9:10am Saturday 30th May 2009
Sir - What a pleasant Saturday afternoon we had the weekend before last.
Picture the scene… the High Street full of interesting local independent shops, the bustling market, the streets thronged with people, all overlooked by the impressive and imposing castle. Yes, we really enjoyed ourselves… in Clitheroe.
Our Lancashire neighbours are rapidly setting about putting our own town centre to shame.
Lancashire County Council has spent its money wisely by lowering rates for food producers and retailers – at least half of the market comprised fruit and vegetable stalls, butchers, bakers and fishmongers – instead of throwing it away on disgraced ex-chief executives (which reminds me, Coun Knowles-Fitton, Freedom of Information question: precisely how much was Mrs Gill Dixon paid off? Was it over £200,000?).
New developments, where necessary, have been sensitively built, entirely within the keeping of the local surroundings, as opposed to the vast, ugly monolith of the HML building that greeted us upon our return to Skipton, coming in on the A59.
New shops offering quality outerwear, suitable for wandering nearby Trough of Bowland, made for an interesting retail experience.
What does Skipton, the Gateway to the Dales, get in the way of new shops? A rash of forever “on sale – everything must go” purveyors of cheap and nasty tat of the lowest order. And to cap it all off, an empty store on Sheep Street, sad and forlorn for almost two years now, because the councillors in their, er, “wisdom”, think we have enough coffee shops. It makes the street look like the smile of an old friend but with a front tooth missing.
Has our council completely taken leave of its senses? Don’t be surprised if the award-givers of the High Street of the Year will be knocking on the door, wanting their trophy back!
But it isn’t just Clitheroe that is getting it right. Look at other market towns in the North of England, places like Ripon and Kendal, all aspiring towns of a similar size and nature to Skipton but with caring local councils wanting to do better for the residents and the community.
As a born-and-bred Yorkshireman and a resident of the town for over 10 years now, it breaks my heart to see what our council is doing to beautiful Skipton.
Mark Verity, Raikes Road, Skipton
Sir - I would like to raise a few queries and suggestions of my own about the Costa Coffee debate.
I find it absolutely baffling and infuriating that our council continues to dig in its heels over the Costa Coffee proposition. As some readers have pointed out, this would not only bring jobs to the area and provide a meeting place for the younger generations, but I also believe it could act as a catalyst for other reputable and “fashionable” retailers to follow suit and come to Skipton.
I think I speak on behalf of everyone under the age of 50 who is a resident of the Skipton area when I suggest that our High Street offers very little in terms of desirable retail outlets.
Skipton High Street languishes in the 20th Century and boasts nothing more than a remarkable number of charity shops and banks! Surely we must be able to gain some form of Guinness World Record for our impressive array of charity shops within such a small area?
Before I get lambasted for being a charity shop-hating fascist, I am not against charitable work and I do regularly raise money for charity. We simply have too many.
It is time for us to regenerate our town centre and drag it kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Why not look to introduce some ‘bigger named’ retailers? What about a Waterstones or Borders? An HMV store perhaps? All towns and cities have a good mix of small and large businesses, so any suggestion that big retailers would impact negatively on the livelihoods of the smaller retailers simply doesn’t stack up.
The market stalls can continue to delight the flocks of pensioners who swarm to the town and a reduced number of charity shops could still sell VHSs for 20p and second-hand floral dresses for £2.
To summarise, I was recently asked by a colleague at work what it was like growing up in the beautiful market town of Skipton, to which my response was “I was brought up in Skipton in the 1980s. If you want to know what it was like, go there now!”
I don’t think that this response was unjustified.
Andrew Barron, Laburnum Cottage, Bradley
Sir - On behalf of the breast unit at Airedale General Hospital I would like to thank everyone in the Craven area for their generosity in raising £40,000 to allow us to purchase a breast MRI coil and intravenous injector.
This is now going to enable us to perform breast MRI. Women at present undergo mammography and ultrasound, but in some women MRI is essential to enable accurate diagnosis, plan surgery and for appropriate timely treatment.
The benefits will be felt beyond the breast unit as this equipment will also be helping patients both with cancer and vascular disease.
There are four people who deserve a special mention for their tremendous effort, drive and enthusiasm – Coun Polly English, who initially thought and brokered the idea; the Mayor of Skipton, Carole Manley, who accepted the challenge and whose tremendous efforts raised what was a very high target; and Maurizio and Cinzia Bocchi from La Locanda restaurant in Gisburn, who generously hosted several fundraising charity evenings over the past year raising 50 per cent of the total.
So once again, a big thank you to all those who made it possible.
Dr Ian Brand, Consultant Radiologist, Airedale General Hospital, Steeton
Sir - There have been many attempts over the past months by councillors and officers to draw a line under past problems and move on.
There is a simple way to achieve this and that is by telling the residents of Craven:
* Who was responsible for the decision to sell the Gargrave Road land for at least £500,000 below its market value? Was this the true extent of the loss when land at Horse Close was revalued for the 2007 accounts at over £4 million? Could the value of that land possibly be over £3 million more than 2.8 hectares on Gargrave Road?
* Why was the former chief executive – who, it is increasingly obvious, failed – given not just a glowing testimony from Coun Knowles-Fitton but, it is rumoured, a golden handshake in the region of £200,000?
* Who was responsible for taking out the £2 million loan? What was it for and why, alone among councillors (many at that time far more influential than she), did Marcia Turner remember it?
Although these events are in the past, many council officers and councillors who must bear responsibility are still in positions of influence, so how can we have confidence in a system which has let us down so badly?
And what of the present? I see no evidence of a new era of transparency that was promised us.
Where is the information and consultation on housing allocations for Craven? When will the public hear the revised plans for Granville Street, Horse Close and 9 High Street?
Public and press were excluded from the policy committee meeting item when new proposals for Skipton Developments were presented and discussed, yet this involves council-owned land yet again. Is this too to be given away?
Transparency is the political byword – easy to promise but, it would appear, hard to deliver. Only when it becomes a way of life for this council will Craven residents be prepared to move on.
Jill Wilson, Aireville Grange, Skipton
Sir - I was pleased to read the acknowledgement of the anniversary of the saving of the Settle-Carlisle line (Herald, April 23).
I am a member of the Friends. Then the government of the day had to bow to massive public pressure – and a dog! It has spent millions on the line since.
“Our” government is rebuilding rail systems in the Home Counties. The Scottish version is rebuilding or reopening Scottish lines, as are Wales and Northern Ireland governments/ assemblies in theirs.
Notice something? Yes, the area twixt, say, Northamptonshire and the Borders might as well be an atomic wasteland to “our” government. They won’t entertain rail projects in that area. The Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) is working to change that.
In response to some of the letters critical of the campaign... Mr Towers, there is an alternative route via Copy Pit, but SELRAP is pushing for Skipton-Colne. Yes, Mr Gould, I agree that money’s tight at the moment, but will it always be?
As well as “ordinary” members, like myself, SELRAP has many members of influence: MPs, councillors, MEPs. My own MP for example, Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) is at least interested.
M Swan, Causeway Crescent, Leeds
Sir - Each morning I walk from Giggleswick to Settle and have watched the progress of improvements to the riverside walk downstream from Settle Bridge.
The gaps in the riverbank have been filled, but I fear that the next flash flood will remove the infill and the profile will once more become as untidy as nature intended.
Our heron has gone, no doubt disturbed by the activity of the earth-movers. I hope it will return. Gone also are the dewberries and elder along with trees and wildflowers. They have been replaced by the serried rows of a tree plantation which, when mature, promises to block our view of Hifill over Kingsmill. We have also lost the ragwort which, on two occasions recently, has fed the caterpillars of the beautiful Cinnabar moth.
I am supposed to be consoled by the knowledge that when I get my wheelchair I shall still be able to enjoy access unhindered by the stiles and stumbles of the old track.
With its character destroyed and its inevitable use as a cyclists’ speed track I shall probably prefer to use the main road.
Mr CW Graham, Bankwell Road, Giggleswick
Sir - On Saturday May 1, I was privileged to see a production of Dan Leno by Promenade Promotions Ltd in Carleton Village Hall.
It was an excellent show which appealed to all ages in the audience. Every aspect of the production worked together to deliver high-quality, professional entertainment that was funny, tragic and relevant to today.
I understand that the performance was part-funded by Rural Arts. Well done to them and to Creative Carleton for organising and supporting this event.
I would urge your readers to support this kind of local theatre to ensure that we keep it and maintain a voice to prevent a thin arts budget from only subsidising the London-based and large regional theatres.
Linda Jones, Northfield Grove, Wibsey
Sir - My heart goes out to the friends and family of all three teenagers killed in the canal during the past two years and I understand completely the desire of campaigners to strengthen the barriers to the canal.
However, are we not tackling this problem the wrong way round?
Surely the best way of not crashing through the fence is by not leaving the road. The stretch of road in question should definitely have a 30mph limit and, although any experienced driver would realise this immediately, we cannot expect recently-qualified drivers to instantly acquire this sort of “road sense”.
The council could very quickly erect warning signs of a maximum recommended speed, even if the legal process of changing the limit takes a little longer. Might I even suggest the expense of a couple of flashing matrix signs for maximum effect?
Hazel Sharrad, Summerfield, Thornton-in-Craven
Sir - Regarding the campaign to erect a safety barrier on the A6069 near the Leeds Liverpool Canal on Broughton Road, Skipton.
I have travelled on that road to work five days a week for 22 years and I don’t think safety barriers are the answer. I have seen many near accidents on that stretch of road and all were owing to “driver errors”.
The safety solution is a 30mph speed limit sign and a device which lights up when the speed limit is exceeded (also a speed camera).
DH Reardon, The Grove, Skipton
Sir - I write in response to your article in your “shorts” column – NHS Trust in black (Herald, May 14).
I am delighted to learn that Airedale NHS Trust has accrued a surplus of £750,000. I hope that it will now expend some of its monies to provide a much-needed lymphoedema clinic at Airedale.
For readers who are unaware of what lymphoedema is, it is a condition that is either genetic (primary) or post-operative (secondary) causing the accumulation of lymph fluid in skin tissues that result in enlarged and swollen limbs.
The condition causes discomfort, pain and embarrassment and is incurable. Treatment can be provided to ease the condition, but at present none is available at Airedale.
Airedale Hospital has lacked this service since January 2007. I have written at least twice to Adam Cairns (Airedale NHS Trust chief executive) regarding this matter and also once to our MP David Curry.
Mr Cairns did not respond directly to my last letter (November 2008) but he did reply to Mr Curry and informed him that a decision was “imminent”.
A further six months have passed and there is still no lymphoedema clinic at Airedale. Patients from the district covered by Airedale who require treatment have to travel to either Bradford or Otley. It would only require a fraction of the monies currently held to put this provision in place. Surely the money is better spent meeting the needs of patients rather than sitting in the bank?
Mrs J Sturgess, Eshton Road, Gargrave
Sir - I would like to take this opportunity to publicly congratulate North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) on its latest piece of ineptitude with regard to the roads in Skipton.
The crown could have gone to any one of three recent schemes, eg the debacle that is Keighley Road by the new Tesco garage, or the accident in waiting that is laughingly called traffic calming in Otley Road. This second piece of engineering seems to be having the opposite effect from the one that was intended, with drivers accelerating to get though the narrow section on coming into Skipton.
But the title must surely go to the decision to make Cross Street one way – in entirely the wrong direction.
Whilst I agree that this road needs to be one way, surely logic dictates that it should be in the opposite direction so that congestion at the ends of Cavendish Street and Craven Street is reduced.
As it stands at the moment traffic leaving Skipton cannot use this road in that direction as there is no right turn on Pinder Bridge and traffic entering Skipton from Keighley will not pass the turning onto Craven Street to turn left onto Cross Street a hundred yards or so along the road. Cross Street has now effectively become a closed road.
I would also like to invite NYCC to justify, if any justification exists, the cost of the work carried out on the new island at the Keighley Road end of Cross Street if traffic is not allowed to pass through in that direction. It seems to suggest that the residents beyond the no entry signs will have exclusive use of this road to gain access to Keighley Road. If this is to be the case, also please explain why their council tax buys them, but no-one else, this privilege. Why have they been singled out for special treatment?
I have contacted County Councillor Polly English in the hope that she can see the futility of the exercise and bring some pressure to bear to have this ridiculous situation reversed.
Mrs A Hutchinson, Regent Road, Skipton
Sir - A small group of concerned residents are trying to stop the development of 37 houses on the site behind the Falcon Manor Hotel bordering Ingfield Lane in Settle.
This beautiful piece of land is in danger of being destroyed forever. If this site is developed then there is nothing to stop it increasing in size.
The plans may be viewed at Settle Town Hall and we need everyone’s support to try to prevent it.
Affordable housing for local people is needed in Settle, but existing houses could be bought to provide for this, including flats in the town centre – single people need homes too. This would help start the regeneration of Settle which is what is needed before destroying our countryside.
Byron and Janet Uttley, Ingfield Lane, Settle
Sir - I was interested to read the letters in the Herald (May 21) from John Manley and Robert Holland criticising the Conservative County Council campaign.
I am a life-long Conservative and I believe Conservative principles are what we need at every level of government here and in Europe. We have had too much central control and total incompetence nationally and we need a General Election earlier rather than later.
We have had too much interference from Europe. Only the Conservatives are keeping the pledge to hold a referendum on the new European constitution, a pledge reneged on by both the other main parties.
We have also had incompetent financial management by the Liberal Democrats and Independents at Craven District Council leading to a dreadful inheritance for the newly in-power Conservative Group.
I note that the Liberal Democrats’ claim in their county council leaflet is “Building an Efficient, Effective, Modern Council.” Do they mean just as they did at Craven? Heaven forbid.
John Dawson, Overdale Grange, Skipton.
Sir - The current press reports serve as a reminder to use the blue recycling wheelie bin for all your candidate leaflets and poll cards before the next collection on Wednesday June 3.
David Maris, High Malsis, Glusburn
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