Sir - Will common sense prevail when it comes to a housing policy affecting the very qualities of the Dales and our unique villages?

Next Monday, a planning application to build 30 properties - count it out on your hands, it becomes more tangible - crammed on a site immediately butting on to the Yorkshire Dales National Park boundary in Clapham, is recommended for approval by Craven District Council's planning committee.

Such is the density of the development, it was estimated that it is likely to increase the existing village population of around 220 by more than a third in under a year.

If the development had been mooted 10 yards across the road in the National Park, it would have been a non-starter - yet this cuckoo of a plan has now landed in the nest again.

I say again, because a previous application for only 23 houses last year went the same way, the latest parish council meeting heard. But the developers McGee Homes, based in Billinge, near Wigan, have come back asking for more, not fewer. Why?

It does not take much insight to see that the developers are now trying to harness their development on to the Government's current bandwagon of "affordable housing" - so much so that a previous "sweetener" (my words) of providing a new "Early Years" facility at Clapham School has been dropped.

The developers, the parish council meeting was told, propose 12 "affordable housing" units in the application, thus perhaps hoping this will help smooth the way with the planning committee, which knows there are stated goals nationally in this sphere.

Yet Clapham does very well for affordable housing. A high percentage of homes in the village are rented from the Ingleborough Estate, something the planners know all too well. To approve the development, the committee will have to make an about-turn about the vacant site - formerly occupied by the Dalesview garage - that is specified on the local plan for providing employment use.

Admittedly, so far no firm or business has been willing to take on this challenge, although it is gratifying to see that the former garage's other showroom area across Old Road is now the home of Aire Valley Glass.

The parish council was mindful in its comments to the committee that the site is likely to be considered for housing and their decision was not against this use "in principle". But a more sympathetic development in keeping with the area (as has been successfully carried out in the "triangle" area of the village off Cross Haw Lane) should be an absolute priority.

Otherwise, for me and many others Clapham's uniqueness is blighted, but that is a quality that seems all too expendable these days.

R Daniels, Gildersbank, Clapham

Green commitment

Sir - The vultures are circling over the dying body of Skipton's greenfield sites.

It didn't take long. Not only have HML/Skipton Building Society, in conjunction with Craven District Council, gobbled up the fields behind Aireville Grange, but now JN Bentley's also want their share of the green stuff. Who will be next to abandon the town centre or Snaygill for more pleasant pastures?

Of course, these two "Skipton" companies have Skipton's best interests in mind and would never threaten to go elsewhere if they didn't get their way (especially since they employ so many locals).

The council, instead of forcing companies to make better use of or rebuild on their current sites (or find brownfield sites nearby), treat these companies as if royalty: no slur on the entire district, but "craven" is an apt adjective for the council when dealing with these planning proposals.

Given Craven District Council's track record, Bentley's will have its way (and the whole bypass and roundabout system will probably be redesigned in order to cope).

The very least the council could do is force these companies to build ecological and architecturally advanced structures (rather than "commit" themselves to recycling and a bit of landscaping around their car parks). We shall see (as we sit in our cars trying to get to work or pick up children from school or go shopping).

Dr Bruce McLeod, Otterburn

Fouling concerns

Sir - I write this letter in regard to the amount of dog fouling that takes place on the grass verges on the entrance to Clayton Hall Road, Cross Hills.

Clayton Hall Road is a highly regarded place to live in the village of Cross Hills, but it seems to me that some people believe it to be an exercise place for their dogs.

Six months ago I contacted Craven District Council to complain about this problem and within a week there were numerous notices placed on the lampposts on the entrance to the estate.

The notices clearly state that you can be fined £1,000 if you do not clean up after your dog. I can only believe that the people who are ignoring this fact are either very rich or very stupid. Probably very stupid.

It is not the residents of the estate that are causing this problem, it is people from other areas of Cross Hills and Eastburn.

If I took my dog to where these people live and let it do its business outside their house, I wonder how they would feel. Annoyed to say the least.

M Gridley, Clayton Hall Road, Cross Hills

Up in smoke

Sir - I have been very saddened to walk into Skipton pubs recently and see the effect of the smoking ban.

Pubs in England, especially in villages, are really struggling to survive. Why weren't the landlords given the choice whether or not they would implement the smoking ban?

The regulars keep the pubs going - why not give them a choice? I have heard many non-smokers comment on the negative effects of the ban. As for those who wouldn't go in before the ban because of the smoke, where are they now?

It would be very sad to think of England not having any pubs left, but it's what's happening - more and more are closing down.

Smoking kills, but we aren't invincible. We all have our lives mapped out for us - we can't change that. Smokers may be more aware of the facts, but it's up to them.

What about those who go to McDonalds for a double whopper coronary burger? Or a king-size Mars attack? Shouldn't they be banned also?

I think it would only be fair, and right, that pubs regain some control over their individual businesses to suit their customers. I also think local people should show support to their pubs.

If pubs were forced to cease trading, it would have a huge effect on the community. People staying in, watching TV, smoking in the house, eating graveyard food is surely a negative outcome to the ban.

It's not too late, but action needs to be taken very soon.

L Smith, Chapel Street, Carleton

Picture appeal

Sir - As archivist for Steeton Male Voice Choir, which celebrates its centenary in 2008, I am interested in any reference to it. Therefore, when I saw recently on microfilm a photograph of Skipton MVC accompanied by a text which speculated that the picture included Hume Wrathall, founding musical director of Steeton Male Glee Union (the forerunner of Steeton MVC), I was delighted.

The photograph appeared in "Craven Life from Bygone Days" in the Craven Herald of November 24, 1994, page four. The accompanying text speculated the date to be of the 1930s.

The photograph had been volunteered by Mrs Frances Young, of Sutton-in-Craven, her father, Ian Hayton, having been a member of the choir.

Steeton MVC has several photos of Hume, but none seemed to accord with the figure thought to be him on the Skipton photograph. However, the image available for study was limited to a print out of a microfilmed version of an old photograph that had been reproduced in newsprint of yesteryear, ie, the clarity was poor.

Accordingly, I sought out Mrs Young who kindly showed me the original print whose detail is very good. So, armed with a magnifying glass and known pictures of Hume, one could confidently assert that Hume was not on camera on the occasion of the Skipton MVC photograph.

This is disappointing, because Hume was remarkably talented and industrious and it would be gratifying to see him accompanied not only by Steetonians, but alternatively by Skiptonians (it is not in question that he conducted both choirs contemporaneously. At one time he was conducting as well the choirs of Prince Smith and Stell, of Keighley, and his chapel at Steeton!).

Hence I should be grateful if, through your paper, I could appeal to anyone who possesses or knows of a picture of Hume with his colleagues in Skipton Male Voice Choir to contact me please on 01535 634388.

Peter Lofts, Winston Avenue, Cross Hills

Distorted view

Sir - On reading your letters column last week it seems the issue of wagons through Settle continues, with a couple more of the same old half truths and distortions.

What really concerned me though was Steve Amphlett's comments about relying more and more on tourism.

As a councillor in a rural area, I don't need to be told about the importance of tourism, which keeps businesses going during the summer.

But perhaps someone could explain what benefits tourism brings from October until March. Also, how many people can support a wife and family and pay the mortgage or rent in employment of the tourist industry?

Housewives, students, teenagers, etc, can always get a part-time job serving behind a bar or waitressing, but does it pay full-time wages? Very rarely.

As a pub owner, I thought Mr Amphlett would be more aware than anybody of local employment in non-tourist related jobs. Do tourists play in the dominoes, darts, pool teams or quiz teams in winter? Do tourists play for the local football, rugby and cricket teams? Do tourists support local shops through the winter and keep the local community going? I think we know the answers.

If Mr Amphlett and the Chamber of Trade are really concerned about the wealth of the area, then perhaps they should look elsewhere for the answers. Ask the Yorkshire Dales National Park why they seem to be trying to close all quarries in the area. Lobby the Government over its appalling treatment of the hill and dairy farmers. Ask why they are closing many rural post offices. Ask why you can't have reductions on business rates or shop rents, etc. Ask why the Government stands by and watches factories closing down locally in pursuit of more expensive housing. Ask questions about the long-term future of the creamery and the paper mill.

Better still, let's just ban wagons through Settle to the detriment of Giggleswick village and employ everyone else serving cream teas to tourists in the summer and sign on the dole for the winter.

R C Welch, Raines Road, Giggleswick

Festival support

Sir - I understand that the organisers of Settle Festival are currently applying for their licence for 2008.

I am writing in full support of the application and am sure that the event will bring many benefits and interest into the area and the local economy, as well as something to add to our history.

I believe the highly capable management team will do a fine job and will work in full co-operation with the authorities to ensure that this community event is delivered safely and well for the benefit of all, in line with licensing objectives.

It is just what the area needs, and is a great chance for the community to bond and to build links regionally with people from other areas who are interested in getting involved with the event.

Selina Shuttleworth, High Trenhouse Management Centre, High Trenhouse, Malham Moor

9:20am Friday 11th January 2008

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