Letters to the Editor (From Craven Herald)

Letters to the Editor

2:33pm Monday 11th June 2012 in Letters

A town really pulling together

Sir - Yesterday (May 29) I travelled to Heywood near Rochdale (population about 30,000), Colne (about 23,000), and Cross Hills (about 4,000). In Heywood I counted maybe a couple of dozen union flags; in Colne maybe around the same with bits and bobs of bunting.

Driving through Cross Hills Main Street I was amazed and delighted by the overwhelming masses of flags and bunting outside almost every shop; the clever red, white and blue flower arrangements of the local schools; and by the general feeling of a town pulling together to really make a show to honour the Jubilee.

Glusburn Council, the local school children and all those decorated shops deserve huge praise for putting on a colourful and fun show. Size clearly isn’t everything!!

Allan Friswell, Keighley Road, Cowling

Hearty ‘well done’

Very often throughout time much is said to criticise our local councils in the way they spend ‘our’ money, however we would like to put on record our grateful thanks to Cross Hills and Glusburn Parish Council for the wonderful display of flags, bunting and hanging baskets they have provided to make the centre of Cross Hills a real picture for the diamond jubilee celebrations.

Furthermore the councillors did all work to install it all in their own spare time.

A hearty ‘well done’ to you all and many thanks.

Peter and Gillian Whitaker, G E Thornton and Sons, Main Street, Cross Hills.

Keep it local

Sir - May I please comment upon yet again witnessing the abortion regarding planning permission for Caffe Nero, as was done for Costa Coffee.

The regulations placed on the High Street as ground floor retail have been there to preserve the ambience, uniqueness and historical value of Skipton. I gather there is strong evidence to support this fact. Over the years many coffee shop businesses, some local, have been turned down as a result and have complied with the rules. It was stated that there are 30 coffee shops already in Skipton, many run by local people who abide by the regulations and do not trade on High Street ground floors.

The statement from Caffe Nero’s representatives is that many people only travel to Skipton to visit their establishment. The mentality of this statement made me realise the true picture of our vibrant town. The continuation of Caffe Nero’s breach of planning rules will only take away any control which the council has and will eventually lead to a High Street packed with undesirable businesses, many of which I suspect will be big companies touting food and drink outlets.

Do our local people who comply with the rules stand a chance? I think not.

Caffe Nero thinks our planning rules are outdated. They have stood us in good stead for many years giving us the popularity we now enjoy as a thriving town.

I have been a resident in Skipton for 70 years and ask for your support in any way possible to retain Skipton’s livelihood.

I strongly urge the public to patronise the coffee shops that are trading legally and not taking away retail trade from our High Street.

Keep it local, keep it legal.

H Bulcock, Devonshire Mews, Skipon

What has changed?

Sir - Regarding land on Green Lane, Glusburn: After years of fighting to stop the planning from being permitted for these dwellings I have received a letter today and it appears that the residents have lost the battle, with the Planning Inspectorate giving the decision of ‘planning permission granted for the erection of 49 dwellings with access roads, open spaces and car parking’, despite the numerous refusals in the past and clear opposition from local people.

It’s quite amazing that an individual can’t put a dormer on the front aspect of their property or may have to not have windows in certain locations in an extension out of consideration for their neighbours, yet a couple of FIELDS worth of houses can be allowed to disrupt an entire village’s privacy!

Really, what has changed so drastically since all this began to change the people in power’s minds about this development from a no to a yes? I do wonder...

D Cook, Glusburn

Disgusting conditions

Sir - As regular visitors to Skipton over many years my wife and I are astounded at the absolutely disgusting conditions allowed to continue on the main approach road to the town.

From Cononley Lane End onwards, the grass and weeds allowed to grow on both sides of the road are horrendous.

As the main town in the Craven Area and a tourist attraction to thousands, what their impressions are as they make their way to the ‘Gateway to the Dales’ is easy to imagine.

As a lifelong resident of Craven and proud to be so, it makes you wonder just where our rates are being spent.

B Pearce, Sutton-in-Craven

Garden celebration

Sir - On behalf of Skipton in Bloom, I would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who joined the Mayor of Skipton, Councillor Wendy Clark, and Julian Smith MP at the official opening of the Diamond Jubilee Community Garden on Sunday, June 3. Despite the poor weather, a large number of sponsors, supporters and local residents came along to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the community project.

Skipton in Bloom are looking for more sponsors and supporters to come on board for the next phase of work which will commence in September. More information is available at the website skiptoninbloom.co.uk

Sue Warburton, vice chairman, Skipton in Bloom

Not nimbyism

Sir - I would like to respond to the points made in Richard Ednay’s letters regarding the proposed wind farm at Brightenber Hill.

These machines are huge and would totally dominate the landscape for miles around. To compare them positively to some of the most damaging elements of industry in this country is not justification for allowing them in one of this country’s most beautiful areas. To do this by using the term wind “farm” is ridiculous and I suggest Mr Ednay looks up the definition of farm in the dictionary. This term was introduced by the wind industry to make them sound as though they could just be part of the farming landscape and people would accept them.

Some people think that a large wind turbine is an elegant, even beautiful, piece of engineering and I could agree with them if I was looking at it in isolation. However, these machines would, by their sheer size, change the very character of this area. I feel that we owe it not only to ourselves but to future generations to protect it. Not to do so would, I believe, be immoral.

May I point out that Yes2Wind is known for promoting wind energy not only through their website but also by canvassing on high streets, gathering signatures to support such applications in the name of green environmentalism. They are NOT a green group. They are owned and run by a company called Pendragon PR. Pendragon says that it “specialises in managing communications” and “creates successful strategies for dealing with even the most sensitive, complex projects.” It is a paid mouthpiece for the wind industry.

If Mr Ednay believes that wind energy can make such a valuable contribution to our energy supply then may I suggest that he refrains from using energy from the grid on the many occasions when the turbines are not producing enough, or even any, electricity and conventional power generators have to be ramped up to make up the shortfall.

As for economic benefits. The turbines are manufactured abroad, provide a few temporary jobs during construction and, once running, just require an occasional site visit for maintenance by a company engineer. If the pot of money offered to the local community is so great then why do so many in that community object to the application. I believe it is because they have far more to lose and see it for what it is, an inducement. I do not believe that people come to the Dales to see a landscape dominated by huge industrial machines but to enjoy the unique landscape that they have to offer. This tourism is what sustains our local economy and many people’s livelihoods depend on it.

Targets, regional or national, should not be used as a means of justifying something that is not justifiable. If they are irrational and unsuitable then they should be challenged. The unilateral, ideological imposition of wind turbines across our country will not solve the problems of Climate Change. It is green posturing and will only reduce our quality of life as measured by things other than material acquisitions.

Is it “nimbyism” to care passionately about the landscapes we love not only in this area but also across the country? Has he seen the destruction that these wind farms have caused elsewhere to the environment and to people’s lives? The many who campaign against the destruction of our countryside are not a vociferous minority and are certainly not blessed with the time, money resource or even health to do so. This I find a truly obnoxious comment!

Liz Goodison, Lothersdale

Nasty letter

Sir - I refer to the defamatory letter that was published about me in the Craven Herald last week.

After over 20 years as a local councillor I fully accept the consequences of holding public office. Notwithstanding this, I was surprised to say the least that considering the severity of this personal attack that no attempt was made to validate this nasty letter prior to publishing it. I have no intention of responding to the specific matter that has triggered it for obvious reasons.

However I would like to take the opportunity of reassuring all South Craven residents that, as always I will continue to work hard for our communities without fear or favour. I would add that on a few occasions, out of the very many times I’ve been contacted over the years, this has involved having to inform an individual that for sound reasons the issue they have raised cannot be resolved to their personal satisfaction.

Finally, I take the role of councillor very seriously and I am more than happy to leave the electorate of Cross Hills, Glusburn and Sutton in Craven to judge my track record for themselves.

County Councillor Philip Barrett (Ind.) Glusburn

Works very hard

Sir - In response to Mr Roger Dobson’s letter ‘No help’ I would like to say firstly what an appalling letter. Philip Barrett works very hard for this area and just because one request was refused does not make this a reason to ‘throw mud’ at him.

I am sure the refusal of a residents’ only parking was done so with a very legitimate reason.

Miss Barrett (no relation to Philip Barrett) Sutton-in-Craven

Best possible place

Sir - Regarding Sutton Lodge Care Home, Sutton in Craven: At a time when the subject of care for the elderly in the UK is receiving much negative publicity, my sisters and I wish to place on public record our acknowledgement and appreciation of the quality of care our mother Marjorie Vincent received from her arrival at Sutton Lodge in October 2009 until her recent death from Alzheimers.

Mick Hebden and his team have shown nothing but the highest levels of professional care, compassion, respect, dignity and indeed, love, for her. From the day of her admittance until her funeral on Monday she received exemplary service from every member of staff in management, nursing, domestic and catering roles and representatives of all parts of the team even used their own time to attend her funeral.

We have been greatly comforted that Mum has been in the best possible place during a very difficult period. Clearly there are some bright stars in the much maligned and under-appreciated care sector and Sutton Lodge is a shining example.

Richard Vincent, Burnside Drive, Nottingham

Ludicrous situation

Sir - Having watched “Calendar” on TV recently I was very interested to watch the piece about the crossing lady and the bit about the NYCC Police Chief. I find the whole situation totally ludicrous when money from the Poll Tax funds both people.

One person gets a life-changing amount of money and because of “doing what is expedient at the time in these straightened economic times” the loss of the other could contribute to “an accident waiting to happen”! I can’t work this conundrum out!

The A6068 at this point is particularly dangerous at all times. The interview even showed a juggernaut going past.

Busy crossings like the one in question need a crossing person to add further protection to our most vulnerable persons in society at critical times.

Anyway, how many motorists take notice of traffic lights? Nearly every week in the local magistrates’ court, one hears of people being fined for taking no notice of traffic lights. Also, can you trust children to cross a busy road even with pelicans and what is more important – lack of supervision?

JF Ackroyd, ex headteacher Kildwick School, Haworth

We had a Ball

Just a brief note to say Thank You for our tickets in the recent Herald competition. Kenny Ball and his band were all seasoned pros and very talented musicians. We had a wonderful evening at Malsis School. Again, many thanks.

Malcolm and Lillian Keighley, Hill Rise, Skipton