Lady Anne should be cast and not Freddie

Few would disagree that Freddie was a brilliant cricketer, a great raconteur and excellent cricket commentator. However, I cannot help but feel that his likeness, in the form of a statue, would be going to the wrong town.

Like all great and iconic sports heroes any statues should surely be placed next to where they became famous and which in this case is Headingley rather than Skipton. Billy Bremner's statue is outside Leeds United Football Club and Bobby Moore's statue was unveiled last week outside the new Wembley stadium Now that Michael Parkinson has been hired to promote this scheme, surely he of all people would be pushing for Headingley rather than Skipton.

Freddie Trueman was born in South Yorkshire and hence is not "a son of Skipton", and furthermore I am concerned that 25 years from now few people on Skipton High Street will remember him. Len Hutton, another great Yorkshire cricketer, captain of England and just as heroic in his day, is barely known to the under-60s, and how many people in the High Street know anything about Sir Matthew Wilson standing on his plinth outside the library.

The public have not been asked who they might like to see commemorated in Skipton, but somehow or other Craven District Council seem to have taken it upon themselves to dictate to Skiptonians whom they have already chosen. If ratepayers' money is not to be used and public subscriptions only to be the method of payment, why on earth is the Council involved at all?

There have been at least two great benefactors to Skipton. Andrew Carnegie, who donated our High Street Library, and Lady Anne Clifford, who was born in this town in 1590. Neither are commemorated in the form of a statue. This proud Northern lady was a most remarkable woman, spending 38 years fighting the injustice of the Crown's disgraceful decision to take away her rightful inheritance of her father's Craven Estates.

Our Carnegie Library yielded the following paragraph from Edward Hailstone, Portraits of Yorkshire Worthies, 1869. I quote . . . "Lady Anne Clifford's benevolence and philanthropy was legendary. Her house was a school for the young, a retreat for the aged, an asylum for the persecuted, a college for the learned and a platform for all. She was remarkable for her learning, her independence of spirit, her fairness, her resistance both against the Crown and Oliver Cromwell. She patronised literary merit, re-built her castles, houses, churches and chapels. Above all she constructed alms houses and hospitals throughout her Estates."

I vote that Freddie Trueman is commemorated at Headingley and that Lady Anne Clifford be cast in bronze and placed in Skipton outside her castle entrance.

Councillor Heseltine should ask the public who they want on a plinth in Skipton and then remove Craven District Council from any further part of the process.

Peter Rigby, Beamsley.

Narrow-minded

SIR - We are the manufacturers of the Mosquito device that Lancashire County Council ordered to be taken down from Earby School.

I have read your article with total incredulity in relation to the comments of the councillors.

The school in question is using the Mosquito device to prevent kids from climbing on the school roof. How can the use of the Mosquito then be discriminatory? Do these kids have the right to be on the roof? Are they not breaking the law etc. by being there in the first place?

In a controlled environment such as school grounds, there can be no discrimination, as there should be no children there after school hours; any that are trespassing.

The Mosquito device is not, in its self, discriminatory; rather any discrimination is down to the user. Just like a gun is not deadly in and of itself, it takes someone to pull the trigger.

We are getting completely fed-up with the narrow-mindedness of some councillors and police forces in the UK. We have spent huge amounts of money on top UK Environmental, Health and Safety, Medical, legal and Human Rights specialist advice on behalf of our customers, all of which is available either on our website or upon request.

All of these investigations prove that the device is safe and legal and does not breach any Human Rights.

Si Morris, commercial director Compound Security Systems Ltd, Pant Industrial Estate, Merthyr Tydfil

Patently ludicrous

SIR - I applaud Barney Long's letter (Craven Herald May 18) exposing the plot by Novo Homes to close, permanently, Brewery Lane.

This must not be allowed to happen, unless an alternative north/south route (other than the High Street) is to be opened.

Novo's contention that no inconvenience has been caused by the closure is patently ludicrous to anyone who regularly visits Skipton.

The extra traffic on Water Street, Mill Bridge, High Street, Swadford Street and on Broughton Road through the Ings, is noticeable at all times of day, not just rush hours. Numerous travellers from the Grassington and Gargrave directions, heading for the Tesco/Focus/Morrisons/station area were regular users of Brook Street/Brewery Lane to pass south (as they use Coach Street to return north - itself made more difficult now by the Water Street congestion!).

It now takes substantially longer to get to this area - making Skipton a much less attractive shopping venue.

Mr Long's further suggestion that Brewery Lane be made one way (southwards) is equally sound. Such a move would make this invaluable route even more effective.

Mike Vineall, Edge Side House, Hebden.

Extra pollution

SIR - It was with some shock and surprise I read Barney Long's letter objecting to Novo Homes' petition to close Brewery Lane permanently.

Their suggestion that traffic has been successfully diverted onto a number of alternative routes is a claim of utter rubbish. I would like to see these "alternative routes" identified by Novo Homes. Obviously it would benefit Novo Homes to close Brewery Lane, it would make it easier to sell their development at a much inflated price.

I doubt if they have considered the ordinary residents who live on either side of the canal and who find themselves having to pay extra costs to travel on the only alternative route from Gargrave Road side to get to Morrisons and back or from Broughton Road by car to and from Aireville Baths, school or college!

The extra cost to the people who do not have their own transport is in the region of nearly £2.

As for the comment "no noticeable impact at any one location" - this is total nonsense. Has the author of the petition travelled along this route during the day? If he has not done this yet I suggest he tries - the sooner the better and I will arrange transport for him.

I totally agree with Barney Long expressing concern of the extra pollution emitted by all the standing traffic, it must be horrendous along the "alternative" routes.

I trust the residents who have been circulated with this proposition haven't fallen for the idea.Well done Barney, we want Brewery Lane open again as soon as possible.

Dennis Hall, Brougham Street, Skipton.

Insensitive opinion

SIR - T Hall has indeed got his facts right regarding the helicopter crash which resulted in the death of my husband Capt Philip Guy RM in March 2003.

One fact is, however, that we will never ever really know why the helicopter crashed.

It carried no data or voice recorder so piecing together evidence has been difficult and lengthy with much of it based on opinion, albeit from witnesses and experienced helicopter pilots.

T Hall has obviously followed media reports of the crash very closely and is, of course, entitled to hold and publicly express whatever opinion he wishes regarding its cause.

During his close scrutiny of the media reports, T Hall may have seen me on BBC news or heard me on Radio Two stating that I want now to draw a line under the formal proceedings regarding my tragedy and to get on with my life.

This is very difficult to do when I open my local newspaper to find a complete stranger broadcasting his insensitive opinion on the death of my husband.

Now that T Hall has made his point I would appreciate it if any further controversial views and opinions on this subject might not be expressed where I am likely to read them.

Also may I ask for no further correspondence on this matter as repeatedly reading about it and re-visiting it is upsetting.

Helen Guy, Cross Bank, Skipton.

Open apology

SIR - I recently wrote about the deplorable decision to withdraw rate relief from local sports clubs. In that letter I said sport was not offered in schools.

It has been vigorously pointed out to me that I am mistaken and in the Settle area, Settle College and Settle Middle School provide the bulk of the participants in junior sport at local clubs.

The case is probably the same all over Craven.

I thoughtlessly made an error. I was wrong and apologise to all those teachers who give up there free time to provide competitive sport.

I am aware that the girls' rugby teams from Settle College and Settle Middle School are a match for anyone, due to coaching and organisation given by teachers and I congratulate them.

It's an example to Craven District Council to whom the concept of selfless giving must be immeasurably alien.

Andrew Mills, Stainforth.

Good Samaritans

SIR - Both my husband and myself would like to thank the people who came to my husband's aid when he fell stepped off the kerb onto a cobbled area at the bottom of High Street and took a bad fall.

He has since been to our local hospital and is on the mend.

I would particularly like to thank the lady who wanted to call an ambulance, the man who was concerned and to everyone who came to assist.

We never knew so many people could be so kind to us. Once again thank you so much to everyone - it is much appreciated.

Also please take care especially where Doug, my husband, fell.

Doug and Val Pemberton, Princess Road, Shaw, Oldham.

Institute support

SIR - Most people would agree that the most distinctive building along the Glusburn/Cross Hills Main Street is the Glusburn Institute, a Grade II listed building now more than 100 years old.

The Institute is embarking on exciting new ventures both as the village hall and as one of the three Craven arts centres.

It is the centre for the Yorkshire Dales Workshop, the Glusburn Institute of Performing Arts, and a wide range of activities including dance groups, drama, pantomime, concerts, bands, further education, bowls, fitness classes, a luncheon club etc.

Plans for a £1 million redevelopment programme have been drawn up, but proceeding with the programme depends on grants being received from funding sources and this may take some time to achieve.

In the meantime we need to embark on interim maintenance measures to spruce up the facilities and to increase the space available for functions which in turn will raise more revenue to plough back into the building.

The annual general meeting of the Glusbum Institute is being held at the Institute on Wednesday at 7.15pm.

I am writing to invite members of both the local village community and the wider Craven community to this important meeting bearing in mind the dual roles fulfilled by the Institute.

We need all the help we can get in making the facilities more widely known, recommending further activities, advising on the interim measures to be taken and where possible helping in carrying out the work.

We shall therefore be most delighted to see as many members of the community as possible at the meeting. Please come along and give your support.

Bernard Peel, Secretary, Glusburn Institute.

Statutory controls

SIR - I am writing in response to a letter from Barbara McCartan which appeared in your newspaper last week (May 18) expressing her view that Barnoldswick Town Council had "little power."

Town and parish councils are creatures of statutes. This means that they are set up and controlled by Acts of Parliament.

Unlike county and district governments, a town council does not have a power of general competence - that is, they don't have an unlimited power to do whatever they choose.

They can only do what they have been given a specific power to do by statute.

As regards planning matters, planning is, first and foremost, a statutory system.

A town council does not normally have power to grant or refuse planning permission. This power is held only by planning authorities (e.g. district, county and unitary authorities).

In the case of Barnoldswick Town Council, this power is held by Pendle District Council. This body has elected to delegate decision making powers on planning applications to their area committees, a not uncommon practice.

Planning authorities, including Pendle Council, however, must inform parish and town councils and consider their views when deciding on planning applications.

Barnoldswick Town Council enthusiastically exercises this right through its own planning committee. This body reviews all local planning applications and passes on relevant comments to Pendle District Council (West Craven Area Committee) which, for the most part, are taken seriously.

I hope this information is helpful in putting Mrs McCartan's views into a legal and administrative context.

Robert Kandt, Town Clerk, Barnoldswick Town Council.

Members attacked

SIR - I will try to answer the "Not Wanted" letter in your paper and request the writer to address some of the issues at stake.

I expect the reason for the early morning delivery of our election manifesto was, for the safety of our leafletters. In Pendle five of our members were attacked while leafleting along with one of their school children. They ended up in hospital.

With regard to the Second Great War, it was fought to preserve freedom. I too lost friends and family, only to see this freedom being eroded by our present politicians.

Our ally in the war the Socialist Stalin killed and imprisoned 60 million people many of his own, and Tito, the socialist leader of Yugoslavia, slaughtered all the Royalist army.

I am not a lover of Hitler, but after the socialist leaders, what he did pales into insignificance. May I ask who is destroying our freedom in this country now?

The first letter I received as a BNP cardholder was to state that I was on probation and was expected to live the laws of the land.

I wonder if the other parties expect the same high standards. I can agree that the BNP is not as eloquent as some of the speakers from other parties, but they are honest and can afford to tell the truth in this land of spin and lies.

Geoff L Whitehead, Greatcroft Close, Barnoldswick.

Disastrous effect

SIR - This is a copy of a letter sent to Skipton MP David Curry.

It is with grave concern that we have heard that Central Government have announced North Yorkshire County Council's bid to create a single unitary council for the county was one of 16 to go forward for further consultation.

As you may be aware Homeloan Management, a subsidiary of The Skipton Building Society, is in the process of a joint venture with Craven District Council to build offices, for both parties, on a site on the edge of Skipton. The existing Craven District Council offices are to be re-developed, and as part of the project much needed new housing will be built in Skipton.

The possibility of a unitary authority for North Yorkshire is creating uncertainty for the future of Skipton, in that any delay brought about by such deliberations may well encourage HML to look elsewhere to give immediate settlement to the predicament in which they find themselves.

Our members have also expressed unease over the potential for this development to be halted because there may no longer be a need for new local government offices in Skipton when Craven District Council no longer exists, due to the change to a unitary authority for North Yorkshire.

Homeloan Management and indeed Craven District Council are among the largest employers in Skipton.

The loss of either or both of these entities in Skipton would have a disastrous effect upon trade and the economy in general.