residents to take up issues?
I did hope that when the town hall front office was opened up on Saturday mornings, we should see people from the authority present.
The recent council open day was badly advertised and, in the evening, the entrance to the town hall was in semi-darkness. Very welcoming!
The museum/art gallery in the town hall is a credit to our town and our thanks must go out to the staff there who work so hard to maintain this bit of Craven culture. They should not be faced with cutbacks, nor should our other hardworking council workers.
As I have argued for the last five years, our councillors from North Yorkshire and Craven district should be engaged with local folk in demanding – via petitions and lobbies of parliament – more support from central government.
The cash is there. See bank bailouts and spending on US helicopters – machines not made in Britain.
Lastly, the anniversary of the infamous bus station. When is the yellow peril of a toilet to be replaced? What has happened to the doors in the narrow, snake-like waiting tunnel?
Again it is problems largely arising from a failure to really communicate with Craven people.
We need a full, frank and open meeting, well-promoted, to look at the needs of Skipton and Craven in general.
Brian Ormondroyd, Brindley Court, Skipton
Sir – The forthcoming review of education in North Craven gives us the opportunity to celebrate our extraordinary achievements and show why our middle school system is so successful.
We are proud to be able to offer the youngsters of the North Craven area the advantages of the three-tier system, which is being embraced by many other countries for sound educational reasons.
Our current system provides the best possible opportunities and support for our pupils at a time when they are experiencing the greatest physical, emotional, intellectual and social changes in their lives.
Unlike in larger schools, our pupils are known as individuals. We appreciate and understand their needs and nurture their development.
This means we can provide the personalised support which enables them to succeed academically, develop socially and fulfil their potential in a supportive, caring environment in order to become well-balanced, independent individuals who respect others and their surroundings.
Our standards of achievement are good, with the benefits of the three years pupils spend in our schools becoming especially apparent at the end of year eight, when our results exceed the national average for year nine. Our year eight pupils have been well-prepared to start completely new courses in year nine and embark on the next phase of their learning.
Where else could year six pupils have access to the facilities and opportunities offered by the middle schools with such excellent teaching environments for specialist subjects such as ICT, science, design technology, art and music?
Our staff, parents and pupils believe the facilities, support and opportunities the middle schools provide are the key to their success.
Middle schools in North Craven play a key role in the development of our young people. We provide a well-structured, closely-integrated, personalised curriculum through dedicated teams of staff who get to know their pupils very well. The child is very much at the centre of our philosophy.
Mary V Parker, headteacher, Ingleton Middle School, and AM Stapley, headteacher, Settle Middle School
Sir - Having been an avid reader of the Craven Herald for 30-odd years, despite not always having lived in Craven, I now feel compelled to write on two fronts.
Firstly, on the matter of Settle College, while understanding the need for a review of education in North Craven, I feel the viewpoint of a parent and child should be proffered, Our daughter joined Settle Middle School at a time when Settle College was not experiencing its finest hour. As parents, we thought long and hard about the right school for year nine onwards and, due to our daughter’s peer group and the new hope that the appointment of William Bancroft offered, we did settle on Settle College.
This was the right decision – our daughter achieved 10 GCSEs at good grades and is now studying at A level in four subjects as well as undertaking the AQA Baccalaureate .
Settle College is a fine school, of which the students and we, as a wider community, should be immensely proud. I would ask the local authority to consider this in its review process.
Secondly, the Little Chef roundabout at Skipton. Most of us who were taught to drive well know how to deal with a five-exit roundabout, but the new road markings at the offending roundabout have everyone totally bewildered and, as Alan Sturgess commented (Letters, December 3), it is an accident waiting to happen. Would the highways department please review this at the earliest opportunity?
Sue Bailey, Garden Cottage, Malham
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