10:10am Saturday 9th May 2009
Sir - In response to letters critical of the campaign by SELRAP (Skipton East-Lancashire Rail Action Partnership) to reopen the Skipton-Colne railway, far from being “pie in the sky” and “icing on the cake”, SELRAP’s campaign is a realistic proposal to reopen a short stretch of railway as part of the national network.
And, far from being simply “a local line to Colne”, when reopened as part of an inter-regional route [in tandem with the 400-yard stretch known as the Todmorden Curve] it will create a new rail route linking Leeds, North and West Yorkshire, Manchester and the wider North West.
Historically, Skipton has been linked to West Craven and East Lancashire economically and socially. It seems only reasonable to restore this link, facilitating rail travel for business, employment and leisure purposes between the two regions.
There has to be something in it. Why else would 146 MPs, 46 MEPs, 57 Peers and more than 200 councils across the North write letters of support to SELRAP’s campaign? Hundreds of individuals, businesses and organisations have done the same.
Among those mentioned above is the Ribble Valley Rail (RVR) group, who successfully campaigned for the restoration of passenger services between Clitheroe and Blackburn in 1996. The group continues to campaign for the restoration of services to Hellifield.
SELRAP supports that campaign and is a member of the RVR and the Ribble Valley Rail group is a member of SELRAP. Both groups see the Skipton-Colne and Ribble Valley lines as complementary, serving different markets.
As though to prove the point, SELRAP has letters of support from seven Ribble Valley councillors.
It is worth pointing out that SELRAP campaigns only for reinstatement of the railway and has no view on the so-called A56 villages bypass other than that, if it does go ahead, it should not prejudice reinstatement of a double track railway.
This is in line with local authority policy, which makes it clear that neither proposal should prejudice the other.
With the potential for cutting journey times between Skipton and Manchester to under an hour-and-a- quarter (and vice-versa), it is such an obvious link.
I guess that is one of the reasons why Rail Minister Lord Andrew Adonis has scheduled into his busy diary a meeting to discuss it with SELRAP, both Lancashire and North Yorkshire County Councils and [SELRAP patron] Gordon Prentice, MP for Pendle.
SELRAP also concurs with the need to upgrade the Colne branch line. Indeed, the estimated cost for a double track rebuild of the Skipton-Colne line includes re-doubling the former.
Concerning the suggestion that good Yorkshire folks would be diverted away from the Yorkshire cities of Leeds and Bradford, in this age of joined-up everything it is just possible the vacuum created by the exit of so many of Yorkshire’s finest would be compensated for by the ingress of those from the other side! Come on, parochialism has no place in a modern society.
Andy Shackleton, SELRAP liaison officer, Higher Park Farm, Kelbrook Road, Barnoldswick
Sir - The residents of Hellifield and, I assume, several other villages along the route of the A65 road have to put up with exhaust noise above 103dB and speeds in excess of 60mph, created by certain members of the human race who continually remind us to “Think Bike!”
We don’t have to “Think It,” it is rammed through our windows from 6am onwards every weekend!
Given that we aren’t allowed to fit heavy-calibre machine guns, nor caltrops [iron objects with sharp points used to disable horses in battle – ed] at either end of our village, what can we do?
If we take photographs, we are threatened with physical injury. If we motion them to slow down, we get verbal and semaphoric abuse.
I am not against anybody on two motorised wheels enjoying themselves. In fact, I had bikes myself for eight years and did trials and scrambling, as well as enjoying international road-racing in the 1970s and early 1980s.
But I can’t remember having to destroy the hearing or well-being of the general public and nearby animals just to prove that I was man enough to handle a three-cylinder, two-stroke at speed. There was a time and place for everything.
Accepting that the A59/65 and the A682 are not fit for purpose and we are continuing to scrape remains and debris off the walls and Tarmac of those who “didn’t think”, what can people suggest?
Surely the “Noise at Work Regulations” can be applied to vehicle exhausts if we are unable to appeal to people’s better nature.
Otherwise, we may have to reverse the slogan, but I fear that that, too, would not register with those to whom it is applicable.
Paul Emsley, Newton Way, Hellifield
Sir - This is a copy of a letter sent to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. I am writing to register my objection to the proposed housing development in Embsay-with-Eastby, in particular plots 023 and 101.
Our village has recently had a redevelopment of the old tannery site, now Primrose Glen, with 50 new homes. This development has not been fully sold so why are we looking at additional housing?
Any new housing should be using brownfield sites rather than greenfield sites. We should be looking at developing our run-down areas rather than destroying our beautiful countryside.
I believe planners placed a restriction on the tannery site with regards to having to provide low-cost housing for young people. However, they only built four properties to accommodate this requirement. If we require more affordable properties in the village the percentage must be substantially higher, say 50/50.
We are all being encouraged by our local council to be greener with recycling and to be aware of our carbon footprint. Let us also look at improving our local environment by utilising all our brownfield sites before we destroy our precious countryside. The reason we all live in the area is not just convenience for our place of work, but we wish to live in pleasant and beautiful surroundings.
Recently we have been advised of the problem with residents ripping up grass and replacing with hard- standing and the effects this has on the environment and drainage system. Additional housing will only add to a system that is struggling to cope and will add to a greater chance of flooding in our village.
Myself and my neighbours have suffered with raw sewage bursting from manhole covers over recent years. If any redevelopment is to take place in the area of Dales Avenue/Brackenley Lane then the sewerage and surface water run-off should be improved.
My main objections to the additional housing in the village are: We are still waiting for the promised additional classroom to our overcrowded primary school following the recent Primrose Glen development. This should have been built before any housing.
If any future developments are to be made in the area our planners should be insisting that the improvements to the infrastructure should be made first. Currently, the access is off Brackenley Lane, which is already very busy and dangerous.
The village already has problems with parking. Additional residents will only add to this.
There is only one playground, at the top of the village. This is not enough to serve the residents of both Embsay and Eastby.
The youths of our village need facilities to keep them off the streets. Any future developers should be required to improve the village amenities. The improvements should be done before any added strain is placed on our village amenities, but preferably no new development should be approved.
Andrew Cleminson, Dales Avenue, Embsay
Sir - I was interested to read Councillor Paul Whitaker’s spin in last week’s Craven Herald which, without wishing to appear cynical, appeared at the same time as his publicity leaflet for the forthcoming elections.
If the information about Craven District Council is incorrect as he states, why has his leader not allowed an independent inquiry to correct the myths, accusations and half-truths which are flying around? We have no way of knowing the true situation as the council is determined to keep as much detail as possible out of the public arena.
It matters not so much where the funds are generated and spent, it does matter how competently the resources are managed overall and the council has, in my opinion, shown itself to be lacking in the skills to manage them on our behalf.
There are many experienced people in the area who can see the management of Craven for what it is and Mr Whitaker’s patronising attitude to the taxpayers – though complementing his leader’s arrogance – helps no-one.
I suggest there are still many issues that have not been resolved and sweeping them under the carpet does a disservice to democracy, local accountability and open local government. Mr Whitaker appears to find few faults and any there are have been laid at the door of other parties. Nothing to do with the Conservatives then.
It would appear the only way to get accountability is to remove the existing councillors using the only means at our disposal – the ballot box.
AJ Anderson, Beechwood Drive, Skipton
Sir – The letter from Coun Whitaker (Letters, April 30) extolling the virtues of Conservative councillors was surely printed a little late – April 1 would have been the correct time.
A few short years ago Craven District Council received £8 million from the sale of our council houses, a little enough sum when considering there were 1,540 of them, at not much more than £5,000 apiece, but nonetheless that money could have been used to purchase new council offices.
Indeed, the council gave itself planning permission on some land, so why not build there?
As that £8 million was received some years ago and was swelled by other capital receipts, such as the massively undervalued sale of land to HML, it must be well in excess of £10 million by now.
As he points out, capital receipts can only be used for purchases which have an asset value, so why not build offices instead of renting property from property developers? Property which apparently carries a ridiculous 40 car parking spaces for Craven District Council’s almost 300 employees.
And perhaps, in this new Conservative spirit of openness and transparency, he might like to tell us – the taxpayers – just how much the last chief executive was given when she left. After all it is, or rather was, our money!
Alan Perrow, Bannister Walk, Cowling
Sir - Paul Haywood, of Farnhill, wrote (Letters, April 30): “If the residents of Glusburn and Cross Hills are so desperate to get their traffic and level crossing relief, why don’t they organise themselves as successfully and determinedly as SELRAP (Skipton East-Lancashire Rail Action Partnership), instead of being negative.”
I thank Mr Haywood for his advice to form a pressure group, but no thanks. It was people connected to the pressure group SCRAG ( South Craven Road Action Group) who lost us the chance of having our traffic problems solved by either a relief road or strong traffic measures. Years of my work promoting the reopening of the station for Cross Hills were also ignored.
When I had to retire as this area’s county councillor in 1995 to follow my husband in his work to Turkey, at least three surveys had been carried out by British Rail which showed a new station would be viable and our station was high on the list which the county then had for such reopenings. Glusburn Parish Council was holding £30,000 in reserves towards the cost of this rebuilding.
This group, including my county successor, Coun Cole, maintained there were no traffic problems and, after my departure, I understand misleading rumours were circulated about a motorway on stilts. I also understand the moderate-minded majority attending several public meetings felt intimidated by aggressive speakers and local secondary school children who were encouraged to picket the halls and block the road.
As a result of the actions of SCRAG and its supporters, no unbiased investigations were carried out, a 60-year-old protected relief road corridor was lost and the county lost interest in reopening the station.
A report by North Yorkshire County Council actually acknowledges there was a majority of residents wanting a road/traffic measures to be investigated. The County was not prepared to go further because of the hassle raised and the opinions of Coun Cole. That opportunity to solve our problems has now long gone, with very restrictive budgets and changes in council committee structures.
The down time of the level crossing gates has been reported to the relevant regulatory body and we are awaiting their conclusion.
So, yes, pressure groups can work, but is it always for the best?
Margaret Nicholson, Park Drive, Sutton
Sir - With regard to what seems like Coun David Ireton’s ambitions to choke Ingleton to death with housing, does he not think he should concentrate on getting some industry into Ingleton first and fill the empty shops?
Our car park is a patchwork one, the banking at the side of it is becoming a rubbish tip and the people in the bungalows should not have to put up with this.
Road signs have been replaced and some are unreadable. The roads and paths are a disgrace, with potholes and dog dirt. There are loads of empty flats and houses.
So please, let us get things right before more new houses are built. And don’t forget, the doctor’s is over-stretched now.
And as for closing toilets and charging for doggy bags, this is pathetic. I could think of better ways to save money, but this would hurt the councillors’ pockets.
J Clapham (disheartened former district councillor), Reid House, Ingleton
* Editor’s note: the homes referred to in the letter are the 24 being built at Low Demesne. They were given planning permission in February and the scheme was backed by Coun Ireton. Work has just started on their construction.
Sir – Recent letters in your paper have described the deficiencies of Skipton’s new bus station (comments which, to my knowledge, have received no answer, apology or explanation from officers who authorised its building) and similarly there have been articles regarding a loan of £2 million (which, as far as I know, has still had no public explanation).
In the past, such questionings and criticisms have tended, in time, to die away. I very much hope this is not the case with these two matters and that questions continue relentlessly until explanations are given and responsibility accepted.
Paul Greenwood, Whinfield Court, Skipton
Sir - Through your paper I would like to thank the council for repairing the seat on Shortbank Road, opposite Rankins Well cul-de-sac.
The council workmen made an excellent job of the repairs.
The seat is essential to the residents of Shortbank Road, Horse Close and Greatwood area, who burn off shoe leather every day going about their daily chores.
In Newmarket Street, seats need some repairs and two posts that hold the ornamental chain link fence in front of “Tradesmans Place” need replacing. Councillors, you will get praise, but you’ll have to earn it.
Allan Mason, Jenny Gill Crescent, Skipton
Sir - May I, through your paper, thank all the district nurses of Fisher Medical Centre etc for their TLC during the months of December through to the end of March. They came every day – and sometimes twice a day – to dress my wound after I had surgery.
Mr D Heslop, Greatwood Close, Skipton
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