From horses to parking - you have your say

For some years I enjoyed the unique experience helping young people to sail sea-going yachts operated by the Ocean Youth Trust.

On one trip eight out of the twelve crew were youngsters who had been affected by cerebral palsy. These plucky teenagers braved the worst of waves and weather and acquitted themselves with distinction. Taking off their oilskins for the last time, they returned home as proud and as brave as lions.

I do not recall anyone suggesting that the cruise should have taken place under cover.

In order for people of all shapes, sizes and abilities to get the true experience of an outdoor activity they need to be exposed to all the elements, come what may, under open skies - they need to be - well ... outdoors.

I'm not sure that attempts to make such activities more comfortable aren't indeed demeaning and pointless. I have sailed many thousands of miles with teenagers and I don't believe they would thank anybody who had tried to make it more comfortable or convenient. That's not why we do it.

The Riding for the Disabled Association has a website and it's obvious that this is a very worthy cause indeed - seeking as it does to give disabled people a sense of achievement and pride in their own abilities. They list the facilities which a local volunteer group should provide. Right at the bottom of the list we find "covered school/arena with a suitable surface for use in bad weather is helpful". "Helpful" - not indispensable.

It is legitimate to ask whether wrapping clients in dry cotton wool is actually helpful at all.

There is absolutely no doubt that riding for the disabled can and does take place effectively outdoors - the society's own picture gallery makes that very clear. Cllr Thorne, however, says "able bodied riders can ride all the year round the disabled cannot". I'm sorry to have to ask this, but why not?

Are we not in serious danger of patronisation here? Is this statement in itself not in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act?

George Speller, Hill Top Road, Keighley.

Sold down the river

The decision not to allow the people of this country a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is just another example of this disgraceful Government showing utter contempt for the voters.

Ever since Edward Heath sold this country down the river to Europe we have been constantly lied to by the politicians.

Our Parliament is now simply a charade where our overpaid MPs pretend to make decisions knowing full well that anything they pass will have to be ratified by an unelected council of corrupt politicians in Brussels.

I see in the national press that our MP, Ann Cryer, did not vote against the Government. If she voted for the Government I consider it a disgrace. If she abstained I consider it an act of cowardice.

H L Holmes, Paget Street, Keighley.

Two wheelchairs ruling

As you know I'm a double amputee in an electric wheelchair and my wife has severe osteoporosis.

We don't go out much together these days so when two friends asked us out for lunch last Wednesday we metaphorically jumped at the chance.

We elected to go to Steeton Hall for lunch, which is handy for us living in Steeton and normally you get a good meal there. I phoned ahead to book a table and explain about my wife and I being in wheelchairs.

I then booked a taxi from the only taxi firm in Keighley which can take two wheelchairs at a time, for noon, that Wednesday. When the taxi arrived the driver pointed out to us that Bradford Met had stopped them taking two wheelchairs at a time owing to safety reasons. These taxis are specially adapted to take wheelchairs and have straps to hold the wheelchair steady and straps to hold the passengers in the wheelchair also steady.

My wife and I have been using these taxis (along with Dial a Ride) since June, 2000, and we've had no accidents or complaints, except for the cost.

Our last Wednesday's journey, less than half a mile, from our house to Steeton Hall, there and back, cost £30 for four single journeys. All because someone in Bradford's transport department decided that it was unsafe for disabled husbands and wives and others to travel together in a taxi. What is this country coming to?

What with the Government banning smoking, drinking and driving two fast, it makes one seriously wonder about voting Tory at the next election (whenever that might be).

Derrick H Green, Upper School Street, Steeton.

Outlandish accusation

I feel I must respond to Councillor Khadim Hussain's outlandish accusation in last week's Keighley News that information given to the Utley and Beechcliffe neighbourhood forum was misleading, as I was the one who gave the information on behalf of Greenhead High School.

The meeting was told the architects were aiming to submit the drawings of the proposed school on the Greenhead site for planning permission on April 4, adding these would be available for public scrutiny soon after submission, giving local people time to submit their concerns or support.

The fact that reserved matters have been submitted first in a two part submission without the school's knowledge at the time of the meeting does not change the above statement.

I think there is enough legitimate concern about a project of this size without a councillor trying to get cheap publicity on the back of people's efforts to keep the local community up to date on the progress of this new school.

Tony Paget, Silsden.

Something very special

What a brilliant exhibition! I'm talking about the new addition to Cliffe Castle Museum: Keighley Stories.

The moment I entered the building I could see something very special was taking place.

The museum was swarming with families, most of whose children were having a great time viewing the stuffed crocodile, the two-headed sheep and the notorious "wife-taming cradle box no 6 - cure for a cross wife". One little girl spent ages carefully taking out the entire contents of a giant doll's house - then slowly re-assembling every tiny stick of furniture to her personal specification.

Of course, there was much more than that. A whole new history of Keighley has been laid out for us to walk within; it takes us through every aspect of the town, from terrible times to great times, and proves what many had suspected - indeed for all its reputation, the town has a fascinating - and in some cases - a magical history.

But don't just take my word for it. To all your readers I say: get along and see this amazing free show. And make sure you look around the whole museum, because in my opinion Cliffe Castle has just shot to the top of the list of best museums (and galleries) in West Yorkshire. My sincere congratulations to Ian Dewhirst and all the staff and helpers at Cliffe Castle who have put this fantastic exhibition together.

Malcolm Hanson, Cross Street, Skipton.

Visit left nasty taste

I wonder if other of your readers have had the same very unpleasant experience as we had when we used the car parking "facilities" (a misnomer if ever was one) at Haworth Changegate.

The car park was almost empty when we arrived but we did not regard this as suspicious; it was mid-March after all. We paid for two hours' parking, went for a most enjoyable lunch at The Old White Lion, visited a few shops and returned to the car two hours 10 minutes later to find that it had been clamped.

The attendant was quickly in evidence. No sympathy, of course; only a reminder of the regulations and details of how I could pay the £75 hostage fee. One might expect such a high charge in a congested inner city ... but Haworth? The attendant's whole attitude brought to mind Shaw's remark: "When a ... man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty"; but, in his case, I do not think that he felt ashamed, as he assured me that he slept easily in his bed.

What a way to welcome visitors and to ensure that they decide not to return to Haworth. It is over 60 years since I lived and went to school in the area and what was meant to be a pleasantly nostalgic visit by an octogenarian, his wife and friend, turned out to be one that has left the nastiest of tastes in the mouth.

Robert Bracken, Longcroft Park, Beverley.

Preying on neutral concerns

I am appalled at the way the Liberal Democrats in the ward, especially Judith Brooksbank, are playing on the fears of residents, totally unfounded I might add, regarding the loss of Park Wood and the building of the Keighley east relief road.

The provision of such a road was looked at many years ago but was never a serious option. However, whenever the problem of traffic in Keighley is discussed it is bound to be mentioned. There is no money for such a road and there are other options which would provide a better solution to the problem.

When I was chairman of the Keighley Area Committee, I was informed in no uncertain terms this road would not be happening. Councillor Mitchell stated in your newspaper that following his correspondence with Bradford's assistant director of transportation and highways that there were no plans to adopt this route and the council did not have funding for such a project.

Yet again we have a local politician preying on the neutral concerns of residents for what I can only think are their own ends in a local election. It is disgusting and grossly unfair to the people.

Dorothy Clamp, Ilkley Road, Riddlesden.