Regarding you article about Tesco corporate affairs manager Deborah Hayeems’ visiting residents of Railway Road and Mayfield Road to discuss residents’ concerns about the proposed new Tesco supermarket (Ilkley Gazette, April 16), having spoken to every fellow-resident of Mayfield Road, I can report that not one resident has been spoken to by Ms Hayeems on her visit to Ilkley.
Also, Tesco’s last propaganda leaflet said they have reduced the height of the building. What they don’t say is by how many millimeters. What they also omit to say is that they have increased the size of the building by about 20 per cent.
The leaflet further states they have listened to the people of Ilkley. That’s strange, because about 5,000 residents don’t want a new store so they have not listened to these people.
What they did make an issue of is an off-the-cuff remark by one resident about anti-social behaviour in the public seating area! so they state they have removed this feature.
My comprehensive list of objections to this application has gone, like many more, to the planners in Bradford.
P R Labadie
Mayfield Road, Ilkley
Opposed to parking restrictions
Following your report last week (Fears over traffic restrictions), I wish to add my strong support for Dr John Rees, of Ilkley Chiropractic Clinic, and other opponents of the proposed new Tesco store development, particularly the intention to apply traffic restrictions to that area of Railway Road including double yellow lines. I believe such an outcome would be an outrageous imposition on the lives of residents and businesses in that area which should be resisted as strongly as possible.
I commend you for reporting the opposition to this development and its pernicious side-effects.
Keith Simpson
Rupert Road, Ilkley
Saying one thing and doing the opposite
I note a growth in abbreviations where full names should, nay must, be applied. In last week’s paper a spokesman for Airedale Hospital quoted SHA, PCT, GP, A&E, and NHS Direct. All very well if you’re in the know.
However, if a visitor from another country, with little understanding of the language falls ill, what are they to make of it? The same goes for those who, apart from our GP, don’t use the others regularly. In times of emergency, whether it be flu or worse, clear understandable terminology is the prime requirement.
The same goes for council departments who say one thing and do precisely the opposite. May I suggest those with property formerly flooded by Backstone Beck prepare for the worst. It appears that part of Ilkley has fallen off the respective agencies’ maps once again. Each telling different stories as to when clearance of the beck will proceed. Perhaps if they pooled their resources instead of working against each other, the work could be finalised. In this decade, that is, not the next.
May I also thank those who sent various information about the Hemsley family. It will be passed on. The woman who sent a photocopy of Robinson’s Ilkley Directory may have overlooked a strange coincidence on page 52. That being an indirect reference to the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. At 34 St James’s Road we find one Henry Wadsworth, while in 3 Wells Road a Mrs Longfellow of the Tokyo Café.
Frazer Irwin
Queens Road, Ilkley
The ‘modern artists’ who desecrate the moor
I have always been in favour of children playing on the moor in the belief that it is safer than modern roads and could encourage a healthier appreciation of our planet. But on Sunday last I came across the results of ‘kids night out’; broken glass everwhere, a danger to wildlife and human alike. The worrying thing is at least one of them must have been or at least looked old enough to purchase the large pack of beer, so ‘kids’ they are not!
Perhaps they regard themselves as modern ‘artists’. If so, if they would just sign their work they could reap the just rewards for such talent.
Michael Crowley
Margerison Road, Ilkley
Young carers invited to send in their pictures
I have a family member who is affected by dementia so I know that life can be difficult for those caring for a loved one. What I can’t imagine is how much harder it is for the thousands of young people who take on this responsibility.
From my time in da Bungalow, I know that having the chance to cut loose and have fun is part of what being young is all about. Sadly, many young people who are caring do not have the time to do so. That’s why I’m calling on all young carers to take a moment to escape from their daily routine and take part in Zoom! – a national photo competition for young carers.
Zoom! is open to any carer under the age of 18. You just need to enter a photo you have taken which reflects any aspect of your life and have the chance of winning one of ten great prizes. All entries must be submitted by May 14 and the winners will be announced during Carers Week (June 8-14). For more information and an entry form, visit carersweek.org or call 0845 241 2582. So, if you’re a young carer, get hold of a camera and start shooting!
Richard McCourt
Dick from Dick and Dom
Campaign to reinstate Skipton-Colne rail link
I would be grateful if you could draw your readers’ attention to the fact that there is still time to sign the e-petition on the Downing Street website to reinstate the Skipton to Colne railway: petitions.number10.gov.uk/reopen/. The petition closes on June 26. Thank you to those readers who have already done so.
Reconnecting Skipton to Colne by rail would give access by rail from Wharfedale via Shipley to East Lancashire, Preston, Blackpool, Manchester and stations in between. It would also enable residents of those districts to visit Wharfedale without bringing cars to choke up your streets.
We are due to meet with the Rail Minister shortly and the greater the number of signatories to the pe-tition, the louder our voice.
This rail reopening is now supported by 202 councils including in your area Ilkley, Otley, Menston, Addingham, Burley and Kirkby Overblow as well as a huge number of politicians, businesses and other organisations, among them Bradford University, Yorkshire and Humber CBI and the West York-shire Playhouse.
More information is on the SELRAP website, selrap.org.uk. For those not on the internet who want to know more, if they would like to write to me at the address below, I will happily send them our newsletter.
Roy St Pierre
1 The Croft, Hollin Hall, Trawden, Colne, Lancs BB8 8SS
Tell your MP about poor epilepsy services
I am writing to ask whether any of your readers have been affected by poor epilepsy services in the local area.
Epilepsy Action produced a report, Epilepsy in England: Time for Change, earlier this year. This high-lighted how, in many areas, epilepsy services are still failing to meet national guidelines.
The report revealed a worrying lack of specialists, waiting times that exceed guidelines and a high rate of mis-diagnosis. During National Epilepsy Week (May 17-23), Epilepsy Action is encouraging people to meet with their local MPs. They can then ask them to take the much-needed steps in improving epilepsy services across the UK.
We are appealing for people who have experienced poor epilepsy services to come forward and share their experience. We want to try to encourage the government to take notice and to improve the quality of services in the UK. The services also need to be made consistent in all areas.
We would like to thank everyone who has already contacted their MP about these issues. So far, over 160 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion, calling for improvements to epilepsy services.
To register to take part in National Epilepsy Week please go online and complete the form at epilepsy.org.uk/nationalepilepsyweek _form or call me on 0113 210 8877.
Peter Scott
Campaigns and Policy Officer, Epilepsy Action
Request for airshow photographs and memories
I am currently researching the history of British airshows in order to produce a book marking the 100th anniversary of the first British event in 1909.
I was wondering if any of your readers had recollections they may wish to share and photographs filed away that evoke memories of past airshows?
Attending airshows is just as popular today as it was during the 1920s and 30s and countless young (and young at heart) spectators remain fascinated by the aerial activity each summer. There must be thousands of unpublished photographs out there just waiting to be shared.
Memories and photographs can be sent directly to me at the postal or email address below. All photo-graphs will be copied and returned.
Stephen Bridgewater
45 Hassocks Close, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2GH
Thousands of animals are waiting for new homes
In the current economic crisis, times are hard for cash-strapped households, but abandoning the family cat, dog or other animal in order to save money on food and vet bills is abhorrently cruel and selfish. Recent figures from the RSPCA reveal that 30 animals are abandoned – or killed (in extreme cases) – every day, which is a 50 per cent rise on 2007 figures.
Anyone thinking of introducing a companion animal into their lives should only do so if they have the necessary time, spare income and commitment. Animals are not accessories or cars that can be sold or dumped when times get hard, they are a full-time responsibility and members of the family who need food, shelter, medical treatment and kindness. If you can offer a companion animal a loving forever home, please always adopt one of the thousands waiting in rescue shelters across the country.
Kelly Slade
Campaigns Officer
Animal Aid, The Old Chapel, Bradford Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1AW
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