A golden chance for a green future

May we hope, the design of these offices will take on board the latest methods for conserving energy, recycling, treatment of water and sewage, best use of food waste etc? Might this opportunity be taken for new buildings to be designed which are highly efficient to run, where staff are protected from extremes of heat and cold, with a low "carbon footprint", and where car-parking might be underground?

Initial costs may be higher but running costs would be much lower, especially as energy costs rise.

An example has been set by the new offices for the Yorkshire Dales National Park at Bainbridge. Let's hope that Skipton Building Society and Craven District Council have given their architects a brief to take advantage of 2007 technology and do even better.

We suggest this vision in the design would bring prestige to Skipton Building Society and may attract new investors and borrowers.

Marks and Spencer have adopted a policy to go "carbon neutral". Similar positive PR would follow for the business and the council and staff. Local residents would have a fine, futuristic building to be proud of. Offices could be built of traditional stone of Yorkshire and yet tackle the problems of climate change.

Robert Holland For the Craven Committee of CPRE Skipton Rd, Cononley.

Loss of contact

SIR - I'm glad that Richard Flinton, the assistant chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, would find a unitary council "less confusing" (Craven Herald report, May 4) but I doubt that it would be more efficient.

The 300 jobs that Mr Flinton wants so blithely to throw away would inevitably lead to a reduction in the quality of local services and any hope of financial saving is speculation verging on wishful thinking.

But worse than this would be the increased separation of the public from their elected representatives. Under the present system there is the possibility of real, personal contact with both district councillors and officers at a local level. Parish and town councils will inevitably lose influence in an over large and distant unitary authority.

At a time of apathetic turnouts at election time we need to keep as much power and influence as close to home as possible or folk will have even more excuse to abandon their democratic duty.

David Thomas Junction Workshop Cross Hills

No cover-up

SIR - Regarding the death of my husband, Capt Philip Guy, RM, in a US helicopter in Kuwait in March 2003, I feel compelled to respond to T Hall (Craven Herald letters May 4).

As Captain Guy's widow I am in possession of the lengthy factual reports regarding the crash. Whilst I appreciate T Hall's right to express his opinion, it is one most likely based on media reports, and is, in my opinion, very cynical.

Having attended the recent thorough coroner's inquiry regarding the crash, I can say that a US cover up is highly unlikely. And no, Mr Hall, there is absolutely nothing wrong with my olfactory function thank you very much.

Helen Guy Cross Bank, Skipton.

Mean-spirited

SIR - I have read with dismay your article regarding the Craven Heifer in Addingham, where the Bradford Planning Department has ordered the removal of the pub signs.

The Government, in changing licensing laws, has encouraged a continental style café society away from the binge swilling pubs and clubs. The landlord's signs are attractive and invite would-be customers into a warm and friendly atmosphere.

The same department made the Fleece management remove its bread oven, another incomprehensible decision.

Maybe the mean-spirited planners should remain in Bradford and concentrate on continuing and accelerating their efforts in that city, only venturing out to take the half hour train journey to Leeds to see how a city should be planned.

Mike Whitehead, Cononley.

Cross-legged

SIR - I share the concern of the residents in Hebden over the closure of the public toilets.

If Craven Council cannot find the money for running them, might I suggest it would be a good scheme for another body, namely the national park, to finance the running of them, even purchasing them.

As they rule all our lives at the moment without owning anything in the Dales, apart from their huge offices, they would be helping the district and the rambling people who love to walk in the area to have a pleasant time without having to walk about cross-legged.

D Swires, Summerbridge, Harrogate.

Thanks for support

SIR - May I through your letters page say thank you to everyone who has supported me as a Craven District Councillor over the past four years. I have enjoyed my time on the Council and hope I have been able to make a difference.

Craven District Council has a lot of fine hardworking officers who I have worked with. I will not embarrass them by naming them, they know who they are. But I would like to thank them for their help and indulgence in guiding me through my time as a councillor.

I would also like to wish Chris Harbron good luck in his term of office and to remind people that it is all about democracy, which is one of the things that make this country great.

Now I look forward to spending time with my family and playing a bit more golf!

Mike Hill, Upper Sackville Street, Skipton.

Mill memories

SIR - Regarding the article on Greenroyd Mill (Craven Herald May 4) I would like to correct and add to some of the information.

The mill, the earliest parts of which were there in 1788, was owned by the Harper family and is believed to be the first spinning mill in the area.

Later it was rented and then owned by Peter Hartley as Low Mill at Low Bridge, then William Hartley's Mill or Greenroyd, High Street, Sutton-in-Craven, "worsted spinner of hosiery yarns and knitting wool. Greenroyd is its present name.

No weaving took place there; the two smaller extensions are now demolished. I remember them being built, one was the drawing department, where my sister Mrs S Watson had her fingers caught in a steel needled roller.

Its official closure was in May 1980 when I and others were made redundant.

The 140 feet mill chimney is at the present day being demolished, the last of six factory chimneys in the village.

I do hope the councils will give the new properties appropriate names and not duplicate names as, with recent new properties, which must be confusing to strangers to the village.

Mrs D Riley, Raspberry Place, Sutton-in-Craven.

Chernobyl children

SIR - On behalf of Chernobyl Children's Project UK I would like to thank all those who contributed in any way to the successful fundraising event at Skipton Town Hall on April 28, especially Joan Godfrey who organised the event.

The £1,300 raised will go towards providing holidays in a cleaner part of Belarus for children who are too frail or disabled to benefit from a recuperative holiday in the UK.

Information about the work of Chernobyl Children's Project UK can be found on the website www.chernobyl-children.org.uk or contact me on (01756) 792196.

Jean Holt, Foster Care Adviser, Regent Drive, Skipton.

French efficiency

SIR - I have a friend who recently returned from France with an observation that his car ran more smoothly and that fuel economy had jumped while over there.

It turns out that the French have been putting additives in their petrol for ten years to increase fuel burn efficiency by about ten per cent.

Recently a Chinese/Malaysian breakthrough has improved efficiency further for a 15 to 20 per cent increase in fuel economy. Sensibly the French are now adding this at a tiny fractional cost increase (less than one per cent).

Why run down precious fossil fuel reserves unnecessarily and damage the balance of payments?

It would be refreshing to see a British Government encourage motor fuel suppliers do this over here across the board. After all we do have the most expensive fuel in Europe taxed at 80 pence per litre.

Roger Bell, Skipton Road, Gargrave.

Council welcome

SIR - My husband and I recently had occasion to visit the Craven District Council offices in both High Street and Granville Street.

There we were dealt with in both a pleasant and helpful manner, not only by the receptionist but also people passing through. What a pleasant change in this age!

Keep it up, you are a credit to the council.

Mrs J Wilson Crowtrees Caravan Park, Tosside.

Hot stuff

SIR - Thank you Graham Rushworth! (Global Warming? I'm not so sure', Craven Herald May 4).

Following the report of the Intergovernmental panel on climate change last month, I have hitherto lost sleep over their dire predictions regarding the future. I have been a reluctant member of the "doom and gloom brigade".

After reading your incisive article I am much reassured. It appears I have been naïve. I was foolish enough to take seriously the findings of two thousand eminent climatologists and those that peer reviewed their findings.

Thanks to you I can now recognise that climate change is mythic - or at least not to be taken too seriously. It is, as you suggest, the result of a plot by governments. They have entered into a vast conspiracy in order to justify the imposition of swinging restrictions, by way of taxes, on the use of privately owned cars, thus reducing road congestion and in the process providing massive extra revenue to those governments at our expense." In this plot, climate scientists "who stand to benefit from those extra funds," have colluded.

Not having to worry about climate change, I should, like you, find myself able to relax and enjoy the unseasonably good weather.

Ted Saunders, Belle Hill, Giggleswick.

Lawned solution

SIR - How I endorse Graham Smith's sentiments and comments about Gill cemetery and churchyard.

Circa 50 years ago, I accompanied by father (a Barnoldswick undertaker) to assess the merits of Scotland's lawn cemeteries; they were as anyone could wish for ease of maintenance and pleasing appearance. The headstones were small and neat, with surrounding lawns which could be cropped easily.

Although I appreciate that "olden days" burials wished for elaborate obelisks and kerbstones, I still fervently believe that we should strive for lawn cemeteries.

Following what would definitely be a large initial outlay, it would surely be of benefit to have a burial area commensurate with the tidiness of our older generation's impeccable parkland standards.

Perhaps those willing to allocate money on whimsical ventures (grant-covered of course), would be better directed to ensure respect and the commemoration of our loved ones at Gill. Eventually, should there be no families to tend those graves, then they wouldn't fall into the decay that we see today.

Betty Hargreaves, Hawthorne Drive, Barnoldswick.

Festival thanks

SIR - My fellow directors and I of Skipton Waterway Festival Ltd would like to thank the people of Skipton for their help and support for this year's festival, especially our sponsors, Puffer Parts of Riddlesden, Craven District and Skipton Town Council, Skipton Building Society, Copper Dragon Brewery, British Waterways, Canalside and every other person who so kindly helped us financially. Without them, this festival could not have taken place and so we offer our heartfelt thanks.

Special thanks to Craven Cruising Club, which provided marshals for the event for all three days and did a fantastic job.

Also, special thanks to Shane Reffin, car park manager, for allowing so graciously the use of the Coach Street car park, Chris Aldred, town centre manager and Lynn Whittaker of Craven District Council for your help and support.

There are so many people who helped us, I could go on indefinitely, but, if you aren't mentioned above, we would like to say an enormous thank you, we couldn't have done it without your help.

Pamela Clarke Pennine Cruisers, Skipton.