Sir - It is important for all those people concerned about the impending closure of Harden Ward at Castleberg Hospital to know and realise that the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) and its chief executive Dr Janet Soo-Chung now fully intend to carry through their closure.

Moreover, manoeuvres in order to effect this have already begun and the intended date for closure is March 31 2008, after which date no further patient admissions will be allowed by the PCT.

Meanwhile, on the first floor and under the same roof, the work of the Department of Community Mental Health for older people and North Yorkshire Social Services will continue unabated - unaffected it seems by the roofing work etc.

Such precipitous haste by the PCT is surely alarming and anybody concerned may wish to write to: Dr Janet Soo-Chung, The Hamlet, Hornbeam Park, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8RE and David Curry MP, Skipton and Ripon Constituency Office, 19 Otley Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1DY.

Practising or retired Settle medics Dr B Brewster, Dr A Davies, Dr P Douglas, Dr W Hall, Dr J Lewis, Dr C Littlejohn, Dr J Ng, Dr C Renwick, Dr J Renwick, Dr E Ward, Dr J Wright

Backward step

Sir - I am another retired Settle GP and was previously medical officer at Harden Bridge Hospital, Austwick (which was closed and patients transferred to Harden Ward at Castleberg Hospital).

Recently, and on a personal level, I found the acute and emergency cover at Airedale Hospital excellent but understaffed. Consequently, overworked staff and early discharge meant rehabilitation after surgery was not available.

My subsequent readmission and then transfer to Harden Ward gave me excellent rehabilitation and confidence to return home with temporary support from carers while readjusting to home life on my own.

Harden Bridge Hospital and its subsequent transfer to Harden Ward at Castleberg Hospital has provided respite care for many years, enabling family, friends and neighbours to continue care at home at no cost to the NHS. Their rehabilitation services have provided early discharge from acute beds at Airedale and also a shorter in-patient waiting list there. Palliative and terminal care apart from Harden Ward will only be available at Manorlands Sue Ryder home at Oxenhope and St John's Hospice in Lancaster - both long and exhaustive journeys.

Our Government has promised to encourage provision of community hospitals and local consultations before decisions that will affect local communities. However, on March 19 we discovered preparations were being made to stop admissions and start discharging patients on April 7 to the experimental care of "Hospital at Home". Apart from the lack of 24-hour cover, I find it impossible that this can save money without decreasing essential nursing care.

Travelling expenses and time spent by carers travelling around the district - extending to the Lancashire borders and Gargrave, Ribblehead and Grassington and centred on Bentham and Settle - combined with maintaining Castleberg Hospital for clerical and social services staff means more expense, not less.

Apparently, the minor repairs needed to a leaking roof will not be started for six months - why?

There has been no official and public consultation with local residents or staff. Is this democracy, oligarchy, or dictatorship?

Dr Pam Douglas, Duke Street, Settle

Superb facility

Sir - I have read avidly all the letters and your articles re the possible closing by stealth of Castleberg Hospital.

I was recently discharged from the hospital where I had been a patient for approximately three weeks. I was a troublesome patient, met with great patience, and met also with professional, friendly and superb treatment. Despite all that has been written, I think I am well placed to declare my position. This hospital must not be closed. The proposed alternative would not work anyway.

As one of your correspondents points out, how many houses can be, or are fitted with, bed/bath hoists and other equipment which is necessary for proper treatment of the sick especially, again, of the old.

Apart from the atmosphere created for the patients there is a wonderful "bonhomie" among the staff, from the cleaners to the ward sister and including all the ward helpers and physiotherapy and occupational therapy department. The catchment area for the hospital is very large and I would have thought that more money should be spent on it, not less or closure.

Arthur Cookson, Yealand Avenue, Giggleswick

Blue bin peril

Sir - I, like many other residents of the Yorkshire Dales, have been presented with a gleaming new and very bright blue wheelie bin for recycling paper and card.

As a keen supporter of all things "green", I welcome the fact that this gives residents a chance to recycle, and to encourage others to do so.

The blue bins themselves are, to put it mildly, a total eyesore and particularly so when lined up against the beautiful stone cottages which many residents of the Dales are fortunate to inhabit.

Collections are intermittent, so can I ask that we all make an effort to store our bins out of public view. At the moment they stand out like "sore thumbs", but we run the risk of them gradually becoming an accepted part of the landscape and another little bit of the beauty of rural England will become further eroded.

My home village was once the home of the now-chairman of the Campaign to Protect Rural England. He is spearheading a campaign to improve the appearance of Britain's roadside verges; we can all help by not parking a plastic bin the size of a Dalek all over some of the most picturesque villages in the land.

Richard Foster, Clock Cottage, Kirkby Malham

Litter complaint

Sir - As a local resident,who was showing visitors around the area, I was embarrassed at the amount of litter on the main street in Cross Hills.

I am referring to the pavement outside the Spar and the takeaway shop next door. What a mess! To make matters worse, it was still there in the early afternoon. Surely it can't be too much trouble for them to clean up the outside of their own premises.

A lot of time and effort is spent by other businesses in the Main Street to keep their premises neat and tidy. Thousands of people travel through Cross Hills every day - what must they think. Cross Hills Main Street is an important part of the community; let's not make it look like a shanty town.

Steven Cochrane, The Old Sawmill, Cowling

Why the rise?

Sir - What a pity North Yorkshire Council couldn't have followed Craven District and not raised their part of our council tax for once.

I don't think anybody begrudges the police and fire service from taking what they need because we never know when we might need them, but if one council can keep it down why can't they all?

In spite of that, my bill has still risen by the £5 a month it usually does.

One way to keep costs down would be to send the bill without all that paperwork - I don't know anybody who bothers to read it because we wouldn't understand it anyway so I guess the recycled paper bins at most houses will be just that little bit fuller this week.

Patricia Mason, Sackville Street, Skipton >h5>Well earned Sir - I wish to correct the statement in last week's edition (March 21) regarding Draughton Post Office.

Our very popular postmistress, Meriel Curtis, is retiring - not resigning - after managing the village post office and shop for over 43 years. Her very able assistant, Enid Pringle, who has 30 years' service, is also retiring.

These dedicated ladies, both well into pensionable age, certainly deserve a happy retirement - not for them the modern trend of an early one!

The parish council and the village hall trustees are actively engaged in negotiations with the Post Office authorities to set up a branch in the village hall or some other suitable place.

The parish clerk, Jane Markham, (01756 711305) is heading up the change-over and would be pleased to hear from anyone who could join her in being trained to run a part-time service.

The village will shortly be arranging an event to thank Meriel and Enid for their sterling efforts over four decades.

Will those residents who have not yet returned the recently distributed envelopes please do so as soon as possible to David Jones, 4 Spring Rise, Draughton, or the undersigned.

Brian Rasche, Westways, Draughton

Disgusting mess

Sir - Does the owner of a dog that is walked regularly on Harrogate Road, Skipton (between the Regent Road entrance and Greenacres entrance) think they are exempt from cleaning up after their dog because, regularly since early January (when a child friend of mine got her shoes all messed up), there have been piles left for other people to walk in.

It is now becoming rather disgusting! Why can't this owner act like the majority of owners who do clean up?

Mr K Burnett, Hillside, Overdale Park, Skipton

They're all winners

Sir - Thank you for last week's article on the Skipton Music Festival and the photo of my daughter Kathryn.

Unfortunately the caption under it is incorrect, in that she did not "win" the eight years and under piano solo class since it was non-competitive.

I felt I should point out this error for the sake of other parents whose children performed in this category.

All the entrants played extremely well for their age and were warmly praised by the adjudicator.

Helen Stanley, Old Hall Croft, Gargrave

Chemist plea

Sir - Isn't it time that the health service realised the need for a chemist to be open on Sundays for Skipton and the surrounding areas?

An elderly friend of mine was taken ill at the weekend and had to call the doctor out. Of course, she couldn't get the prescription so I had to go to Keighley to get it.

Surely they understand that not everyone has transport and for pensioners it can be very difficult.

D E Allen, Devonshire Street, Skipton

Pews concern

Sir - Regarding the Grade One listed church at Kildwick (Craven Herald, March 14), I find it amazing that there is even the slightest possibility that the pews can be removed from such a building.

Try doing something untoward to a Grade Two listed house. Is there one law for the Church and one for the poor sinners?

Mike Holden,

Manor Farm, Calton

Beyond control

Sir - We've only been to the Grassington area three times this year and so far have experienced three power cuts and an earthquake!

It's a good excuse for a night in the Devonshire though.

P Cassidy, Holbeck Lane, Leeds

10:52am Friday 28th March 2008

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