Readers' Letters (From Craven Herald)

Behaviour of town clampers ‘despicable’

8:30am Saturday 11th February 2012 in Letters

Sir – I too feel I must write to your paper, as did two readers in the past two editions of the Craven Herald.

My son-in-law and his wife parked briefly (or should have been briefly!) in Devonshire Place about three weeks ago, to donate a bag of goods to the back door of the charity shop.

My son-in-law popped to the shop with the goods while his wife stayed in the car, when along came “Mr Clamper”, who must have been on look-out duty, and proceeded to clamp the car while the lady was still in it.

She said: “What do you think you’re doing, my husband has only been gone two minutes to drop some goods into the charity shop?” But he took no notice and proceeded to clamp the car.

He then demanded £150 before he would release the clamp. If they didn’t pay up within an hour, he would demand a further £150. So my son-in-law, after a heated debate with the guy, had to go into town and draw money out of his bank, as they hadn’t that amount on them. I think the guy’s behaviour was despicable.

I understand vehicles are allowed to park in “no parking” areas while they unload and that was exactly what my son-in-law was doing, so I think in this case Car Stoppers of Haworth were totally out of order, especially with a lady still sitting in the car.

So much for donating goods to charity, as it cost the couple £150 to do so. Granted, it was a “no parking” area, but a little consideration would have been nice in the circumstances.

Come on Car Stoppers of Haworth, as it cost the couple £150 to donate goods to charity, which would have taken two minutes, how about a bit of charity on your part?

M Robinson, Settle

Dog fouling blight

Sir – Having spent a wonderful week- long holiday in your town recently, both myself and my wife had just one issue that we would like to bring to your attention.

Whilst we have found the town of Skipton to be a very pleasant place to spend time as a visitor, we have noticed that, what could well be one of your premiere visitor attractions – namely the canal and its towpath walks – were blighted by huge amounts of dog fouling which made walking along its length akin to treading through a minefield.

I did approach one of your town ambassadors to make our feelings known and was told that he knew of this disgusting problem, but was at a loss to counteract the filthy owners who allow their dogs to spoil things for everyone else.

It would be very interesting, as there has obviously been a not inconsiderable amount of public money spent upon warning notices as regards the illegal practice of dog fouling, to find out just how many prosecutions for this offence were issued in the past year.

Judging from the number of dogs being walked on the towpath, many without being even on a leash, you don’t seem to be bothered about these disgusting anti-social, so-called dog lovers. I suggest you bring them to heel as soon as possible before others may take direct action.

We thank the people and traders of Skipton for their hospitality during our week-long break in your town and would love to return and hopefully find that your canal walks have become as pleasant as the rest of Skipton.

Mr and Mrs Jones, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire

Unwanted ‘gift’

Sir – There is a small shrubbery at the end of Rackhams’ car park, in Skipton, and about three weeks ago a neatly-tied plastic bag, clearly containing dog poo, was deposited there.

After a couple of days, realising it was not going to go away without assistance, which seemed unlikely to be forthcoming, and that I was the one (perhaps the only one?) offended by it, I picked up the object and placed it in my own near-at- hand dustbin.

Today, a similar presentation has appeared and it occurs to me that if I remove this one too, then the gifts are likely to continue.

I would like to use your columns therefore to request the supplier to desist. I am at a loss to follow their reasoning with regard to their dog’s deposits. They clearly realise that it is anti-social to leave the mess lying about loose, so to speak, and have gone to the trouble of encasing it in a plastic bag. But what do they think happens then?

Plastic bags do not disappear of their own accord, especially when filled with a noxious substance.

Please, kind sir or madam, dispose of your dog’s doings yourself.

And whilst I’m at it, may I also ask the person who donated the broken umbrella and the ancient pair of shoes to Albion Square to use their own dustbins too.

Sheila Coe, The Box of Delights, Otley Street, Skipton

Consultation welcome

Sir – We are interested to learn that Skipton Girls’ High School is consulting on a change to their admissions process. If the change is driven by the recognition that the current process is unfair, then it is welcome.

North Yorkshire County Council has for too long denied there was any problem with the current tests. Yet year after year, children whose parents could not afford the coaching fees are rejected for a place at grammar school (though the children had achieved the highest assessments at primary school.) We understand that there will now be no “28 per cent cut-off” for girls from the Skipton area. So the high standards of local primaries mean more Skipton girls are likely to gain grammar school places.

With the majority of places at the town’s grammar schools currently going to children from outside Skipton, this looks like a better system. But will there be a mismatch with access for local boys to Ermysted’s?

Could a wider debate on this subject be sponsored by North Yorkshire County Council now? This new admissions system at Skipton Girls’ High School will affect far more families than the current consultation is encompassing.

Chris Baker, Pat Schofield, Keith Reeves,Andrew Rankine, Broughton Road, Skipton

Parking response

Sir – I am writing in reply to Anthony Rishton’s letter of ignorance in the Craven Herald (January 26)

I do agree with some points in this letter, however. The parking in Broughton road is pretty horrendous, but I’m quite certain that there hasn’t been any serious accidents due to parking on that road, so is it just the inconvenience to Mr Rishton and not safety?

Seeing as Mr Rishton littered his article with rhetorical questions, I’m going to only use one. Why does it matter what car someone has? Surely if Mr Rishton is that desperate for a safe parking space, he should pay for one.

Another point in his letter suggests that it only takes one hour (during rush hour) to build a full pedestrian crossing and fill a pothole in. He must be joking. I’m no highways maintenance worker, but I’m pretty sure that this work will take more than a day, let alone one hour.

I’m sure if North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) could control the time they completed maintenance, they would. If it’s for the safety of the pedestrians using this stretch of road, then this is more important than a few angry motorists for a day.

I would also like to hear Mr Rishton’s opinion on where they are going to ‘flatten other land’. I hope he has noticed that it has been re-developed into a mill.

Additionally, I don’t think NYCC have enough in their budget just to flatten land for another car park and if they did, you would have to pay to subside the cost of the ‘flattened land’.

NYCC Highways have been working on the mill since the very beginning and always been putting the public’s interest first, even when under extreme pressure from the developers. To see this phase in its finishing stages is probably very satisfying for NYCC.

Finally, as a matter of interest, NYCC Highways is based at Snaygill Industrial Estate, not at Belle Vue Mills.

Patrick Martin (age 18) Address supplied

Tea and social thanks

Sir – On behalf of the members of Sutton-in-Craven Community Centre Committee, I would like to express our appreciation to Age UK for providing the necessary funds to enable the South Craven Elderly Initiative Group to host a most enjoyable Christmas tea and social gathering at the Sutton-in-Craven Community Centre, in North Street, for the senior citizens of Sutton and the surrounding area on Sunday, January 8.

The event was attended by approximately 38 senior citizens, and music and entertainment were provided in addition to a lovely meal.

Everyone said how much they appreciated the efforts by local volunteers to provide such a pleasant social atmosphere.

Once again, we would like to thank Age UK and the South Craven Elderly initiative Group for making this event possible.

Les Joy, Secretary, Sutton in Craven Community Centre Committee

Help appreciated

Sir – I would be very grateful if, via your letters column in the Craven Herald, you would pass on my thanks to a couple of men who very kindly pushed my car up the hill outside Rolls-Royce in Barnoldswick on Saturday night as I got caught out by the snow returning home from football.

Well done, and thanks again.

Miss J Holden, Princes Crescent, Skipton

RAF memories

Sir – One of the RAF’s most colourful and historic overseas bases, Seletar, which closed in 1971, is remembered with affection by members of the RAF Seletar/Tengah Association.

Formed in 1997, the intention is to reunite any personnel who served, or were based, at Seletar or Tengah in any capacity, service or civilian, including families of those who were based there.

Should any readers wish to join us, with a view to possibly renewing old friendships or forming new ones, please contact me on 01904 612542 or email dt@deltatango.net for details.

David Taylor Chairman and Yorks Liaison Officer, 35 Lower Darnborough Street, Clementhorpe, York YO23 1AR.

Developing theme

Sir – Whilst reading your latest news about Grahame Maxwell, I began wondering whether a theme is developing at the North Yorkshire constabulary. What with Settle police about to move out into new accommodation in the former stables; and the Chief Constable still in the doghouse.

Charles Penrose, Name and address supplied

Cancer action needed

Sir – Today, World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) calls on the Government to play its part in seizing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reduce the burden of cancer globally. The cost of the disease, both human and economic, is increasing in the UK and globally and we know that factors such as unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, obesity and alcohol consumption are contributing to this rise, together with tobacco use.

The historic UN Summit on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) last September produced a Political Declaration that recognised the scale of the problem and was a positive step towards improving global health.

But establishing NCDs, such as cancer, on the political agenda is just the first act necessary in creating a comprehensive, effective and sustained response.

The Declaration recognises that prevention is the cornerstone of the global response to NCDs and we want to see the Government take a lead in formulating and implementing concrete, deliverable actions to help prevent cancer, along with heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

Goals such as reducing premature deaths from NCDs by 25 per cent by 2025 are entirely achievable, according to the World Health Organisation.

Foremost should be the development of meaningful policies in the key areas of food and nutrition, physical activity and alcohol – important factors in the prevention of NCDs – with measurable targets. Current policies, such as the Obesity Call to Action, place the onus only on the individual, fail to tackle underlying causes and seem to absolve the Government of responsibility.

We would like to see clear and ambitious measures put in place, such as halving the consumption of sugary drinks and reducing the proportion drinking more than the recommended alcohol limit by a third over ten years.

Goals like these need to be backed by clear monitoring indicators to allow people to judge how successful, or otherwise, the policies are proving.

We acknowledge the responsibility people have for their own health, but individual choice is constrained by many external factors and influences. The steps outlined above would see the Government embrace its role as the chief and central body responsible for public health.

Marilyn Gentry Chief Executive, WCRF UK President, World Cancer Research Fund