SIR, - When suburbia' expanded in Guiseley and Menston, Burley and Ben Rhydding, in the 1920s and 1930s, some sensible person decided that the winding medieval route through Esholt Village and old Hollins Hill would and could make sense as the main road to Shipley and Bradford.

So new' Hollins Hill was constructed. What now thought?

Tranmere Park is three times the size, 500 houses are coming at Menston Hospital. A massive three-storey development has appeared on Otley Road, Guiseley. Another substantial one next to Harry Ramsdens.

Dense three-storey houses off Back Lane in Guiseley. Acres of more of the same at Crompton Parkinson and Silver Cross. Three-storey development at the bottom of Hollins Hill. Another recently completed tight development at Acorn Park, further on.

And now, two more arriving on the old Charlestown Primary School site, and yet another on the Kassapian/Baildon Antiques plot.

Traffic into Shipley is already a two-mile long car park. I wonder if planners ever look at maps! From the bottom of Hollins Hill, at Station Road, to the top of Kings Road, between Wrose and Swain House, it is only 1.6 miles.

Ninety-five per cent of this is land uncluttered with buildings. This is about the same distance that new' Hollins Hill traversed, all those years ago, in the depths of the Depression.

What is a dead cert though, is there will be no Third Hollins Hill. That would be far too sensible, and politically incorrect. What we will get, is more traffic lights, more white lines, more multi-coloured Tarmacadam, more bus-only lanes, more speed cameras, and more speed bumps on minor diversions.

And some notices informing us what a good idea all this is. And, at the age of 75, as I push my bike homewards, up the cycle lane on existing Hollins Hill, I shall be thinking This could keep me fit and well, if it wasn't for the adjacent exhaust fumes and my mount' (one of the most dangerous forms of transport known to man).

Peter Langtry Langton 15 Bark Lane, Addingham.

Burley Bridge

SIR, - I see we now have people in Ilkley opposed to the Burley Bridge.

This bridge was originally supposed to be a gesture to the men of Burley who fell in the First World War.

Ilkley seems to be well-endowed with bridges and riverside walks, as does Otley, with miles of riverside walks, but at the stepping stones, all we are allowed to do is look at the river.

It is pathetic and ridiculous that anybody in Burley or Ilkley is opposed to the bridge which is a facility for the public. The landowners have always been opposed to the Burley public, that is why the Labour Government brought out the Right to Roam Bill which was passed in the House of Commons.

There would be an almighty noise if people in Ilkley had to paddle over the River Wharfe.

Mr W Laycock 70 Aireville Terrace, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Cemetery row

SIR, - Councils which, like Bradford Council, are burial authorities are going to have to review and change how they treat people who visit the graves of their loved ones; and all those who have bought burial rights in local authority cemeteries.

A Special Report (LGO 612 (03/06)) issued collectively by Local Government Ombudsmen on March 30, 2006 has laid the onus on those councils to pay particular attention to the protests and complaints about their actions and decisions that affect visitors to the graves in cemeteries.

The key lies in statements in the Special Report. The first thing to notice is that the Ombudsmen are responding to what is described as public outrage and anger' at the actions of councils in cemeteries.

Then it refers to those actions having provoked public outrage by striking a discordant note in the cemetery setting'.

The Ombudsmen could have been describing Bradford Council's action in saying that it is all right for the Bradford Building Preservation Trust to sub-lease the two chapels in Ilkley Cemetery for development as full-blown business premises - right in the middle of the cemetery where burials regularly take place. The petitions from 187 people against that situation show public outrage', and no mistake.

But the report does not stop there. It says that a failure to weigh all these factors in the balance, resulting in the action described without due need , will be maladministration'.

Well, there is no due need' for Bradford Council to allow two local businesses to relocate themselves in our cemetery. But there is a due need' for us to mourn at the graves without the council allowing such a crass and insensitive intrusion into the proper setting of a cemetery.

That is why a complaint against Bradford Council of maladministration has now been made to the Ombudsman.

Edwin Schirn Victoria Grove, Ilkley.

Hedgehogs' plight

SIR, - The current spell of hot weather is enjoyed by most humans, but hedgehogs are struggling.

The heat dries the ground out making it difficult to find natural food such as slugs and worms. There is also a lack of available water; wildlife really does need our help in this weather.

Leaving a shallow bowl of fresh water in the same place every night and offering some meat based pet food could save lives. As it is also baby season, mother hedgehogs will especially appreciate the help, and won't have to travel so far from their nest.

Another important way to help is to keep pond and pool levels topped up. Hedgehogs are very good swimmers, but cannot get out of steep high sided ponds and pools, and may drown as they get too tired to swim.

Providing half-submerged rocks in ponds or floats in pools could also help, as will checking each morning to see if anything has fallen in overnight and needs help.

These little things take just a few minutes and really will make a huge difference, not only to hedgehogs, but to all manner of wildlife.

For your free copy of our leaflet "Gardening 'with' Hedgehogs" please send an A5 stamped SAE to BHPS Gardening, Hedgehog House, Dhustone, Ludlow, SY8 3PL or see our website www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk Fay Vass Chief Executive,British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

Animal cruelty

SIR, - It is very saddening to see the increase in domestic animal abuse recorded by the RSPCA this year. We must all be grateful for the hard and valuable work they do.

What many people may not know, however, is that just two days before the RSPCA released their figures, the Government released its annual statistics on the use of animals in scientific procedures. A total of 2.8 million were used in 2005 and - equally tragically, that was also an increase on the year before. Animals in laboratories are the same as the cats, dogs, rabbits and rodents we keep as pets in our own homes.

Whether they are blinded, poisoned, starved of food or infected with illness by a researcher or by a sadistic or negligent owner, from the animal's point of view it makes little difference. Researchers aren't sadists but they do cause suffering.

Surely, in the 21st century, it's time we embraced progressive and humane science which does not include causing such pain and distress.

Alistair Currie Campaigns Director, BUAV,16a Crane Grove,London.

Bad timing

SIR, - Isn't it marvellous? They've done it again.

I have come round to thinking that it is a deliberate tactic to close the moor road for repair work at the same time that Ilkley has probably its busiest period of the year.

The town's International Summer Festival is just beginning and will run for a good month - while during all that time the moor road will be closed.

This means that all traffic from the Guiseley/Hawksworth end which normally uses the moor road, will be forced down on to the already overcrowded main road through Manor Park Bends.

What a masterpiece of planning. I know there is never a perfect time to do road repairs and I know that everybody moans about them anyway.

But surely there are quieter times in the year for this to be done.

The only saving grace as far as I am concerned is that for the next few weeks I won't have to negotiate those badly built, total;ly unnecessary humps around Burley Woodhead.

MOTORIST Guiseley (Name and address supplied)