Skipton doesn’t need another supermarket

I also fear this development is being bounced onto us without proper consideration of the impact for our town.

Describing the scheme as an “employment led mixed use development” is disingenuous – we all know this is a Trojan Horse to get a massive Sainsbury’s superstore into Skipton where it is not needed or wanted.

The scheme promises a lot of extra benefits but I fear these have little chance of being delivered – why else would the superstore application be in detail but much of the rest only in outline?

Our existing supermarkets already serve the town well, and are well placed to encourage people to visit other town centre shops.

In contrast, a new Sainsbury’s at Wyvern Park would suck life away from the town centre.

As a local resident I am proud of our town, and I want Skipton to have a thriving high street where independent traders can flourish – not a ghost town full of charity shops, surrounded by massive out of town superstores.

The publicity material surrounding the application has underplayed Sainsbury’s involvement, and hugely exaggerated the level of public support – can they really claim 78 per cent in favour on the basis of just 37 comment cards returned at their public exhibition?

A few years ago Craven planners wouldn’t let Tesco expand because the impact on the town centre would be too great.

Since then we’ve got a new Aldi and the new farm shop coming this year.

To have a massive Sainsbury’s on top of this beggars belief and will be the final nail in the coffin for Skipton.

It’s time for local businesses and residents to stand up and be counted – come on let’s get together, get organised and get objecting!

Brian Verity, Managing Director, Skipton Properties

Open house session

Sir – As a follow-up to my previous letter regarding the loneliness of older people in our community, can I give information regarding the next Open House session to be held, by Skipton District Oddfellows at the Three Links Club, Rectory Lane, Skipton, from 10am to 3pm, on Tuesday, January 28.

As well as a light-care exercise there will be the opportunity to try “Painting with Coffee” led by Derek Stansfield.

This activity proved very popular at a previous session and we are sure that anyone attending will find it enjoyable. There will be a warm welcome for everyone.

For more details of what the Oddfellows Society has to offer, anyone interested should contact Rebecca on 01756 798022 Jean Phillip Skipton District Oddfellows Thanks from UWFRA Sir – May I be allowed space to offer our grateful thanks to yourself and other Craven Herald staff for your continuing support.

Also, to the generous people of Craven, and beyond, whose donations make it possible for us to go on providing a rescue service in the area.

Finally, as I don’t wish the association to be thought of as sexist, can I point out that the caption accompanying the article about Jacqui Wade is incorrect when it says she was one of the first female volunteers to go out on call-outs.

For many years the team has benefited from having numerous women members who have been prepared to turn out when asked.

Harry Long,  chairman, Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association

Council questions

Sir – Back in August last year I threw down this challenge to the mutually antagonistic parties that are Cowling council, and councillor Ady Green.

* Could the council tell the waiting world exactly what it had done during the previous twelve months to visibly improve the lot of the average Cowlingard?

* Would councillor Green like to tell us spectators, agog as we are, precisely what he’d done to move matters forward constructively in the village affairs, like attending council meetings?

Unsurprisingly I’m still waiting.

Still, the silence is nice.

Allan Friswell, Cowling

Fine bad dog owners

Sir – What goes on in the minds of those dog walkers who let their pets foul all over the place?

And what, if anything, are Craven District Council actually doing about it?

Once again, while escorting my two grandchildren to school from Westmorland Street in Skipton to Sackville Street and Lower Union Street, I have witnessed countless piles of dog mess.

And it’s not a one-off – every time I come here it’s the same.

I suppose it’s too much to expect any response plea directly to these dog owners – so Craven council – tell us what you’ve done. Just how many spot fines or prosecutions the council makes each year. From what I’ve seen, not many.

Mr S Mason, Keighley

Holocaust memorial

Sir – Holocaust Memorial Day, on January 27, is an opportunity for us all to remember the millions murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution, and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

The number of people involved in the day grows every single year, with individuals and groups across the UK coming together to pause and reflect not only on the past, but on its lessons for the future.

This year is the 20th anniversary of the Genocide in Rwanda.

As a nation, we must all share responsibility for maintaining the memory of these atrocities, to make sure they can never happen again. From prisons in Leeds to football clubs in London, this year Holocaust Memorial Day will be marked at over 2,000 events.

I would urge everyone to find out what will be happening in their community and to take part. Please visit www.hmd.org.uk for more information.

Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief executive, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust

Parking concerns for Tour de France

Sir – It is wonderful to read (Craven Herald, January 16) of all the preparations being made for the Tour de France.

I have attended this marvellous event and its attendant festivities twice in France, both times by bus. Yet although preparations are in hand for parking 28,000 extra cars, I have yet to read of any provision being made for the regular stage buses, or for special shuttle services from rail heads, or to encourage coaches rather than cars. I have heard that the usual bus services may, as a result of the Tour traffic arrangements, even be taken off that weekend rather than being encouraged to provide additional capacity.

This can only lead to many more cars fighting for space.

I have not even seen any mention of encouraging far more people to arrive in Skipton and the Dales by bike!

Perhaps this is just as well, as neither MP nor councillors have managed to get the canal towpath, a favourite cycle route, upgraded as part of the preparations.

It is therefore likely to become a dangerous quagmire.

I suspect this lack of action on buses and bikes may have something to do with the fact that car parking, as an extensive user of land, makes more profit. The policies of North Yorkshire and the National Park, to encourage sustainable transport in order to relieve car pressure on the Dales, do seem to have been abandoned.

Claire Nash, Local Party Contact, Skipton and Craven Green Party

Dangerous path

Sir – I am a regular dog walker in Skipton woods. It’s a beautiful place, where you can appreciate nature, enjoy the fresh air, and meet many other like-minded people (not all of them dog walkers). I appreciate that there has been a lot of improvement done over the last year, with the new bridge built, new gates, and stone monoliths giving directions. Today, there has suddenly appeared a lovely new notice-board, with a glass compartment at the side. How nice.

However, approximately two years ago, before all of these “improvements” were begun, I contacted the Woodland Trust with a concern.

On the entrance to the woods, by the Saw Mill Cottage entrance, there is a steep hill. There is no safety handrail, and when the weather becomes icy, it's a death-trap trying to negotiate up and down it (see photograph below).

In the past I have had to slide down it on my bottom, rather than fall and break a limb. At the far-end, beyond the lovely new bridge, and up the slope, there is a great, sturdy handrail. I just wondered why all these cosmetic pretties have been put there, without thought to the important matters.

I was going to contact the Woodland Trust again with this worry, but as this issue has been ignored in the past, perhaps a more public view will encourage them to make the more important improvements that will cover health and safety, and give walkers peace of mind.

Heather Hoyland, Skipton

D-Day anniversary

Sir –Between Monday, June 2, and Saturday, June 7, I will be leading a group from the North of England to attend events in Normandy to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the Normandy campaign in 1944.

There will be an opportunity to pay respects to a relative at the Commonwealth War Cemeteries and Memorials as well as attending special ceremonies in Caen, Bayeux and the landing beaches.

We will also visit significant areas associated with the Normandy Campaign.

En route we will visit Bletchley Park where the Enigma machine was used to significant effect in the campaign.

We still have a few places left and convenient local pick-up points can be arranged. I will be happy to supply details to any of your readers if they contact me at 2 Eden Gate, Warcop, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria CA16 6PL, or telephone me on (01768) 41060 or 07710 270640.

David Raw, Appleby-in-Westmorland

Auction marts

Sir – I was pleased to see pictures and a report from Bentham Auction Mart in the paper last week.

Bentham Auction Mart is a thriving mart with farmers and buyers attending from all over the Craven area and beyond.

Your paper seems to publish reports from other auction marts and leave Bentham out. We are in Craven.

Thanks very much for publishing the report.

Wendy Heigh, Bentham

Editor's note: We’re more than happy to publish reports (and pictures) from Bentham.

While we can’t accommodate every report we receive, we rely on the marts to provide details of their weekly sales, and Bentham do not send reports as regularly as the other marts.

Less of Godfrey

Sir – I’m sure I speak for many other readers when I say thank you for clearing up the Godfrey Bloom “mouthpiece” situation in response to Mr Lovell.

While I can see your points about not censoring letter writers, is there any chance you can limit the number a bit?

He really does get a bit tedious after a while.

Still, I suppose his nonsense does keep showing UKIP up.

The U-turn over the idiotic southern councillor who blamed storms on gay marriage certainly showed the party up too.

They went from having no problem with someone expressing their religious beliefs to withdrawing the whip once the social media-led backlash got going.

I also agree with your point that it would also be nice if we heard from some of our other politicians more.

We see plenty of Julian Smith but the Liberal Democrats, Labour and even the vast majority of Craven district councillors don’t seem interested in engaging with the public.

Still, I’m sure that’ll change when they pop up again just before the elections, only to go quiet for another four years or so.

Mr F Ward, Skipton

Waste of research

Sir – I hope Manchester University criminologist Mark Littler didn't waste too much time and money researching the relationship between regular church attendance and the likelihood of committing crime.

Surprise, surprise, it revealed the likelihood was low. It would have been baffling if the result had been otherwise.

What next, discovering that victims of crime are likely to be unhappy about it?

Perhaps the learned academic could turn his attention to some criminology research which might actually useful to society.

Jane Collins, UKIP Yorkshire & North Lincs

Mistake was made

Sir – Thank you for printing my letter on January 9 headed “Punishment was harsh”.

Unfortunately you edited out the main point of the letter – which was to highlight the fact that, according to your article, the motor insurance was only six hours out of date.

That was the element of the case that I felt was unreasonable.

I did note that you reserved the right to edit, but I did think the context would remain.

Julie Orrell, Skipton

Editor’s note: The “six hours” part of the letter was indeed cut-out and I accept that this did change the context of the letter.

There are no excuses. It was simply left out in error whilst being input. I apologise for the mistake and hope it does not stop you submitting further letters in future.