Sir - With reference to the story (Craven Herald, February 29) about users being sent out into the community by North Yorkshire County CouncilI when the Snaygill Centre in Skipton closes.

My daughter, aged 31, has learning difficulties and mobility problems and I would just like to say she has always been in the "community". I am sorry to inform "the professionals" that as carers we no longer hide them in the house afraid we may get stared at - sorry, we are made of sterner stuff!

When my daughter started at Snaygill she was promised pottery, photography and lots of other goodies. None materialised. She also went on a course to college until I found out the transport had dropped her on the main road and she had to walk up to the college on several occasions. Because of other problems we withdrew her after around a year.

Since then we have been taking her to Keighley. She takes part in cookery, crafts and attends a drop-in centre where they play cards, bingo and socialise; they also organise trips out. And shock, horror, all done under one roof! The difference is that it is funded by charity donations and has been set up to meet the needs of all who should be out in the "community" but have nowhere to go.

I still support the carers of Snaygill in their quest to get another building in the hope that, at some stage, my daughter can join them - but only when I am satisfied she will not be trailing the streets of Skipton in the guise of being in the "community".

Mrs Janet Nuttall, Langkirk Close, Farnhill

... anger 2 ...

Sir - The article on the Snaygill Centre suggests that, to enable people to be supported to take up community opportunities, the centre has to close. However, the people who use the centre already take up community opportunities and have an interesting and varied life.

At the moment, they have the choice of being able to stay in a warm, safe environment as well as attending various community opportunities or going out into the cold and wandering round Skipton. By not providing alternative suitable accommodation, the council is taking away that choice.

Yes, the council has had regular contact with families and carers and, always, the answer has been the same: we need accommodation to store equipment, to have somewhere to stay in and keep warm and dry in bad weather, to have somewhere to meet friends and support each other, to have somewhere just to chill out and watch TV or listen to music.

The Government White Paper on modernising day services is about people being more integrated into the community, but it is also, most importantly, about choice!

It is appalling to think the council is messing about with people's lives and not listening yet again!

A Pemberton, Rook Street, Lothersdale

... anger 3

Sir - So the people with learning difficulties who use the Snaygill Centre must go out into the community. What twaddle! I laughed outright at North Yorkshire County Council stating the intention was to support learning and leisure facilities in the community.

We locals have been trying to get Sutton Parish Council to keep the Sutton Park Pavilion open during the winter months for the last three years! This is where the carers of the people who attend the Snaygill Centre meet to discuss the care of the clients and where the clients are brought for summer outings. The door is securely locked for the winter, shutting them out of the community. So much for caring councils!

The Snaygill Centre clients do get into the community. I know because I swim with one every week. The centre is a base for when they are too disturbed or tired to mix with the public, when they need to sit quietly in a secure environment with caring, qualified staff. Someone is hiding the true motivation behind this change .

Mrs A Duggan, Holmroyd Avenue, Crosshills

Save our verges

Sir - We were very pleased to see the letter from Graham Taylor of Bradley (Letters, February 29) which, very graphically, illustrates why we need to protect roadside verges.

With help from ecologists at North Yorkshire County Council we can change the cutting regime and give our verges a second chance. Individuals can do little on their own but, together, we can change things.

Please join us, Mr Taylor, and thank you for expressing so well what many of us have been feeling for so long. It has taken us ten years to get this scheme going and it is very important that it continues to grow.

If anyone is interested in being involved in the Campaign to Protect Rural England our annual meeting is on Tuesday, April 8, at 7.30pm at the Swaford Street Centre, Skipton.

Jean Phillip, Duckett Street, Skipton

Wheelie unhappy

Sir - I consider myself very lucky to live in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. I am also a big fan of recycling and try "do my bit" where possible.

Given that the National Park enforces a planning process that prohibits replacement of white wooden windows with white PVC and prevents the resurfacing of a gravel road that is becoming hazardous through erosion because this is not "in keeping" with the surroundings, surely I am not the only person who is horrified that Craven District Council is intent on turning an area of outstanding natural beauty into a sea of blue plastic bins. They've had the audacity to issue every householder with unsightly blue plastic wheelie bins for paper recycling, whether they want one or not. Considering most cottages in our villages have little or no gardens and in many cases struggle to park a car, where does the council expect these bins to be kept?

I also understand there is no option to decline a bin. You have to have it, even if you choose to recycle in other ways. Could the council not have considered other ways in which to recycle? For example, pay a landowner to provide a small corner in each village where one larger bin (preferably coloured green with the word "paper" on it) could be kept and used by everyone, instead of issuing a bin to each house.

Environmentally, this would have had an even greater effect on Craven DC's carbon footprint, by reducing the need for a council truck to navigate its way through the village collecting paper from each house!

My offensively-coloured bin will remain unused, stored out of sight and I shall continue to recycle as I have done previously.

Bev Bruce (full address supplied but withheld)

Thought provoking

Sir - I would like to join Val Potter (Letters, February 29) in thanking the Muslims who came from the Skipton mosque to speak at the Islam Awareness event at the Victoria Hall in Settle. It was the most interesting day of its kind I've attended.

Because there were only around 20 or so present, the non-Muslims were able to break out of our supposed listening role and engage in discussion and argument. Some of us showed we are not as ignorant about Islam as Mrs Potter's letter suggests.

For example, had our Islam Awareness Day taken place on March 1 instead of February 24, I could have quoted the Turkish Muslim scholars who are engaged in "reform", to support my statement that some of the hadith (or teachings) were written well after the Prophet Mohammed's death. The news broke after the event.

My statement was flatly denied by our Muslim friends. In spite of our disagreeing quite strongly at times (and supporting our views with facts from disinterested sources), there was an atmosphere of courtesy and good humour. We must thank our guest speakers particularly because the exchanges and "answering back" must have come as a surprise to them.

Because the indications are that we shall see in the future more "born and bred" Yorkshire Muslims living in our country towns and rural areas, I think that in the interests of good and fair community relations the next event would be better advertised as a Christian-Muslim dialogue.

What is a little worrying is that our Muslim friends did not appear to know a great deal about some aspects of Christian belief. Ignorance breeds misunderstanding which can lead to conflict. A "Day of Dialogue" would be an opportunity for us to engage in a mutual sharing of Christian and Islamic beliefs and principles.

Meanwhile, as a return gesture of friendship, it is hoped to organise a Christian-Muslim walk in the Dales, while we in Giggleswick expect to welcome a group of Muslims to look round our church. We hope they will accept the invitation even though one of our vicars during the Middle Ages did take part in the Crusades.

Mrs Kathleen Kinder, Station Road, Giggleswick

It's child's play

Sir - The other day I saw a happy child on a scooter travelling exceedingly fast along the pavement. The reason? Going home to a brand new play station? I will never know. The dog pulling her looked happy and could well be looking forward to his Winalot. It is something I will also never know. The only person who might not be happy would be a representative of the health and safety police, who would want to plonk a helmet on the parties concerned. The girl or dog - who knows.

Stewart Lewis, Esp Lane, Barnoldswick

Spare a thought

Sir - So you're not welcome in Skipton unless you come to spend a hatfull of brass (Lorries may be banned in car park, Craven Herald, February 15).

Lorry drivers stay here in Skipton because they are at the end of their driving hours and given that their lorries can't be hung on sky hooks they have to park somewhere.

Whilst Coun Robert Heseltine (portfolio holder for car parks) is peering round wall corners watching to see if they leave their cabs (how sad is that?), he should remember that whatever he's got, whether he eats it, wears it, watches it, uses it, or drives it, a lorry driver delivered it.

They perform their duties driving in all atrocious weathers, at the silliest times of day imaginable, castigated by all and sundry for their pains. Lorry drivers should disappear for a week - by Wednesday people would be begging them to return to work.

Furthermore the auction mart is not suitable for overnight parking as there are no washing or toilet facilities. The section of the town hall car park used by lorries is not a huge area and could be coated with heavy-duty Tarmac. Alas we have become a bloody-minded nation; heaven forbid being helpful.

John Tweedie, Ermysted Street, Skipton

Change the mark

Sir - I have read with great interest the many letters from Skipton parents on the "unfair selection process" that requires Skipton children to achieve a higher pass mark to gain entry to the two Skipton grammar schools than children from Ripon.

One asks why we are allowing only 28 per cent of local pupils in and bussing admittedly bright students from less well-performing parts of Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

As Ermysted's Grammar School was originally opened to admit boys from Skipton, I heartily agree with the comments of Mr Stephen Hanson (Letters, Feb 29). When the Government abolished a great number of selective grammar schools in England in favour of the "comprehensive system", Skipton and Ripon were two of the towns who fought hard to keep the selective grammar schools.

Why didn't the grandparents and parents of those children from areas where they already had good grammar schools fight harder to keep them? Did the parents of children who are now eager to have their children educated at the Skipton grammar schools fight for their own schools, or were they happy to back the comprehensive system?

It has been observed by many aggrieved Skipton parents that it could be the ability to pay for expensive coaching that will decide the fate of their children's education.

As someone with a family history of education at Ermysted's, on both my side and my husband's family, I fear for the future of my grandchildren's education if NYCC were to allow the present system to continue.

Let us hope that NYCC can reach an agreement that the pass mark is the same for both Ripon and Skipton.

Joyce Wiggan, Otley Road, Skipton

Design point

Sir - I wish to correct a misconception arising from the article on the design of the HML and prospective Craven District Council offices on Gargrave Road (February 29).

While residents of Aireville Grange were invited to view the proposals at outline planning and reserved matters stages, our views have not influenced the decision to pursue an "unashamedly contemporary" design, despite the proximity to the listed buildings of Aireville Grange and the prominent position on a protected road approach into Skipton.

A representative of residents has, however, had fruitful talks with the company on landscaping of the site.

Jill Wilson, Aireville Grange, Skipton

6:51pm Friday 7th March 2008

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