Sometimes our faith in human nature is restored in a most welcome manner, as evidenced by the actions of people on the banks of the River Wharfe in Ilkley. A five-year-old girl had got into trouble in the water and it was only thanks to the swift reactions of other people that she was brought to safety, thankfully with no lasting harm.

There are two heroes in this story – one of them being Simon Wood, who selflessly plunged into the water to pull the little girl out. Without his swift action, as the police say, there could have been a tragedy at the beauty spot.

The other is so far nameless – a woman who spotted the girl in the water and alerted others, including Simon Wood, who responded to the calls for help. Mr Wood has quite rightly been nominated for an award for his actions, and the police would very much like to thank the woman who raised the alarm as well.

It may well be that she wishes to remain anonymous, but good deeds should not go unmarked, and the family of the little girl would doubtless be keen to offer their thanks as well.

In a day and age where people are often perceived to not want to get involved in things that might not concern them, it is most heartening to see that basic human decency repeatedly triumphs and that people pull together and act without thought for themselves when required.

The actions of Mr Wood and the so-far unnamed woman are examples to us all.

Vital to have a say

The battle to protect Ilkley’s green belt could be upon us very soon, after what has been a long delay since the alarm was first raised.

There was an impressive local response to the publication of Bradford Council’s Core Strategy Further Engagement Draft document in 2011.

Wharfedale residents were spurred into action by the revelation that as many as 3,100 new houses could spring up in the valley before 2028.

Meetings held, responses sent back to the Council, and there has been a long gap while the next step of the Local Plan takes shape.

Finally, it looks as if this is moving. Frustratingly, while a great many people in this area recognise that some house building is needed, and that there is room in the valley for some, the Core Strategy may fix the number of new houses to be allowed before the space is officially designated to build them. This means objectors to overdevelopment will either have to spring into action as soon as consultation on these more general house building allocations starts, or risk trying to turn back the tide once the actual sites are under discussion, numbers having already been agreed. There can be little doubt that it is again up to the community to participate in the forthcoming consultation process, and make sure as many people as possible take the opportunity to have their say – before it is too late.