10:30am Saturday 28th August 2010
Sir - On Saturday July 24, 500 walkers took on a huge challenge and climbed the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
I would like to thank participants from Yorkshire who took part, everyone did an amazing job and it is hoped the event will raise around £75,000 for our pioneering work. We met some wonderful people, and each and every one had their own special or personal reason for scaling Penyghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in the 25-mile hike.
Heart disease touches us all and by taking part or supporting events like this, together we can beat heart disease.
To find out more information about our fantastic forthcoming events, including our High Peak Trail Winter Challenge Walk on Sunday November 21, please visit bhf.org.uk/northevents or contact 0800 025 2280.
Carl Jones, BHF Events Team, Ransom Wood Business Park, Southwell Road West, Mansfield
Sir - I am writing to inform the readership of an apparent new minimum speed limit rule at Skipton Baths (the pool, not the car park). This speed limit is not posted anywhere (either in knots or mph), but nonetheless appears to be known by some of the swimmers.
This Thursday I went for my fairly regular swim in order to further improve my fitness and, as my speed is most suited to that lane, dared to set foot (or actually dived whole body) into the ‘fast lane’.
Mid-way through my initial 10 lengths the attendant called me to the side. I was rather surprised but went over. I was even more surprised at what she said!
“Can you move to the middle lane for slower swimmers please? The ‘gentlemen’ in this lane have complained you’re not fast enough and they’re in training.”
I assured her that I too was in training and pointed out that my speed was around twice the speed of the fastest person in the middle lane (no offence to the swimmers there, of course). No matter, she said, could I please move. So, feeling a little irked at the rudeness of all this – after all, so far as I know we’d all paid the same fee, or rather, as a fully employed person I probably paid rather more for my swim – I moved into the middle, slower lane.
After two lengths I was pulled up by an irate swimmer in that lane complaining that I was being dangerous and passing people. This was despite the fact that the only person who had suffered was myself by getting kicked fairly regularly during my lengths, despite taking what I hoped would be a wide enough berth round other swimmers. At this point I realised I was wasting my time trying to get fit with the elite, and was obviously not welcome, so went to help my elderly mother train in the other pool for the remainder of my session. When I told her why, she reminded me that we’d always jokingly called the fast lane the ‘sharks lane’ due to the grumpy and over-competitive attitudes of the people who often frequent it.
They used to look especially grumpy when I beat them sometimes!
However, I would like to invite the super-fit ‘gentleman/men’ who complained to please accompany me in one of my other sports so they can illustrate their superiority of fitness even more – please accompany me up several 3,000ft mountains one day. I reckon a smooth 6,000ft or so of ascent will do it. However, if you lag behind, I’ll simply leave you to navigate your way back off (or you can phone mountain rescue) . . .
Carol Oliver.
Wood View, Embsay
Sir - How I agree with Jane Houlton (Letters, August 19, Granville Street development). Yet again there is a proposal to deface the town’s character, and indeed the whole environment, by putting up more inappropriate residential property development at a site where it would despoil the amenity of the neighbourhood for those who already live there. Such schemes have become something of plague affecting the social stability of a modest-sized rural town such as constitutes the very essence of Skipton.
There is every reason for the community at large to call a halt to this, and several other misguided decisions, by such an unloved and ineffective local government of the kind we have to put up with.
Arthur Butterworth, Dales Avenue, Embsay
Regarding Garnett’s Year (August 19) and the picture of the climber on Kilnsey Crag. May I point out to you and your readers that Kilnsey is not in Littondale, but is in fact situated in Wharfedale.
When Mr Garnett next wins an award perhaps the prize should be an Ordnance Survey map. Will he be trying to tell the readers that Lancaster is in Yorkshire next? Jack Heseltine Hideaway Cottage, Kettlewell
* Editor’s note: Our photographer is not to blame for the error, which unfortunately occurred in the subbing process.
Sir - With reference to Garnett’s Year (Craven Herald, August 19) and the comment “the landscape of the Yorkshire Dales was shaped by melting glacial ice 300 million years ago”.
I believe you need to lose a few zeros from that estimation. Half a million would be more accurate.
JB Sunderland Braithwaite Road, Keighley
They haven’t been around long, but already the people of Skipton are getting used to seeing decorated sheep in shop windows and now designer sheep large enough to sit on are all over town.
The queen of them all has to be the Coronation Sheep in the window of the Skipton Building Society, dressed in the inimitable style of barmaid Bet Lynch.
I bet Julie Goodyear would be thrilled to see the extra fame this design has brought her as it is recognisable as being based on her by everyone on sight.
Placing the piggy bank sheep outside the town hall is a stroke of genius by someone, confusing everyone who could easily imagine it is a cost-saving scheme by the council for collecting the hated council tax.
Unfortunately, the sheep outside Bon Marche has already suffered some damage to its paint. Why are there always some idiots who think it is fun to spoil someone’s ideas and hard work?
Sadly, this sheep has now disappeared and plunged us into the ‘mystery of the missing sheep’, as on Sunday morning all that was left of it was the plinth with four brackets and scrape marks on the edge of the pavement? Has it been taken for repairs or has some bright spark vandalised it by stealing it?
No doubt the Craven Herald will soon get to the bottom of its disappearance.
And talking of sheep – doesn’t Sheep Street look different now that two shops have been done up and occupied by Costa Coffee and Holland & Barrett?
Patricia Mason Sackville Street, Skipton
Sir - I cannot believe that over the past few years, more and more people are using Christ Church grounds as a dog toilet.
Only yesterday, I saw a woman with her dog and watched as she allowed it to urinate on a grave stone. While the grave stones may have been moved to the edge of the grounds, I am sure that all the remains in this church graveyard are still there.
I only hope that at some point Mr Williams, the Vicar of Christ Church, will start to lock all the gates at 6pm, the same as they do at Holy Trinity Church.
While these people continue to use Christ Church grounds as a dog toilet, I am sure that if these inconsiderate people started using Waltonwrays Cemetery in the same way, then the people of Skipton would have something to say.
At the end of the day, the churchyard is consecrated ground and no matter how long ago, Christ Church has been the final resting place for many and for this reason should be respected.
I only hope that for the people who are walking their dogs in the church grounds, when it is their time to depart this life, that future generations show them respect.
Aireville Park is not far from Christ Church and many responsible dog owners take their dogs there.
Marie Ideson, Church Street, Skipton
Sir - With reference to the article in the Craven Herald on August 12.
The changes to the free bus pass from April 2011 mean not being able to use the pass until 9.30am. I live in Ingleton, so the 9am bus to Settle and Lancaster is important because the next bus going to Settle is at 11am.
The bus to Settle gets in in time to catch the bus to Skipton, a good connection. Those folks who want to do their shopping, and so on, have a coffee and catch the return bus at 11.30am, in time for lunch – enough for older people.
One lady, who is 90, often goes just for the run, with a smile on her face all the way. She would not understand she could not use her pass. The next bus leaves Ingleton at 11am, gets into Settle at 11.30am and returns at 1.30pm. That makes it a long day as a lot of folks get up early, including myself. We do not want to have to wait until 11am. Another thing is, doctor, dentist and hospital appointments. People have to fit their appointments around the timetable, so the 11am bus is not an option.
I hope someone comes to see the people of Ingleton. I realise that many areas have a poor bus service, but a lot of older people rely on the bus to Settle.
May I make one more point. Perhaps we could pay a small token on the early bus. A small amount is better than nothing. As there would only be a few passengers, they may decide to cut the bus, with the first bus running at 9.30am. Not good.
Mrs V Lucas, Burnmoor Crescent, Ingleton
Sir - How dare Norman Simpson make any comment on concessionary fares (adjusting bus timetables).
It is well-known that subsidies are given towards these fares and, in some cases, fuel discount. We live in a rural area, as he well knows. By making alterations to the system of using our passes, we here in Long Preston (and others) would not be able to start our day by public transport until after 10am.
It has been an annual approach to Mr Simpson by myself, on behalf of people with a mobility problem and mums with pushchairs, asking for modification to be made to his buses. The last comment three years ago was that he was selling land to Marks & Spencer and would do “something” after that. The said store in Skipton has been there for some time now!
The Disability Discrimination Act was passed in 2004 and Pennine Buses are supposed to be a ‘public’ transport system.
The comment, ‘charity starts at home’ is appropriate and action needs to be taken.
Thank you to Chris Lund for making his contribution.
Elizabeth Gray, Retired chairman of Skipton and Craven Action for Disability, Station Road, Long Preston
Sir - I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the effort to delay the road works on Otley Street. They have been put off from September and October to February and March next year.
The gas utilities company, Enterprise Plc, said in your paper that it wished to cause as little disturbance as possible while carrying out the replacement of the gas main. We asked them to delay the work until next February/March.
They listened to the many representations and agreed, proving their willingness to work with the community. This deserves great applause and I thank them for their consideration. In addition, they ran a public meeting last Wednesday for people to view plans for the works proposed and ask any questions.
This was appreciated by those who attended.
Skipton Chamber of Trade, Skipton Bid, Craven Court Management, Skipton Town Council, North Yorkshire Highways and others put their influence behind the request for the delay, so many thanks to them all.
Rufus D Drake, Ellesmere Press Ltd, The British School, Otley Street, Skipton
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