From Keighley library lights to pride in town

My wife and I walked past Keighley Library, at 10pm, on Tuesday, after an enjoyable visit to Keighley Playhouse.

We were amazed to see that not only did the library have every single light on but there was a large flat TV screen displaying a news programme.

There was nobody there. I thought the authorities have been telling us to save energy in every way. Can someone tell me whether this is another case of gross incompetence or is it yet another example of those in power working on the principle, "do what we say, not what we do". What respect do they think they deserve from the public?

DAVID MORTIMER Woodville Road, Keighley

Jackie Kitwood, principal libraries officer for Bradford Council, said: "We are very grateful to Mr Mortimer for pointing this out to us, because as an organisation we are constantly striving to be more environmentally friendly by saving energy.

"The lights were kept on for the caretaker to clean and carry out any maintenance work after the library closed to the public. But we will now take steps to ensure that any unnecessary lights are switched off.

"When the library was refurbished last year, we were keen that, like many modern libraries across the country, it would become a vibrant, dynamic community hub with a café/easy seating area. The plasma screen is part of this and a way of attracting customers. It also enables us to promote events and activities in Keighley and throughout the district. But we will ensure that this is switched off outside library opening hours."

Great privilege to have worked alongside Ann Cryer

I am pretty sure that my leaving Ann Cryer's office is not newsworthy stuff.

Indeed, I rather thought that people's reaction on hearing that I was leaving would be " Mark who?"

I have had the great privilege to have worked alongside Ann Cryer for seven years. I know from first hand experience that, when people say that "politicians are all the same", that it is simply not true. Apart from Ann's inherent honesty and integrity, she is a woman who, in the face of some personal adversity, has had the courage to deal with some of the most difficult issues of our time.

Ann is a credit to Keighley in every respect.

After seven years (and reaching 40) I have decided that the time is ripe for me to move on to other things and I have set up my own consultancy and training firm. It is an exciting venture and I am looking forward to getting my teeth into it.

Whether people agreed or disagreed with me over the years, I have always tried to put the interests of Keighley to the fore and do my best for my home town.

I would like to thank all those people who have come through the office or have worked with me and to wish them all the very best for the future.

MARK TAYLOR Haworth

How money will be spent in ward

As many will know, Bradford Council has voted on an investment fund of £100,000 per ward. This principle was put forward by the leader and the council executive for consideration at full council.

The motion was voted on. The Labour Party en-masse voted against it and the need for ward investment. Thankfully, other parties on the council were not so small minded.

The three Worth Valley Ward councillors have held numerous meetings and consultations to attempt to evenly distribute the investment fairly across the ward. In principle, we agreed the spend: Haworth Parish Council £10k; Oxenhope Parish Council £10k; Oakworth Village Society £10k; Cross Roads Park £10k; Haworth Park (bandstand) £10k; community environmental projects across the ward (youth inclusion) led by Steve Thorpe £10k; Oakworth Juniors Football Club, £10k, please note they have an amount secured via 106 agreement; environmental projects across the ward, administered by Keighley Area Office, £20k; lighting improvements (sports orientated) £10k.

As all of the money must be spent on capital items and the minimum amount allowed being £10,000. The three ward councillors have spent many hours on this matter debating and researching with considerable help of the Keighley Area Office and the Action Plan, and feel this is a fair way to allocate the money within the ward.

With joint working with all our partners within the ward, it is hoped that the money will enable some excellent ventures/ideas to materialise and lead to additional money by pump-priming possible other pots of money to come to the ward for further additional investment.

COUNCILLORS PETER HILL, KRIS HOPKINS AND GLEN MILLER

Fire victims suggestion

Re naming of the streets replacing Brontë School. May I respectfully suggest that alongside the names forthcoming for favourite master, consideration by given to the former metalwork teacher Mr Anderton who along with two of his grandchildren were victims of the fire at Bradford City Stadium.

I am sure that choosing his name would be a lovely moment for any existing relatives and would make them very proud.

A Wilkinson Thornhill Avenue, Oakworth.

Positive traffic meeting

Following an invitation initially issued by Cllr Graham Mitchell, on November 29, 2007, Mr S Bennett and Cllr Mitchell met at 10am, on Thursday, January 24, 2008, in Keighley Town Hall, to discuss aspects of traffic congestion in Keighley town centre.

The meeting had been arranged following reports and correspondence in the Keighley News in November and December 2007 The meeting was positive and productive and dealt with a wide range of issues of mutual concern. During the discussion, Mr Bennett recommended the following points for consideration to Keighley Town Council: 1, The optimum solution to town centre traffic congestion would be an eastern bypass from Ingrow to Thwaites. It is appreciated that this would be a high cost solution but at least the case for construction should be re-examined.

2, As a lower cost, though a less useful option, an inner relief road from Worth Way, via Longcroft to Gresley Road, should be seriously considered.

3, All town centre on-street parking should be for extremely short-time duration, with rigid enforcement. No all-day on-street parking to be permitted in the town centre.

4, All off-street parking should be at low cost to attract business users into Keighley.

5, Bus only priority routes should be introduced in Keighley at peak periods to make public transport more attractive.

The meeting lasted for 1 hour and 20 minutes, at the end of which Cllr Mitchell promised that these points, many of which already have the support of town councillors, will be tabled at the watch and transport committee on February 11.

Cllr Mitchell also discussed with Mr Bennett details of the ideas circulating within the recently formed Worth Valley joint transport committee, which includes representatives from Oxenhope Parish Council, Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council and Keighley Town Council.

S Bennett Grafton Road and Town Cllr Graham Mitchell

Editor's note: Last week we published a letter from Mr Bennett concerning a claim that Cllr Mitchell had not replied to one of his letters. At the time of publication this was not correct as explained above. I apologise for any distress and embarrassment the publication of the letter may have caused Cllr Mitchell.

Mr Bennett added: "In respect of the letter printed in the KN on January 24, criticising Cllr Mitchell, I should like to apologise unreservedly to Cllr Mitchell in respect of that letter for any personal offence or difficulties caused or created by that to Cllr Mitchell."

A legend in Keighley

I read the tribute to Freddie Pickles and just had to put pen to paper and rekindle the memories I had of the man.

I met Fred in 1965. My first Craven district football league referees appointment at Prince Smith's Dalton Lane ground for Prince Smith and Skipton Town. I had no proper ref's kit so I made do with a white shirt, black blazer with Scottish command athletic badge on the top pocket and a pair of shorts. Prince's committee of Donald Fletcher, Fred Pickles, Albert Storton and Tom Lynch came up to me after the match and said: "Where you from? Your the smartest dressed ref we've had."

My reply was: "My first appointment and only a make shift kit." Years after, Fred came up while in conversation. I remember your first ref's appointment. We thought you came from a higher league with a big smile on his face.

Fred Pickles loved all aspects of sport and would help people from all walks of life with fitness training if they would listen to him.

One of Fred's favourite phrases was: "The best way to test your fitness level and condition is to walk fast up hill for 300 yards." Something I always remembered.

Fred in later life loved walking. Twice a week he would catch the bus to Skipton and walk back over Cononley tops to Keighley. Weight lifting, shooting, potholing and football, Fred lived a full life.

A legend in Keighley and Craven sport, his name will live on for years to come.

Allan Mason Jennygill Crescent, Skipton

Much to be proud of

In my time as town mayor and councillor, it has been my pleasure and privilege to meet and see just how much talent and giving to others without recognition there is in the groups who operate in our town.

We have so much to be proud of in our young people and those who help them in their progress into adulthood.

Scouts, Guides, our cadet forces, theatre groups and all the other clubs and societies which make our town a wonderful place to live. On Saturday, the mayoress and I had the honour of presenting a very well deserved lottery cheque to the judo club operating from Holy Family School.

That evening we saw the Keighley Amateurs pantomime Humpty Dumpty. What a show it was - magic, humour and perfection by the young people and all the cast taking part.

Could I urge anyone who has not seen this show to get down to Victoria Hall, your missing a treat.

Brian Hudson Town Mayor

A gross exaggeration

I refer to the article on the front page of Keighley News last week.

The article asserts that the walking route from Steeton and Silsden station car park to the Leeds/Bradford platform is a "distance of about half a mile". I've measured it on Google Earth and believe this figure is a gross exaggeration. The route shown on the front page of the paper measures up at 0.36 miles, or 2/3rds of the distance claimed. It is just 0.25 miles via the public footpath on the south side of Steeton Grove rather than going up the old Station Road.

This may seem like I am nit-picking but given that ramps complying with the Disability Discrimination Act would need to be 240m long at least (6m height gain and loss at on 1:20 ramps) there is arguably a limited benefit from ramps.

Furthermore (I feel I may be missing the point here) how would a car park on the north side of the railway actually help? Yes, Mr Mullen would able to park close to the Leeds/Bradford platform at the start of his journey - but when he returned from that direction he'd have the same length of walk back to his car from the Skipton bound side, where he would arrive. In a week when we've yet again seen significant flooding in the area, isn't Metro being responsible by not proposing development in the flood plain?

On a separate note, I would like to thank Councillor Mitchell for his response to my detailed letter about Airedale line services.

Tim Cook Middlefield Court, East Morton

Replace steps with ramps

With regard to last week's leader article about disabled access to Steeton and Silsden Railway Station, I would like to say that not all disabled passengers have the use of a car.

I take a wheelchair using a relative on weekly visits to Leeds when weather allows. We arrive at the station by a Keighley & District vehicle from Silsden and then have to wait half an hour for a Leeds train.

As can be seen by your plan accompanying the article (without the bus stops marked and crash barrier blocking room for a footpath on the Leeds/Bradford platform side of the Station Road), to gain entry to the Leeds/Bradford platform we have to cross Station Road to return to the roundabout on the Aire Valley trunk road. This requires Station Road to be crossed twice. The pathway from the roundabout into the station is muddy at this time of year as motorists evidently use it for access.

One way to improve entry into Steeton and Silsden station, or should it be called a "halt" due to the pathetic facilities there (information monitors have not worked for at least 12 months) would be to replace the present steep steps with ramps. Of course, this would require some imagination from the architects' departments to produce ramps with a reasonable gradient.

M Toft Windsor Avenue, Silsden

Heritage railway is busy

Referring to last week's story about a bid to lift K&WVR numbers, a little knowledge is evidently a dangerous thing on the part of the Mr Smith whom you quote in your article.

The KWVR passenger numbers are based upon the number of tickets sold; most other heritage railways quote the number of passenger journeys that the ticket represents. Thus, for example, a passenger buying a full line ticket at Haworth would count as three in most other railway's cases viz; Haworth-Oxenhope, Oxenhope-Keighley and finally, Keighley-Haworth.

This is a perfectly legitimate method of statistical compilation and has been used for the best part of two centuries where railways are concerned. It is designed to measure past and likely future demand for seats, rolling stock and train services.

But when one sees another railway quoting, for example, "200,000 passengers", this probably means somewhere around 120,000 to 150,000 tickets sold. On the other hand, when you see the K&WVR quoting "120,000 passengers", this is the number of tickets sold, which actually probably represents about 150,000 to 200,000 passenger journeys. Thus, the K&WVR is actually as busy if not busier than most other heritage railways in terms of passenger journeys. Mr Smith's suggestions to increase numbers, however they are counted, are laudable for the railway and the local economy generally, but his suggestion that the K&WVR is somehow falling behind its peers, is based upon what appears to be an ill informed and unsound premise.

David Pearson Angarth, Old Hall Close, Haworth